The Day I Kissed An Older Man

Rita returned to the office with the interview recordings and notes, only to be summoned by the boss as soon as she entered. "I heard you've clashed with some of the senior colleagues in the office again," the boss said without looking up from his work.

Rita looked puzzled. "What do you mean, 'again'? It's so obvious they're the ones causing trouble for me! You gave me this almost impossible task, but I managed to secure the interviewee. Isn't that impressive? Yet, instead of praising me, I'm getting scolded for standing up for myself against all the ridicule? It's because I'm a newcomer, isn't it?"

"Just look at yourself. I haven't even said anything, and you've given me this whole essay! I'm not saying you should silently endure their ridicule, but those people are your seniors. You should at least show them some respect. Don't you know how to give some surface pleasantries? Why do you insist on talking back to them? To make matters worse, they came to me to complain about you. They even have a recording of you mocking them! How do you expect me to deal with this?"

Rita was so angry at her sly male colleagues that she laughed bitterly. Indeed, reporters always had their voice recorders handy, ready to capture anything at any time. It was a pity she did not record their ugly behavior at that time.

"So, what do you want me to do? Don't tell me you want me to apologize to those people?" asked Rita.

to your boss? I wouldn't be in this predicament now

mine have been bullying me just because I'm a newcomer. They took advantage of their seniority, and you did nothing about it. But now that they've recorded me fighting back, you're suddenly concerned.

would stick up for

at Rita's criticism. "In any case, you don't need to follow

secured the interview. Has Claire ever responded to any of their invitations? No! So why should I

you agree to it or not. I'm the one who says who does what! It's enough that I've given such an important task to a newcomer like you. You still have plenty of other tasks

standing in place for a long time until the boss glanced at her as if to say, 'Why