C11 You Can Try the House!

I gave my head a firm slap to snap myself out of grogginess.

After a restless night, it took half a box of Dahlia eye shadow to conceal my severe dark circles the next morning.

Upon entering the marketing center, gold consultant Riley approached me and dumped a stack of folders into my arms, her voice sharp and commanding, "Make copies of these documents. I need them in ten minutes."

Without protest, I grabbed the documents and called out to the assistant behind the counter, "Willie, these need to be copied."

Willie acknowledged with a sound and hurried over to take the documents from me.

Riley, with her impeccably manicured fingers, pressed down on the papers in my hands, her gaze fixed on me as she enunciated each word, "I told you to make the copies. Did you not understand me?"

I locked eyes with her, motionless for a long moment.

Usually, it was Willie who handled all the copying and printing. Riley's insistence today was clearly deliberate.

Besides, the volume of documents was akin to three 'Records of the Grand Historian'—ten minutes wouldn't cut it; even half a day might not suffice.

I was at a loss as to whether I had somehow offended her or if she was like those tyrants in jail, picking on any newcomer she took a dislike to.

If it was the latter, I couldn't just cave in; that would only invite endless problems.

Sensing the standoff, Willie attempted to defuse the situation, "Riley, ten minutes, right? I'll round up a few more copiers and get right on it!"

Riley's eyebrows arched in impatience, "Willie, you know I detest sycophantic subordinates. Are you tired of working here?"

Willie, taken aback, quickly withdrew her hand.

I couldn't afford to let this incident sour my standing with Willie.

Clutching the documents, I shot Riley a cold glance and headed for the copy room.

A colleague who was on good terms with Dahlia lent me a hand. We fired up dozens of copiers and got to work at breakneck speed.

In a hushed tone, she confided, "Riley is Ms. Morrow's right-hand woman."

It dawned on me that she was covertly aiding Rowena in nudging me out.

Yet, a sales position I once would have never considered was now proving to be an arduous path ahead.

Even after ten minutes, I hadn't finished the task.

Over half an hour later, I finally returned to the Sales Department, clutching the freshly photocopied materials. Willie stopped me: "Aveline, Riley is with a client in the second district, checking out the model homes. She asked you to bring the copies to model home number five in the second district."

So, off I went to the fifth model home in the second district, arms laden with two hefty bundles of documents. The winter chill was biting, and despite the cold, I broke out in a thin layer of sweat, my white shirt clinging to my skin uncomfortably.

As I pushed open the door and entered, I caught the sound of Riley's coquettish voice: "If Mr. Rogers can't find the ambiance he's looking for in this suite, then there's no place in Loxford with a more striking feel. If you don't believe me, pretend I'm your girlfriend and let's test it out on this dreamy bay window, shall we?"

"Little temptress, is that how you earned your top-notch reputation?" The man's laughter was laced with mockery.

"What are you talking about? I'm only this bold with Mr. Rogers because we're acquainted. Besides, it's not like we're doing anything real. It's just to give Mr. Rogers a taste, so he won't end up disappointed if his little girlfriend isn't pleased after the purchase. Wouldn't want him to blame me, right? So, are you going to give it a try or not?"

"Why bother testing the house when I could just test you, you little vixen!"