"Janet," Gerald spoke, his voice soft yet full of sarcasm, "I hear you still don't understand the cleaning standards of this company."
Mary gently lifted her head, trying to keep her voice as calm as possible. "I believe I followed the correct procedure, Mr. Hayes."
Gerald smirked with disdain. "Oh, the correct procedure? Then why is it that every time I inspect, I always find such trivial yet disappointing shortcomings?"
The younger employees behind them started to whisper among themselves, their looks a mixture of awkwardness and curiosity directed at Gerald and Mary. The atmosphere in the room grew tense and suffocating, as if everyone was waiting for something unpleasant to happen.
Mary calmly responded, "I'll pay more attention, sir."
Gerald chuckled lightly, but his laughter felt like a dangerous warning. Suddenly, he moved closer to Mary, his gaze lowering in contempt.
"The problem isn't attention, Janet. The problem is ability. People like you should learn to accept that you can't do anything well."
Before she could respond, Gerald suddenly splashed the icy cold water straight onto Mary's head. The cold water poured through her hair, over her face and collar, soaking into her uniform. The room went completely silent.
Mary stood motionless, cold water dripping down her face. But what truly hurt her more than anything was the ultimate humiliation she was suffering right in the company she had once built with her own hands.
The young employees witnessing this were shocked by Gerald's actions, but none dared to speak out or intervene. They were afraid, and it was this fear that Gerald wanted. He looked around, satisfied with the tense atmosphere he had created, then turned to Mary, his voice filled with malice.
"Now you have something to clean, Janet. Remember where you are and who holds the power here."
Gerald turned and walked away. The other employees immediately lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact with her before quickly exiting the room, leaving Mary alone with the overwhelming sense of bitterness and shame rising in her heart.
When the door closed behind the last person, Mary slowly took a tissue to wipe her face. Her hand trembled, not from the cold but from rage that had been suppressed to the point of suffocation. It had been a long time since Mary had felt so humiliated and hurt.
In that brief moment, she wondered if this suffering was worth it, if she had the strength to continue on this difficult path ahead. But then, in the midst of her weakest moment, Mary suddenly remembered why she had started this journey.