The other branch secretaries, ever perceptive and quick-witted, paraded their newly acquired dresses in front of Stephanie with a purposeful flair.
“Thank you, Stephanie! If it weren’t for you, I’d probably never have the chance to wear such an expensive dress in my lifetime,” one remarked, her tone sweet but dripping with mockery.
“In Mr. Collins’s world, gifting a dress is no more significant than handing out candy to a child. Surely, you wouldn’t have any improper thoughts about him, would you?” another added, her words a thinly veiled jab.
“Stephanie, those eyes and dimples of yours, they’re so strikingly similar to Mrs. Collins. No wonder President Collins holds you in such high regard,” someone chimed in, her smile sharp and deliberate.
One by one, their sneers deepened, their seemingly lighthearted comments carrying unmistakable warnings, leaving no doubt about their true intentions.
Stephanie was afraid since she had never been humiliated like that in her life. As a result, she lowered her head lower and lower, feeling ashamed.
As tears fell to the ground, she ran out with red eyes when the crowd dispersed.
Finally, the annual meeting was over.