"You call this standard?" he mocked. "Really disappointing, Janet. Do it all again."
Mary quietly bent down to pick up the papers and rearrange the chairs, trying her best not to show the frustration rising inside her. But Derek didn't stop there.
After she finished for the second time, Derek returned holding a full cup of coffee. He stood at a distance, watching her with a nonchalant, mocking expression, then suddenly walked over and placed the coffee cup heavily on the table, causing coffee to spill all over the freshly cleaned surface.
"Oh, sorry, Janet," Derek said with sarcastic sweetness. "I've bothered you again. Clean this spot properly now, and this time be more careful."
Mary silently wiped the table again, her movements careful, hiding the anger and humiliation building up within her. But Derek was still unsatisfied. After she placed the rag down, he walked around the room, swiping his hand along a decorative picture frame, then nonchalantly looked at Mary, his voice colder than before.
"You know, Janet, they say old age brings wisdom, but it seems that doesn't apply to you, does it? This is what you call clean? You think the company pays you to do this halfheartedly?"
Mary bit back the hurt and continued to wipe again. But every time Derek spoke, every unreasonable demand he made, Mary's stress grew. Derek was clearly pushing her, wearing down her patience and endurance.
Not only that, Derek frequently demanded that Mary clean his private office while he continued to work late. Mary couldn't ignore the fact that Derek wanted her to endure psychological stress, constantly being watched so closely. There were times when he just sat silently, his eyes fixed on her every movement without saying a word.
The atmosphere in the room became suffocating, and Mary understood that Derek was deliberately creating invisible pressure, making her prey trapped in his cruel psychological game. These actions went on continuously, day after day, causing Mary to feel tense and anxious every time she had to face Derek.
She never imagined that she, once the head of the entire corporation, would one day feel fear just from seeing an underling of her own company. But it was Derek's indifference and coldness that gradually pushed Mary into a state of extreme tension.
What hurt Mary even more was witnessing the indifferent attitude of other young managers who did nothing in response to Derek's outrageous behavior. They stood by, seeing the injustice, but no one dared to speak up to defend her, as they too were engulfed in fear and the culture of oppression.
It was this indifferent attitude that made Mary realize that Derek wasn't the only one. He was just a representative of the decay and coldness that had deeply rooted itself in the core of the company.
Mary realized that Derek was using his power as a weapon, creating fear and subjugation in those weaker than him. His actions were not just personal indifference. They were a symbol of a work environment that was increasingly losing compassion and understanding.
However, the more she faced this cruelty and apathy, the more Mary understood her mission. She couldn't let people like Derek continue to exist without being exposed. Her suffering, though painful and filled with tension, was an essential part of protecting the soul of Williams Innovations once and for all.