Chapter 126: Chapter 126

…

As they left the company after work, Layla groaned continuously, smoothening the creases on her shirt.

“Annie, I’m starting to think working with those crazy girls is not the best decision. They’re all berserk kittens.”

Layla’s expectation of the CEO’s secretaries was completely shattered. Those girls could tear anyone apart without blinking.

The CEO didn’t return. She didn’t even glimpse him for goodness sake. The only thing she got was an aching arm and a ruffled-up shirt.

“Let’s just ignore them, Layla. We’re here to work anyways.” Annie’s eyes were on her phone as she replied.

The girl’s logic didn’t settle well with Layla. “Annie, I don’t have the kind of patience you have. If I ignore them, will it not hurt my pride? Those stupid girls think they’re above everyone.”

Annie chucked and sent a text.

[Mr. Lim, I won’t return to the apartment early. If you’re hungry, I have cake in the fridge. If you don’t like it, you can eat out.]

[Who gave you permission to stay out late? Are you planning to feed me cold food?]

His reply came immediately.

[I didn’t ask for your permission.]

Annie sent the short reply before putting her phone inside her bag.

Layla was occupied with checking out how ugly her shirt now looked. She didn’t pay Annie attention. This was one of her best business wears. But those foolish secretaries…

While fighting for the cubicles, one girl managed to graze her arm with a chair, making the sleeve squeeze.

“Does it hurt?” Annie asked with a small frown and checked out her arm.

“It’s just a tiny bruise.” Layla was more worried about her shirt. “Annie, I can’t go to that dinner like this. Won’t those hypocritic employees from the Arts Department laugh at us?”

Annie’s shirt was unscathed because she didn’t involve herself in the fight. While the secretaries were busy fighting over the chairs and cubicles, she looked for Assistant Jiang to finalize her transfer.

It was when the Security finally came that the girls composed themselves. Even so, it was a bit late because the former secretaries were able to bully some of the new ones.

If the employees from the Arts Department saw them like this, especially Layla, they would instantly put two and two together and arrive at a conclusion about what must have happened.

Some of them would pretend they cared, and most of them would openly laugh at them.

“We don’t have to go like this. Let’s go to the fashion store nearby and help you get changed,” Annie suggested as they walked on the streetside.

“That’s a great idea. I know someone who runs a mini boutique not far from here,” Layla agreed.

They stopped a taxi which took them to the boutique and in no time, they were done shopping for new dresses.

Annie was comfortable with the cloth she wore because there was nothing wrong with it. But under Layla’s coercing, she didn’t see why she shouldn’t change into something new too.

“You look great, Annie.” Layla flashed her a smile. “When last did I see you in a skimpy dress?”

The peach-colored sparkling dress didn’t hug Annie’s figure tightly, but it highlighted it. Layla was wearing a similar-looking dress but hers was purple.

“This is a great occasion. It’s okay to look good,” Annie replied.

“That’s my girl. How about we pair it with some heels and makeup? Let’s give those employees the shock of their lives.”

Annie didn’t like the idea of high heels, so she settled with only minimal makeup. They soon left the store and arrived at the hotel.

Already, Layla had booked a room and she could guess the Arts Department employees had started coming.

“Hey, who invited that girl!” Layla sighted Mia’s figure whose back was to them. The girl was entering the room with two other girls she couldn’t properly make out.

“Let’s leave them alone,” Annie laughed softly.

Layla sighed in exasperation and looked at her. “What choice do I have? I’m only afraid those employees are going to empty my pockets. I should have invited only a handful of them secretly.”

.

The room was bustling with the employees’ noises when they entered. The moment both girls stepped into the room, someone noticed them and exclaimed.

“Wow! Is that Annie and Layla? I thought I was seeing wrong.”

Instantly, a hushed silence fell on the room as the employees all looked in their direction. Some of them blinked and a lot of them couldn’t close their mouths.

“Ms. Lin, Ms. Ju’an. Is that you?”

“I didn’t know Ms. Ju’an was this beautiful. Ms. Lin, so there’s another level to your beauty and we didn’t know?”

“I almost mistook you girls for celebrities. Ms. Ju’an’s makeup specifically transformed her face. Surely, this is a great occasion. You girls didn’t tell us there’ll be a change of clothes.”

“We are the party girls, so it’s normal,” Layla answered them. “Enough with the flattering already. Who among you ordered the food?”

Food was already spread on the wide table and some of them had, in fact, started eating. Layla was baffled by this. How could she pay for this much food?

“Hehe, Ms. Ju’an. I even missed lunch break because of this dinner. Unfortunately, you and Ms. Lin didn’t come on time and we couldn’t control our hungry stomachs.”

“You promised to treat us to food anyways. Ms. Ju’an, we were just making ourselves comfortable.”

“Urgh!” Layla rolled her eyes and sat down beside Annie. Today was supposed to be a very good day. Why did everyone keep irritating her? “At least, you guys left some for us.”

“Ms. Ju’an, we’re afraid you’re going to order more. This food probably won’t contain all of us. As you can see, a lot of the employees haven’t arrived.”

“You-“ Layla glared at the guy. Seriously, she wanted to cry.

“It’s no big deal, Layla,” Annie said to her in a voice they could both hear. “Let’s split the bill.”

Layla was even more devastated, hearing Annie’s suggestion. She wanted to play the superhero and handle the party, now her hope was shattered.

It wasn’t only the Arts Department employees that were arriving. Those freeloaders also invited their friends from other departments.

What irked Layla the most was seeing the two figures that walked in last. Priscilla was clinging to her brother’s arm. And another hushed silence fell inside the room.