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To say that Andrea had worked hard to prepare herself and get a promotion as a representative trainee was an understatement. Trembley was more than annoyed to see her with Zack for so long, but her first attempt to fire him had also been her last. “But he’s having sex with one of your colleagues! That’s not allowed in this company!” he yelled at the HR manager. “Well, I already sent his dismissal letter to corporate and they sent it back with a DENIED sign,” the man told him. “You can’t fire him.” Trembley stormed out of there more than furious, because in four months Andrea had only escaped from him, but now it seemed that she had someone to help her do it. And the idiot seemed untouchable. Andrea, for her part, continued to avoid him as much as she could and although Trembley gave her no respite with work, she took advantage of every second to study the materials that Zack gave her. She had put everything else on the back burner to study. As soon as Adriana fell asleep next to her, she would turn on that little lamp and take advantage of the last hours of the night. She didn’t get even four hours of sleep in a row and her only meal during the day was a cheese sandwich, but she was determined not to give up and spent her days working hard without stopping. Zack noticed the change from the moment she made the decision. “You’re intelligent, but more importantly, you’re smart. You know how to get through to people,” he told her one day. “There’s no degree in Sports Representation. It’s not something you can study, it’s just preparing yourself and worrying about your client, their life and their career, and trying to do the best for them.” “If your client succeeds, you succeed,” she quoted him. “If your client makes money, you make money.” “That’s right,” Zack smiled. “I’m going to tell you a secret: women are much better sports representatives than men. Thanks for reading LeeNovelas.com.” “Really? How is that?” -Andrea was amazed. -Because of the maternal instinct. It’s like the kids were hers, her puppies, they have a special instinct to protect them and get the best for them. Andrea nodded and told herself that she could be like that. If they were already fighting with everything for their daughter, she would also do it for her clients. Zack felt satisfied for being able to promote someone who undoubtedly made so much effort and was so willing, so a couple of weeks later he gave her the worst exam in the world. There was nothing he didn’t ask her, he even made her calculate benefits, profit or loss margins, examples of contracts and who she could get them from, legal provisions in sports and everything, absolutely everything Andrea knew how to answer. -I think you’re ready -said Zack with that hoarse voice that always seemed so imposing and distant to her-. Fill out the application and tomorrow you present it to that idiot Trembley. The protocol is simple, he will gather three or four representatives and they will give you the same exam that I have given you but lighter.- Are you sure? Remember. Read this novel only on LeeNovelas.com, not on other sites. – Of course, no one gives tests harder than mine, and if I say you’re ready, then you’re ready – he declared. The next day Andrea chose her least worn clothes from the ones she had and filled out her application. As soon as the boss arrived in the morning, she greeted him with the same courtesy even though he didn’t deserve it, and handed him that folder. Trembley looked at her for a few seconds and then burst into laughter so loud that everyone on the floor turned to see what was happening. – Are you kidding!? – he snapped contemptuously. – Because at least it made me laugh! Andrea blushed with embarrassment when she realized that everyone was going to witness this, but she forced herself to gather strength. – No, Mr. Trembley – she answered frankly. I really want to apply for the position of apprentice representative… I’ve been studying hard, if I just took the test… Trembley laughed more and shook his head. “Test? Please! You’re just one more of all the useless secretaries who pass through here with impossible dreams. Be realistic!” he snapped at her with contempt. Do you really think someone like you can get so high? That’s absurd! Andrea’s floor shook, she hadn’t dared to think that it could be so painful. “Why is it absurd?” she asked in a voice that tried to seem firm even though it came out a bit squeaky. “I’m an intelligent woman, I was a teacher…” “You’re a secretary! What would you know about sports?” Trembley mocked. “You’re useless and idealistic. Do you think that because you’ve seen a few games you’ll become the next star of sports representation?” Andrea didn’t understand what was happening. Trembley didn’t even want to take the test. She couldn’t believe how unfair this was, but she knew she couldn’t stand up to him. “Don’t waste my time with this nonsense, Andrea!” the fat man hissed as he handed the folder back to her. “You don’t have to!” a voice boomed from behind her. “You’re already wasting your time driving this company into bankruptcy, aren’t you?” Trembley glared at Zack, but the big man’s arms were crossed and his gaze fierce. Andrea turned around and shook her head. “Please just leave it at that…” she whispered, knowing Trembley well enough to know he wouldn’t budge. “There’s no reason for me to turn down an application without even taking the exam!” Zack growled, and Andrea put a hand on his arm. “Please… I can’t risk the job I already have…” she whispered. She turned and walked away silently through the murmurs in the apartment. Back at his desk, he opened his drawer and looked at a picture of his little daughter sleeping with a smiling face next to a white bunny stuffed animal. It was the only toy he had, maybe that’s why he adored it. Behind him were Zack and Trembley challenging each other with their eyes, each one more annoyed than the other, the difference was that this time the boss was not willing to keep the grievance.An hour later he called Andrea to his office and the first thing he put in front of her was that document. The girl covered her mouth with her hands and her eyes filled with tears. It was a dismissal letter. -But… Mr. Trembley… why? -Because you are an intelligent woman. Isn’t that what you told me? -Trembley said with a sarcastic smile. It is obvious that you aspire to much more than being a secretary, so I think I no longer need your services here. Andrea stood frozen looking at him without knowing what to reply, she felt as if someone had turned off a light inside her. -That’s not fair! I am a good assistant! You have never had any complaints about my work…! What’s wrong with wanting to improve? -she exclaimed with her eyes full of tears-. You know that I need this job! -And you know what I need, but it seems that neither of us cares -Trembley replied, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied gesture-. Do you want to get better? Do you want to make more money? Then you have to be willing to pay for a better life, maybe you and I can come to an… agreement —he said winking at her and Andrea understood that he was offering her the promotion in exchange for… something else. She felt humiliated and uncomfortable immediately, but that dismissal letter was still on the table with her name on it. —No, please! —begged Andrea desperately—. You know that my daughter and I depend on my work, you can’t do this… —Look, I don’t want to be a bad boss —said Trembley in a soft voice—. If you stay here accepting all my terms, I promise you that you will start making serious money in this business. Andrea was speechless. She knew it was an ultimatum and the only thing she could do was find the strength to move forward and fight for her daughter. —No… I don’t want to be that kind of person —she stammered while she could no longer hold back her tears. —Then I will fire you —said Trembley without a drop of compassion—. These are the options. Either you sleep with me and you can be sure that you will have a promising future here, or you refuse and this letter of dismissal becomes effective as of tomorrow…“But it seems that neither of us cares,” Trembley replied, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied gesture. “You want to get better? You want to make more money? Then you have to be willing to pay for a better life, maybe you and I can come to an… agreement,” he said, winking at her, and Andrea understood that he was offering her the promotion in exchange for… something else. She felt humiliated and uncomfortable immediately, but that dismissal letter was still on the table with her name on it. “No, please!” Andrea begged desperately. “You know that my daughter and I depend on my work, you can’t do this…” “Look, I don’t want to be a bad boss,” Trembley said in a soft voice. “If you stay here accepting all my terms, I promise you that you will start making serious money in this business.” Andrea was speechless. She knew it was an ultimatum and the only thing she could do was find the strength to move forward and fight for her daughter. -No… I don’t want to be that kind of person – she stammered, unable to hold back her tears. -Then I’ll fire you – Trembley said without a drop of compassion – Those are the options. Either you sleep with me and you can be sure that you’ll have a promising future here, or you refuse and this letter of dismissal becomes effective as of tomorrow…“But it seems that neither of us cares,” Trembley replied, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied gesture. “You want to get better? You want to make more money? Then you have to be willing to pay for a better life, maybe you and I can come to an… agreement,” he said, winking at her, and Andrea understood that he was offering her the promotion in exchange for… something else. She felt humiliated and uncomfortable immediately, but that dismissal letter was still on the table with her name on it. “No, please!” Andrea begged desperately. “You know that my daughter and I depend on my work, you can’t do this…” “Look, I don’t want to be a bad boss,” Trembley said in a soft voice. “If you stay here accepting all my terms, I promise you that you will start making serious money in this business.” Andrea was speechless. She knew it was an ultimatum and the only thing she could do was find the strength to move forward and fight for her daughter. -No… I don’t want to be that kind of person – she stammered, unable to hold back her tears. -Then I’ll fire you – Trembley said without a drop of compassion – Those are the options. Either you sleep with me and you can be sure that you’ll have a promising future here, or you refuse and this letter of dismissal becomes effective as of tomorrow…And from the day after tomorrow you prepare to lose your daughter. Andrea was caught between two fires; the promotion didn’t matter to her, but if she turned down Trembley’s offer she would lose her job. And as if she needed a push, Trembley leaned over and started signing the dismissal letter. “Wait…” Andrea muttered and that was all the old man needed. He took a sheet of paper, wrote an address and handed it to the girl. “I’ll wait for you here tonight. Now get out of my office.” With a shaking hand and knowing that she had no other way out, Andrea took that paper and left there. She tried not to let anyone see her cry, but unfortunately the damn company didn’t have the thickest walls in the world; so that afternoon, while Zack went to get a coffee against the cold and the bad mood, he heard other women from the company talking in front of him in the line. “It seems that now the boss has gotten it,” one muttered. “Actually, it was about time,” the other replied. I feel sorry for Andrea, but Trembley has been after her for months, and she put herself on a silver platter. As if the boss was going to let her get away with that! Zack frowned but didn’t make a sound. “In the end, she’s even going to do better. When she sleeps with Trembley, he’s going to position her well, he’s going to pay her more… that’s what he does with everyone until he gets bored,” said the other woman. “And are you sure she accepted? Look at that repressed nerd face!” “Well, that’s what I heard, and then I went to her desk to ask for some staples and I saw a note with the address of the Sheraton,” the other answered. “The hotel downtown?” “That one. So Santa Andreita will fall off its cloud tonight…” Zack turned around and left the cafeteria, without buying the coffee and without being able to hide his bad mood. He searched the entire company for Andrea, unable to believe that after all the hard work she had done to learn, she was going to give in to a bastard like Trembley. It was almost time to leave when he saw her sitting at one end of the parking lot, as if she was deciding if she had the courage to go out into the cold. “What are you doing?” he asked, bewildered. “I’m going home,” she replied without looking at him. “You know I’m not talking to you about that, Andrea! Are you really going to meet that scumbag Trembley tonight?” He saw her turn red in embarrassment and look down as tears gathered in her eyes. “This is not your problem anymore,” she said. “I appreciate the help, but don’t get involved anymore, please…” “And shit!” he roared. “I’m aware that many women exchange their… favors for a promotion, but it’s so unpleasant and humiliating that it never occurred to me that you were that kind!” “I’m not any kind!” “You don’t know me!” she shouted, crying desperately. “If you think I’m doing this for the promotion, you’re very wrong!” “Then why? I know I don’t know you, but in the midst of all that missing self-esteem there has to be at least a little dignity! Right?” Zack growled.Andrea pressed her lips together and wiped away her tears as she shook her head. “Dignity? How naive you are,” she murmured. “Dignity is a luxury that some women simply… cannot afford.” And without saying another word, she disappeared into the afternoon, and into the cold.