Chapter 4: Not Going to Take a Step Back
After Wilson left the ward, Alina stared at the ceiling.
Rosie thought that she fell ill because Hall stole her precious design plans, but she didn't know that it was actually because of a phone call.
That call made her so furious that she came down with a fever.
It was a woman with whom Alina had lost contact since three years ago. She could still remember her haughty tone. "Alina, you have to leave Jameson City. Ken Anderson is transferring his business to Jameson City!"
Three years ago, she left Ritz City because of this woman. Three years later, how could she have the audacity to force her to leave again?
Alina remembered what she replied on the phone, "I won't leave Jameson City, and I won't let anyone else disturb my life ever again!"
The woman became angry and threatened her, "Alina, you'd better leave Jameson City while I am still being nice. Otherwise, I will make your life hell. There is no chance of you getting back together with Ken. You are less than nothing to him now!"
Alina cut her off before she could finish. They have nothing to do with each other now, why should she stay silent and listen to her tirade?
"She is going to make my life hell, is she? Well, I can't wait to see what she has in mind!" Alina thought.
The next day.
When Mr. Hall noticed Alina, he smiled and asked her to go to his office. He handed an envelope containing money to her. However, she rejected it. Rosie had already informed her that he had received 200 thousand dollars by submitting her design plan. This envelope should only contain less than 10 thousand. As dumb as she might be, Alina knew that this was crossing the line.
With a smile, she refused to take the envelope. "Director, what do you mean by this? As far as I know, the bonus for this plan was 200 thousand dollars!"
It was not the first time that Mr. Hall stole her ideas. However, this time he had submitted her design completely without any changes. Did he think she was a doormat?
Rosie always felt indignant for Alina and cursed him for stealing her ideas. Before this incident, Alina usually kept quiet and brushed it off. Mr. Hall was her superior, taking credit for her ideas was a small matter. As a subordinate, naturally she should pull her own weight and support her superiors.
However, this time he had gone too far. Alina could not keep her anger in any longer.
Mr. Hall said arrogantly, "Alina, do you have the guts to report me to the headquarters? It's my word against yours. Let's see if they believe you or me. I'll be honest with you, Amy Evans, one of Harry Adams' secretaries is my cousin.
...
"Don't be impulsive and think carefully about it. I am the director of a subsidiary company under the Adams Family Group. To be in this position, be it in terms of ability or soft skills, is not something an average person could achieve easily.
"Therefore, Alina, listen to my advice. Look on the bright side, then you will understand. Think about it, me selecting your design plan for the submission is a great honour to you as well!"
Alina laughed at his threat. Indeed, only someone despicable like him could climb to his position by stepping on others! She had never seen anyone with such thick skin who could say things like this! "Alina, what do you mean? I am trying to be kind here by offering you a reward. Are you saying that you want the complete sum of 200 thousand dollars?" Mr. Hall was livid at her rejection.
For the first time, Alina stood up to him. "I always thought that everything would be fine if I took a step back. I was proven wrong. Putting up with abuse would only cause me to be trampled upon. As the saying goes, give someone an inch and they will take a mile. So yes, I want the 200 thousand dollars because it belongs to me!"
Alina swore that from now on, she would never stand down and allow others to take away anything that belonged to her.
Hall laughed maniacally. "Alina, are you delusional? I'll wait and see what you can do to get your money back. Get out of my office!"
She squared her shoulders and turned to leave the director's office.
As far as she knew, the president of the Adams Family Group was a man in his fifties. He had a team of seven secretaries, each handling different affairs. She was sure that someone would reply to her email of complaint from a subsidiary company.
Alina took a deep breath and sent an email to the Adams Family's secretary team. It contained information and material she had compiled last night proving that she was the true designer of the submitted plan from Imperial Landscapes.
Although the email had been sent out, she was still very nervous. She remembered Hall had mentioned that his cousin was one of the secretaries. She hoped that this email would not be intercepted. Otherwise, it would be difficult for her to claim ownership of the plan she had painstakingly designed and the 200 thousand dollars.
At noon, she left the office. She noticed a tall, familiar figure. Wilson was wearing a suit with shiny leather shoes. He had striking features and a piercing gaze.