Sophie and the others saw that we were fine, so they drove away. Elena also felt that it was not good to keep the stalemate, so she let go of my hand and prepared to go around the front of the car to my passenger seat. I saw the opportunity, immediately shifted into reverse gear, and stepped on the accelerator. The car fell backwards crazily, and I braked again, shifted back to first gear, and started, passing by Elena who had no time to react.

I escaped. Through the rearview mirror, I saw Elena running toward her car, determined to chase me. Not a chance. I avoided the main roads, veering right and taking random turns at each intersection. After twenty minutes of driving, I finally stopped, relieved to have shaken her off.

I parked in a secluded alley and exhaled deeply, my heart still racing. Elena was truly a source of endless frustration. Her stubbornness and persistence were overwhelming, leaving me with no way to fight back.

The next morning, with the usual morning meeting that had so often irked me now absent, I felt as though I had entered a serene haven. Light on my feet, I walked toward the smoking area in the company, my brief escape from the pressures of the day.

I retrieved a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. The familiar taste instantly filled my lungs, banishing weariness and worries in a single breath. Just as I was basking in this calm moment, my phone rang, shattering the tranquility. I picked it up, and saw that it was Sophie calling, causing a slight jolt in my chest.

"Sophie," I said, trying to keep my voice calm.

"Where are you?" Her voice came through cold and sharp.

"At the company," I replied, somewhat confused as to why she was asking such a question.

"In that place at the company?" Sophie's tone seemed even more impatient.

"Smoking area," I answered honestly, feeling a touch uneasy.

"Get up here now!" Sophie commanded before hanging up.

I lowered my phone, took a deep drag of my cigarette, and slowly exhaled. I knew then that Sophie was truly angry. Shaking my head in resignation, I extinguished the cigarette, stood, and walked toward her office.

The moment I entered, I felt the powerful aura Sophie radiated. She glared at me, her eyes burning with fury.

"Didn't I tell you not to smoke?" she demanded, her words sharp as daggers.

"Did you? When did you say that? What right do you have to control whether I smoke?" I felt a surge of irritation, questioning why she was being so controlling.

"By virtue of you being my assistant, and me paying your salary," she retorted, her voice louder than mine, filled with authority.

I was immediately subdued by her commanding presence, unsure of how to respond. In her presence, I always felt inferior, as if she were my superior, and I had no choice but to obey.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Give me the cigarette," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Reluctantly, I pulled out the pack of cigarettes that cost twelve yuan and handed it to her. She took it, inspecting the pack before asking,"How much did these cost?"

"12 dollars," I replied quietly, feeling a twinge of reluctance. Though the cigarettes were not expensive, they were a rare indulgence for me.

"So, you spend 360 dollars a month on cigarettes, over 4,000 dollars a year? Didn't you say you were helping your family pay off their debts? Is this how you're doing it?" Her tone carried a note of reproach, and I was left feeling utterly ashamed.

I glared at her, my heart filled with a sense of injustice and helplessness. I knew she was right—I did indeed need to economize in order to help my family pay off their debts. However, smoking was my way of relieving stress, a small escape to claim for myself in this chaotic world.

"Find a desk and move it into my office," she suddenly said, interrupting my thoughts.

"What?" I looked up at her, taken aback.

"You idiot, do you know how to do the job of an assistant now? Come over to my place and I'll tell you." She looked at me with helplessness in her eyes.

I didn't want to work in her office—it would feel suffocating. But seeing the seriousness in her expression, I knew there was no room for argument.

I went to the general office to find a desk, then asked Theo Westbrook to help me carry it over. Once we set it down, I fetched a chair. Sophie pointed to a spot and said,"Put the desk there."

I followed her instructions, arranging the desk and then sitting in the chair. My desk was directly facing hers, though my side was turned toward the door. This way, I could keep an eye on the entrance while not being entirely under her watch.

I felt a strange absence—where was that pretty boy today? But I didn't dwell on it, as company matters were always unpredictable.

At that moment, Sophie spoke again."Tomorrow, you'll go to Virelia. Pack up tonight. If the deal goes through, we can do it here."

I furrowed my brow, somewhat confused."A Virelia order done here? Isn't that a waste of resources? The logistics fees alone must be astronomical."

She glanced at me, apparently surprised by my question. She explained,"I didn't realize you actually knew something. Yes, logistics costs are high. But the order will be delivered here in the end. Do you think I'm as foolish as you? I've already accounted for these things."

Her words caught me off guard, and I felt a wave of defiance rising within me. Still, I had to admit she had a point—I hadn't considered these factors.

Suddenly, she asked,"Does your arm still hurt?"

I realized she was referring to the burn from the cigarette butt yesterday. I touched my arm and found that it had healed considerably."It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Of course, thick-skinned and tough, not afraid of pain," she mocked.

A flood of curses raced through my mind. I couldn't believe a word this woman said—everything was just another form of retaliation. But I knew I had no choice but to endure her taunts and mockery.

Working under her constant scrutiny was unbearable, and there wasn't much to do. Although I claimed I didn't know how, the tasks she gave me were so simple that anyone could do them. Perhaps she was afraid I wouldn't manage, but it hardly mattered.

Finally, it was lunchtime. I quickly finished my meal and went to the smoking area to grab a cigarette. She had confiscated mine, so I had to rely on others. After a few exchanges, I managed to get two cigarettes. I carefully pocketed the remaining ones and returned to the office, only to find she was not there. I could finally take a proper nap.

Just when I was sleeping soundly, there was a loud bang and someone next to me slammed a folder on the desk. I was so scared that my heart started pounding."You are trying to scare me to death?" I said dissatisfiedly.

"Look at the time, still sleeping," she snapped, even more displeased.

I glanced at the clock—it was nearly two o'clock. I had no idea when she had returned, but she had certainly scared the life out of me.