Mabel was speechless. Absolutely speechless. She had battled through exhaustion, risked pneumonia, and positively sacrificed her dignity to get here. And for what? To be kicked out before she could even warm a chair? The sheer injustice of it all made her head spin, and despair began to sip in.

  She forced a polite—yet thoroughly troubled—tone. “Sir, I just explained why I was late.”

  Eadric, the embodiment of a human brick wall, responded flatly, “It’s not tolerated. That’s the rule.”

  Mabel’s maintained a respectful and slightly sad tone. “But, Sir, my case is different. I had a valid reason. Shouldn’t there be reasonable exceptions? Firing me on my first day seems a bit extreme for being a few minutes late.”

  Eadric tilted his head slightly. “Are you saying I’m unreasonable?”

  Oh, absolutely. One hundred percent! She thought it, she believed it, and if saying it wouldn’t cost her this job, she’d shout it from the rooftops. But she needed this job, so instead, she put on her best innocent expression.

  “It was a mistake, Sir. I didn’t mean it that way,” she said innocently.

  I very much do. I definitely mean it that way!

  “I understand the rules, Sir, and I understand that if I work here, I must abide by them. I’m truly sorry. But please, just this once, can you excuse me? It’s my first day. I promise it won’t happen again. I’ll be the best employee you’ve ever had, I—”

  “You haven’t even started yet, so technically, it’s not your first day,” Eadric interrupted, his tone devoid of sympathy. “That should make it easier for you to leave. But since you’re so insistent on begging, I’ll join in. Please. Get out.”

  Mabel’s mouth fell open. She felt like she was being internally set on fire. “Do you not see me as human? I am just like you—literally just like you! I need a job to survive! And I had one! A job, a house, a life before I got that email from this company! I left everything behind to work for you! And now you tell me I’m fired? How do you expect me to fare?”

  Eadric didn’t even blink. “That’s not my concern. Leave before I call security.”

  “How can you be so—so heartless?” she asked, bewildered.

  He sighed as if explaining to a child. “I am being very kind. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have listened to you for this long. But my kindness has boundaries. If it didn’t, tardiness would be tolerated. Now, don’t make me repeat myself. I really don’t want to call security on you. You deserve that much honor, as you were recommended by someone this company respects. But you are pushing it.”

  Mabel felt her legs go weak. “I can’t. “I can’t. My mind understands you, but my body won’t move. I can’t leave. Please hire me. I’ll work at anything. I’ll give it my all. Please, I just arrived here. I can’t afford to be unemployed. Plea—”

  “You’re still begging, even after I explicitly told you I have no patience for it? And you’re doing so profusely? Judge for yourself—doesn’t that make you selfish?” He sighed and waved his hand. “Security.”

  Mabel, stuck in a confused daze, “If you think my desperation is selfish, then establishing this company must be the pinnacle of selfishness. If I’m selfish from your perspective, then you are the most selfish person I have ever met—from your perspective, of course.” She softened her tone and added, “So, allow me to imitate you as my prospective boss and be selfish in this small way.”

  Eadric raised a brow. She’s smart. Still, I don’t want her. She’s tardy.

  Two security guards approached and, without hesitation, lifted her by the shoulders. She didn’t fight back— glared at Eadric with the deadest eyes he had ever seen. The guards hurriedly dumped her into the pouring rain. She sat there on the road, soaked, shivering, and utterly defeated.

  I was only four minutes late.

  Three hours later, Eadric glanced out his office window and nearly dropped his pen. There she was, still sitting under the torrential downpour, looking up at the sky as if she were contemplating the meaning of life—or maybe just how much she hated him.

  Why is she still here? He wondered. And why is this rain still going strong? Does she think I’ll see her suffering and take her back? He squinted. No, she just looks... sad.

  Doesn’t she have savings? Why not go back to where you came from? You even had your own company. Feeling slightly smug, he thought, Well, I know the kind of reputation this company has. Who wouldn’t want to work here? Still, go away. One, I hate tardiness, even if it’s just a minute. Two, you insulted me to my face, insinuating that I am unreasonable. Three, it’s not like I even called you selfish—I merely asked you to judge for yourself! You could’ve just said no! But instead, you had the guts to call me the most selfish man you’ve ever met. Though I must admit, you did well in including that little ‘if’ clause. Clever. But I still don’t like you.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  He exhaled and shook his head. I guess your desire to work for an unreasonable and allegedly selfish man is stronger than your need to stay dry.

  With that, he turned away and got back to work.

  Four hours later, as Eadric stepped out of the building, an attendant holding an umbrella over him, he was stunned. Mabel was still there. Still drenched. Still glaring at him with murderous eyes.

  “Why isn’t she off the property?” he asked one of the guards.

  “It’s raining cats and dogs, Sir. We assumed she’d leave on her own. Once the rain stops, we’ll remove her completely.”

  Eadric’s patience was thinning. “Do it now.”

  The guards moved swiftly, hoisting Mabel up like a log. She didn’t resist; she just went limp in their grip, her feet dragging uselessly against the ground. Her body remained limp, but her eyes—oh, her eyes—burned with a glare so intense fury, burning holes into Eadric with the intensity of a thousand suns. Eadric tried to ignore it, but after a few feet, he couldn’t. The weight of her judgmental gaze was heavier than something he could overlook if he wanted to feel safe.

  Eadric sighed. “What gives you the right to glare at me?”

  The guards stopped, waiting for her response.

  Mabel, deadpan, “It’s my right. They’re my eyes, not yours. So, I can glare at whoever I want, however I like.”

  Eadric stepped closer. He smirked. “Do you think glaring at me will get you this job?”

  “No,” she said flatly. “I’m not that unreasonable. How could I expect a heartless being to have a change of heart when he doesn’t have one to begin with?”

  She just underhandedly solidified the fact that I am unreasonable.

  Eadric smirked. “Well, I don’t plan on exchanging words with you, that is beneath me.” And with that, he turned on his heel, heading for his car. After getting in, he glanced her way. She was still glaring, still being dragged away under the pouring rain. With a sigh, he motioned the guards back.

  “It looks like you’ll be a persistent headache. Let’s settle this so you never bother me again. So, I’ll be fair and cut you off cleanly. Let’s make a deal. Are you willing to hear it?”

  Mabel, without missing a beat, dropped her death glare and put on an innocent, wide-eyed expression. “Yes, please.”

  Eadric raised an eyebrow. Was that a strategy? Or was she truly so desperate that she endured seven hours under the storm just for a second chance? I thought she had her own business. Well, it doesn’t matter—I have no intention of hiring her back. There was no way she’d accept what I am about to propose.

  “Since you’re so fond of glaring, let’s have a staring contest. Three rounds. If you lose once, you disappear forever and never show your face around here or any of the three CEOs again—no loitering, no dramatic speeches, no sneaking in. If you win all three, you’ll work as a cleaner for six months. After that, we part ways, but you get to put ‘Worked at The VIC’ on your resume. However, if you’re tardy even once, you’re fired immediately.”

  “A cleaner?” Mabel muttered

  Eadric, deadpan. “Well, you’re clearly too incompetent for the job you applied for—or any other position here. Cleaning is the only job I can trust even a person lacking a few brain cells to do. Do you accept?”

  Eadric thought to himself, There’s no way you would accept this ridiculous deal. Just leave.

  But she thought about it a little and asked with cautious hope, “If I work diligently as a cleaner, is there a chance I could earn back my original job?”

  Eadric blinked. How could you even consider this? Are you really that desperate? Javis praised her as some remarkable entrepreneur—was that an exaggeration? Or did he hype up the job so much that she was willing to stay in the rain for seven hours for it?! Yeah, it’s him. He kept calling it the super important job with so much emotion. He must have hyped it way out of proportion. But still, it’s just a job. Why would she even consider it?

  He sighed. “Fine. Three months as a cleaner. Then you’ll be assessed. If you pass, you get your precious job back for two months. After that, you'll be fired, but we’ll make it seem like we parted amicably. However, the moment you make even the tiniest mistake, you’ll be thrown out. This is the last time I’m considering you—only because of Javis.”

  Mabel beamed. “Thank you, Sir! I gratefully accept!”

  Eadric sighed, rubbing his temples. “No matter how well you do, you won’t be retained after five months.”

  “I understand, sir. I will do my best and leave in peace when the time comes,” she said with a bright smile. “I’m ready.”

  Eadric stared at her. This girl has mental issues. There are other jobs out there. Why is she so fixated on this one?

  Meanwhile, Mabel clenched her fists in determination. Even if a fly should perch on my eyeball, I will not blink. I can’t afford to lose this chance.

  Eadric rolled down his window further and began the contest. The rain pounded on the roof of his car as Mabel stood unfazed, drenched but unwavering.

  The rain continued to pour as they locked eyes. Two rounds in and Eadric was baffled. She had already won twice. She’s actually good at this. But I can’t let her win the last round. She can’t work here. She just can’t.

  Mabel, on the other hand, was steeling herself. One more to go, Mabel. You can do this. Stay strong. Stay focused!

  Eadric began to wonder. Why did I agree to do this in the rain? If we were inside, I would have won easily. I’m in the car, but the raindrops and wind are still messing with my vision. He studied her more closely. How is she managing to keep her eyes open? The rain is literally slapping her eyeballs, and she is refusing to react. She must really want this job. Also, when will this rain stop? It has been raining all day. I should sue that weather reporter for lying.

  Mabel, on the other hand, was thrilled. She had spent hours under this relentless storm—it couldn’t be a bother to her that some raindrops were directly targeting her pupils. He’s struggling, I can tell! This storm is working in my favor! Wait a minute. If not for this rain, I wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with. This is all this rain’s fault!

  Eadric, now spiraling into self-reflection, Why am I even doing this in the first place? What is wrong with me today? A CEO of the world’s top company is currently locked in a staring contest with a determined drenchling in a thunderstorm. I should see a therapist.

  He sighed and intentionally blinked. “You win.”

  Mabel nearly jumped for joy but composed herself. “Thank you, Sir! I promise I won’t let you down.”

  Eadric rubbed his temples. “I have a feeling you will.”

  Mabel’s eyes sparkled with determination. “I’ll let my actions speak for me.”

  Eadric slumped back into his seat and pinched the bridge of his nose. I know I’m going to regret this.