Bought For A Baby, Kept For A Lifetime-Chapter 52: Bargain

About half an hour earlier, Anne had been rejoicing because she’d managed to outsmart the hateful monster. But after she found herself standing against the door in the bathroom for over half an hour, she began to grow tired.

Since she had locked the door, it was safe for her to at least move away from it, right?

Anne moved towards the sink, catching her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were slightly red-rimmed because she had just shed some tears a while ago. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The real reason she couldn’t keep holding it in was because she couldn’t stand the thought of this person having such low opinions about her.

She did nothing wrong to him, yet from the moment he met her, he was already misunderstanding her character.

She recalled the way his eyes had flashed immediately she’d entered his office, those deep dark eyes had fired up in fury as if the sight of her—as if her very presence anywhere around him—disgusted him so much he couldn’t stand it.

When he’d yelled at her to get out, she had spoken up for herself because she hated how the anger in his eyes was directed only at her when there were several other employees in the room with her.

Why was she the only one receiving his anger?

Why did he despise her and her alone?

But she didn’t expect that bold moment of talking back to lead him to punish her with work by putting her job on the line. And now that she’d failed his so-called test, there was no way he would let her keep her job.

Anne looked at the bathroom door. The man was silent inside the office. After yelling at her earlier, he seemed to have just gone silent.

Fear trickled its way through her bones.

She could only imagine how absolutely furious he must be right now.

But... she had no regrets. Before he’d leave this office tonight, he would have to take back his earlier words of firing her.

Anne moved to the bathroom door and placed her ears on the door to listen to movements from the outside. When she heard nothing, she slowly turned the bathroom door lock and opened the door a small crack, peeking into the office.

Her eyes roamed around a bit till her gaze landed on the tall figure sitting on the couch, his head rested back and his eyes closed, but the deep furrow of his brows made it evident he wasn’t sleeping. There were beads of sweat glistening on his forehead, and his brows furrowed even more. He looked to be in deep discomfort.

Anne wondered if the air-conditioning in the office was broken. Was that why he was sweating this much?

She suddenly felt a trace of guilt, seeing a tortured look on the man’s rigid face.

"I’ll let you out of the office, but you have to take it back first," she said, her voice loud enough to reach him.

The man didn’t shift or open his eyes. It was as if he knew she would come out sooner or later and was waiting for her to do so all this while.

"Take what back?" His voice sounded calmer now, no longer holding the edge of anger.

"That you fired me. I know I didn’t finish the task you gave me, but—"

"There are no buts." He cut her off, calmly opening his eyes to sit up. "You failed your task, you lose your job, simple as that. If you can’t take responsibility for your own failures, then you’re a pathetic person."

Anne couldn’t help but come out of the bathroom fully. "Pathetic? I’m a pathetic person because I’m trying to keep my job? Alright, let’s say I am, what’s wrong with that? I’m human and I’m bound to be imperfect. I agree with you that I’m pathetic, but give me my job back."

He suddenly stood up on his feet sharply, rushing towards her in long strides. "The only thing you’re getting is tossed in jail for keeping someone hostage with you in here. And believe me, if you don’t call someone to unlock this door right now..." He couldn’t finish his words. The bathroom door slammed right to his face just before he could reach her.

Anne had become alert immediately he stood up. When he began reaching her, she quickly slipped back into the bathroom, locking the door to his face again.

"No one would believe that. You’re a fully grown man. Who would believe that a girl like me is keeping a big man like you hostage?" He heard her voice from within the bathroom and clenched his fist to stop himself from punching the door down.

No one had ever crossed the line this far before in front of him. No one had ever dared to blatantly disrespect him—lock him in a room like this before.

This damned woman... he gritted his teeth.

His head was throbbing painfully as if a hammer was being slammed into his skull. He knew it was a symptom of his prolonged lack of sleep. That was why he’d gone back to sit on the couch to rest his eyes.

The only reason he was trying to leave the office this quickly was because he wasn’t in his full energy. Otherwise... this woman should count her blessings.

Whenever this happened, Andrew would usually take the special drugs Shawn had prescribed. Those drugs might not help him sleep, but they surely helped him reduce the headache.

At first, he was thinking of holding it out. All he had to do was wait till morning, and by then employees would be rushing in. He would call someone through the windows, and the door would be opened, but the headache was too intense and overwhelming. He staggered on his feet and supported himself by leaning on the bathroom door with his eyes tightly closed.

After taking a few deep breaths, he closed his eyes tightly for a long time before finally saying, "Fine."

Anne, who was inside the bathroom, heard him and perked up, but she still had to confirm.

"What was that?"

"You’re not fired. You still have your job. Call someone to open the door right now."

His voice seemed to contain a hint of exhaustion as he spoke, but Anne didn’t dwell on it too much.

If she let him out now... what if he took back what he just said by tomorrow?

Of course she couldn’t have that. All this would have been useless.

Getting an idea, she quickly fished her phone from her bag.

"How can I just take your word for it? What if you suddenly changed your mind tomorrow?"

"I never go back on my word."

She heard him say. She couldn’t help but feel quite surprised.

This hateful monster was actually being quite agreeable now, all of a sudden.

Since she had the upper hand, why not just use it to the fullest?

Grinning happily, she spoke up.

"Well, I believe what you just said, but I can’t just take chances. So say it again, and I’ll record it this time—just in case you happen to change your mind tomorrow. If you hear your own voice, you won’t be able to argue with it."

After saying that, she pressed the record button.

She seemed to hear the man’s breathing turn heavy. He took quite a while before he finally said,

"You’re still employed. You can keep your job."

Despite him saying that, she wanted a bit more assurance, so she pressed, "And?"

He took a bit of time before speaking once again, and Anne frowned, wondering if he was changing his mind.

She could only imagine the look of pure rage that would be on his face right now. If he would yell at her till the entire office crumbled, he was free to do so, as long as she could keep her job.

"...I give you my word," he added a bit softer, but Anne had heard him.

With a look of satisfaction, she saved the recording on her phone and opened the door. But she didn’t expect that immediately she pulled the door open, a sudden weight would come crashing onto her.

She couldn’t hold up the large person’s weight, so she went falling backwards.