Chapter 45 The Annoying Colleague
Olivia and Peter turned around to find a woman in a white coat with two braids standing behind them.
"Elora?"
Olivia's eyes flashed with disgust as she looked at the woman. Elora Baker was her college classmate, but their relationship was anything but good.
During school, Elora had tried to bully Olivia and Esme, but they had fought back fiercely. Since then, the tension between them had only escalated. Later, to Olivia's dismay, she and Elora ended up interning at the same veterinary clinic.
Peter quickly covered his mouth and positioned himself between Elora and Olivia.
"Elora, I was just joking earlier. These pets actually have nothing to do with Olivia," Peter said awkwardly, scratching his head as he tried to explain. However, Elora simply pushed him aside.
"Peter! You don't need to defend her. I know Olivia all too well. She's always been arrogant and vain, from college until now!"
Elora snorted coldly, tilting her head as she looked Olivia up and down.
"But I heard you got married? How could your husband do something so stupid? Unless... you've been cheating on him, and this is his way of getting back at you."
Olivia narrowed her eyes and walked coolly toward Elora. She didn't argue or fight back verbally. Instead, she raised her hand and delivered a resounding slap across Elora's face.
The sharp sound echoed through the clinic. Other doctors who were about to leave work heard the noise and came running back.
Elora held her cheek, staring at Olivia in shock. The pain on her face and the murmurs from those around made her feel both shame and anger.
"Olivia, you dare slap me? I've been working here longer than you have."
Olivia tilted her head, her lips curling into a contemptuous smile.
"Have you forgotten how I dealt with you in college? If you need a reminder, I'd be happy to refresh your memory."
Olivia reached toward the door. Elora let out a sharp scream and hid behind Peter.
Fear filled Elora's eyes. Back in college, she and a few troublemakers had bullied Esme because they outnumbered her.
Later, Olivia had ambushed Elora and her friends in the women's restroom, attacking them with a mop. That day, Olivia had been fierce, breaking the mop in the process. Though Olivia suffered some injuries herself, Elora and her friends had fared much worse.
Olivia stared at Elora's frightened face and shrugged, pulling her hand back.
"Relax. My temper has mellowed considerably. I don't enjoy beating people up as much as I used to. And stop bragging about being here longer than me. The only reason you started two months earlier is because your grades were so poor that staying in school was pointless, so you started your internship early."
Olivia looked at Elora with disdain, her chin slightly raised. Elora's face grew increasingly unpleasant. During their school days, Olivia had not only been physically intimidating but also academically brilliant. She was beautiful and had many admirers.
Elora had initially targeted Olivia out of jealousy—the woman was simply too outstanding.
Sensing the tension between the two women, Peter tried to mediate.
"Come on, let's not fight. We're colleagues. I know everyone's tired and frustrated from the overtime, but let's just finish up and go home. I'll ask the boss for some bonus pay for everyone."
Peter's words brightened the eyes of the surrounding staff—exactly what they wanted to hear.
Seeing her colleagues' reactions, Elora suddenly thought of a way to get back at Olivia.
"Everyone, aren't you curious about who's responsible for our unfortunate overtime?" she asked loudly.
Olivia's eyes narrowed, her disgust for Elora growing stronger. This woman, no matter where she went, always tried to regain her ridiculous sense of dignity at Olivia's expense.
Elora pointed at Olivia and announced, "It's her! It's Olivia! She had a fight with her husband, and he's getting revenge by bringing all these stray animals here just to teach her a lesson."
"So it's Olivia? I heard she just got married. Problems already?"
"Maybe it's just their way of spicing things up?"
"Why should their 'spice' mean overtime for us?"
"Didn't you hear Peter? We'll get bonus pay."
"What if we don't? Who do we blame then?"
As Elora heard the staff begin to gossip about Olivia, a gleam of satisfaction appeared in her eyes. She prepared to spread more rumors.
"Everyone, I didn't want to say this, but since everyone knows about our conflict. Olivia and I were classmates, and her personal life was extremely promiscuous. Rumor has it she slept with over twenty men in college—and none of them knew about each other!"
Her statement caused everyone's eyes to widen in shock.
Peter also stared in disbelief, but seeing Olivia's cold demeanor, he suddenly turned to Elora with anger. "Enough, Elora! I don't care if this is true or false; you shouldn't be discussing this in public."
Elora hadn't expected the usually good-natured Peter to rebuke her. Hatred flashed in her eyes as she pointed at him. "Why are you defending her? Do you two have something going on as well?"
"Elora, I'm warning you. If you continue with these baseless accusations, I will take legal action against you!" Peter roared angrily, startling all the doctors around him.
Peter had always been the nice guy with a gentle temperament, well-liked by all. This was the first time anyone had seen him angry.
Elora was startled, too. She had thought Peter would be easy to intimidate, but seeing the anger in his eyes, she stepped back, worried he might strike her.
Suddenly, Olivia walked forward, shaking her head and letting out a mocking laugh.
"Elora, you're just as stupid as you were in college, always picking the wrong targets to bully."
Olivia's smile faded, her eyes turning cold.
"I almost forgot—you were the one spreading rumors about me back then, weren't you? Well, since we're here, let's clear up those rumors once and for all!"