A Demotion Or A Promotion?

Back when June was still working as Chris Henderson's secretary, she often complained to Amalia about Chris' pathetic personality.

"I can't believe that he is your boyfriend," June rolled with her eyes once when they were out for drinks. "You are sooo much better than he is. He is a petty bitch."

"Awww, don't say that," Irene recalled when she spoke in Chris' defense. "He's not that bad..."

June merely sipped on her margarita and gave her drinking buddy a meaningful look.

"You will see," she said.

June's words might be harsh, but they proved to be true.

It was also true that June found a way to manipulate this petty bitch to do what she wanted.

Aware of the mockeries behind his back, Chris Henderson was determined to find a scapegoat to blame. It was the only way to clear his name.

His target was none other than Irene Gallagher, who just entered the company the previous week.

In Chris' opinion, hideous women did not get second chances. If they screw up once, they were up to be replaced.

"Irene, come in here!" Chris barked through the phone.

Faking nervosity, Irene stumbled through the door and stuttered, "Y-yes Mr. Henderson?"

She knew that Chris loved to exercise his authority. Even more in front of the wife who was as smart and cunning as June.

Squaring his shoulders, Chris folded his hands before his chest and pinned Irene with a glare.

"Do you know what happened last night???" he shouted at the poor secretary.

"Because of you, I became the laughingstock of everyone who attended the dinner event!"

Never mind that he praised Irene for "doing the research" and picking out that exact perfume in the first place. When things went wrong, of course it was all Irene's fault!

"You know nothing about the perfume industry, so what can you know about this... this signature scent that you made me wear???"

Irene cringed inside. An ugly, new secretary that they picked out from society must be quite clueless, but should the general manager who prided himself in having invented said scent not know everything about it?

Chris Henderson was basically saying that the scent was not his invention to begin with.

Instead of talking back, poor Irene shook on the spot.

"I-I am terribly sorry, Mr. Henderson. I-I didn't plan to..."

"Oh, darling..." June's poisonous voice was heard.

The wife of the general manager walked over to Irene and put her arm around the poor secretary.

Irene wanted to puke from her mere touch. Thankfully, her breakfast had all been digested.

"In the workplace, the word 'sorry' is meaningless in the face of the ruin that one causes, don't you think?"

Irene nodded her head many times and shook like a leaf.

"Now that we agree on that, what do you think you can do to fix this problem, hmm?"

"I-I don't know, Mrs. Henderson."

Chris stood from his chair and shouted, "I want her to get fired!"

Irene started sobbing like a professional actress while June clicked her tongue in distaste.

"My love!" she exclaimed. "What a horrible suggestion! Do you not care about Irene's livelihood at all? Look at this poor soul. She just made it through the interview last week and you already want to throw her out now? How so very ruthless!"

Chris' facial color switched from red to gray.

"But, darling," he said helplessly, not unlike a blubbering toddler. "But, baby..."

"I have a better idea," June said, her lips curled up into a wicked smile.

"CEO Damian Henderson just entered the company, it must be overwhelming for him. Why don't we make him a welcome gift and let Irene here become his new secretary instead?"

June seized Irene's shoulders and poked her head above one of them, "Technically, this is a promotion for you, Irene."

Chris broke into a gleeful smile.

"Yes!" he cried. "Excellent idea, June! Just wonderful! As expected of my awesome wife!"

June chuckled. She left Irene's side and moved behind her beaming husband's back.

"I trust that you will be grateful, Irene Gallagher," June said with a raised eyebrow. "We are saving your job here. Who knows what other job you can land out there? The income will definitely be a lot less than what you make here, so you should carefully think about it."

Irene worked hard to prevent a smirk from showing up on her face.

If June knew how much she made every successful mission, the evil woman's eyes might pop out. It was possible thrice what her incapable husband made in a month.

"Of course," Irene sobbed pitifully. "Thank you, Mr. Henderson, Mrs. Henderson. I will do my best to help Mr. Damian Henderson."

Just like that, Mr. Chris Henderson lost yet another secretary. At least this time he didn't molest her. Mr. Collins heaved a deep sigh as he put down the phone.

"Barbara, go and publish that same job advertisement that we took off a week ago."

Barbara Scott-Johnson walked into the HR Manager's office with a slight frown on her forehead.

"Mr. Collins, are you talking about the secretary position for Mr. Chris Henderson?"

"Of course," Mr. Collins gave Barbara an annoyed look. "Just how many vacant positions do we have last week?"

Good God, Mr. Collins thought. Did all these pretty girls inhale too much hairspray? Why were their brains so empty?

Speaking about that...

Mr. Collins wrinkled his nose after taking a whiff.

"Barbara, did I smell fried garlic just now? Girl, mind your breakfast, will you? Kindly go and brush your teeth. Urghhh."

"Right away, Sir," Barbara said with a professional smile on her face. As soon as she turned around, the smile was replaced with a scowl.

Was Mr. Collins stupid, or what? Did he really think that the vacant secretary position was all that they had to fill last week? What about the Junior Accountant position? And the Tax Manager position? Truly, the HR manager should care more about what was happening on the ground level instead of buttering up the management and maintaining his appearance.