The security guard, seeing it was Liu Jia, froze for a full three seconds. Liu Jia, noticing his silence, put on her glasses and continued towards the reception desk.
What she didn't expect was the security guard hurrying after her. He waved his electric baton, blocking her path, and said with a stern face, "I'm sorry, Miss Liu. Director Li is not in the company today, please come back another time."
Although the guard's words were polite on the surface, his tone clearly conveyed a sense of dismissal.
Liu Jia's heart sank, and a terrible premonition crept up her spine like a tendril.
After all, Uncle Zhang had never treated her this way before. He knew her relationship with Director Li, so he was always exceptionally courteous and attentive whenever she visited the company. Whether Director Li was in or not, Uncle Zhang would always let her in.
Today, Uncle Zhang was stopping her and expressionlessly telling her to leave. What could have happened?
Even though she didn't know what was going on, she absolutely couldn't leave! Since Uncle Zhang wouldn't let her in, she would have to concoct a very formal reason. Liu Jia thought to herself.
Liu Jia took a deep breath, flashed Uncle Zhang a bright smile, and said gently and deliberately, "Uncle Zhang, you know that I always have urgent matters when I come to see Director Li! This time is no exception. I need to discuss a cooperation project worth thirty million yuan with Director Li. I rushed here against the clock. You see, if time is wasted and the project is snatched by a competitor, what then?"
Watching Uncle Zhang's face turn progressively paler, Liu Jia winked meaningfully and continued, "If this cooperation project falls through, can you bear the responsibility, Uncle Zhang? Thirty million yuan – I'm afraid you wouldn't earn that much in your lifetime."
As soon as she finished speaking, Uncle Zhang's face turned ashen. He stammered for a long time, finally managing to utter a single word, "Really?"
Seeing this, Liu Jia knew she had successfully fooled the guard. She nodded, put her sunglasses back on, and said, "Of course it's real! Would it be fake otherwise?"
With that, she strode proudly towards the reception desk, under Uncle Zhang's dumbfounded gaze.
Although she didn't know why Uncle Zhang was stopping her, it was likely related to Director Li. Perhaps it was even Director Li's order! In any case, she would deal with it as the situation unfolded once she met Director Li.
On the thirty-eighth floor, in the general manager's office, a middle-aged man in a suit stood before a large floor-to-ceiling window, holding an exquisite wine glass filled with red wine.
From his vantage point, he had a clear view of everything that had just transpired.
Heh, it was just as he had predicted. Liu Jia had indeed come to him after hitting dead ends everywhere.
What a foolish, laughable, and self-important woman. Even now, she hadn't realized this was all a trap? She was merely a pawn being manipulated, unaware that her doom was approaching.
Just half an hour ago, he had instructed his assistant to inform his legitimate wife. He was sure she would arrive soon, and then, the real show would begin.
Director Li flashed a cunning and cruel smile, raised his wrist, and downed the red liquid in his glass.
Liu Jia repeatedly checked her face in the mirror. She tidied herself up to appear pitiful, but the injury near her eye made her look ridiculous. Nervously, she knocked on Director Li's office door.
Liu Jia hoped Director Li might still have a shred of interest in her. But the foolish woman didn't realize she was acting like a clown.
Director Li sat at his desk, waiting for his wife to handle these trivial matters. His philandering outside was nothing new; his wife had always stated that as long as it didn't disrupt their normal life, it was fine. When he went too far, his wife would clean up the mess. He would never leave his wife for any other woman.
Liu Jia pushed the door open and entered the office. Seeing Director Li, she forced a smile. Director Li ignored her, continuing to read emails. Liu Jia adjusted her short skirt and walked over.
Director Li looked up at Liu Jia, his eyes filled with contempt. He had never been very interested in Liu Jia from the start; her looks were average, her figure mediocre, and her reputation poor.
"Tsk," Director Li clicked his tongue in distaste.
Liu Jia felt deeply hurt, but she still pressed herself closer. She knew this was her last chance. If even Director Li refused to help her, she would truly be at her wit's end. She hadn't even considered how she would go on.
Liu Jia hoped Director Li would give her another chance, that she could return to her circle. She was filled with resentment, hating Shi Xin Xin to death.
"Director Li," Liu Jia made her voice as soft as possible. She coyly sat on Director Li's lap and gently wrapped her arms around his neck. Director Li was quite corpulent, and she felt as if she were sitting in a heap of fat.
Director Li ignored her, continuing to look at his computer.
Liu Jia grew somewhat annoyed. She hadn't expected this lustful man to suddenly become so proper. She untied the belt of her dress and leaned in to kiss Director Li, but he quickly turned his face away as if avoiding something disgusting.
Liu Jia missed her mark and pressed herself even harder against Director Li, reaching for his belt. Director Li slapped her hand away. Liu Jia froze. Director Li pushed her to the floor. Liu Jia tidied her clothes, then squeezed out a couple of tears and asked, "Director Li, how could you do this to me?"
Director Li looked at her and laughed, "Who do you think you are? Why don't you look in the mirror and see your face?"
Liu Jia covered her face with her hands, but tears streamed uncontrollably. She hoped Director Li would show some pity at her pathetic state, but as the saying goes, a pitiable person must have something hateful about them. Director Li felt only disdain for her.
Seeing that this was useless, Liu Jia quickly wiped away her tears. She went to the water cooler and poured Director Li a cup of tea. Holding the tea, she approached Director Li again and placed it on his desk. Director Li's aversion intensified as he looked at Liu Jia's tear-streaked face.
Liu Jia walked behind Director Li and began to massage his shoulders. She thought that after all this, Director Li couldn't possibly turn her away.
However, Director Li impatiently flicked her hand away again, mocking, "You're not even as good as a foot masseuse. What a failure."
Liu Jia was completely bewildered. She didn't know what to do, or where to put her hands.