Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Tommy raised both hands to shield his face, stumbling backward in embarrassment.
The other job applicants all turned to look, but none stepped forward to intervene.
This was Wellinges Pharma – causing a disturbance here would immediately disqualify you from the interview process. More importantly, no one knew what had caused the conflict.
Seeing no one step in, Tommy grabbed the janitor’s mop and said coldly, “Is this how your company treats people?”
The janitor snorted, “Whether you can even stay here is one thing. Who cares how you think the company treats people? Talking like you even have a shot!”
Someone tugged Tommy’s sleeve, trying to calm things down. “Bro, don’t make trouble…”
Tommy turned his head angrily. “Do you even know what happened? She tried to charge me for using the restroom! Did she charge you guys?”
Yunice frowned in confusion. When did that become a rule?
Seeing the others stay silent, Tommy swept his gaze across them in disbelief. “Sixty dollars just to use the restroom – you all paid?”
The guy who pulled him aside gave an awkward smile. “Just going along with local customs, man. If you’re short on cash, I can spot you. Otherwise, just drink less water and you won’t have to go.”
Tommy’s eyes widened. “Is this about money? Wellinges Pharma clearly looks down on us! Are we so filthy we need to pay a cleaning fee?”
Seeing he couldn’t be persuaded, the others simply gave up.
Tommy stood there alone, fuming. After a minute, he turned and left Wellinges Pharma – probably giving up on the interview.
Yunice shifted her gaze to the janitor standing with hands on hips at the door.
After the supervisor finished getting chewed out and came out sweating bullets, Yunice entered the office and asked Wyatt about the restroom charges.
Wyatt said, “Wellinges Pharma has no such rule.”
Yunice said, “So the janitor is skimming off the top?”
Wyatt said, “More likely, it’s a test set up by the interviewers.”
That explanation made sense. Unexpected situations could better reveal a candidate’s problem-solving skills – giving a more direct measure of their strengths and weaknesses.
Yunice hesitated. “Then tell me, if a candidate gets outraged by injustice, argues, and then walks away – would they still be hired?”
This question was almost pointless. No company needed someone so inflexible.
Daring to point out problems and facing them head-on was a plus – but the ability to solve problems was what truly mattered. Tommy clearly lacked that ability.
Wyatt glanced at Yunice. “You had a friend here today?”
Yunice said, “Just curious.”
Even though Tommy had once defended her publicly, if she interfered in the recruitment process, it would be unfair to the others.
Yunice didn’t mention Tommy’s name.
After work, Wyatt had a business dinner to attend, so he had Jordan drive Yunice back to Pavilion Hall.
As they passed through the parking garage, Yunice was just about to get into the car when she was startled.
A man was slumped against her car, sitting dispiritedly on the ground.
Startled, Yunice froze. The man quickly stood up, looking apologetic – and then he too froze.
Yunice stared back – meeting Tommy’s gaze.
Tommy noticed Yunice’s hand resting on the car door handle. It was a limited-edition Rolls-Royce – worth tens of millions.
Tommy’s expression changed slightly, a flash of shame crossing his face.
Just the car alone was something he could never afford in his entire life.
And yet, not long ago, he had naively spoken up for Yunice, thinking himself some righteous savior. Now, standing face-to-face with her, he finally felt the crushing, insurmountable wall of reality.
Yunice instantly picked up on his thoughts. “This car isn’t mine,” she said.
But she had the right to ride in it.
Seeing Tommy’s dejected posture, Yunice felt an uncomfortable tangle of emotions inside.
She had once lived at the bottom too. She understood exactly where that sense of helplessness and inferiority came from.
But fate had different plans. Not everyone could have the opportunities she’d had.
Jordan rolled down the driver’s window, glancing questioningly at Yunice, then sweeping a quick look over Tommy.
Tommy backed away two steps. His loosened tie and slouched posture made him look even more defeated.
Yunice got into the car. Jordan turned the wheel – Tommy’s figure growing smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.
Yet in Yunice’s mind, Tommy’s expression just now kept replaying.
That expression made her feel as if her own good fortune had been stolen.
Tommy – the legendary top scorer from Med University – even someone like him was being treated like worthless cannon fodder by big corporations.
And she – someone who hadn’t even graduated college, whose SAT scores were still under suspicion – was now living a life far beyond his reach.
For someone who had worked hard studying their whole life – it must be agonizing.
If it were just a stranger, Yunice wouldn’t have been so conflicted. But Tommy had helped her once when everyone else doubted her; he had stood up and spoken on her behalf.
Whether she should repay that kindness, and how, weighed on her mind.
But before she could think it through, she received a call from the Saunders family hospital.
It was the emergency room calling: “Hello, Dr. Rylie. Are you acquainted with Thomas?”
Yunice hesitated for a moment, then recalled that Thomas was Taylor’s father’s nickname. Because she had treated him before, he must have had her number stored in his phone.
The emergency room nurse spoke anxiously, “He’s been sent to the Saunders family hospital with a persistent high fever. The last number his phone was on was yours. Please come quickly to complete the treatment paperwork.”
Yunice found it strange. “Doesn’t he have an assistant with him?”
The nurse said, “His assistant is already unconscious, undergoing emergency resuscitation. And Mr. Thomas himself is barely conscious. Please come quickly.”
With lives at stake, Yunice didn’t waste time questioning the call’s authenticity. She immediately phoned Taylor.
She told Taylor to contact Gerado, and Taylor instantly grew anxious. Sure enough, a nurse answered and explained the situation with Gerado.
But Taylor was tied up with work and couldn’t make it back immediately.
Yunice glanced at the road sign outside the car window. “I’m nearby. I’ll go check things out first.”
Hearing this, Taylor hesitated, probably thinking that she and Yunice weren’t close enough for Yunice to rush around for her like this. But how could she know? Yunice was also Dr. Rylie, and in Yunice’s heart, Taylor was already considered one of her own.
Without wasting any more words, Yunice had Jordan drive her straight to the Saunders family hospital.