THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 220: Inform HR To Prepare Three Months Salary For Her
Shawn anxiously clicked on the message he received from Kathleen, but his hopeful expression suddenly turned sour when he read the message. "I’m sorry for interrupting your meeting,
Mr President. I have to wait to fix an appointment in order for you to have time for less important people like me."
Without further ado, he quickly called her again and fortunately, she picked on the first ring.
"Where are you?" Shawn asked, his voice laced with panic.
"Booking an appointment of course," sneered Kathleen who was still seated at the reception.
"Shit!" She is still here and I am here wasting time with this incompetent secretary.
"Johnson!"
"Yes Boss," Johnson straightened up, waiting to carry out the inevitable order from his boss.
"Inform the HR department to prepare three months salary for her." Turning to Ms Halley, he pronounced.
"From tomorrow, you don’t need to report to work at Hudson Corporations ever again."
Before it fully dawned on the secretary that she had just been fired, Shawn was already out of the office.
He personally went downstairs to bring Kathleen to his office.
He saw her sitting elegantly on one of the chairs. She had the air of a princess without a trace of impatience on her impeccable appearance.
"I’m very sorry to have kept you waiting," he apologized sincerely as soon as he got close to her.
He didn’t bother about what others might think of him as he made no effort to reduce his voice. "Have you been here for long? Let’s go to my office."
The few staff at the reception gazed at Kathleen in awe. They unanimously felt they had just stumbled on a shocking secret.
After Shawn left in the elevator with Kathleen, they couldn’t help but break into a chatter. "Are you thinking what I’m thinking?"
"Who is this lady that literally had the big boss almost shaking from head to toe?"
"It is as clear as daylight that she is very dear to the boss. Did you see his eyes suddenly lose their coldness when he spoke to her?"
"Even the tone of his voice was the softest I have ever heard him use."
"Wait, I can now recall," another exclaimed excitedly.
"What?"
"She is the lady that trended in the news with the president some weeks ago," she declared proudly.
"Do you think Ms Harley will be in trouble for keeping her waiting all this while?"
"I have a bad feeling that Ms Harley’s days are numbered in Hudson corporations," another staff, who had no idea he had just nailed it muttered.
As they were busy gossiping back and forth, a sudden chill descended on everyone as a cold voice sounded all of a sudden.
"And I have a good feeling you will all follow suit soon," Johnson threatened from where he was standing beside the elevator.
"I can see that there are not enough jobs to keep you busy in Hudson corporations and that’s why you are idle enough to laze around so early in the morning.
"If you are all tired of working in this organization you can as well report to HR and receive your enumeration for the month, since you’re all jobless."
There was an eerie silence as everyone scurried back to their duty post.
Aside from the president, the next person that commanded the respect of everyone was Johnson.
As a matter of fact, for those years that Shawn shut down from work after Kathleen’s disappearance, Johnson was the one competently running the company and as a result, his words were the same as the president giving his word.
"Let me sound a note of warning. Remember the contract you all signed before joining this organization."
With that he strode out of the reception door like an emperor.
Without doubt everyone remembered the oath of secrecy they had signed as part of the contract before joining the company.
It was a fast rule in the company that whatever happens in the company must not be heard outside.
Whether it involved the higher ups or the least staff.
They knew without being told that they couldn’t talk about what they saw today as no one was ready to face the consequences of being caught discussing the President.
Meanwhile Shawn arrived at his office with Kathleen and went to draw back the curtains. He remembered just like yesterday how she loved to admire the view from the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city.
When they got married, she had sometimes come to accompany Shawn when he was working late.
This was the first time she was coming to Shawn’s office after six years.
Her eyes locked onto the distinctive and elegant couch positioned near the window – the very couch Shawn had specially gotten for her from B&B Italia, a high end furniture store in Milan just for her comfort.
Unconsciously drawn to the couch, Kathleen took a step forward, her heart pounding with mixed emotions. As she got close to the sofa, she hesitated for a moment, her fingers lightly tracing the exquisite fabric that still looked as pristine as the day Shawn had placed it there.
She slowly lowered herself onto the couch, the softness of the pillows enveloping her as she sank into the familiar comfort.
From there she could still admire the view of the city as before. It reminded her of the thoughtful gesture he had made then, the times spent in this very office, the heartfelt conversations, and the gestures that once connected them.
The weight of the memories tied to this simple yet meaningful gesture then, momentarily overwhelmed her.
She exhaled slowly as she gazed around the office, noting the subtle changes while certain aspects remained unchanged.
"Nobody had sat down there since you left," she heard Shawn saying.
From his words she could feel the sadness emanating from his heart. She looked up and met his gaze.
She was shaken by the intensity of what she saw in his eyes which conveyed an array of unspoken but deeply felt emotions; a deep longing for reconciliation and the chance to rebuild what had once been important to both of them.
