Chapter 236

When I left the president’s office, I noticed everyone was staring. Were they waiting to see how Mr. Humphrey, in his foul mood, would punish me? As I emerged unscathed, a flicker of disappointment crossed several colleagues' faces. I sneered inwardly; I had indeed disappointed them.

Melany hurried over, asking, “How did it go, Esmeralda? Did Mr. Humphrey say anything?” I handed her the report—a crumpled ball Reynaldo had made—and said, “Mr. Humphrey said your report was too rigid and complicated, a mere template. He was furious and told you to leave.”

Melany’s face blanched, tears welling. “What should I do? I can’t afford to lose this job.”

Last night, my daughter’s fussing had led to a hastily completed report. “Esmeralda, I’ll redo it, immediately. Please speak to Mr. Humphrey; beg him not to fire me,” she pleaded.

“Tsk, Melany, did you ask the wrong person?” someone scoffed. Another chimed in, mockingly, “Kimberly, perhaps? Beg her? Hilarious. Does she even have that power?”

Chapter 236

“Mr. Humphrey favors Kimberly above all. Asking someone he despises to intercede is madness,” someone pointed out.

“But I don’t know if Kimberly’s even at work today, or if she’d help,” Melany sobbed.

“Then you needn’t bother Ms. Duffy; what could she possibly do?” another sneered.

“Humphrey was probably even angrier because he saw her; that’s why he wanted to fire you. You shouldn’t have let her deliver the reports!” another added.

“She’s a jinx! Before she arrived, Mr. Humphrey was never this gloomy. It’s all her fault,” someone else declared.

I calmly stated to Melany, “Don’t worry, I told Mr. Humphrey I made the report.”

Melany was stunned. My colleagues stared in disbelief. “Mr. Humphrey didn’t fire you?!”

I grinned, humming, “Yeah, I disappointed you.”

“Hmph! Don’t get cocky; he only spared you out of pity,” someone retorted.

“A janitor! How dare he even compare himself to Kimberly?” another scoffed.

I rolled my eyes. These people were tedious. They constantly invoked Kimberly, comparing me to her, ironically mocking my supposed desire to emulate her. I was genuinely impressed.

I ignored them. They seemed bored, too, one by one snorting coldly before returning to their work. Only Melany looked at me with gratitude.

“Esmeralda, I didn’t expect such kindness. I’m sorry for my initial bad attitude. I’d heard so many bad things, I prejudged you,” she confessed.

“It’s okay. Redo the report, seriously this time. I’ll submit it for you.”

“Uh, okay.”

Melany nodded, pulling me aside to whisper, “They're just trying to flatter Kimberly because they know Mr. Humphrey favors her. Don't worry about them.”

I smiled faintly. “You all noticed Mr. Humphrey’s fondness for Kimberly, didn’t you?”

Of course. Despite being a mere secretary, Kimberly enjoyed more privileges than the head of the secretarial team. She entered the president’s office unannounced, without knocking.

Most enviable was Mr. Humphrey’s treatment of her. Once, while resting in his office, she craved pastries from a specific shop. He personally queued for over an hour to buy them.

Chapter 236

“How do you know he waited over an hour?” I asked impassively, doubting Reynaldo’s patience. Of course, genuine devotion might change things.

Melany hesitated. “They were spreading rumors; everyone said it, speculating they were about to get married.”