"If the man you envision were to appear beside you right now, would you fall for him? Would you risk everything for him?" I asked.
Melody was silent for a moment, her thoughts seemingly far away. After a careful consideration, she finally spoke. "I'm not sure. I don't have anyone like that in my life. My interactions with the opposite sex are limited, and when they do occur, it's usually in a professional context, with superiors or subordinates."
Her voice was tinged with frustration, a hint of adolescent rebellion simmering beneath her words, like a child yearning for a toy just out of reach.
"Don't lose heart," I reassured her. "Such a person will undoubtedly cross your path."
"Thank you, low-key guy," she responded, her voice soft. "You truly are an expert in emotional matters."
After ending the call, I found myself with a deeper understanding of Melody. Despite being twenty-six, she harbored fantasies of a forceful kiss, a sign of her repressed desires. It was clear that she had a slight preference for dominance, perhaps even a mild masochistic streak.
She was drawn to assertiveness, control, and admired men of character, even if their care bordered on the unreasonable.
A plan began to form in my mind.
Reconnecting with Jessica
Switching to Jessica's messages, I found several waiting for me.
sex maniac: [Darling, are you still busy?]
sex maniac: [Darling, you've been silent all day.]
sex maniac: [It's only been two days, have you grown tired of me? (Crying face)]
Upon seeing Jessica's messages, I hastily typed out a response.
low-key guy: [Sorry, I've been tied up at an event for the past couple of days and barely had a chance to check my phone. It just concluded.]
Having dispatched the message, I turned my attention to Melody's messages. (This sentence seems to be a copy-paste error from the previous turn, as the story should now focus on Jessica.)
After leaving her hanging for two days, it was time to show some warmth. I initiated a voice call, which she answered promptly.
"Sorry, I forgot to tell you in advance. I had an event, and I kept you waiting."
My first words were an apology, a gesture to convey my guilt and and to assure her of her importance to me.
"It's okay. I knew you'd come find me once you were done."
Jessica's voice was soft, a stark contrast to her usual harsh demeanor.
"I had a dream last night. You were lying in my arms, and I whispered 'I love you' a thousand times."
Women of all ages enjoyed hearing sweet nothings, even if they knew they were not entirely true.
Of course, there needed to be a foundation between the two parties; otherwise, such words could be off-putting.
I stayed on the phone with Jessica until late into the night. I didn't allow her to satisfy herself, nor did I ask for any photos or videos. However, before going to sleep, she sent me a collection of photos and videos.
sex maniac: [Although you didn't ask, these are specially prepared for you. Keep them safe. (Tongue-out emoji)]
Looking at the photos and videos, I felt a pang of regret. The beauty had been in my arms the previous night, and yet, I hadn't made a move!
Just as I was about to act on my impulses, the alarm sounded, shattering my daydream.
I rose, freshened up, dressed neatly, and headed out.
Office Humiliation
Upon reaching the office, I went straight to the janitor's rest area to begin my day's work.
Jessica still hadn't transferred me back to the marketing department. The other staff continued to look at me with mocking expressions.
Every Monday, the marketing department held a large meeting, presided over by Jessica. Having been transferred from marketing to the hygiene department, I was exempt from attending. However, my cleaning duties remained, and I worked diligently while Jessica delivered her speech.
After her address, the supervisors from each group presented their results, followed by the top salespeople. The company awarded bonuses, typically around three thousand US dollars each time.
The staff took turns sharing their marketing insights on stage, a routine that had become monotonous to me.
Soon, it was Philip's turn to take the stage.
Dressed in a stylish suit, his hair neatly styled, and a bow tie adorning his neck, he looked as though he was about to embark on a blind date.
"Hello, I'm Philip, the sales champion of Group Five. This is my tenth time sharing marketing insights on stage. Marketing is actually quite simple—be bold, attentive, and thick-skinned, and seize every opportunity without any slack."
"These words might not be novel, but I believe a successful marketing case needs negative examples to complement it. With negative examples, we can easily identify the problems."
As he spoke, his eyes flicked towards me, uncertainty clouding his gaze. A sense of foreboding washed over me. "We've been discussing successful ventures, but what about the failures?" Philip's voice echoed in the room, prompting nods of agreement and thoughtful expressions from the crowd.
"Wouldn't analyzing more failed attempts increase our efficiency?" Philip continued, his gaze sweeping across the room. "In our Group Five, we have a member who has consistently ranked last for fourteen consecutive months. I'm sure you're all familiar with him. The saying goes that even a foolish bird should learn to fly after fourteen months, but he hasn't."
Laughter erupted from the marketing department, and all eyes turned towards me.
'Philip, you bastard!' I cursed inwardly. This was his revenge for the trash I'd dumped on his desk last Friday. I hadn't anticipated such a ruthless response.
He was turning me into a negative example, a laughingstock for the entire department.
Just as I was about to make my exit, Philip stopped me. "William, or should I say, Rogue William, would you care to share your experiences of failure with us all? Let's give him a round of applause!"
Applause echoed around the room, not as a welcome, but as a mockery.
They were all eager to see me humiliate myself.
I clenched my fists, anger simmering within me.