After my cousin graduated from college, my parents, in a bid to help out, forced her into my life as my assistant.

They also said that since the young girl had nowhere to live after graduation, she could move directly into my house.

From that point on, she treated my clothes, my makeup, and my bags as if they were her own, using them whenever she pleased.

Every day, she would also hitch a ride with me to and from work.

One day, I couldn't take her home because I had to meet a client.

Her boyfriend blamed me for making her catch a cold after getting caught in the rain.

In the heat of an argument, he pushed me down the stairs, and I died.

When I opened my eyes again, she hadn't become my assistant yet.

*****

"Ms. Lowe, your phone is ringing. Why aren't you answering it?"

My colleague's voice startled me awake, and my phone was ringing continuously. The screen displayed a half-finished project plan.

I was momentarily confused; hadn't I already submitted this project?

The call was from my mom, and I answered it, still puzzled.

"Connie, your aunt just told me that her daughter, your cousin, is graduating from college this year. She wants you to help find her a job. Can you do anything?"

I looked at the empty desk across from me, and it suddenly hit me. I had been reborn.

I was back to the time before Mary Graham had come to work as my assistant.

I immediately refused. "Mom, I really can't help with that."

My mom wanted to try persuading me. "But didn't you just get promoted to supervisor? Can't you put in a word? Can't Mary at least work temporarily at your company?"

"No, Mom. She worked hard to get her education. It's not fair to offer her a job with a monthly salary of just 3,000 dollars.

"Don't go through all the trouble of getting her here, only for her to find the salary too low and the job problematic.

"If Mary doesn't appreciate it, and my aunt blames you for ruining her daughter's future, you'll end up in a thankless situation. It's not worth it."

I knew my mom too well; she was kind-hearted and easily swayed.

In my previous life, my aunt had approached me first, and when I refused, she sent Mary directly to my parents, who couldn't get rid of her.

They felt obligated to help her find a job.

Not wanting to put my parents in a difficult position, I pulled some strings to get Mary to work as my assistant.

But once she arrived, she wouldn't rent a place and moved directly into my home instead.

She said, "Don't worry, Connie. I'll move out as soon as I find a place."

But she never seriously looked for one. Whenever I tried to help, she always found something wrong with the options.

She hitched a ride with me every day and could never get up in time, always arriving just in time to clock in.

At work, she slacked off, never working overtime, and frequently mooched off her coworkers for coffee, snacks, and takeout, even taking a share of the team's bonuses.

Her behavior annoyed my colleagues, but she would dismiss it, saying that this is how Generation Z is "fixing the workplace."

She lived off me, using my things, and even took my luxury bags, which I rarely used, to show off without asking.

When I expressed my displeasure, she said, "Bags are meant to be used, right? I'm just helping you get your money's worth."

One day, it rained heavily, and I was out meeting a client, unable to return to the office by the end of the day.

She had to go home in the rain, and as a result, caught a cold.

Her boyfriend, feeling sorry for her, came to confront me.

He accused me of deliberately scheduling client meetings on rainy days to bully her.

In the heat of the argument, he pushed me down the stairs...

The excruciating pain from falling down the stairs still lingered faintly in my memory.

I knew that unless my mom felt it would affect her directly, she wouldn't have the resolve to reject my aunt's request.

After some thought, my mom finally agreed not to get involved.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Without the burden of her hitching rides, I no longer had to worry about being late for work.

Without Mary's slacking off and dragging down the entire team's progress, I didn't have to deal with colleagues' subtle complaints.

I no longer had to worry about my precious bags and beautiful clothes being taken and worn without permission.

I felt a great sense of relief.

However, just a few days after enjoying this newfound freedom, HR informed me that they had hired a new assistant for me.

When I saw who it was, I almost choked. It was Mary!

Why is she here again?

I already analyzed the pros and cons with my mom. Given that it concerns her interests, she usually listens to me.

And she didn't even notify me.

I was still puzzled when Mary saw me too, and immediately showed a look of surprise.

"Connie, you're the supervisor? That's wonderful!"

I breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't even know I was the supervisor, so it seems she didn't get this job through our family connections.

Then it doesn't matter.

I immediately put on a righteous expression to interrupt her. "What's so wonderful? Are you here to work or to socialize? Call me 'Supervisor.'"

Seeing that I didn't hold back, Mary looked unhappy, but she still reluctantly called me "Supervisor" with a pout.

I continued. "And don't think you can slack off just because you're with me. You have to do all the work that's required. Like I said before, you're here to work."

Mary's face looked even worse. The initial joy she felt upon learning I was the supervisor vanished completely.

Good, that's exactly the effect I wanted. I need to set boundaries early, so there won't be endless troubles later.

In my past life, I suffered because of being too kind to her, which in turn was cruel to myself.

In this life, I'm living for myself. I don't care whose daughter she is; she won't take advantage of me.

My initial show of authority worked. On her first day of work, Mary was well-behaved and didn't slack off.

At the end of the workday, Mary cautiously approached me.

"Connie, how about we go home together after work? Since you have a car and it's on the way, you can give me a ride."

Without even looking up, I refused. "I have to work overtime, no time."

Then I added. "And by the way, in the company, call me 'Supervisor.' Did you forget what I said this morning?"

If it happens once, it'll happen again. In this life, I'll never give her a chance to get close.

Mary clung to my arm, acting all clingy and sweet. "Connie, it's after work now, do we really need to be so strict with the rules?"

After I gave her a stern look, she reluctantly let go of my arm and changed her tone. "Alright, alright, Supervisor. You know, I'm new here and unfamiliar with everything. Since it's on your way, could you give me a ride?"

"At the very least, you know where home is, right? Besides, I'm not going your way, and finally, I have to work overtime. If you want to leave, go ahead. Have a safe trip."

Even after all that, she still didn't give up and sat down next to me, saying, "What time do you get off work? I'll wait for you."

"Then you wait." I wasn't worried at all and calmly went back to my work.

Sure enough, after just ten minutes, Mary couldn't sit still and kept asking how long I'd be working.

Every time she asked, I told her to wait a little longer.

As expected, after asking several times, Mary completely lost her patience.

She muttered, "Does having a car make you so great? Why do you have to show off as a supervisor?" Then she stomped off angrily.

As soon as she left, I immediately packed up and left work.

Hilarious.

Work overtime? I just didn't want to give her a chance to hitch a ride.

I know her too well; she doesn't have the patience to wait around for me.

She's young and full of energy. When she slacks off at work, she's already figuring out where to have fun.

After just a few days in Argentia, she's already more familiar with the place than I am.

After work, she refuses to go home and sticks to me, insisting that I go out with her.

It's either going to some trendy restaurant, karaoke, the movies, or shopping.

And unsurprisingly, I always ended up footing the bill.

Her excuse was that she just started working and hadn't received her salary yet.

Hilarious. Even after she got paid, she never spent a penny.

Back then, every day after work, I would start to feel down, dreading where she might drag me to next.

It wasn't just about the money; it was a waste of time. After a whole day of hard work, all I wanted to do was go home and relax!

Looking back, I just blame myself for being soft-hearted and caring too much about saving face, which made it impossible to say no.

Now that I've finally shaken off this pest, I drove home alone, and I couldn't have felt more at peace.