Ma still didn''t take it seriously. Everyone else was already seated, but she strolled into the conference room, coffee in hand, as if she had all the time in the


    world.


    Effie shot Ma a frosty nce and asked in a cold voice, "What''s your excuse this time?"


    "Do you have any idea everyone''s been waiting for you to start the meeting?" Effie pressed, her tone icy.


    All eyes turned to Ma, but she remained perfectlyposed. "It''s not like I did it on purpose. You could''ve just started without me. If I miss anything, I''ll askter."


    "I''ve said it before: we don''t start until everyone''s here."


    "Effie, you''re just a team leader, not the boss. Don''t act like you run the ce! If this dys the entire project, that''s on you!" Ma snapped back, her patience clearly fraying.


    Effie let out a sharpugh and gestured at the colleagues seated around the table. "Everyone else managed to show up on time. You''re the only one missing. Whose fault is that, really?"


    Ma opened her mouth to argue, but Effie was already standing, delivering her final words with a calm finality: "Three strikes, Ma."


    With that, Effie turned and walked out of the conference room.


    Seeing Effie leave, the rest of the team gathered their things and followed her out, leaving Ma fuming alone in the empty room. She clenched her jaw in


    frustration and stormed off toin to Nelly.


    Nelly, for her part, was more than happy to watch the drama unfold. The more chaos, the better. If the project went up in smoke because of their bickering, that would be just perfect for her.


    "Nelly, aren''t you going to talk to Mr. Butler about this?" Ma demanded, hoping Nelly would take her side and intervene.


    Nelly replied coolly, "Just wait. Now''s not the time."


    Ma had no choice but to nod. "Alright, fine."


    Later that afternoon, another meeting was scheduled. This time, Ma was actually anxious-she wanted to attend.


    She couldn''t get Effie''s words out of her mind: "Three strikes."


    Ma didn''t think Effie was bluffing. She genuinely believed Effie would kick her off the project.


    Just as Ma was about to get up and go, Nelly pressed a hand on her shoulder. "Rx, what are you so worried about? I''ve already spoken to Mr. Butler. He''ll sort it out."


    That reassurance was exactly what Ma needed. With her nerves soothed, she no longer felt the rush.


    By the time she finally made her way over to the conference room, she found the door locked from the inside.


    To make matters worse, the blinds had been drawn, so she couldn''t even see what was going on inside.


    Ma knocked urgently, but no one came to answer.


    Inside, everyone clearly heard the knocking and nced instinctively at Effie, waiting for her signal. If Effie had said the word, someone would have let Ma in immediately.


    But Effie acted as if she hadn''t heard a thing and continued leading the meeting.


    It wasn''t until the meeting ended that Effie and the others finally emerged from the room.


    Ma stormed up to Effie, practically shaking with anger. "Effie, what the hell? Why did you lock me out?"


    Effie gave her a cool, detached look, then tapped her watch. "I warned you. Three strikes. I gave you two chances. You chose not to take them."


    Ma was livid. She jabbed a finger at Effie. "Just wait. I''m going to talk to Mr. Butler about this!"


    She expected Effie to waver at the mention of Mr. Butler, but Effie remained perfectly calm, unbothered.


    "Go ahead," Effie replied.


    Grinding her teeth in frustration, Ma marched off to find Mr. Butler.