There was no need for clarification about whom Alex was referring to. James sighed in relief, understanding immediately. To him, this was a minor issue, Rainee was nothing more than the secretary of his company's designer.
"No problem, Mr. Fraser. It will be taken care of today itself," James assured confidently.
Hearing this, Alex offered a polished, professional smile and nodded politely before stepping into the elevator. James Smith accompanied him, personally seeing him off. That simple smile and courteous nod from Alex Fraser, the most prominent figure in the business world, were enough to leave James satisfied. For a small businessman like him, having someone of Alex's caliber visit his company, entrust him with a new project, and part with a smile was nothing short of a monumental achievement.
___
As soon as Rainee received the news, she let out a small sigh, nodding as if she had anticipated it. Her gaze fell to her hands, which were tightly gripping the employment termination contract. It would have been a lie to say she wasn't frustrated or angry, but she knew there was little she could do.
Still, she didn't regret standing up to Alex. She hadn't done anything wrong. It wasn't her fault, and she refused to blame herself. She hadn't planned on staying at this company forever, but somehow, being dismissed in this manner stung.
When her boss informed her, "You're fired," and handed her a termination letter with a 30-day allowance, a wave of anger rose within her.
"What exactly did I do wrong?" she demanded, her voice firm and resolute. "You can't terminate my employment contract without providing a justifiable and acceptable reason. If you fail to do so, I have every right to file a lawsuit against the company for breach of contract."
James blinked a few times, clearly caught off guard. He hadn't expected this. Very few employees ever dared to question his decisions, but he knew he couldn't brush her off without a proper explanation.
"I sent you to my office to have a proper discussion with Mr. Fraser, but instead..." He paused, frustration evident in his tone. "I don't know what you did to make him so angry, but because of you, I almost lost the new project. Do you even realize that?"
Rainee raised her eyes to meet his, her expression steady despite the tension. Standing beside James was Alex's assistant, observing the exchange silently. She didn't know why, but for the first time, she felt an urge to lash out at her boss. Yet, she forced herself to stay composed. In a calm, polite voice, she asked,
"And why did you send me there? As far as I know, I have no connection to that project. I'm just the secretary of a designer."
James's frustration seemed to mount as he struggled to justify himself. "You!..." He began, but then let out a weary sigh. "You're also a part of this company, aren't you? You know how important the Diamond Club project is for us. It's everyone's responsibility to do whatever it takes to secure this deal. But because of your carelessness, I almost lost it. Don't you think about the company before anything else?"
Rainee shook her head slowly, disbelief and frustration evident on her face.
"No, I'm not a part of this company anymore. In fact, I was already planning to resign after my contract ended, but you've saved me the trouble. Thank you, Mr. Smith," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. With a faint, mocking smile, she added, "It was... very pleasant to work for you."
Without waiting for his reply, Rainee gave him a curt nod and left his office to pack up her belongings.
_____
Meanwhile, Alex sat in his office, immersed in his pending work. He had wasted time yesterday dealing with Rainee's antics, and although it was Sunday, working through the weekend was nothing unusual for him. He enjoyed it, it kept him focused and allowed him to escape from everything else.
A few hours later, Andrew entered after a polite knock, bowing slightly before placing a tablet on Alex's desk. Despite the satisfied look on Andrew's face, there was a trace of unease in his expression.
"It's done, sir," Andrew said.
Alex grabbed the tablet without sparing him a glance. He smirked as he played the video. It showed Rainee standing in her boss's office, her face a mixture of frustration and disappointment as she questioned the reason for her dismissal. Alex's smirk faded as the video continued. Something about her demeanor gnawed at him. Even after losing her job, she still carried herself with an air of defiance, her pride and confidence intact.
It didn't sit well with him.
"I want everything," Alex said coldly, his voice sharp. "Her biodata. Every detail about her life. I want to know everything."
Andrew had been expecting this. After years of working with Alex and knowing him since childhood, he understood his boss's tendencies better than most. He bowed slightly before stepping out of the office. A few minutes later, he returned, holding a neatly organized file.
"Here you go, sir. All the information we could gather on Ms. Rainee."
Alex took the file and began reading through it meticulously. Every detail about her life was laid out before him, and the more he read, the more intrigued he became. She was unlike anyone he'd encountered before.
Then, one line in particular caught his attention: When she was in middle school, Rainee received a scholarship offer from Fraser Industries but declined it, choosing instead to continue her education at an average school.
Alex froze, his brows furrowing in confusion. She had the chance to study at one of the top schools in the country, one sponsored by my company, but she refused? Why would a middle schooler make that kind of decision?
The thought lingered in his mind, sparking a mix of curiosity and irritation. Who is this woman?
"Really interesting..."
Alex murmured as he closed the file, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. Turning to Andrew, he spoke decisively.
"I've just finished my pending work. Postpone the meeting by two hours. Let's visit the other branch office where her boyfriend works,I want to meet him."
Andrew nodded. "Yes, sir."