"Fine! If you've got the guts, go to HR right now and resign!" he shouted.
I turned to leave, but Clara grabbed me by the arm before I could take a step.
Her voice was thick with fake concern as she said, "Emily, please don't jeopardize the company's future because of me."
A thermometer slipped under her arm as she spoke, shattering on the floor and spilling mercury across the floor, splashing onto my feet. Panic surged through me, and I immediately kicked off my heels, terrified for the baby inside me. I wanted to wash the area as quickly as possible.
But before I could move, Clara yanked my arm back with all her strength, causing me to lose my balance and fall hard to the ground.
Adrian instinctively reached out to catch me, but Clara cried dramatically, "Oh no, Adrian!"
Suddenly, Adrian pulled back and rushed to support Clara instead, leaving me to hit the floor. My palm landed on the broken shards of the thermometer, and I felt the sharp sting as blood began to drip from the fresh cuts.
Before I could even register what had just happened, Adrian slapped me in the face. "Emily, how could you be so vicious?! You tried to hit Clara with your heel?!"