Chapter 28: You’ve Been Blacklisted
The supervisor, still oblivious to the situation unfolding behind him, continued his tirade, scolding Caroline.
“Kid, where are your manners? I’ve already informed everyone that Mr. David is coming. Why can’t you just cooperate and behave? Why do you insist on being difficult, huh? If Mr. David sees this, our entire department will be in trouble. None of us can afford to clean up your mess! We can’t allow you to act so recklessly in front of him.”
The supervisor, a small managerial figure in his department, was emboldened by his position of authority, treating Caroline—just an inexperienced graduate—with disdain. He raised his voice even further.
“And another thing,” he continued, jabbing his finger at her resume, “we don’t hire undergrads here. You’re not even qualified to be here! Take a good look at yourself. Do you really think you’re worthy of joining the Ellison Group? You’re way too inexperienced and young!”
Caroline stayed silent, trying to keep her composure despite the hurtful words.
Taking her silence as weakness, the supervisor pressed on. “Considering your behavior today, I’m blacklisting you. From now on, you’re barred from applying to any Ellison Group recruitment events. Do you hear me, Caroline?”
Caroline, though calm, finally spoke up as she picked up her resume from the floor. “Mr. David is already here.”
Her attempt to leave had failed, and the very scenario she feared had come to pass.
The supervisor was momentarily stunned. He turned around, and there, standing at the doorway, was David. One hand casually tucked into the pocket of his impeccably tailored trousers, his expression cold and composed. He exuded power and control, betraying no emotion.
“Mr… Mr. David,” the supervisor stammered, his demeanor shifting immediately. He broke into a nervous, eager smile and bowed repeatedly. “I wasn’t aware you had arrived. I was just reprimanding an unruly candidate. I’m so sorry if I disturbed you.”
David’s gaze landed on Caroline, and his voice was calm, but with an edge that made the supervisor’s stomach drop. “Did you just say that you were going to blacklist her?”
The supervisor floundered. “Uh, yes, sir…”
David raised an eyebrow, his voice becoming colder. “Quite bold of you.”
Caroline’s connection to David may have been strained, but that didn’t mean anyone had the right to treat her with such disrespect. As far as David was concerned, no one had the right to boss her around—only I get to bully her, he thought darkly.
The supervisor’s face drained of color as he desperately tried to explain, but William, ever the loyal assistant, cut him off sharply. “Do you even know who calls the shots around here? Get the hell out.”
The supervisor, terrified, stammered and backed away. “Yes, yes, yes. I… I’m so sorry, Mr. David…”
David wasn’t finished. He took a few steps toward the man, his voice low and dangerously calm. “Tell me, who gave you the authority to blacklist her?”
“Mr. David, I… I…” The supervisor could barely form a coherent sentence. In his panic, he slapped himself hard across the face. “It’s my fault! I was being arrogant! I shouldn’t have said what I said, please, Mr. David, have mercy on someone as foolish as me!”
The sharp sound of the supervisor’s self-inflicted punishment echoed through the corridor, each slap louder and more frantic than the last.
Caroline tried to avoid looking at David, keeping her head down. She felt like she was cursed—every time she tried to avoid trouble, it found her anyway.
Meanwhile, the other candidates, who had been silently observing the scene, exchanged curious glances, whispering among themselves about her connection to the CEO.
“Caroline, does Mr. David know you?” Anna asked quietly, her eyes wide with disbelief. “He’s totally standing up for you!”
“No, he doesn’t,” Caroline replied immediately, her voice firm.
Anna frowned. “Really? That’s strange.”
Before Caroline could respond, David’s cold, flat voice rang out. “William.”
“Yes, Mr. David?” William replied quickly, his tone respectful.
“Fire and blacklist this man,” David ordered, his voice showing no hint of mercy.
William nodded without hesitation. “Understood.”
David then walked past Caroline, not even sparing her a glance. The air shifted as he passed by, her hair slightly tousled by his movement.
Just as Caroline thought the ordeal was over, David’s voice stopped her dead in her tracks.
“Caroline, inside. Now.”
The words, cold and commanding, sent a shiver down her spine. She had hoped to avoid him, but it seemed that was no longer an option.
