Chapter 4

"What a coincidence, huh?" I looked at the security captain.

The police officer examined the scratch, and then the janitor lady, before saying to me, "Sir, this scratch doesn't seem to be the result of an accidental scratch, but there's no evidence. She looks troubled and can't afford to compensate you. How about you handle it by yourself through insurance?"

I knew I could not do anything without evidence, so I nodded.

The police officer reminded us to take care and left.

As soon as the police car left, Xenia immediately came up to me, looking smug. "Alex, do you admit defeat now? I told you that every company has its rules. Anyone who offends me will face a miserable end. Did you think that was all?"

She took another step closer. "I've submitted your attendance record. Late arrivals, early departures, poor performance, and you failed your probation. You don't have to come tomorrow. You're fired."

I retorted, "You don't have the right to fire me. You're just the HR. The appointment and dismissal decisions are made by Mr. Wilson."

"Ha, don't believe me? Fine, let's go upstairs and talk to the manager now!"

We returned to the office.

Xenia's tone was aggrieved. "Alex Rockman has gone too far. He's always late and leaves early. His work performance is terrible, and today he even called the police, damaging the company's image."

"This is his attendance record and evaluation; it's written clearly. I recommend firing him." She placed several sheets of paper on the table.

Director Eden Rice picked them up and frowned. He looked at me and then at Xenia, pointing to a spot on the attendance record. "Xenia, I remember Alex went out with me for work that day, so he's not considered late, right?"

Xenia's expression changed. "Ah, maybe I'm mistaken. I'll go back and check."

"And this evaluation..." Eden put down the paper, his tone serious. "It's too subjective with no specifics. Xenia, HR records must be objective, not emotional. This won't do; take it back and redo it."

Xenia was stunned, not expecting the manager to be like this. "Mr. Rice, he..."

At that moment, the door opened, and Kirk walked in.

"What's all the commotion about?" He looked me over before staring at me, "Are you the new intern, Alex Rockman?"

"Yes, it's me."

"I heard about you! So what if you drive a nice car? We asked you to give a pregnant colleague a ride, yet you made all sorts of excuses, even to the extent of threatening to call the police! You aren’t helpful or a team player at all! Our company doesn't need selfish employees like you!"

He pointed at the documents in Xenia's hand. "Is the dismissal process complete? Keeping someone like this is bad practice! Let him go immediately! If he causes any more trouble, call the police and say he was causing a disruption!"

Xenia nodded immediately.

I looked at them, finding it a little funny. "Xenia, if I picked you up from work every day, brought you breakfast and good food, would you have let me stay?"

The office fell silent for a moment.

Xenia did not expect me to be so direct. Her expression was a little unnatural, but she quickly raised her chin.

She did not answer me, but instead said to Kirk in a magnanimous tone, "Mr. Wilson, he's young and doesn't know any better. Maybe he just made a foolish mistake. Why don't we give him another chance?

"As long as he admits he was wrong, follows instructions from now on, and gets along with his coworkers, I don't see why we can't keep him."

Kirk scoffed and glared at me. "Did you hear that? Ms. Salter gave you a chance! If she hadn't pleaded for you, you'd be out of here right now! Hurry and thank her."

I stayed silent as I looked at Xenia.

Thinking I had given in, she became more smug, even waving her hand hypocritically. "There’s no need to thank me. Just behave yourself and remember to pick me up on time tomorrow. For breakfast, the lobster roll and soy latte at Deluxe at the intersection are good. Got it?"

I did not answer. I merely turned and walked out of the manager's office.

The door closed.

Xenia's smiling voice came from inside, "Kirk, you really have authority. These youngsters need to be taught a lesson."

I walked to the fire escape, took out my phone and called my friend Andrew Sheffield. He was my childhood friend, and his favorite thing was racing.