Chapter 546 Martin's Mixed Emotions
The next day, Patricia gathered her composure and arrived at the office bright and early, ready to face the day's challenges head-on.
She thought she had arrived quite early, but to her surprise, James and Alan were already there ahead of her. Alan was dressed in his usual white shirt and black suit, exuding the image of a polished white-collar professional. James was also wearing the same outfit as the day before—a white shirt, black pants, and a black face mask. Anyone would think he hadn't gone home all night.
As Patricia walked into the office, James heard her and instinctively looked towards the door. Their gazes collided.
Their eyes met, hanging in the air for a few seconds before Patricia was the first to break away. Without avoidance or guilt, she shifted her gaze from James to Alan and joked, "I thought I was early, but it seems you guys beat me to it."
Alan chuckled. "Today's battle is important. We had to come in early to prepare."
As Patricia approached, she inquired, "How are the preparations going?"
Alan gave her an 'OK' sign.
Just then, James blurted out, "How did you sleep last night?"
With an easy-going response, Patricia said, "Pretty well, actually." Gone was the enchanted look of the previous day when her eyes had held only his image, filled with joy.
Her sudden change caught James off guard, casting a shadow of disappointment across his mind and stirring up a complex mix of emotions. He cast his eyes downward, concealing his feelings with a self-mocking smile. Wasn't this what he had hoped for? So why did it hurt? James quickly forced himself to regain his composure and immerse himself in his work.
Time flew when one was busy. Before he knew it, it was time for the meeting.
Patricia arrived at the conference room ten minutes early, taking her place at the head of the table to wait. Almost everyone expected today was there. The conference room filled up, but Jack from Human Resources and Andrew from marketing were noticeably absent. They had always been punctual in the past.
Patricia glanced toward James, who shot her a look in return. Without words, she understood his message. She leaned back, arms crossed, and remarked coolly, "We're still missing Jack and Andrew. Let's wait for them."
There were awkward chuckles, but no one spoke up. Patricia's piercing gaze swept across their faces, her smile growing.
Tick-tock, tick-tock. Restlessness set in, and people began checking their phones. Some looked towards Patricia as if wanting to speak but held their tongues.
At half-past nine, Patricia said to Alan, "Give Jack and Andrew a ring. See when they'll be getting here."
Alan nodded, pulled out his cell, and dialed Jack. The phone rang on and on, and just when everyone thought Jack wouldn't answer, the call connected.
"Alan, I'm sorry," an anxious voice spilled through the speaker, his words clear to everyone in the room, "something came up at the last minute, and I can't make the executive meeting."
Patricia's face darkened, and she said sternly, "The notice clearly stated that absences were not permitted under any circumstances. You're supposed to be here unless you're half-dead, even if it means crawling in."
"I'm really sorry, Patricia," Jack cheerily replied. "Something urgent popped up on my end. I'll head back as soon as I wrap things up here."
"You're not coming back at all?"
"I really can't make it back!"
He showed no regard for Patricia and her authority.
The executives exchanged looks. Only Jack dared to stand up against the boss openly. Though they had all walked out on strike, they'd concoct various excuses to keep a backdoor open, never burning bridges completely. Jack, however, blatantly defied the boss's orders; it was commendable bravery.
Patricia's face turned gray. She shot Alan a look, who then dialed Andrew's number.
Andrew was even more defiant than Jack. Alan called five times, yet he did not pick up. There was no answer when Alan tried his landline either.
A frost seemed to settle on Patricia's face, her expression chillingly cold.
The senior managers, previously intrigued by the drama, sensed her fury and bowed their heads, afraid to even breathe too loudly.
"It's nine forty," Patricia said. "I'm giving them twenty minutes. If they aren't here by ten, I'll show no mercy."
A pin-drop silence filled the boardroom. The executives glanced around. Some in close touch with Jack and Andrew stealthily texted them.
[Jack, Patricia's lost it. Get here, or it's going to be a complete mess.]
[Andrew, Patricia's on the warpath. Get here, or it's going to be a complete mess.]
Andrew responded to the text instantly.
Andrew: [So what if she's furious? What's she gonna do, fire me? I'm Max's guy. I'm not scared of some new woman on the block!]
Jack replied as well.
Jack: [She can stay mad. I'm not a chicken, unlike you guys.]
Reading their responses, the senders didn't know what to say, so they just put away their phones with a sigh.
The time ticked away until it was the stroke of ten. Patricia turned off her phone screen.
"Jack and Andrew have disobeyed a direct order and missed an important company meeting without cause, she said. "They are terminated, effective immediately. Alan, please see to the paperwork."
A collective gasp buzzed through the boardroom as everyone was taken aback – the punishment was much harsher than anyone had anticipated.
They also felt a sense of relief, thankful that they had shown up. Otherwise, it would have been them getting the boot.
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