Sergio settled into his chair, organizing documents as he casually inquired, "Do you recall the questions I posed during your interview?"

“Yes, I remember you asking about my thoughts on office romances,"

Shirley said in a subdued tone. She felt her palms sweating as nervousness overcame her, and a wave of regret flooded her mind.

Shirley lamented her carelessness in allowing Trevor to see the bottle on the table. And she regretted that Sergio had overheard her conversation with the intern. It must be because of these incidents, she surmised, that he called her to his office.

Shirley had limited connections within the company, mainly with her colleagues and group leaders. Apart from the initial intern interview, she had only encountered Sergio twice during meetings.

“How did you answer me?" Sergio set aside the documents, intertwining his fingers and resting his elbows on the table with his gaze fixed on Shirley.

Shirley hesitated and cleared her throat. "If I were to work for the company, I would adhere to the rules and regulations and strive not to make any intentional mistakes."

A heavy silence enveloped the office as Shirley finished her words.

Nervously, Shirley held her breath and clutched the hem of her top.

Her gaze remained fixed on her feet, afraid to move or raise her head.

The potential consequences of being fired during her internship at a major company like the Blakely Group weighed heavily on Shirley. It could impact her future job search.

In the lingering silence, Shirley's anxiety intensified.

Her thoughts drifted back to her high school days. A teacher would scan the room to select a student to answer a question. Classmates would lower their heads, yearning to disappear into their desks to avoid the teacher's gaze.

The classroom would be shrouded in anxious silence as the students nervously awaited whether the teacher would call their names out.

When the teacher called out a name, the rest of the students would secretly breathe a sigh of relief while also feeling sorry for the student the teacher called.

Sergio scrutinized Shirley from head to toe. She wore no makeup, and her clothes hung loosely. He wondered why young people liked to wear loose attire. Was it a fashion trend?

Shirley looked nervous, just like the day when his car narrowly missed her. Her face was pale, and her whole body was tense.

Sergio smiled. “It seems you have a good memory."

Forcing a smile, Shirley felt a wave of guilt. “Thank you for your praise."

Sergio inquired, "If I remember correctly, you excelled in college and nearly qualified for exemption from exams, didn't you?"