Before I joined this organization, I had made my career plan. The plan was so detailed to the point that it will determine the foundation of my future glory. But……
I never had expected my career would begin like this.
Of course, I had thought of resigning but Jisoo coldly said ‘You still own me last month rent.’ My plan had completely been destroyed! See, the distinction between ‘home’ and ‘under someone’s roof’. When there is a rainstorm, ‘home’ will shelter you. However ‘under someone’s roof’ it is different. You will be left out to withstand by yourself…..
My daily routine at work are very simple. In the morning, I need to punch-in. Once that is done, I will head to the President’s office and sit at the corner of the sofa just like my own home. I will sit till noon. Then it is lunch and followed by another round of sitting till evening, when it is time to go home. In between these hours, should there are anyone looking for President, I will then move myself to another corner. These two days, during lunch times there were some activities.
On the first day, during lunch time, President was out. So I dare not act rashly since I have not receive any clear instructions. Later, I was too hungry and was not able to take it anymore. So I decided to head downstairs for lunch. I was surprised to find out about the deadbolt lock. I kept knocking on the door and the window with no respond from anyone. I finally gave up, and waited obediently with wholeheartedly for the President to return.
He only return after lunch break. The moment he was back, he walked straight to his desk and started working on his paperwork.
My stomach was making ‘grunt’ sound, which reminded him of my presence.
‘Didn’t have lunch yet?’
‘No.’ I weakly nodded, waiting for him to grant me permission to go and find some leftover foods.
‘What a pity. AC has been well known for its delicious lunch and today we have a welcoming lunch. Our food and beverage department specially prepare some additional foods.’
My stomach again make another clamor.
He continued looking at his file and remain silent. It looks like there is no way he will allowed me to have my lunch.
I was stupefy.
Thursday morning, I arrived on time to sit on President office’s sofa.
President passed by me and looked at me for a moment. He said ‘Ms. Manoban, you seem to be thinner. And looks like you had lost your good spirit comparing to the first time we meet.’
I looked at his rimless glasses. It flashed a nasty look and a faint smile on his lip. I’m 10,000% determine he did it on purpose!!!
By lunch time, I took out ham, biscuits, yogurt from my bag and displayed it on the table.
President faintly smile and said ‘Ms. Manoban, you are really amazing. You are able to conjured a pile of foods just like Doraemon.’
*Doraemon is a popular Japanese Manga Robotic Cat.
Well, this is what I called a countermeasure. I had gone through hunger for three days and if I still continue to starved in this office, then I am brainless!!!
He came over and said ‘But Ms. Manoban, you may keep your foods. I am taking you out for lunch’
So, the good-for-nothing me, just follow behind the President. We walked and attracted all the suspicion gazed from the colleagues leading to his car.
The car turned here and turn there before we finally reached the city’s most famous five-star hotel.
The doorman politely opened the door and took the key for valet parking. Without asking, the waiter directly led us to a table for two “Kim President, your prearranged table for two.’
President sat down, took the menu and carefully look at it.
I awkwardly sat across him. My ass was only half seated and I quickly took the menu. I gave the waiter a *fox guilty smile and then pretend studying the menu price.
*fox guilty smile: A trick of cunning to appear more powerful (using other people’s name to look powerful).
‘Two set of chef’s specialty steak. One well-done and one medium rare. Red wine.’
‘What about starter and dessert?’
‘As usual.’
‘Certainly, please wait a moment. Your lunch will be here shortly.’ The waiter collected the menu and left.
I was a little unhappy. He invited me for lunch, so he should at least ask my opinion even though I’m not familiar here. That doesn’t permit him to decide for me. But then I thought, since this is a five-star hotel, even coming for a cup of tea, I had benefited. Not even to mentioned that this is lunch. So I felt much better.
Someone came over and poured President a glass of red wine then followed by my glass. When I was about to reach out to taste my first glass of French wine in my life, I heard President said ‘Ah, Ms. Manoban, I’m so sorry. Actually I have invited a client for lunch. Please be seated at other table. I had overlooked.’ When he finished saying, he click his fingers.
A new waiter was summoned and brought me to next table. The waiter pass me the menu and left.
* kào! X@#%
*靠- kào = Fxxk (foul language)
In my heart, I cursed out the foul language. This bastard deliberately wanted to humiliate me. Otherwise, how can he not realized I have been sitting there for so long!
I glared at him as he picked up his glass, and made a toast before leisurely enjoyed the wine.
I placed the menu down and planned to leave.
A waiter came over to stop me and said ‘Miss, this is a reserved table. Even you do not spend, you are required to pay a 20% service charge.’
I was about to said ‘Please asked the next table Casanova to pay. Immediately a thought came out; since he is paying I must as well eat till he drop dead poor! So I open the menu and go through from beginning to the end.’
Well, if I can’t finished, I will pack them home! Then I looked across the table and give him a sneered smile.
Soon, President’s guest arrive at the same time my first course was served.
Looking at the white glutinous rice, golden eggs, it just look exactly like the legendary Yangzhou fried rice.
Excuse me… this is not right! I asked the waiter ‘I don’t seem to order this dish’
‘This was specially order by the gentleman who came with you. He said that your stomach is not suitable for greasy food therefore asked us to prepare this golden looking fragrance fried rice.'
Sure enough, fried rice!
Using fried rice to fool me. I do not want to eat them! I sternly said ‘Please change, I want to eat steak!’
My voice has attracted dissatisfaction glimpsed from other diner. The waiter quickly explained ‘Miss, although this is just a traditional fried rice however our chef has used refined ingredients to cook this delicious and healthy meal that cost only 198 Yuan, truly value for money.’
198 Yuan for fried rice!!!!! I’m a poor kid. Using the logic of ‘even drinking a cup of tea I still earn’, I decided to sit and accept the mercy of fate. I feel so depressed clinging on fried rice and thought ‘Can this expensive fried rice taste like steak!’
An hour later, I was sitting in President’s car.
He asked me ‘Ms Manoban, how was lunch?’
I sarcastically replied ‘Don’t just said fried rice even plain water taste good in five-star hotel’
‘Good that you enjoy the lunch. I’m so worried about Ms. Manoban psychological burden. Based on our company policy, only Department head and above are allow to reimburse meal allowance. While other employees need to pay their own bill. Like Ms. Manoban, today your lunch will be on your own personal account, even the company paid in advance, it will be deducted from your salary.’ The President calmly share and brief the company policy.
…… 198 Yuan of fried rice…… Paid by myself……
My heart was pumping hard.
****
‘Chicu, you just tell me… what kind of mind-set does he have!’ Over the weekend, I shared the exaggerated and misdeeds in my description of how evil Taehyung was.
‘He ah…’
I was so ready to listen to Jisoo’s advice.
‘To hear my professional advice, that would be 500 Yuan per hour. For anything less than half an hour, it will be considered as half an hour. If it is more than half an hour but less than an hour, an hour fee will be applicable. According to your case with your boss, it should take at least 2 hours. Since we have such a good relationship, I will give you a 30% discount.’
‘Forget it, you money-grubber!’
In the end, I did not get to understand the President’s mind-set. But I managed to clear my thought. Since he started the war with mean methods, this Miss will fight till the very end!
Jisoo was not so unsympathetic. She did give me a word of advice ‘Enemy is like a spring. If you are strong, than he will be weak.’
Early on Monday morning, after being inspired by Jisoo words, I had clear up those unhappy mood. So, I proudly marched in and sat in President’s office.
He is needed to attend regular meetings and listen to subordinates report. After the hectic morning is over, he quietly sat down and begin to read reports. However, I manage to picked up some internal issues, so I took out my mobile phone and started playing snake eat beans.
‘Damn, I’m going to clear this level!’ After last week’s overload, my phone had seriously worn out and now it had crashed.
President looked up and handled me a note while saying ‘Ms. Manoban, please help me to call this number.’
I took the paper with suspicious look. I wanted to asked who to call and what to said however he give me an attitude look that indicating ‘you don’t need to know’ and continue with his work.
I called a few times without any success. I said ‘President, no one answered’
He replied ‘Call until you get through.’
I feel bored but continued to redial. Still no one is picking up the call. I began to wonder, maybe the number belongs to the yellow dress lady who dumped him. Suddenly I found him leaning against the window and somehow laughing at me for no reason. Because his back was toward the sun, hence, his face was hidden in a shadow. But the phone in his hands was flashing and it reflect toward his face a layer of eerie blue.
I was startled and stammered ‘This is… your phone number?’
He said ‘I just want had to prove how bored you are.’
I realized that while waiting for the call to get connected, my fingers keep pressing at 2, 4, 8, 6 and other keys till it get numb. I felt so sad!
But when it comes to boring, still President, you are more boring!
I cowardly went back to the sofa. A moment later, a thought came into my mind. Once again the high spirit and bold Lalisa Manoban is back!!
I walked a few steps toward President’s desk. In front of him I seductively leer at him, ‘wow’ ripe of my shirt and reveal my black lacy bra of 32B cup and stare at him. Then, he was under my beauty and powerful counterattack, he was totally defeated. Well, all men are hungry like a wolf.
Well, of course this happen only in my imagination.
This is what I read from the internet, ‘100 Tips to Control your Evil Boss’. In the no. 99th tip, when you are fed up with your boss, then use this matter. In a normal situation, if your boss is not too extremely hungry wolf, he will realize that he has force you into such a stage. Then he will reflect his action and behavior.
I start to take action…. Then I sadly discovered that reality is 100 times tougher than imagination….. I actually the hungry wolf. I hesitate went up to him, he put his hand on his chest.
President looked up at me, his eyes a little confused. He probably never thought that I would be so daring and come in front of him. He looked at me up and down, his eyes fell on my slightly open collar.
He asked ‘What are you doing?’
My hand froze at my chest and I went back to my sofa.
It seems I can only use no.100th tip.
The author of the post said ‘when you use more than 99 tips and you still can’t control your boss, than you are dead!’
When I was feeling aggrieved, President spoke out.
‘Lalisa Manoban’ this time he didn’t call me Miss Manoban. ‘I know what you are thinking and I know what you intend to do. A word of advice, dispel all these ridiculous ideas. You don’t tell me, these are all small things. Personally, any minor things happen between colleagues can evolved into a public disaster. You don’t expect me to let it go and pretend nothing happened. If I could, do you think I will let you sit here for so many days?’
‘Everyone has a bottom line, and I’m no different. Inside the bottom line, I can be very generous and open-minded, but out of the bottom line I can be very mean and cruel. Unfortunately, you hit my bottom line. Although I can’t kill you, but I will seize you. Before making you completely surrender, I will not let you go.’
‘I will definitely not said a word. Nothing has happened on Monday morning. I personally guarantee!’
‘Nothing happened! Then why are you so sensitive about Monday morning? In addition, I had a conversation with Ms. Park Chaeyoung. She told me that on Monday morning, you had shared with her 5 times of your encounter with the roaring Mr Super Star story. And she wonder why I put you in my office. Taking this opportunity she share the whole story with everyone in the office. Now, the only missing part of the story is the main characters.’
I felt regretful. It is just an accidentally split out! Jisoo, why didn’t you just struck me at that time?
‘Lalisa Manoban, I believe your personality. But as a human being, you will have human weaknesses. One day, in your dream you might slip it out or maybe someone might force you to say it out. So I can’t take risk’
I broke out into a cold sweat.
‘Remember the company’s mission? Join AC, we achieve our goal together. Lalisa Manoban you will be our AC’s pride.’ President smirked and concluded ‘Well, the detention period is over, you may go back to your office.’
I felt that I was sleepwalking while floating to the door. Behind came the voice of President ‘Also, a word of advice. Don’t tried to resign or escape from our company’s movement. The whole company knows you have been kept in my office. President’s office, there will always be some trade secrets. You learned law, any leak of secret will cause company and individual what kind of impact!’
‘You, you!’ I’m so furious. ‘You, cannot do this! You cannot disregard the company interest in selling trade secret for your own selfishness!’
‘I am the President, whether is trade secret or not is up to me to say!’ He gracefully smiles. ‘You may leave’.
I was back into my office during lunch break. Chae, Bambam and the newcomers, acting caring and holding the gossip mentality surrounded me. While they are busy chatting, I calmly go under my table and get a box, emptied the stuff inside, cut a hole and put my head inside it.
The Assistant Manager of HR department rescue me out from the box. He told me that the Personnel Manager wanted to see me.
The Personnel Manager is a fat uncle, known as Lao Wu (Old Wu). He has a friendly faces and a pair of smiling eyes that gives you an unforgettable feeling. Lao Wu sitting at his desk, with his smiling pair of eyes looking at me for a long time.
Being look by people, always make me nervous and scare. But after sitting at President’s office for a week, even ten times Luo Wu with military telescope observing me, I don’t even feel a thing.
I listlessly asked ‘May I know why Manager Wu is looking for me?’
Manager Wu was speechless. Not knowing what to said. He sighed and pushed a piece of paper in front of me ‘Miss Manoban, please have a look.’
A complaint letter from President’s office.
Content was ‘President has been sexually harass!’
‘I’m a girl, I’m more likely been harassed, ok!’ I’m so angry. Taehyung! Taehyung! How can you be this shameless!
Lao Wu laughed and said ‘Miss Manoban, don’t be so excited. I believe Miss Manoban. It must be a joke.’ In the end, he added softly ‘But in this company there are a lot of girls wanted to harass President.’
Didn’t know how Lao Wu think about this complaint letter, show me and laugh it off. This can be regarded as one of the most gentle-reminder. Meanwhile, he gave me a letter of transfer.
‘Miss Manoban, your current position as Legal Assistant has been changed to Special Assistant to the President’
President has total of four Assistants, even the most senior doesn’t carry the “Special” title. Well this “Special Assistant”, what does it mean?
Lao Wu did not give me any answer. He just passionately said ‘Young girl, work hard as you have a promising future.’