Chapter 169 You Even Can
Fire Me
With a subtle nod, Rachel responded, her voice embodying calm resolve. “Alright, let’s proceed.”
Rachel and Jeffrey soon found themselves en route to the second company. Unlike the previous one, this location was more remote, but the commute remained simple with the convenience of a direct subway line.
As they approached the building, Rachel paused to straighten Jeffrey’s tie, her hands moving gently. “You’ve got this, Jeffrey,” she said, her tone soft yet filled with conviction. “I have complete faith in you.”
Jeffrey’s face lit up with a determined smile. “I’ll give it my all,” he assured her, his confidence radiating warmth that eased her nerves.
“I know you will,” she murmured. “And no matter what happens, I’ll always be here to support you.”
Once Jeffrey entered the building, Rachel lingered outside, waiting with anticipation. Moments later, her phone rang. Seeing Samira’s name flash across the screen, she quickly answered.
Samira’s voice came through, tinged with urgency. “Rachel, Mr. White has returned to the office and called an impromptu meeting. You’re expected to attend.”
“Just inform them I’m on leave and update Ronald,” Rachel responded calmly.
Since Ronald was responsible for managing the meeting attendees, informing him would suffice.
Rachel hadn’t foreseen that Brian would deliberately create obstacles for her. The meeting had only just commenced when his sharp eyes scanned the room, missing nothing. His voice, cold and cutting, broke the silence. “Ronald, I distinctly requested 34 attendees. Yet, only 33 are present. Who’s absent?”
Without waiting for a response, Brian’s gaze zeroed in on an empty chair, and he demanded, “Where is Rachel Marsh? Why isn’t she here?”
A bead of sweat formed on Ronald’s brow. Lately, being Brian’s assistant had become an increasingly impossible task. The moment Brian questioned the attendance, Ronald knew he was in trouble.
“She is currently on leave,” Ronald explained, maintaining his composure despite the tension. “Her leave was formally filed with the HR department.”
The pen in Brian’s hand came to an abrupt halt. Slowly, he lifted his gaze, his expression colder than ever. “On leave?” His voice was laced with quiet authority. “Since when do managers at her level take leave without my explicit approval? Since when is HR authorization sufficient?”
Ronald hesitated, then replied carefully, “Sir, it’s standard protocol to require approval.”
Brian’s voice hardened further. “Enlighten me then, Ronald. When exactly did I sign off on this?”
00%
Chapter 169 You Even Can Fire Me
Taking a steadying breath, Ronald clarified, “Actually, our policy allows for leave approvals at her level to be handled by any of the vice presidents.”
Brian’s face hardened, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “Really? Which vice president authorized it, and when? Why wasn’t I made aware?”
Without hesitation, Ronald accessed the company’s internal system, pulling up the approval records. To his relief, the documentation was flawless, and every process step had been followed meticulously. He handed the records to Brian, hoping the matter would be resolved.
For a brief moment, he allowed himself a flicker of relief, feeling as though he’d narrowly escaped a potential
crisis.
But Brian wasn’t done. His piercing eyes narrowed as he pressed further. “Magee Green signed off on this?”
At the sound of his name, Magee, seated among the attendees, glanced up uneasily and offered a tentative nod.
Brian’s gaze narrowed on Magee, his voice laced with thinly veiled sarcasm. “Rachel Marsh submitted her leave request at 8:03 yesterday, and you approved it by 8:04. Impressive efficiency; I didn’t realize you had so much free time on your hands.”
Ronald could only stare, realizing Brian was deliberately stirring the pot. Magee, unfortunately, had become the unwitting focus of Brian’s frustration.
Yet, entirely missing the subtext, Magee replied with genuine sincerity, “I strive to be prompt.”
Brian and Ronald were both momentarily speechless. Magee’s rise to vice president had been fueled by his unparalleled technical expertise, a cornerstone of the company’s success. Brian himself had championed his promotion, recognizing his invaluable contributions. However, Magee’s singular focus on technical innovation had left him somewhat disconnected from the subtleties of interpersonal dynamics, rendering him almost socially oblivious.
At this moment, Magee had completely misinterpreted Brian’s biting remark as praise, a misunderstanding that only deepened Brian’s irritation.
Brian ran a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily before pushing a document across the table toward Magee. “Since you have so much time, you can take charge of this project.”
Ordinarily, such an unexpected assignment would have been met with resistance, if not outwardly, then certainly inwardly.
Brian’s intention was clearly to make Magee’s life more complicated. But to his utter surprise, Magee opened the file, his face lighting up enthusiastically. “Mr. White, thank you! This is incredible! I’ve been following this project for months. A partnership with the national laboratory? I had no idea you’d finalized this. You can count on me, I’ll pour everything into this and deliver results you’ll be proud of.”
Brian was momentarily speechless.
Ronald, sitting nearby, was equally taken aback. At that moment, he found himself marveling at Magee. Only someone as optimistic as Magee could smile in the face of Brian’s challenges. Magee was, without a doubt, a unique individual. How had Ronald never fully appreciated this before? But better late than never.
What irked Brian even more was that Magee stood up abruptly after flipping through the document. “Mr. White,
31 6
Chapter 169 You Even Can Fire Me
this project is phenomenal, complex and groundbreaking. I can’t wait to get started. I’ll have someone attend
the rest of the meeting and summarize the key points for me later.”
Seeing Magee’s uncontainable excitement, Brian could only sigh in reluctant acquiescence. “Fine. Go ahead.”
The initial segment of the meeting wrapped up after a brief thirty minutes, and Brian called for a recess. Almost instantly, under his steely gaze, Ronald reached for his phone and dialed Rachel’s number.
Rachel, meanwhile, was in the midst of supporting Jeffrey during his third job interview. Without hesitation, she dismissed the call.
When the line went dead, Brian’s expression turned stormy. Was Rachel truly so intent on avoiding him that she’d take leave just to stay out of his reach?
Ronald tried again, only to be met with the same result; Rachel ended the call a second time.
Brian’s irritation flared. He stood abruptly, hands planted on his hips, and commanded, “Don’t stop calling until she answers.”
After what felt like an endless series of attempts, Rachel, finally worn down by the incessant ringing, answered the phone.
“Ms. Marsh,” Ronald said, his voice calm but insistent, “Mr. White is requesting your immediate return for the meeting.”
“I’m handling personal matters today. I’ve formally taken leave,” Rachel stated, her voice firm and unwavering. Ronald hesitated, finding himself at a loss. Rachel’s explanation was undeniably reasonable, leaving little room for argument.
Before Ronald could respond, Brian snatched the phone from his hand. “You have thirty minutes,” Brian said, his tone icy and commanding. “Return to the office and report to me within that time.”
“As I’ve already clarified, I’m on leave today. I won’t be coming back,” Rachel replied, her words calm but laced with defiance.
“Your leave was never approved by me,” Brian retorted sharply. “If you’re not here in half an hour, it will be recorded as absenteeism.”
Rachel’s hand trembled as she clutched the phone, her frustration boiling over. “Are you trying to push me to my breaking point? Can’t I even take leave when I have something important to deal with? Do you need to see me completely unravel before you’re satisfied? Let me be clear; I’m not returning. If you want to label it absenteeism, go ahead. You can even fire me!”
Requiem of A Broken Heart
