The Reluctant Bride Book I

Fired.

‘Thank you Jia Ju for taking care of me,’ Tan Pan Ting said.

‘Are we not friends?’ Zheng Jia Ju asked. ‘You don’t need to thank me. I was worried about you when you didn’t pick up your phone last night.’

‘I still want to thank you,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘What did you want to tell me?’

‘I was out last night,’ Zheng Jia Ju said. ‘Guess who I saw?’

‘Who?’ Tan Pan Ting asked.

‘Zhang Jian Yuan,’ Zheng Jia Ju said. ‘Isn’t he your boyfriend? What was he doing having a cosy dinner with another woman in a restaurant?’

‘Jia Ju, don’t worry,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘I caught them together before.’

‘I hate people who cheat the most,’ Zheng Jia Ju said. ‘I called you to tell you Zhang Jian Yuan’s cheating on you. But you know already. Pan Ting, do you want to hire some people to ruffle him a little?’

Tan Pan Ting shook her head.

‘Are you going to resign?’ Zheng Jia Ju asked.

‘No,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘I’m going to take revenge by being successful.’

‘That’s the spirit,’ Zheng Jia Ju said. ‘Show that cheating bastard you don’t need him in your life to live a good life.’

‘Um,’ Tan Pan Ting said.

Monday morning, Tan Pan Ting went to work at Li’s cosmetics company as usual. She was a diligent employee for two years. But she was still treated like an intern while Zhang Jian Yuan stole credit for her designs, and he was promoted to a supervising position.

Tan Pan Ting’s office phone flashed red, Zhang Jian Yuan called her to his office.

‘Pan Ting, I have an opportunity for you,’ Zhang Jian Yuan said. He held Tan Pan Ting’s shoulders. ‘I want you to design a new cosmetic product. I’ll pitch your design to the CEO. If the CEO likes your design, I promise you’ll be promoted.’

Tan Pan Ting scoffed coldly, and she pushed Zhang Jian Yuan’s hands off her shoulders. It was enough she fooled once by the f’king bastard.

Zhang Jian Yuan was frustrated Tan Pan Ting didn’t sleep with him. He knew Tan Pan Ting was a traditional woman who wanted to save herself for her husband. He reasoned if he could get Tan Pan Ting to sleep with him then she would obey him.

‘Pan Ting, the truth is I still love you,’ Zhang Jian Yuan said. He hugged Tan Pan Ting tightly so she couldn’t leave his office. ‘Pan Ting, wait for me. After I overthrow the CEO, you’re the woman I want to be with.’

Zhang Jian Yuan forcefully kissed Tan Pan Ting. Before she could slap him the door opened.

‘Mei Bing… I’m innocent,’ Zhang Jian Yuan said. ‘Miss Tan kissed me.’

Li Mei Bing saw Zhang Jian Yuan’s hands on Tan Pan Ting’s waist, and Tan Pan Ting’s hands on his chest. She believed Zhang Jian Yuan was telling the truth.

‘Jian Yuan, I believe you,’ Li Mei Bing said. ‘Miss Tan, you’re fired, because you disgracefully seduced your supervisor to wiggle your way to a promotion.’

Li Mei Bing wasn’t going to let anyone steal her man.

Tan Pan Ting was shocked. It felt like another Friday the thirteenth on a Monday.

‘Miss Tan, I want you to leave immediately,’ Li Mei Bing said. ‘You’re not allowed to take anything from your office. All your work belongings are the company’s intellectual property. Do you need security to escort you to door?’

Tan Pan Ting couldn’t believe two years of hard work amounted to being dismissed unfairly, and a measly three month pay cheque. She couldn’t even take her designs home.

***

End of Chapters Ten to Twelve