The receptionist, Linda who had a small tuff with Lina on the first day of her job at Obsidia, smirked as she overheard the words being spoken around her.
Not only had the image of the 'Fairy' of the Marketing Department slipped away from Lina Yang's grasp, her impression as a normal employee was also being driven through the dust.
'So what if you are the VP's cousin? Even he will not be able to save you when every single employee hates you.' She sneered and then took her position behind the reception desk.
Her colleague who shared the same desk with her shook her head when she heard the snickers coming from Linda's mouth from time to time.
Inside the elevator, Lina tapped the sole of her heel as she waited for the elevator to reach the 22nd floor where her department was located.
Benji rolled his eyes at her impatient behavior but did nothing to ease her mind.
Lina was explained in detail about how someone had gone to great lengths to make sure that people's opinions about her would be at an all-time low.
'I may look like I do not care about what they think about me but I am human too! People's behavior will affect my mood as well!' She pouted as she looked at her reflection on the metal door.
Soon the elevator reached her floor and as the door split open, she was met with the scene of the lively employees who were greeting each other at the beginning of the day.
The moment their eyes fell on Lina and her assistant, the lively atmosphere died down in an instant.
Some of them remained neutral, some displayed hostility as they glared at the pair walking in their direction.
The only people who smiled upon seeing the woman were Anthony and Leon who stood next to her office door.
Under the burning gazes of the employees who once greeted her with enthusiasm, Lina held her head high as she waited for Benji to unlock her door.
A few seconds later, Lina and the three men entered her room and the silent atmosphere went back to its original vibrant state once again.
Lina smiled at the people who were not being hostile towards her as she gestured for them to take a seat.
"Why do you think she had done so?" Leon fired away his question before his butt could come in contact with the seat.
He always knew that the woman who was behind this scandal had bad blood with Lina yet he could not understand why she would do so.
'This is more than some petty quarrel as this could cost her the cushy job she has right now.' He pondered on the predicament he had been in since yesterday.
"I think I might know why she is doing so." Lina answered as she smiled at the ever-curious man-child who was her first friend in the office.
The men raised their brows in question when they heard her confident reply to Leon's query.
She then uttered a single word that brought up multiple questions in their minds as they stared at her unblinkingly.
___
In the room right next door to Lina's, a woman stood before the window as she stared down at the traffic that moved freely on the road below.
The soothing scene was causing her nerves to feel tighter than usual as she glanced at her phone.
She had been awaiting a phone call from someone important and now the anxiety of the wait was getting to her.
Just as she was about to look away from the window in disappointment, she felt the phone vibrating in her hand.
The smile on her face was wider than she had ever had shown anyone before.
"H-Hello!" She stuttered due to her excitement and rolled her eyes at her stupidity.
'Control your emotions and stop making a fool out of yourself now!' She chided herself as she took a deep calming breath to ease her rapidly beating heart.
"Yes! Marene, was it? How was the task you were asked to complete?" A voice came from the other side of the phone.
The sparkle in the woman's eyes faded a little when she recognized the voice of the person who had called her.
'So it wasn't…?' She wondered and shook the disappointment from her heart.
"It is Maxene, Miss." She corrected the mispronunciation of her name.
However, the person on the other side of the call had failed to understand what she was trying to convey.
"What is?" A rude sneer came to her ears which made the smile fade further.
"My name, Miss. My name is Maxene Kang." Maxene repeated her words to make sure that she wasn't addressed with some other name.
The person scoffed when they heard this correction and then nodded their head.
"Yes, Maxene Kang. Have you completed the task or have you failed already?" The haughty voice was once again heard over the phone.
Maxene pressed down the irritation she felt when she heard the obvious mockery in those words.
Though she was annoyed and irked, there was nothing she could do as she had taken a step that would need this person's support in the future.
"The entire company hates Lina Yang and despised her very existence at the moment." Maxene's proud and confident voice echoed in the room.
A chuckle was soon heard which made Maxene feel better about the step she had taken to ensure the prosperity of her future.
"That is good! You have done better than what we had expected you to do." The other person revealed which made Maxene feel both elated and humiliated.
She was happy that she had managed to please them and embarrassed that they had such low expectations of her as they reckoned that she could not even handle this measly task.
Just as Maxene was about to speak something to rectify the bad opinion they seemed to have about her, she was interrupted by an exciting question.
"So, tell me how have you made the entire company hate that bitch and make sure you leave no details out." Another snicker followed those words.
Maxene's eyes glinted as she recalled the method she had utilized to make Lina's opinion in the sights of the employees in Obsidia to drop down to the ground from the high heavens.