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.

Ellie. Now they're leaving.' Tears began to form at the corners of her

the lunch rush entering the canteen. Ashley, who was acutely aware of the other customers' disrespectful remarks and scornful gazes, said, "Girls, I think it's time

eyes search through the crowd for a way

out of the canteen, Ashley looked up and saw Rita. This

her lips and said in her most derisive voice, "Are

but she was still envious 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

Raymond fall for her. But it turned

company. She had paid her dues and worked like mad in the Luo Group, but she was passed over for the promotion and now Ashley, a newcomer,

she had teamed up with Lena to kick Ashley

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

and whispered in her ear, "I bet you have seen the posts in the

Group?" Ashley countered, shaking her arm free

seen such a shameless mistress. Miss Mu didn't come to you because she didn't want to embarrass you. You should be smart and quit,"

of you at a hotel, can I say that you are a whore?" Ashley snapped back with an

you are a wise woman,

warning. 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.

by Ashley's eloquence, parted the sea of people

soon as Ashley was out of sight, they all fixed their eyes on Rita. Rita threw a steely look at

herself, 'Looks like I underestimated

to continue to stay here,"

You gave her those warnings out of goodwill.