Colleagues Mock Poor-Looking Intern, Learn She’s Not So Simple When Boss Walks In – Story of the Day

Holly's new job turns into a nightmare when her colleagues mock her for wearing a shabby outfit. Just as the situation escalates, the boss walks in and reveals a truth about Holly that freezes her bullies, making them regret it big time.

It was Holly's first day at her job. As she settled at her desk, she heard somebody whisper her name in the next cubicle, urging her to edge closer and eavesdrop.

"...and OMG! Did you see her pathetic-looking platforms and clothes?" Sylvia, Holly's colleague, whispered as her cohorts Denise and Melissa burst into giggles.

Holly glanced down at her black, worn out leather shoes. She'd bought the heels and the rest of her outfit for a steal at a thrift store. They may not have been fashionable, but they weren't in bad condition...

"She has zero fashion sense!" Denise hissed. "I bet I could sew a better blazer from my Grandma's drapes!"

"Oh, I think that's what she did!" Sylvia chuckled.

Hurt and frustrated, Holly angrily started typing on her keyboard, loud enough for her colleagues to realize she was there and had overheard everything. But even that didn't stop the trio from mocking Holly.

"Hey, Holly...am I right? Did you sew that blazer using a tablecloth?!" Sylvia taunted loudly.

Holly's plan to get her colleagues to quit mocking her had backfired. She was already struggling to fit into her new job and didn't wish to confront her co-workers, who carried years of experience at that office.

"Hey, Holly...are you deaf and blind?" Sylvia peeked over the short wall dividing their cubicles.

Despite Holly's best efforts to keep calm, Sylvia was making it impossible for her. "I think that's enough!" Holly spun around in her seat, facing Sylvia.

"Have I broken some dress code?" Holly asked angrily, hoping the question would silence them.

"Yes, you have...the dress code of good taste!" Denise smirked.

At this point, Holly couldn't take it anymore. "If I didn't do anything wrong, leave me alone."

Holly turned back to her work, and her bullies felt offended. Suddenly, a pen lid hit Holly in the neck, jolting her.

"Did you throw this at me?" she shakily confronted Sylvia.

"Yeah! You just turned your back on me while I'm still talking to you...that's so freaking rude," Sylvia snapped.

"Excuse me?" Holly rose. "I was politely ignoring your nasty comments about my clothes. You three are the ones being rude...Not...." Holly paused and trailed off. She didn't want to escalate things and be seen as a troublemaker.

"...I'm sorry," she added. "I don't want to fight."

"Too late!" Sylvia stormed into Holly's cubicle. "I've been here for ages...I'll ensure management knows about your bad attitude."

"Stop it! I heard everything!" a voice boomed across the corridor. Ms. Anderson, the department head, marched toward them.

"You three wouldn't talk to Holly like that if you knew who she was."

"Oh, come on, Patricia! She's just a new girl with zero respect for her seniors..." Sylvia pulled a face.

"Enough, Sylvia," Ms. Anderson snapped. "I take this moment to inform you that Holly is my brother's—the CEO's—daughter! She went missing years ago...and we've finally found her!"

A stunned silence hung in the air as Sylvia, Denise, and Melissa exchanged worried glances. For Holly, it was as though someone had dumped icy water over her head. It was extremely shocking.

"What??" Holly turned to Ms. Anderson. "I...I don't know what you're talking about."

"Holly, I know this comes as a big shock to you. But I'll explain everything back in my office," Ms. Anderson said as Holly followed her.

"It's true, Holly..." Ms. Anderson sat across from Holly in her office. "You are my long-lost niece. Your Dad, David, and I have been searching for you for years. I knew you might be our Ashley the first time I saw your hand."

Holly looked down at her right hand bearing a burn scar and an amputated pinky finger.

"Ashley had a terrible accident when she was only a year old," Ms. Anderson added. "But before we get into that, you should know what happened when that rogue kidnapped you all those years ago..."

25 years ago...

Patricia and David were discussing a contract in David's home office when his phone suddenly rang.

"Mr. Anderson...I'm so sorry. I only turned away for a second...but they were fast," Ashley's nanny Andrea sobbed on the other end of the line.

"Who was fast, Andrea?" David panicked. "What happened?"

"They took your daughter, Mr. Anderson...and left a note."

Blood drained off David's face, and Patricia understood something was wrong. "Read me the note, please," his voice shook as Andrea began reading.

"To the business tycoon Mr. Anderson.

Your little daughter Ashley is with us. If you ever wish to see her again, bring $2 million in cash to the park today evening at 6 p.m.

Come alone. Don't try to act smart, or Ashley will suffer the consequences.

This is only the first part of the deal. More instructions will follow."

David hung up on Andrea and dialed a number.

"Who are you calling?" Patricia asked.

"The police."

A detective soon arrived at David's mansion. He questioned the nanny, Patricia, and then David. Soon enough, technicians were roped in to monitor all the calls to David's phone.

Meanwhile, Detective Evans slipped a tracking device into the black bag stashed with the $2 million ransom sitting on the desk.

"Once the kidnappers grab the money bag, this tracking device will lead us to them," the detective confidently explained.

David nodded. "...and there's something you should know. I was so confused and shaken that I failed to mention it earlier," he said. "I suspect my business partner, Marco, might be behind my daughter's kidnapping."

Detective Evans raised an eyebrow as he took out his notepad and scribbled the details.

"Long story short...I discovered Marco's shady business dealings. I reported him to the cops, and he was later arrested. He promised he would exact revenge for exposing his crimes."

"Alright. Rest assured...the police will investigate all potential suspects," Detective Evans said as David lifted the money bag. It was time to make the drop-off at the park.

David arrived at the park, the money bag in his grip. He scanned the area engulfed by the shrill cries of crickets. Suddenly, a voice called out from behind.

"Excuse me, sir."

David turned around with a start and saw a homeless man shrouded in a tattered blanket.

"Get lost," David scowled. "I don't have time for beggars right now."

But the man stood still and handed David a piece of paper. "They told me to give this to you," he said.

David snatched the paper and unfolded it with trembling fingers.

"The deal's off. You called the cops. Now Ashley will face the consequences."

A cold sweat broke on David's forehead. Several plainclothes officers emerged from the bushes and beneath the bridge nearby.

"The kidnappers must be watching from somewhere nearby," David cried. "We have to find them."

The cops surrounded the homeless man as he kept repeating he didn't know anything. "I swear to God. He was wearing a hoodie. I was sleeping in those bushes. He gave me $20 to deliver the note to this man."

"Which way did he go after that?" David interrupted the homeless guy.

"I don't know. He just ran away through the bushes."

As the police took the homeless man in for further questioning, they insisted that David go home.

"They will call you again for the ransom," Detective Evans told David. "It's a dead-end...all we can do now is wait for that call."

So David went home and spent the night by his phone, waiting for the call that never came.

Detective Evans arrived at David's mansion the following morning with an update. "We thoroughly questioned the homeless man. But it seems he was telling the truth," he said.

"What about Marco?" David asked the detective. "You have to investigate him."

"We did. But he denied any involvement." Detective Evans said.

David buried his head in his hands. "I'm sure he did it! If something happens to Ashley, it'll be all my fault."

"We're going to keep looking, Mr. Anderson," the detective assured David. "We're following every lead. We'll do everything to bring your daughter home safely."

"So what are we supposed to do now? Just wait?" Patricia asked.

"Yes!" Detective Evans replied. "It's a waiting game. I'm sure the kidnappers will contact you for the money."

Present day…

"...but the kidnappers never contacted us again, and the police never found you," Ms. Anderson concluded. "It was like you vanished off the face of the earth...until you showed up here for your first day on the job."

Holly was stunned and found everything Ms. Anderson had told her utterly unbelievable. "So...the kidnappers who took me never called again?" she stared Ms. Anderson in the eye. "You're such a liar!"

"What?" Ms. Anderson exclaimed. "It's true, Holly. We did everything we could to find you...."

"STOP!" Holly exploded. "Enough of your lies. You can't fool me, Patricia. I know the truth about what happened all those years ago."

Ms. Anderson's jaw dropped. "Holly, things were complicated back then. Maybe David made some mistakes, but...."

"Mistakes?" Holly slammed the table. "He's a selfish, crooked-minded scoundrel who cares more for a dime than his own daughter! David was right. Marco was behind the kidnapping...and he went to see him in jail to confront him."

"Marco offered David a deal," Holly added. "He was ready to return me safe and sound if David confessed that he'd framed Marco for fraud to steal his shares in the business. Any guesses what David replied?"

"My dear, loving Dad refused the deal! He chose to save his own skin instead. He paid some of the other convicts to 'interrogate' Marco, which they did so eagerly that he died of a heart attack."

Ms. Anderson was shaken. "I...I had no idea about this, Holly," she said.

"Don't act so innocent, Aunty dear," Holly rolled her eyes. "...while you and David were vacationing in London recently, I took the liberty of hacking your computer. It was a cakewalk to find the files I needed to corroborate Marco's evidence. The real fraudsters will go to jail...and justice will finally be served!"

"No...you can't do that, Holly," Patricia pleaded. "Put aside your past and think about your future. You might forfeit your chance to inherit this company if you turn David in."

"Oh, don't you dare think I'll be sold for your fake concern," Holly replied sarcastically. "I checked the company's documents...Marco's parents will gain control of the company when David gets arrested...and they will pass it on to me!"

"What! So that's where you got all this twisted information...those kidnappers brainwashed you!" Ms. Anderson yelled.

"Wrong! Marco's parents raised me in a loving home when my father decided to give up his daughter and let an innocent man rot in jail rather than confess to his crimes," Holly lashed out.

"And you know what? I'm darn grateful to them. They showed me that family is more about the love you share than your genetics!"

Holly rose and headed to the door. "Don't try to run, dear aunt! I already alerted my adoptive parents while you were recounting your fairy tale. The police are already on their way!"

As Holly slammed the door shut on Ms. Anderson, she noticed Melissa, Sylvia, and Denise were spying on her from their cubicles.

"Ladies, this is your lucky day! Pack your bags coz my company no longer requires your services!" Holly told them.

"And I hope your severance pay is enough to buy yourself some branded outfits!"

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