✓SEASONS [JAKE GYLLENHAAL]

bā.

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𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥!

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Rosalie feels her headache spreading as the two men in the office continue raising their voices at one another.

Two hours ago, the 36 year-old humanitarian walked into the meeting with the two politicians with a bright smile and an optimistic mind despite only getting four hours of sleep. The three were set to discuss how water and food would be produced in Ubuntku and Rosalie was dead-set on convincing the two mighty men in donating to her project.

"Why should you donate the bigger number, Bekker?" Mr. Black sneers, pointing a finger at his smirking opponent. "I need the votes more. Get off your high horse and find some other project."

"With respect to your very kind suggestion, Mr. Black." Howard Bekker says, "Ms. Ren and I have been in partnership much longer. So, I guess it's safe to say I'm the one who's in the right position here." This ensues another two minutes of screaming between the two.

The situation was not what Rosalie envisioned. She had planned on putting on a smile for the two, shaking hands after closing the deal, sleeping in her hotel room, and doing whatever was next on her itinerary (which was going right back to Ubuntku).

Rosalie clears her throat and gently says, "Gentlemen." Which goes unnoticed by the two who were currently screaming their lungs out. "Excuse me!" Rosalie snaps in a taut voice and this leads the Mr. Black and Mr. Bekker to stop screaming and look at her.

"I'm very happy that you two happen to be so. . ." Rosalie pauses and look for the right word. "Passionate about helping out in our project. But, honestly, this screaming is doing nothing to help. However, I do have a suggestion. We'll split the cost equally so, in that way, neither of you is giving more or less. Will that be alright?"

Mr. Black and Mr. Bekker look at each other with clear sneers on their face but nonetheless agree with Rosalie's suggestion. Soon enough, contracts were being brought in by interns along with coffee and some cookies.

As Rosalie was reading one of the contracts, Bruce Black's shrill voice pipes up. "May I give you some advice, Miss Ren?"

Rosalie's brown eyes shift curiously to the bearded politician. Whatever this was, she could feel some offensive comment rolling off his tongue. "Go ahead."

"To be successful, may I suggest leaving the decision-making to the ones with higher positions? I didn't expect a woman-much more a Chinese woman-to be so. . .bossy and harsh."

The atmosphere in the room shifts to one with much more tension as Rosalie and Howard Bekker exchanged glances. Howard, being a long-time colleague and friend of hers, softly shakes his head as way of telling her that it wasn't worth her time but she had other plans.

With a tight smile, Rosalie brings her balled fists under the table and replies, "What makes my gender and race so significant, Mr. Black?"

"I guess my philosophy in life is just that it's best if men do the working and for women do the cleaning." Mr. Black says, not missing a beat. "I mean surely your partner, Mr. Gyllenhaal, would agree correct? I think he's getting sick of baby-sitting all the time. Just don't force any of the feminist shit we have today on your children when you do decide to give them the time of day."

Rosalie feels the lump in her throat grow bigger at the mention of her home-life. Any professional would know that it was absurd to talk about one's personal life on a business meeting and here Bruce Black was-not only degrading Rosalie's ethnicity or gender-but running off his mouth on how she was as a mother? She was having none of it. (Also because the mention of Jake and her kids just made what she was going through a little more difficult. .. )

"Mr. Black, with all due respect, it's not my job to build up a man. I can't make you something you're not." Rosalie stands up and gives one last smile to Mr. Black and Howard, "Now, if you excuse me, I have a plane to catch."

Howard Bekker whistles at his friend's clapback and Mr. Black's dumbfounded expression. Howard gives off a hearty laugh, picks up his coat, and hilariously chimes in before walking away. "Eat shit, Black."

AUTHOR'S NOTE
rosalie ren is high-key
inspired by astrid from
crazy rish asians 😁 hence,
why the quote above sounds
familiar akakaka also, a HUGE
thank you to Adeela_Defan_TVD & starlight-argent for convincing
my insecure ass to publish
this chapter 🤧💝💖💞
💖💞💖💞💘