Crystal returned to the company beaming, her satisfaction evident. However, as she stepped through the door, she was stopped by the receptionist.
"Crystal, where have you been? Mr. Ou has been looking for you all noon!" the receptionist exclaimed anxiously.
Crystal's heart immediately tightened. She had indeed returned a little late due to her secret meeting with Xu Shuming.
"I went out for lunch, and there was a bit of traffic on the way back. Did Mr. Ou say anything?" Crystal stammered.
The receptionist pulled Crystal aside, whispering, "Don't even mention it. Mr. Ou seemed to be furious in his office. Several employees heard him."
Crystal was terrified. She had never heard Ou Yunchen lose his temper at the company before.
"Because I was late?" Crystal asked.
The receptionist waved her hand. "No, that's not it. He was reprimanding Ruby. Apparently, she took the wrong documents to a meeting with Mr. Ou this morning. They had to reprint them, making the client wait for a long time, and then the reprinted ones were also wrong..."
Crystal feigned shock. She knew exactly what was going on. She had tampered with those documents, aiming to oust Ruby from her position as the head secretary so she could take her place!
Crystal put on a show of sympathy. "How could Ruby make such a mistake..."
The receptionist continued, "Yes, and it was a very important client. Mr. Ou has never gotten this angry before. In all the time I've been here, this is the first time I've seen it. It must be really serious..."
Crystal gasped. Ou Yunchen was indeed a strict boss, but only when it came to work. However, he was also fair in his rewards and punishments. As long as an employee worked hard and diligently, Ou Yunchen had never mistreated anyone.
This was why so many people were willing to work for Ou Yunchen. Hearing that Ruby was being scolded for a work error, however, served as a wake-up call for Crystal.
She realized she couldn't let her guard down with this young boss. Although Ou Yunchen was new to the business world and couldn't match the cunning of a seasoned player like Xu Shuming, he was certainly no pushover.
"Ruby must be so wronged," Crystal murmured.
"Huh? What did you say?" the receptionist asked.
"Nothing, I'm going in now," Crystal replied.
Crystal walked to the door of Ou Yunchen's office, took a deep breath, and then entered.
"Where were you at noon?" Ou Yunchen asked.
"A friend happened to be working nearby, so I had lunch with them. I'm sorry, Mr. Ou, I'm late."
"Don't you know that as my secretary, you are not allowed to leave your post without my permission? Even for lunch, you must be available to be notified and return immediately?"
It seemed Ou Yunchen was still angry; his tone was quite sharp.
"Because I'm not the head secretary, so... I'm sorry, I understand. I'll be more careful next time..."
Ou Yunchen still looked displeased. He saw Crystal lowering her head and admitting her fault sincerely. He was about to let it go, but then he noticed a new necklace around her neck, which she hadn't been wearing when they greeted each other that morning.
Furthermore... one of her collar buttons was undone, and upon closer inspection, her entire appearance seemed slightly different from how it had been that morning.
Likely sensing Ou Yunchen's gaze, Crystal immediately realized she hadn't buttoned her shirt properly, probably in her haste after leaving the teahouse!
Crystal turned her back and quickly re-buttoned her shirt.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ou. I was rushing to get here, I was a bit hasty..."
Ou Yunchen glanced at the now properly dressed Crystal and said coldly, "I've granted Ruby leave. You will take over her duties for the next six months."
Crystal was overjoyed!
Ever since she started, she had been trying to find ways to remove Ruby from Ou Yunchen's side. Drugging her to cause stomach issues was child's play. Now, she had finally made Ou Yunchen believe that Ruby was incapable of performing her duties.
"Do you know what the job of my secretary entails?" Ou Yunchen asked.
"I do!"
Crystal had memorized the secretary's handbook by heart since joining the company, all for this very moment!
"I hope you won't be sick as often as Ruby, and that you won't mess up important documents. If you are like her..."
"Mr. Ou, please rest assured. I will do this job exceptionally well!"
"Go and liaise with Ruby. I have an important meeting with someone tonight. Book a room at a hotel and ensure it's kept confidential."
"Okay, I'll arrange it now."
***
That evening, at the appointed time, Ou Yunchen and Crystal arrived at the hotel and went directly to a private VIP suite.
As the guests had arrived, the waiter asked if they were ready to order.
"Mr. Cai departed ten minutes ago," Crystal informed them.
Ou Yunchen nodded, signaling the waiter to proceed with the meal.
Crystal arranged the red and white wine that had been prepared beforehand, and as instructed by Ou Yunchen, she opened two bottles of red wine and poured them into a decanter.
—Crystal's Recollection—
After leaving Ou Yunchen's office that afternoon, Crystal found Ruby packing her belongings.
Ruby's eyes were red, and she clutched tissues, wiping away tears from time to time.
"You're here just in time. I've packed everything. I've already emailed you Mr. Ou's schedule for the next week. Just notify him according to the times," Ruby said.
"Ruby, are you alright? What made the boss so angry?" Crystal asked.
"I sent the wrong quotation for a client. I double-checked it the night before, so how could it still be wrong when I printed it..."
"Were you too tired and didn't see it clearly?" Crystal suggested.
"I don't know what's been happening with me lately. I keep making mistakes. Maybe the pressure of being around the boss is too much. I rarely used to get stomach problems. I even went to see a doctor recently..."
"What did the doctor say?" Crystal inquired.
"The doctor couldn't find anything specific. He asked if I was dieting, and I said I wasn't taking any weight-loss pills. Then he said it might be stress and tension causing the diarrhea..."
"On second thought, it really does seem that way. I think I really need a break..." Ruby mused.
Crystal quickly hugged Ruby.
"By the way, Mr. Ou mentioned entertaining an important guest tonight. Which hotel does Mr. Ou usually go to? Does he have a regular suite?" Crystal asked.
Ruby seemed confused. In all her time with Ou Yunchen, there had never been a rule about booking suites for guests after a dinner engagement.
However, she had heard of other companies' secretaries doing so, as some clients often wished for a "second round" after the meal.
Thus, secretaries not only had to book restaurants but also find special suites to meet their clients' needs.
Of course, finding discreet and attractive escorts was also an essential part of the process.
Crystal had to ask for clarification, as this was typically a task entrusted only to those closest to the boss.
"For an important guest, book the Chinese restaurant upstairs at the Hilton. They have private rooms, which are convenient for conversations," Ruby suggested.
"Thank you, Ruby. I really think you're the most suitable person to be by Mr. Ou's side as his secretary. If he suddenly entrusts me with this, I'm really afraid I won't be up to the task and end up losing my job," Crystal said.
"Mr. Ou is very reasonable. I'll leave it to you. Oh, right, I almost forgot, take this," Ruby said, handing something to Crystal.
"What is this?" Crystal asked.
"Hangover pills. If Mr. Ou is forced to drink during the dinner, give him this. He dislikes getting drunk, remember!!!"
"Okay, can I buy it at a pharmacy?" Crystal asked.
"No, you'll have to find a personal shopper. Did Mr. Ou mention preparing wine for tonight?" Ruby asked.
"He didn't say," Crystal replied.
"If it's one of our group's engagements, you should bring some. Remember to switch the wine beforehand, and don't mix up the pouring. Mr. Ou's wine is non-alcoholic; the guests' wine is alcoholic," Ruby instructed.
—End of Crystal's Recollection—