Chapter 26: Drink with Me

**

After reporting to her department head, Kate found her desk, then took the initiative to greet all of her colleagues as they arrived. Each colleague responded courteously, yet had no intention of saying more to her.

Kate had to deal with a lot of hostility from her colleagues at Smith Group, so she didn't care about their attitudes. She went back to her desk and began to work.

**

Three days later, Kate thought she was adjusted well to the job, then a co-worker, May, shouted, "Kate, the director wants to see you."

"Sure!" She stopped what she was doing and walked to his office.

"You did this program?" As soon as she entered the office, Albert, the director, questioned angrily.

Kate looked at the page on the computer, then nodded silently.

"The online program must be more attractive than the previous one. Instead, you caused our partner to lose a lot. They are going to terminate the contract with us now and asked for compensation!" Albert pounded the table angrily.

Kate didn't expect to be in trouble on her third day of work.

Albert had asked her to plan the program and said that the result would be part of her trial period appraisal, which needed to be done before she could become a regular employee. She agreed to participate without another word.

Kate stayed up all night to do the program and asked for suggestions from many of her colleagues. She submitted to the team leader and was praised for her work, but the situation had turned on her.

"Director, how about replacing the new program with the original one for now? And I'll change it ..."

"Kate Smith!" Albert pounded the table again, "Do you think this is a game? Do you know that all of us will suffer just because of your fault?"

"I'm ... sorry ..." Kate whimpered.

The phone rang; Albert answered and kept apologizing to the person on the other end. He repeatedly said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Peter, and we here at Symantec will take full responsibility for the loss caused by this program. Please calm down."

Kate Smith clenched her hands together, feeling guilty.

"Did you hear that? Our partners are furious!" Albert yelled at Kate, "Do you think you are somebody important just because you worked at Smith Group for two years?"

"Sorry, I didn't expect ..."

"Enough!" Linda suddenly walked in and commented to Albert, "Now is not the time for accountability, we need to find a way to undo some of the damage as soon as possible."

Then, she turned to Kate, "I invited the partner to dinner tonight. You must come with me to apologize."

Kate wanted to refuse, but had no choice, assuming that everything was her fault.

**

"Hello, Mr. Peter," Linda said and shook his hand.

Peter entered the room, looking stern. He glanced at Kate standing behind Linda and asked impatiently, "Is she the person who was in charge of the program?"

"Yes," Linda said with an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, Mr. Peter. Kate worked at Smith Group, so we want to give her a chance to show her ability. We never expected that it would go wrong and cause such a huge loss. I brought her here in person to apologize to you. I hope you will understand."

Linda remembered what Joseph said and resisted the urge to expose Kate's identity. Since Joseph had ordered her not to be kind, it was not too much to expect.

"Apologize?" Peter squinted at Kate and grumbled, "How are you going to compensate me for my loss?"

Linda immediately went to Peter's side, took his arm, and said in a charming voice, "Oh, Mr. Peter, Symantec, and your company go way back, and we hope you can make more profit than anyone else. That is also profitable for us!"

Peter's smiled, "Since you have shown your sincerity, I will let this loss go. However, punishment is inevitable!"

Linda was thrilled and quickly flattered him, "Oh, Mr. Peter, as long as we don't hurt each other, we will accept any punishment!"

"You have spoken, but the person who made the mistake is hiding behind you. Peter's eyes fell upon Kate.

Stepping aside, Linda shoved Kate toward the man, "Mr. Peter, I brought her here to make amends, so feel free to suggest whatever punishment you want!"

Kate was feeling extremely uncomfortable but was too scared to say anything. She just reminded herself to stay calm and not to screw up at a critical moment.

"Would you like to have a few drinks with me, Ms. Smith?" Peter handed her a glass of wine.

Kate stared at the glass and shook her head, "I don't drink."

Peter lost his temper and asked angrily, "Do you always have an attitude when you apologize?"

Linda quickly answered, "Mr. Peter, calm down. Kate is a naive newcomer, why not drink with me?"

"You want to drink for her?" Peter's face was dark with rage, he shouted coldly, "If she doesn't drink, not only will I hold Symantec accountable for our losses, but also I will terminate our partnership!"

"Mr. Peter, don't ..." Linda's face was pale with fear. She grabbed Kate's wrist and stared at her as a silent warning, "Don't pretend to be so perfect. If this thing can't be solved, we will all be in trouble!"

Kate took a deep breath, then choked down the entire glass of wine.

Linda smiled at the sight she won.

"I knew Ms. Smith wasn't sincere!" The older gentleman poured another glass of wine and handed it to her, "Ms. Smith, I am an easy man to please. As long as you drink this, I will forget all about the program, and will continue to partner with Symantec!"

"I would like to see that happen!" Kate never drank, even when Joseph hurt her badly. So, after two drinks, her stomach burned like it was on fire.

"Ms. Smith, there's a third of this bottle left. If you can drink it all, then we will forget everything. I am busy!" Peter handed her the bottle.

Linda looked at Kate and said, "Mr. Peter, Kate will get hopelessly drunk. I'll drink the rest of the bottle for her."

Peter turned his head and ignored everything Linda said.

"It was my fault, so it is only right that I accept the punishment…" Kate slurred. Her stomach was churning but closed her eyes and drank the rest of the wine straight out of the bottle.

When the wine was gone, Kate shook the bottle and said with a smile, "Mr. Peter, I am done. Now, I hope you will keep your promise."