“This is an invitation of an national design exhibition! Icy. Where did you get this?" Cheton passed by her desk and his eyes were widened. They only invited prestigious designers and only few people in this company had this honor and qualification to attend. Cheton was one of them. “Really? Icy turned her head, gazed at him and smiled. “And you have also received this invitation?” “Yes, I do. This is like an acceptance and acknowledgement of your talent and contribution to the whole design industry of this country.” Cheton nodded and saw the flower on her desk. “It seems someone is trying to cheer you up and see you smile again. Anyway, this is a great opportunity for you. Add oil!” He believed she was an employee with good potential too. Two days ago, she was troubled, but wasn’t distracted; and continued to concentrate on her job. People, who had this kind of endurance or patience were very likely to succeed.

Cheton, I am not sure what you are talking about? Can you be more specific?” Icy smiled awkwardly. She was new to the design business in this country and had zero experience about this kind of exhibition. She had an illustrious invitation in her hand, but she had no idea how valuable it was and who gave it to her. Maybe Mr. Lindley sent it. Maybe. “You can participate many national exhibitions with this invitation. Many well known and prominent designers and clients will show up. If your works are good, and they like your designs, you will become a new star of the industry,” Cheton continued. In fact, many new designers became famous and successful by participating this exhibition, which was a cornerstone of a designer’s career; many followed this route and then step by step to reach the peak or his/her career. Did it mean the guy , who sent Icy this invitation, had a strong faith in her and her potential to become a great designer? “So, You must add oil! Grab this chance and make people proud!” Cheton gave her a thumb-up gesture to tell her to add oil and then returned to his desk. Icy smiled to herself and looked at this invitation. Cheton could be a good friend and mentor. She must work harder to earn more money, to give David a better environment to grow up; she must double her effort! “Where did you steal this invitation from?” Suddenly someone snatched the invitation from Icy’s hand. It was her female supervisor, Ms Samyan. “I am talking to you? Answer me. Don’t be so rude.” Before Icy had time to think and reply, Ms Samyan’s voice harshened and her face darkened. Their conversation caught the attention of everybody else working in the office; and they all turned to see what was going on. Icy was provoked and irritated by this ill-mannered supervisor. Who was being rude? The one who was silent or the one who said other people were rude.

“Ms. Samyan. Please don’t misunderstand. Actually, that invitation was already on her desk before we arrived this morning. Icy was the last one to see it. So please don’t lose your temper.” “Yea, please don’t be mad with Icy. besides she is very special here… you see what I mean.” “Icy, Ms Samyan doesn’t mean what she had said. She is always straightforward and … undisguised. Please do not feel offended.” Everyone tried to calm down both Icy and Ms. Samyan and hoped they would make peace with each other. Ms Samyan was their senior and department head; on the other hand, Icy was obviously Mr. Lindley’s girlfriend and possibly his future wife. It would be unwise to offend any of them. “What do you people mean? Only one day and you all have changed? She is a newbie here. How can she be qualified to attend this national exhibition, which is very important to our company? If she didn’t steal it, She must have earned it from being a whore.” Ms. Samyan proclaimed and she threw that invitation on Icy’s desk. “You cannot go and you are not qualified to go. Am I clear?” She was jealous of Icy. She had been working in this company her whole life and never encountered this kind of good luck. How could she possibly allow her junior who had joined this company for only few days to represent this company and to surpass her. “I really don’t think you can stop me from attending this exhibition. Loot at it. Someone sent it to me and with my name on it.” Icy picked up that invitation and stood up; she was taller than Samyan and now she was wearing long heels, her momentum and aura were stronger than her supervisor. “Besides, who is being rude?” Icy said that but didn’t look at Samyan; she sat down and continued own her job. “What could possibly be so funny in the morning?” Suddenly a familiar sweet female voice broke the entanglement. Icy did not need to look, and she knew it was Shirley Lindley. Who else could it be? How could she forget her voice? “Oh. Ms Lindley. It is so good to see you. I feel I am being treated unfairly. Icy seemed to have grievance against me.” When Samyan saw her savior, Shirley Lindley coming in, she walked over to her, grabbed her arm and her tears welled up in both eyes. “Oh. What happened to you? Who harboured a grievance against you and treated you unfairly? Tell me, I shall give you justice.” Shirley pretended that she didn’t know what's happening and that she felt so shocked to hear one of her employees being bullied. She stretched her hand to dry the tears on Samyan’s face, which was actually completely dry. “Ms Lindley. You know. I have been working here for so long already and I still do not have the qualification to attend this exhibition. But this newcomer can go. It is unfair for all the devoted employees who had been working hard for this company. We should have this opportunity too. Ms. Lindley. PLease give us justice.” Samyan was indeed an expert of psychology who knew how to manipulate people. After listening to her elucidation, the people, who were originally on Icy’s side, not only changed their mind, but decided to keep a distance from her.

Considering the circumstance that everyone was standing against Icy Wilkinson, Shirley Lindley was so satisfied and contented. “In this case, I think it will be better if you just don’t go to this exhibition. For the sake of all employees and the company, we don’t want people to have ideas. Right?” Shirley pretended to be a nice person and held Icy’s hand; Smiling tenderly on her poker face, she squeezed Icy’s hand so violent that Icy almost felt her hand being chopped off. “You are wrong!” Before Icy could open her mouth, Cheton interrupted, “Qualification is determined by ability and talent, not by how long one had been working in the company.” Icy felt so touched and thankful for what Cheton had said to protect her. “Are you sure? Cheton. I thought you were a righteous person who was obsessed with design only. Now you are speaking for her? It seems her talent and skill was to seduce man. First, she beguiled Paxon Chewy and Hosea Lindley, now she captivated our senior designer. Ms. Samyan smirked; she really hated Icy and she was glad to see her being isolated and bullied. “Icy. You should be more considerate and don’t make everyone unhappy. I will forget what you did to Pax. Now, for the sake of the whole company, why don’t you give up that invitation? Holding her tears from shedding, Icy was already on the verge of bursting out. But she knew she must not cry; she didn’t want to look more miserable and pathetic in front of so many people. “This is enough!” Suddenly, Hosea Lindley, who had been listening the whole conversation from outside, shouted angrily.