Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 233

Chapter 233: Ch 233: The new Recruit
Rika had been assigned to the general section as an intern.

Her mother wanted Rika to be close, so she suggested being a PA, but Rika rejected her mother’s request to place her in such a prestigious position.

Understanding the existing talk about nepotism and her hiring, Rika wanted to avoid worsening the situation. She respectfully asked her mother for a more ‘neutral’ role, showing her understanding and respect for the circumstances.

But even as Rika entered her new office, she could feel people looking at her disdainfully.

‘Something must have happened. Are these people jealous of my privilege of getting hired on the spot? I knew it! I should not have taken this spot from Mother first.’

Rika sighed, but there was nothing to be done here. She could only make these people change their minds after working with and getting to know them.

“Are you a recruit? Report to the section boss, and we will assign you a new desk. Hurry up because we don’t have time to train your sorry and privileged ass.”

The female worker who noticed Rika standing at the door quickly snapped and pointed toward the side Rika needed to go to. No one stopped her or told her off her language, either.

Rika had a distinct feeling that this female omega was the ‘darling’ of this section, and she did not want any competition or drama because of Rika’s presence.

“…”

Rika suppressed her desire to snap back and quietly fell into her assigned role.

She paid her respect to her senor (as much as she could muster in her current mood) before walking past her and toward the section head’s office.

The omega worker was unhappy, and everyone else looked dissatisfied with Rika’s attitude.

‘What is everyone’s problem? What did they want me to do when my senior asked me to meet the section boss? Should I have begged her to take me under her wing?

Rika was sure the omega played some political move on Rika, but she was not getting it.

Office politics was a topic Rika had only read about in books or the news. She had never been involved in this scenario, so she felt out of depth.

Standing before the section chief’s office, she felt even more awkward and did not know when to go in.

Rika was about to knock on the door when the PA opened it and allowed Rika to enter.

When Rika entered, the PA quickly closed the door behind her, leaving her and the aged man in front of her.

“You are Rika, the recruit? It’s nice to meet you. Let me look…. hmm, your resume says you are a beta, but I am doubtful. Do you mind if I check it?”

The section chief questioned while looking at Rika with a weird look in his eyes.

Rika could swear that she could see interest flashing across that man’s eyes, making her skin crawl.

But she could not correctly step back because the wall behind her prevented her from going anywhere.

The section chief noticed how on-guard Rika was and quickly changed his tone.

“Don’t look so nervous! I was just joking when I asked if I could touch you. Since you are a ‘special’ person recruited by Alpha Goodwill herself, I will expect many things from you. Now get to work and have a nice day.”

The section chief laughed to mask his words, but Rika was not fooled. She could still feel his stinky eyes looking her up and down.

If looks could violate someone, then Rika had been violated more than once by that section chief.

The beta breathed a sigh of relief when she was out of the office. But she did not even breathe a sigh of relief before the PA came over to hand Rika her schedule.

“Ask someone from your department to show you the desk and how things are done. At the end of the week, there will be an evaluation, where we will grade your work. Make sure you attend it for sure.”

The PA was the politest person Rika had met today, but that could be because he looked ready to collapse under all the weight of his responsibilities. It made Rika flinch when she noticed.

‘I guess it’s good I declined Mother’s invite to be her PA. I want to have a peaceful moment to myself now and then.’

Rika nodded as she took the schedule handed to her and quietly went back to her office.

The ‘Darling’ omega was waiting for Rika to arrive, and as soon as she entered the office, she snatched the schedule out of Rika’s hand.

“Give your schedule here! There is no need for you to have it. You will do things our way now and assist us in what we are doing. Since you are an ‘intern,’ staying in your lane and not questioning anything is best.”

The omega established a pecking order and told Rika she ranked lowest among everyone in the room.

Some of the beta workers gave Rika a pity-filled look, but it did not bother her.

“Alright! I understand. The section chief said I will be assigned a desk for work and can ask you about it.”

Rika decided to ask the omega about it, but she did not like the smirk that spread across that omega’s face when she heard Rika’s question.

“A desk? What would an intern need a desk for? Listen here, you newbie! The words you hear from the section chief are protocol that he tells everyone. But we don’t have a desk for an intern hired to assist us all.

You don’t need a desk or a chair to be ready to assist us all the time, do you? Standing on your feet the whole day would be better for you.”

Rika almost laughed at how corny and unfunny the darling omega was. But since no one bothered to stop or contradict her, it became increasingly evident that she had some backing behind her.

‘Ah, this is annoying. Do I have to deal with this for a month?’