Chapter 3: Declined

Poppy's POV

"I'm really stupid! It's gold plated, right? That's why he's in there because he's a valuable person! I didn't think of that!" I pounded my head on my cubicle table, irritated. "How can I do this when I already know I'm on his dislike list?" I worriedly asked myself.

The phone rang just as I was ready to slam my head again.

"Hello? Sir West, what can I do for you?" I inquired cautiously.

 "Made me some coffee!" said the person on the other end of the line before hanging up. I walked to the pantry alongside Mr. Caden's office, where the cabinets, coffee machine, water dispenser, and other food and drink preparation equipment are located.

I was perplexed as to what I needed to make coffee. It also took me some time to discover it because I was new and had no idea where it was. Sir Caden's yell came through a slide window connecting to his office.

"Where is my coffee, Ms. Beckett?" He yelled.

 "Wait, sir, I'm doing it!" I said. As I pressed the coffee maker, my hands trembled. I was startled that there was no coffee. I tried pressing it again, but the result was the same. "It's broken!" I told myself. "Does that mean I'll make him coffee myself?" I wondered, concerned.

Sir Caden yelled again, "Faster, Ms. Beckett! Bring me my coffee now!" The hot water in the dispenser was already hot, so I simply used that and and make a coffee.

"Here's your coffee, sir," I kindly said.

 He is currently reading documents. I placed the coffee on his table with just a wave of his hand. "You may go now," he said.

I bowed and moved my gaze away from him. I was ready to leave the office when he yelled.

"What the hell! Is this coffee or just a piece of trash?" his enraged voice echoed. "Get this thing away from me and make me another one!" he exclaimed as he tipped the cup, spilling the contents on the floor.

"Y-yes, Sir t-this instant!" I exclaimed, taking the mug and returning to the pantry. And then make some another coffee. When it was finished, I handed it on to him.

 He abruptly spoke while I was wiping up the spilt coffee on the floor. "Too sweet, make another one!" he exclaimed, before returning to the document he was reading. I quickly followed his instructions and made another coffee again but this time, I limited the sweets and caffeine.

"Too hot, Make another one"

I made coffee once more. Every coffee I made, he has a gripe.

"It's so cold! What's this iced coffee? If I wanted iced coffee, I'd order it outside rather than forcing you to do it!"

He still has a problem, even with the cup.

 "Why did you put this in a big mug? Where is my favorite mug? Change it right now!"

And, while the flavor is appropriate for my taste buds, it is not appropriate for him.

"I said too sweet, do you want me to become diabetic, Ms. Beckett? Change this coffee, this instant!"

"What's this? Tasteless! Another one!"

Until my patience was exhausted.

"Here's your coffee, sir," I began, without waiting for his signal and immediately setting it down.

He took the cup and drank it while looking into my eyes. His eyes narrowed, and there was a tinge of disgust in his expression.

"Too bitter!" He proclaimed, spitting the coffee back into the cup.

 I became even more irritated when he did that.

"Do you know how to make coffee, Ms. Beckett? I don't think so," he joked.

"Get a grip, Poppy! He's your boss!" I reminded myself as I calmed down.

I gazed at him as he abruptly rose from his swivel chair and walked towards me.

 "I heard you're a daughter from a wealthy family? Maybe that's why you don't know how to make coffee!" he teased further. "But even though you don't know how to brew..." He paused and examined my entire physique from head to toe. "I think it's possible, you can be a hostess in a club! What if you're there completely, your body seems to be more useful." His taunting has reached an extreme, as if he is judging me.

I can feel myself clenching my fists.

"Tell me, Ms. Beckett, are you still a virgin?" he questioned, widening my eyes.

 ""What kind of question is that?!" I said to myself as I glanced at him.

"Oops, my bad! No offense! I was just asking!" He raised both hands simultaneously. "You know, I have this friend who owns a high-end club; if you want, I can recommend you there—." He couldn't complete what he was saying as I slapped his face so hard. He rubbed his blushing cheek and glared furiously at me.

"Who told you to slap me?" he asked firmly, grasping my wrist.

 "Who told you to act brave? Don't forget your place Ms. Beckett I'm the CEO here and you're just my secretary, my employee! You dared to disrespect me? You're so ungrateful!" he screamed at me.

"Ungrateful? I slapped you because you're too much! You can't step on me like that! You don't know me!" I exclaimed pointing on his chest as my anger cannot be concealed anymore. "Mr. Caden West, I came here for work, not for your contempt!" I retorted. "Yes, I'm just an employee, and you're the CEO, but you have no right to insult me! Now that I already know that your such a big a*****le, I'd better resign!"

"That's what I want to hear! Resign immediately!"

Hearing those words, I want to cry since this is the job I had hoped for in order to pay off our remaining debt. But I'd prefer not to shed a tear because I don't want him to believe he's a winner.

"Yes, I'm going to resign! I've only just got hired here but there are many more jobs I can apply for! Do you think you look good in such a manner? You just made yourself look miserable and unlikable!" I insulted him. "You're a CEO, but you act like a kindergarten!"

"Huh? What did you say—"

"Well said lady, That's what you deserve man, you're unlikable, so childish and always grumpy when you're in the office," the man who had just come, interrupted, he was accompanied by a man in his 50s.

 He came to a halt, I took the opportunity to free myself from his grasp.

When he saw the two men, he mumbled, "D-dad w-why are you here?" Looking at the old man with a puzzled expression, I also looked at them.

"What's with the ruckus, Caden?" he asked, forcefully pronouncing his son's name. "Did I really see you causing trouble with your own secretary?" He added.

"It's not what you think, Dad!" he exclaimed. "Me and Ms. Beckett are just talking about—"

 "I'm going to resign, Mr. Chairman!" I interrupted the CEO's explanation. They were all staring at me.

"I heard you were the newly hired secretary; why did you want to resign so abruptly?" The old man looked surprised when I mentioned this.

"Sorry, Chairman, but I could no longer tolerate your son's cruelty and mistreatment of his employees like me," was a straightforward response. "And that is my final decision, that's all I want to say, and I'll excuse myself first sir," I continued as I bowed to the three of them and exited the room.

I arrived at the workplace early the next morning and proceeded to the CEO's office with my resignation letter.

When I walked into the office, I noticed someone seated on a swivel chair with his back to me.

"Good morning Sir Caden, as I mentioned yesterday, this is my resignation letter," I said as I set the document on the table.

"Sorry, Ms. Beckett, but I'll decline your resignation," the man stated as he swive

led the swivel chair around to face me.

"M-Mr. Chairman," I could only say.