Chapter 14 - Butterflys Return 1: Retribution (1/2)

”What's the meaning of this?”

Her head snapped upwards, her huge doe eyes widening in fright as her lips trembled. Her white, slender neck strained as she looked up at her piqued employer.

”I'm asking what does this mean?” the angry baritone repeated and she clenched her fists on both sides as she slowly stood up. ”W-which one?” she asked back as her mind reeled, trying to figure out what exactly the matter was.

In all actuality, she could not recall what she had done wrong – again as this seemed to be the umpteenth time her boss came rushing to her table like an angry bear demanding answers.

”Kim Yunjae, are you listening to me?” her boss' almond-shaped orbs turned turbulent with his rising temper which added to his subordinate's nervousness. ”What do you mean by this?” he demanded as he shoved the files under Yunjae's nose.

”I-I'm sorry,” Yunjae replied, her slight frame nearly shaking visibly in anxiety as she took the files in her hands. ”W-what's wrong with these, sir?” she asked in a small voice as she scanned the papers, though she could not see clearly as her vision turned blurry with unshed tears.

Day after day, she found herself becoming more and more wrecked emotionally which was taking its toll on her body, reflecting on her work. She'd been making mistakes here and there… a lot.

These documents for example; Yunjae thought she did her best when she worked on them but it seemed her best wasn't enough. Her boss wouldn't be this furious if she didn't make a mistake, right?

But how would she know what was wrong with them if she could not see properly anymore?

Swallowing hard, Yunjae lifted her head from the papers to look at her boss' angry face just inches away from hers. Those pair of intelligent, irked almond orbs had been scrutinizing her movements and she felt her throat go dry.

With another wave of trepidation ȧssailing her, she opened her lips to ask in spite knowing she'd have her head yelled off if she did. Lately, she was becoming more and more an example of a poor excuse of a secretary, and she felt ashamed to be standing here still, working.

”Please tell me what's wrong with these?” she pleaded breathlessly and those angry eyes turned to slits. For a moment, she thought her boss would shout at her, and she braced herself for it, but it didn't come.

In a span of several heartbeats, she found the papers snatched from her, and when she looked, her boss had stepped away from her carrying them. ”The figures don't match,” her boss informed her, this time with a normal tone of voice. It was as if her superior had given up on his anger knowing she wouldn't be able to understand anyway.

Yunjae had never felt more foolish than she did right now.

”I'm sorry. I'll change them,” she offered but her boss turned his back on her. ”Forget it. I'll work on these myself,” he said as he stalked off, leaving the rattled secretary behind.

Watching her boss' retreating back, hearing the finality of the door closing after him as he retreated into his inner office, Yunjae collapsed on her chair and closed her eyes. Her hand in her temple, she let out a frustrated sigh.

She really should resign, she thought. But she knew it was impossible. First, it's because she badly needed a source of income. Second was…

Well, the same infuriated boss would not let her leave – not when she had a lot of things to pay for what she did in the past.

Glancing at the door, the secretary wondered how long it would take before her superior was satisfied. Then again, at the back of her mind, she knew that some sins just couldn't be forgiven no matter how hard you work to pay for them.

”But I'm tired…” she whispered as she rested her head on her desk, her eyes locking with the glass of water she placed on it, and a wistful smile carved her weary face, her eyes finally clearing as her suppressed tears began to fall.

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