A Love Trap

"Yes. I don't want to continue to stay here. I don't like my job. I want to open a bakery to sell all kinds of delicious cakes," Ellie replied.

Ellie's announcement was a great delight to Fiona. "Really? When you open the shop, you have to let me know. I will be your first customer!" she gushed, gaping at Ellie with her expectant eyes.

"Of course I will. How could I forget you?" Ellie beamed as she pinched Fiona's chubby cheeks.

'It felt comfortable. I finally understood why Ashley always pinches her face, ' she thought.

"But are you really going to leave the Luo Group?" Fiona's lips curved downward as she remembered that was Ellie's intention.

The smile on her face faded off and her mood darkened.

As Ashely detected Fiona was upset, she reached out and touched Fiona's head fondly. "What's up?" she nudged in a sisterly tone.

"I don't want you to leave. If you leave here, I will have to work here alone," Fiona blurted. Her thoughts escaped her mouth in a rush and her face still carried the weariness of her fear and frustration.

"How about you take me with you?" she proposed. Her eyes lit up in expectation, staring at Ashley and Ellie.

Then she lowered her head and fixed her eyes on the delectable food on her plate. 'The food here is yummy, ' she thought.

Ashley observed Fiona's actions. 'She still acts like a child, ' Ashley chuckled to herself.

"It has not been decided yet. You should do your job. You got the chance to work here because your school works with this company. Unfortunately, you can't just leave here any time you want," Ashley said.

Fiona sighed. Ashley's reminder that she was a mere intern caused her shoulders to slump even more and she thought to herself, 'Why me? I don't want to continue to work in this stupid company.

just became friends with Ashley and Ellie. Now they're leaving.' Tears began to form at

was acutely aware of the other customers' disrespectful remarks and scornful gazes, said, "Girls, I think it's time to head back to the

up, pushed in their chairs, and let their eyes search through the crowd for a way to

the most direct route out of the canteen, Ashley looked up and saw Rita. This was not

was filled with envy. She raised a corner of her lips and said in

of her. She worked for Luo Group for many years and since she knew that Raymond's father owned the company, she had tried every means to seduce him to become his girlfriend. But to her

Raymond fall for her. But it turned out that her boss had a

Raymond she envied. It was also her role in the company. She had paid her dues and worked like mad

was why she had teamed up with Lena to

snide commentary and again began weaving her way through the crowd toward the exit.

her arm and whispered in her ear, "I bet you

Group?" Ashley countered, shaking her arm free from Rita's claws.

to you because she didn't want to embarrass you. You should be smart and quit," Rita quipped, as she looked at her fingernails, still grasping at Ashley's arm. Obviously she didn't take Ashley as her

stealing another woman's fiance with several photos. It's ridiculous! If I took several pictures of you at a hotel, can I say

face. "Don't think too highly of yourself. If you are a wise woman, you'd better resign

But that's none of your business. You'd better take care of your own things," Ashley shot back. Then she took Ellie's and Fiona's hands and dragged them through the crowd to the exit.

shocked by Ashley's eloquence, parted the sea of people so that the three women

they all fixed their eyes on Rita. Rita threw a steely look at the crowd and shouted, "Go away.

onlookers dispersed. Rita thought to herself, 'Looks like I underestimated Ashley.' Her cheeks started

her to continue to stay here," a girl piped up.

be angry at a shameless girl. You gave her those warnings out of goodwill. However, she was ungrateful and refused your kindness. You should let it go," another girl