Chapter 35 It's You I Want - Part 1
"Angela?" Susan called out Angela's name.
"I am sorry," Angela apologizes snapping out of her moment.
She lowered her head, stepping out of the way to make way for Susan and Bryce to enter the office. Susan deliberately stepped on Angela's feet when she took a step in, and when Angela reacted by taking a step back, Susan leaned to her side and fell to the floor.
"What was that for?" Susan barked at Angela, who appeared confused, wondering what happened. "First, you beat up Eva in the elevator, and you pushed me to the floor? What is wrong with you?" she questioned as she got up from the floor.
Bryce remained silent as he was not sure what happened. He only saw Angela move back and then Susan falling to the floor. He did not attempt to save Susan from falling. He strode into his office and stood beside the table while Susan scolded Angela.
"Enough, Susan," Bryce intervened. "Angela, you can go. Susan, get seated and let's get to business," he added, and Angela exited the office immediately.
"Mr President, this is not right. Why are you shielding this girl? She broke company rules by fighting Eva in the elevator. You did not terminate her contract but only made her sign an undertaking. Next, she offered a contract to the Don Entertainment industry without consulting anyone and without approval either and again, you shielded her by now making Don Entertainment our new project. You even honoured her in front of other employees. Now she dared to push me to the floor for whatever reason, and you say nothing and do nothing?" Susan pointed out staring at Bryce.
"Bryce," she whispered his name since she was not supposed to address him like that in the office. "I am your friend, and we have known each other for a long time. If no one will tell you, I will because your success is my success too. You are encouraging a behaviour in this new employee, Angela Anderson, and this is not good for the company. It is a matter of time before other employees start following in her footsteps, and we will have no discipline in this company, and employees will go out of control," she added.
"What happened to you? This is not who you are. You have gone soft. Please don't tell me you have a thing for her," she added.
"Are you done?" Bryce asked, shoving his left hand into his pocket; his face carried a cold expression.
"Yes, I am done. I am just worried about the recent events and the nauseating behaviour of the new employee, Angela Anderson, which you appear to be ignoring," Susan added, sounding worried.
"Are you done now?" Bryce repeated his question, his expression changing to unreadable.
"Yes," Susan replied, waiting to hear what Bryce would say to her submission.
"I am glad you admit the negative impact a behaviour would have on employees and how that can go a long way to destroy a company because there will be no discipline and loss of control," Bryce began and Susan pursed her lips to cover the smile that wants to appear on her face resulting from the joy of finally getting Bryce to take an action on Angela.
"So I will ask you one important question," Bryce said. "What kind of punishment do you think will be good to give?" he asked.
"Mr President, termination of the contract. We do not want bad behaviour to corrupt the good behaviour of others, and that is what will happen if we keep an employee with bad behaviour," Susan replied, using this as a means of getting Bryce to terminate Angela's contract with the company.
"Good. I am glad you pronounced a good punishment for the offender," Bryce said. "So go clear your locker," he added, and the expression on Susan's face changed.
"What!" Susan reacted in shock.
"You heard me. You decided on the punishment, so go carry it out. Clear your lock and leave," Bryce said, his expression still unreadable as he sat down behind his desk.
"Why are you terminating my contract with the company, when it is Angela who is going about breaking all the company rules?" Susan submitted.
"Susan, don't take me for a fool and never think you are smart. I am very much aware of what happened in the elevator that day. Eva attacked Angela and not the other way around. I am also aware it was you who came into my office and left the note instructing Angela to prepare a contract and send it to Don Entertainment after bringing in the file containing the details of Don Entertainment to make it look like we were already in a discussion with them," Bryce said.
"Bryce, that is not true. Someone is framing me up. I didn't do any of the things you are saying?" Susan said, almost breaking down.
"I see," Bryce replied calmly, staring at Susan, looking all pitiful. "So who is framing you up?" he asked.
"I don't know, but I am sure it's Angela. That girl likes you. I have seen it in her eyes. She tries to conceal it, but I am a woman, and I can tell when a fellow woman is interested in a man and wants his attention. The likes of Angela are low-life gold diggers who set traps and lure rich men, like you, into them just so they can eventually take everything away from you," Susan said.
"What do you have against Angela?" Bryce asked.
"I don't have anything against her personally. It is her nauseating behaviour I don't welcome," Susan replied.
"Susan, I am going to let this pass because of our long friendship starting from childhood, but take note, starting today, that friendship we had has ended. You are now an employee just like everyone else. I don't want you anywhere around Angela unless it's about business," Bryce said, leaning forward. "Be careful what you do to Angela, because you will have to deal with me. Angela is my secretary, and you have no right to bully her," he added sternly.
"Bryce, what did I do wrong?" Susan tried to sway Bryce's decision by pretending to be innocent, but what she didn't know was that Bryce, aside from the obvious CCTV installed cameras in the company, he had hidden cameras installed in the company following the termination of three of his best secretaries in a row.
He was the only one with access to the coverage of the hidden cameras. The hidden cameras were installed in the elevators, his office and that of the secretary's office. Even though he knew the truth, he allowed Angela to face the disciplinary committee just to humble her and get her to put her emotions aside.
"Susan, I am going to let this slide, but if I find out you are involved at any point, I will not just have you terminated, I will send you to prison," Bryce warned, and Susan was shaken to the bone by this statement.