Having something private witnessed by an acquaintance is extremely awkward… except for a few enthusiasts, most people's first reaction is to dig a hole and bury themselves.
X was experiencing this intense embarrassment, wishing she could vanish into the sofa.
The moment the meeting room door opened, she instinctively looked towards the source of the noise—the Control Department Dean, Malkuth, stood there, witnessing the scene.
Startled, the Control Department Dean's mouth hung open; she seemed to be in shock, yet her gaze remained fixed.
Whether she was frozen, hadn't reacted, or simply couldn't look away, her brown eyes were glued to the spectacle.
X was speechless, Malkuth's gaze making her skin crawl. She wanted to hide, burying her face in the sofa cushions.
An ostrich, when faced with danger, buries its head in the sand.
The AI, still on X, remained calm and composed, as if it weren't responsible for this rule-breaking behavior… although technically, it wasn't against the rules, as the Corporation never prohibited it.
The Corporation's silence implied permission; such actions were implicitly accepted.
[Dean Malkuth, have you seen enough?]
Golden eyes glared at the still-observing Control Department Dean, the tone slightly annoyed and reproachful.
Although tempted to flaunt this before the Dean, considering X's psychological resilience, the considerate AI decided to preserve some of X's dignity. Otherwise, the short-haired black-haired woman would become aggressive, revealing her true nature.
In other words, as long as she wasn't pressured, she would remain calm and docile, amenable to teasing.
But excessive teasing would trigger a reaction.
The temperature needs to be gradually raised, not with a single, intense burst of heat. A slow simmer is best; a high flame will boil away the water.
The force needs to be carefully controlled, and recently, the AI felt it had found the right balance.
"I…I'll leave now—Uh, Angela, you can call me again later."
Malkuth froze for a moment, then reacted after her 'boss's' reminder—she'd interrupted Angela.
The Control Department Dean, who was halfway into the meeting room, retreated with an oddly robotic gait, closing the door once more.
With a thud, the door closed, leaving only X and her AI Secretary.
Although the door was closed, the Control Department Dean was likely eavesdropping.
The Corporation was dull and restrictive; there was little entertainment, and gossip spread quickly.
Malkuth, a vibrant, energetic person, was similar to Hod, but unlike the timid Training Department Dean, Malkuth was more decisive and efficient. Although a bit clumsy, careless, and impetuous…
"Angela, what do we do now?"
X cowered, whispering anxiously in the Secretary's arms, feeling insecure.
Even as the AI Secretary adjusted her collar and clothing, X remained dejected; this didn't alleviate her anxiety.
The Control Department Dean's sudden intrusion significantly affected her. X couldn't be as nonchalant as the AI; she felt utterly embarrassed, wanting to disappear into the sofa.
—Caught! My Manager career is over!!
[Huh? What, Manager? What do you mean, what do we do now?]
"Malkuth! Malkuth!
The Dean saw me like this; my image…Ugh, it's all Angela's fault!"
X looked like she was about to cry. It was all the Secretary's fault! Why do it in the meeting room? Why not in the Manager's office? Why during a meeting?
So…so embarrassing!
[You are free to do as you please. Even if you did something, they wouldn't blame you.]
The AI calmly stated, unperturbed; it was further teasing X, encouraging her.
But X interpreted it differently; the AI was spouting nonsense, making excuses, with malicious intent, utterly wicked!
She was being tricked into doing wrong and then punished for it.
—Lies, deception; they'll punish me!
X cared deeply about her image and the Deans' opinions.
She couldn't articulate why, but she didn't want the other Deans to see the AI Secretary's actions towards her. It was just a minor indiscretion, yet X felt something was wrong.
"Angela…Angela, next time, please don't do that, okay? Even if you must, do it in the Manager's office, not in public…It's…not good."
X whispered, adopting a pleading tone, but her submissive attitude likely fueled the AI's arrogance.
Even knowing her true nature wasn't like this, seeing the short-haired black-haired woman act so docile was amusing; it was tempting to tease and bully her.
[Then tell me specifically what's wrong? Are you dissatisfied with my reward?]
The seemingly gentle words were actually controlling and assertive, leaving X with no voice.
—Is this reward any different from punishment? They're the same.
X was dissatisfied with the AI's explanation. This wasn't a reward; it was punishment. She didn't want to be kissed, nor forced into intimacy, leaving red marks on her skin.
The redness from this morning had just faded, and now there were more. She felt she needed ointment every day.
This is revenge! It must be!
X realized she'd scolded the AI Secretary this morning and was now likely being targeted in retaliation.
In other words, she, the Manager, was being bullied by her Secretary, too afraid to complain.
She wanted to appeal against the AI's actions, but couldn't find a way, forcing her to suppress her anger.
"I…I want steamed salted fish and cheese king crab, Angela. That's the reward I want."
X choked back tears, trying to express her desire for a lavish dinner, hoping for a delicious meal instead of those elaborate "small dishes".
[But you've applied rewards to the Deans. I acted according to your understanding and believed you would prefer this type of reward.]
The AI leaned closer, whispering in X's neck, its light blue hair mingling with her black hair.
It was a delicate whisper in her ear…
The tingling words sent shivers down X's spine. Perhaps due to emotional influence, her normally pale skin flushed intensely.
X didn't know, or perhaps didn't want to know.
She sensed the AI was implying something else, but—it was a minor incident… X couldn't understand why the AI Secretary cared so much, remembering and mentioning it repeatedly.
So petty! Holding onto such a small thing; not praising her was one thing, but maliciously targeting her was another.
Clearly… it was the price she paid for her achievements.
"That's different, Angela! If I don't do this, Netzach will get drunk!"
X felt wronged; she'd contributed so much to the Corporation, yet received no praise from the Secretary, only constant belittlement. Was this what workplace bullying was like?
I'm being bullied.
[Your arguments are flawed. I don't know how to correct your misconceptions. You argue like a child, refusing to listen…like the stubborn Managers of the past.]
Unable to change the woman's mind quickly, the AI sighed and continued to indulge her.
If X could easily be reasoned with, she wouldn't be X… even in her muddled state, her stubbornness remained. Once she held an opinion, it was difficult to change.
After tidying X's clothes, making her presentable for a Manager, the AI stood up, preparing to open the door and let in the Control Department Dean, who had been eavesdropping.
The AI knew she was there but never stopped her from listening, just as it never stopped the Deans from sneaking snacks.
These were permitted actions within the Corporation…
Perhaps to satisfy some perverse amusement. The usual clacking of Jenny's hard-soled shoes was absent; the AI's steps were silent and light, like a ghost.
Then, opening the meeting room door, revealing the Control Department Dean's startled expression.
"Oh my, Angela!"
Unsurprisingly, the Control Department Dean was indeed eavesdropping, like a rabbit with pricked ears. The AI's hearing was excellent, picking up everything clearly.
Anything that could hide from Angela's hearing was like a ghost… the usual sound of Jenny's shoes on the metal floor was intentional, to announce her presence.
[Alright, Malkuth, you may enter…the meeting starts in eleven minutes. Please wait on the sofa. We will begin once the other Deans arrive.]
[Manager, would you like a drink?]
The AI adopted a highly formal demeanor, as if the earlier events hadn't happened.
Now, the AI acted like a diligent and proper Secretary, polite, knowledgeable, and obedient.
If X didn't know Angela's true nature, she might believe it.
She didn't know whether the AI preferred this tone or this game—always calling herself 'Secretary' and addressing X as 'Manager'.
Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that despite the title, there was no respect; it was clear who held the power.
Perhaps it was a specific roleplay?
The AI Secretary was the true authority, not X, the Manager. X's only real power was choosing her drink.
"Um, a bottle of grape juice, Angela, thank you."
Out of politeness, the AI also offered a bottle to the Control Department Dean, although Malkuth was clearly uncomfortable, fidgeting on the sofa.
The atmosphere was strange; X felt like an outsider, an incongruous lightbulb.
And she hated this feeling.
Malkuth couldn't articulate it, but it was unpleasant; she felt awkward, like she was forced to eat a melon she didn't want.
X sat on the sofa; Angela, her Secretary, stood silently to her left, like a loyal guard.
Malkuth, similarly, sat opposite X, in the designated Dean's seat. With only the Control Department Dean present, there was an uncomfortable sense of isolation.
The awkward atmosphere was like an overactive air conditioner; Angela, the AI Secretary, was the source. If she weren't there, the atmosphere would be more relaxed.
X would greet Malkuth warmly, and they would chat about recent events or work-related issues.
But because the Secretary was watching, X wore a serious expression, unsure what to say, sipping her drink slowly.
The Control Department Dean, feeling the stiff atmosphere, opened her notebook, pretending to study it intently, although she wasn't actually interested.
Where were the other Deans? Hurry up!
X prayed for their arrival; this awkwardness felt interminable. She wanted to greet Malkuth, but she dared not do so under Angela's gaze.
X knew Angela would be displeased; meetings needed to maintain decorum; she couldn't laugh and chat with the Deans.