Blair suddenly remembered that it was Joslyn's birthday the next day. She quickly sent back a text to her. "I saw the message just now. So, who else will attend your party tomorrow evening?"
"Only a few old friends and classmates. Hartwell will take me out and celebrate my birthday at noon, because he can't make it in the evening. We can enjoy ourselves without any disturbance in Room 616 tomorrow." Joslyn hadn't slept yet. It was clear that she was extremely excited from the detailed message she sent back.
Hartwell was always as busy as Wesley. That was the reason why Joslyn couldn't see her husband every day. Yet he always made it up for his absence in different ways.
"No problem then. I'll be off work at 5:30 p.m. I can reach there before 7."
Joslyn sent her the emoji with a flying kiss. "Sleep tight. Don't stay awake overnight."
"Will do so. Good night then. See you tomorrow!"
After sending the message, Blair put away her phone. She turned off the light and closed her eyes as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Every night before she slept, her thoughts would drift off to Wesley—to everything he said and did. Sometimes she would imagine how their future would be. Tonight was no exception.
The next morning, Blair handed the translated documents to the manager of the German cooperative partner in the conference room. They were satisfied and spoke highly of her capability. She heaved a sigh of relief. Of course, she thanked Wesley's help in her mind.
After the meeting, Blair was called into Filberta's office. Her superior requested her team to perform a show in the company's annual gala next month. Filberta even gave a specific suggestion, asking them to present a dance on the stage.
Blair was surprised. She asked in confusion, "Dance? But why?"
Wearing bright red lipstick on her lips, Filberta flashed an evil smile. "Well, as you already know, most of the staff members in our company are men. It'll help to enliven the atmosphere of the party. Just learn some steps of modern dance and practice it with your team members. Besides, you aren't married yet, right? It's a good chance that will help you find a boyfriend. Do remember to put on the shortest skirt, put on heavy makeup and move your body as sexily as you can."
Blair seethed in anger. She didn't know how to dance. It was late winter now, and Filberta was asking her to wear a miniskirt. Did this vicious woman want to freeze her to death? But Blair understood the actual intent of her words. She knew that Filberta wanted to humiliate her and was going to use this opportunity to do so. "Ms. Wang, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. Since childhood I've not been good at dancing. And sadly I have no other talents. It will bring shame to our department if I perform on the stage. So I think it is better if you don't count me in."
"Don't count you in? No way! You and your team must perform and present a dance in the show!" Filberta was persistent.
She had a stronger desire now to push Blair onto the stage as she had confessed that she had no other talents. It was clear to everyone that Blair was like a goddess in the eyes of many of the male staff members. It would be a good opportunity to show Blair's incapability and ineptness to them. They would surely be disappointed.
Blair rolled her eyes. "Why do we have to perform? Don't I have the right to make a choice? Is it also in the company rules that one can be compelled to dance even if one isn't willing to?"
Sensing Blair's anger, Filberta said in a righteous voice, "The annual gala is the biggest event of the company in a year. Why can't you make a little contribution to support the company? But now I can clearly see that your work attitudes and ethics are not good enough."
Blair felt her blood boiling in anger. "You mean to say that my work attitude is not good just because I refuse to perform on the stage?" she countered.
"Sorry to say but yes!" Filberta replied, trying to sound firm.
Blair couldn't keep her anger in control anymore. "Are you nuts?"
Although there wasn't a third person in her office, Filberta still felt humiliated, being retorted by a subordinate. She instantly shouted back, "How dare you! Why don't you quit the job if you can't follow orders? Who do you think you are? Huh? Everyone said yes except you. Don't you think it's your problem? Just put on a good performance. No more nonsense!"
She ended her sentence like a thunderous roar. Blair didn't want to make a scene. Suppressing her anger, she explained patiently, "Ms. Wang, I don't mean to reject your order on purpose. I just don't want to embarrass the translation department. There're many better choices."
Filberta didn't care about the reputation of the department. Getting Blair to present a dance, that was exactly her purpose. "I don't care. I just give my orders and you are the one to execute it. Find a solution yourself. Keep in mind that if you don't perform, you won't get your bonus this year."
Blair was overwhelmed by the urge to toss the documents at that vicious woman's face. She was not just an annoying woman but also as stubborn as a mule. She wanted to say out, "I can't bear this foolishness. I quit!"
But, she couldn't. She had been working in this company for less than three months. She didn't want to give up the job so quickly. On second thoughts, she realized she didn't need to be afraid of Filberta. This woman wasn't the boss, and Blair didn't get the salary directly from her. "In this case, I think I need to talk to our boss. I'll ask him which company rule states such a requirement -no show, no bonus."
Uttering those words, Blair turned around and stormed out of her office.
She returned to her own seat and tried to compose herself. The colleague who was next to her quietly leaned closer towards her and said, "Blair, we heard loud voices from Filberta's office. Did you argue with her again? What's up?"
Blair exhaled deeply and said, "She has asked our team to put up a performance in the company annual gala next month."
"Oh really? But I have no talents…" The colleague pulled a long face. Just like Blair, she was a bookish girl who had spent most of their time studying English. She didn't have time to learn other skills.
Blair had a good voice. But she really didn't want to perform on the stage. She would rather make a speech.
At the thought of it, Blair angrily plumped the documents on the desk. "I'll try to find a solution."
But she kept wondering how she could really talk to the boss! It was improper for her to skip the other leaders and go straight to the boss. Filberta was her immediate superior, and above Filberta's grade, there were still a few senior managers and executives. She couldn't report directly to Percy over such a trivial matter.
And it was no use talking to the other senior managers. They all would turn a blind eye on Filberta's unreasonable behaviors.
After office hours, Blair forgot about the unhappiness at work and headed for Orchid Private Club, with a birthday gift that she had already prepared.
When she arrived, she saw a dozen people in the well-decorated room. Blair knew most of them.
When Joslyn saw Blair coming in, she lunged at her happily. "Dear Bless, you came!" They hugged each other warmly.
Blair passed her the gift as she greeted her and said, "Happy birthday, Joslyn."
Joslyn took the gift and kissed Blair on the cheek. "Thank you so much!"
A few men enthusiastically surrounded Blair and asked questions one after one. "Blair, I heard you are working in the Jin Group now. It that true?"
"I heard you had studied abroad for two years. Have you been working in that company since you came back?"
"Blair, do you remember me? I was your deskmate at middle school."
Blair maintained her polite smile while answering their questions. When she was on the brink of a meltdown, Joslyn pulled the girl to her side and warned the boys, "Hey, hey. Spare Blair. She's got a boyfriend."
Aby Lin, one of the boys who was present there, snorted and said brazenly, "So what? As long as she hasn't gotten married, we all have a chance to win her over."
"Yeah, I agree. Blair, dump your boyfriend and start dating Aby," another boy teased.
Blair said nothing; she just had a soft and calm smile on her face. She moved away from the group and sat among the girls.
In the military area of Y City, Wesley had just finished his work and returned to his office.
Talbot and a few other soldiers knocked on the door one by one and stormed into his office.
Seeing the mischievous smiles on their faces, Wesley knew these guys must be up to something.
"Well, now that you are here. Tell me what's bothering you!" Wesley asked with a smirk on his face.
In a low voice and sounding very serious, Talbot asked Wesley, "Chief, do you know Blair's phone number?"
Wesley squinted at him. When he spoke, his voice was full of threats. "You want to do sit-ups or push-ups?"
"No, no! Chief, please check Blair's WeChat Moments now. Don't hurry in your decision to punish us. We mean well," Talbot said, feigning fear on his face. But he wasn't really scared of his leader. Ever since he saw Wesley and Blair kissing each other last time, Wesley never punished him again even when Blair's name was brought up in a conversation. That itself meant there was something between them which was undeniable.
