5
514words
“What’s all this about?You’re humiliating me in front of everyone!I’ve already paid and apologized,and I’ve tried talking to you these past few days.Why are you still targeting me?...You’re bullying me because I’m an outsider with no one to stand up for meWhy, after I’ve been so kind to you.”
I chuckled,finished checking the gifts,and pushed them toward her:
“Just shut up.By ‘kind’ you mean asking me to cover for you when you pretend to have a stomachache to skip work?Or when your husband bans snacks,but you make me buy them?I can’t afford your ‘kindness.’We’ve all seen your husband’s temper—I’m not crossing him.”
Seeing I wouldn’t budge,Jane turned to the others,sobbing about her hardships at home and how she was being judged at work.
The colleagues exchanged glances.Sarah Miller coughed and spoke up:
“Emma’s just looking out for you.Being pregnant’s a big deal—better to be cautious.’
Others chimed in,saying if the gift boxes caused issues,Tom might storm in again.
Jane,fuming,stormed to the bathroom to cry.
The next day,word spread that Jane was hospitalized for eating something bad.
Tom,face contorted with rage,stormed into the office with a hospital bill,yanking me from my chair.His breath reeked as he roared:
“You little bitch!Didn’t I warn you to be careful since my wife’s pregnant?You dared give her wine chocolates,and now she’s in the hospital with a stomachache!You hurt my wife,fine—but the doctor says alcohol might affect the baby’s brain.You looking for your own death?”
He ranted on,and I discreetly dialed 911 using the phone inside my drawer.
Colleagues rushed over to separate us.
Calmly,I asked what Jane had told him.Tom pulled out his phone,playing a voice message.Jane’s voice was frail and pitiful:
She said she was hungry on her way to work,ate the wine chocolates I gave her,and ended up in the hospital in pain.She added that I was rich and had been against her since my crystal was smashed,begging Tom not to confront me to avoid further trouble for their child.
I sneered,glancing at Jane’s desk.She was a master at lying.
I tried to explain,but Tom wasn’t here to reason with me.He slapped me hard.
Slap!The sound silenced the room.
Tom was so strong that this slap sent blood trickling from my mouth.My head buzzed,and I collapsed.Colleagues rushed to help me.
Tom,emboldened,raised his hand again.Ding!The elevator opened,and police and security guards stormed in,restraining him.
The office had cameras—Tom’s assault and provocation were undeniable.
During the confrontation,I showed Tom the video of me checking the gift boxes.His eyes wavered,realizing he had been lied to,but he refused to admit it,insisting I harmed his son.The police, didn’t know what to say to this lunatic,cuffed him and took him away.
Tom’ mother rushed in,pointing at me and claiming I provoked them,demanding the police to cuff us both away.The police showed the footage—I hadn’t fought back.
She collapsed,wailing that the police and I were in cahoots,accusing me of bribing them to fake the video.The police warned her to stop,or she would be detained too,and she finally quieted down.
