Bridgette's POV
The cold wind caressed my face as I stepped out, hugging my blazer around my frail body.
My eyes brimmed with unshed tears as I watched a couple walk by with their daughter. Her face was brimming with smiles, but me? I rarely smiled when I was her age.
"Ring..."
The familiar sound snapped me out of my reverie and dragged me back to reality. Staring at the lit-up screen of my phone, an exasperated sigh escaped my lips at the familiar name glaring back at me.
I swiped up, and the frantic voice of my assistant filled the line almost immediately. "Hello, Miss Bridgette, are you there?"
"Yes, Jennie. What's the matter? It's past work hours," I muttered, running my fingers through my hair as I sensed the urgency in her tone.
"The CEO is in the office. His assistant seemed to have dropped a message to inform us about his presence, but—"
"But? Stop acting like you're in a heist," I retorted, my patience thinning.
"We didn't get the notice," she sighed. "Now, he's threatening to suspend our whole department for negligence of work." While she continued, I flagged down a cab immediately, another frustrated groan flowing from my lips.
"He won't dare do that." I slammed the door of the cab shut. I mouthed the location to the driver and focused back on Jennie. "Is he there with you?"
"Ye—yes, he is."
"Good, now put the phone on speaker." I leaned back in the seat and waited patiently for her to respond.
"I have, Miss Bridgette."
"Hello there, Mr. Rhysand." I made my voice firm. "As my assistant might have already told you, whatever message was sent to each department didn't get to us." I leaned forward and urged the driver to step on the damn accelerator.
"Are you trying to make an excuse for your act of negligence, Bridgette?" The bastard asked, getting on my already thin nerves.
"As the CEO, I'm sure you're intelligent, Mr. Rhysand. We didn't receive any message, and if you need someone to blame, it should be your secretary." I pointed out, staring at the familiar high walls of the company.
"Are you indirectly calling me stupid?" His deep voice filled my ears, and I shrugged at his ridiculous question.
"You heard what I said, Mr. Rhysand. And I'm sure everyone heard as well. I didn't call you stupid." The car pulled up in front of the company, and I hurried in, skipping the identification process since the security already recognized me.
"You have no excuse for your negligence, Bridgette. Your team will still be suspended."
"Mr. Rhysand." I pinched the bridge of my nose, stepping into the elevator. "Look, I'm not trying to make excuses. Ask your secretary to check her end. If she did send the message to my team, I'll take responsibility." I punched the button to my office floor and waited patiently.
He paused in his response, probably staring at his secretary with those evil brown eyes of his. A slight whimper settled in my ears, and just as I was about to blurt out another word, the elevator door opened.
I stepped into my office and hung up the call. "I believe we can talk better this way."
"Miss Bridgette!" Jennie called dramatically, heaving a sigh of relief as soon as she noticed my presence.
"You didn't have the mail sent to our department." I fixed my gaze on the cause of my nemesis tonight, taking slow strides toward her.
"I—I, I did," she argued, lowering her eyes to avoid contact with mine.
"Your actions are already a clear indication that you did not." I spat, turning to stare at him—Rhysand Warner, the CEO of the company I worked for, and the man I hate the most.
"I believe the situation is clear now, Mr. Rhys. The fault isn't ours, and as much as you might want to project this onto us, I know that with your abilities and sense of leadership, you know the person to hold accountable." My lips curled into a smirk at the pissed-off expression on his face.
"I'll make sure she's punished for that." He sat upright and crossed his long legs. "And how about the task assigned to you? I'm sure there's no excuse for this one, right?" If he thought he had me pressed in a tight corner, he was wrong.
"Not at all, Mr. Rhys. My team and I are named the best team in the company for a reason. We already have everything in place." I nodded at Jennie. "Bring them out."
I stepped sideways as Jennie brought out the documents from my desk. The men behind him lowered their heads to hide their laughter, while I just stared with a hint of mockery as Jennie handed the documents to him.
"And is this what the arrangement is?" He asked, flipping through the pages of the document annoyingly, looking and searching for the fault he'd never find in them.
"Have them back." He handed the documents back to me. "The business partners are going to arrive any time soon, so I want you all to do your best. A single mistake and I'll make sure you pay for it in ways you can't imagine." He warned as I made my way toward Jennie.
"Where are the rest, and why are you the only one here?" I asked.
"I made a call to everyone, but I got here first because I live on the company's street. Plus, I was the first person she called," she explained, seething angrily at Rhysand's secretary.
"It's fine, we'll handle it," I muttered before plopping onto a seat, exhaustion washing over me.
The turmoil of emotions that coursed through me was crazy, and I could only hold back my emotions—most especially the one that involved slamming this man's head against the wall.