Chapter 4 Suffering 1

Velia had only one hope that morning. Everything would be fine. No new problems or bad news. However, what happened was the opposite of what she wished for.

Velia had just arrived and was getting ready to start work when Mecca approached her.

"You're asked to meet Mr. Bell," Mecca said.

Velia knew the reason. She had thought that everything had ended, but now it was the time for judgment. She could not avoid it and decided to meet her boss immediately. She held a faint hope that maybe she would only receive a reprimand.

Upon reaching the department head's office, Velia greeted the deputy head, Vonda Raveena Scott, briefly as they crossed paths.

"Good afternoon."

Vonda walked away while Velia entered the office. She closed the door and headed towards another door that led to Ricardo's room. She knocked once, and after a moment, she received permission to enter.

Five minutes later, Velia was sitting on the sofa, and Ricardo was looking at her without mercy. Without any preamble, he said something that made Velia turn pale instantly.

"W-what is it, Sir?"

Velia's usually blushing lips turned white. Sweat broke out on her forehead, and she felt hot and cold at the same time. She hoped that her boss would retract his words, but he did not.

Ricardo remained stoic. He stared at Velia without blinking and repeated his statement.

"You're fired, Ve."

Velia could not believe it. "I-I'm fired?"

"Yes," Ricardo nodded nonchalantly. "You're fired."

Just one word, but it cast a frightening shadow over Velia. No. She could not be fired. She could not afford to lose her job.

"W-why am I fired, Sir? I didn't do anything wrong."

Ricardo glared. "What did you say? You didn't do anything wrong?!"

His voice raised, and his face showed frustration.

"How can you say you didn't do anything wrong when you repeatedly come late and frequently skip work during office hours?"

Ricardo's accusations left Velia speechless. Initially, she thought it was about issues in the meeting room, but she was mistaken.

Velia could not deny Ricardo's accusations. She had indeed done those things. She repeatedly arrived late and often skipped work during office hours.

Of course, Velia did not do it without reason. She had to rush to the hospital when Harry showed worrying signs.

"And what about what happened yesterday?" Ricardo continued, his eyes becoming fiercer. "You made the most fatal mistake! You crashed into Mr. Hernandez!"

Velia swallowed hard, trembling all over. "D-did Mr. Hernandez tell you to fire me?"

Ricardo snorted. This time, he looked at Velia with a demeaning gaze, almost scornful.

"No. Do you think he would waste his precious time thinking about lowly employees like you? No way. He has plenty of other important tasks to handle."

Velia fell silent. What Ricardo said was true.

"But that doesn't mean all of your horns haven't been noticed, Velia. You think you're the only one who wants to work here? You think you're the only onen who can work here? You think we can't find someone else to work for replace yourself? When you arrive and go home with your own schedule?"

Velia shook in fear. "No, Sir. But I did it because I had to, Sir."

"Oh, sorry! Then I'm forced to fire you."

"Sir, I beg you," Velia pleaded. "I don't want to be fired."

Ricardo looked unsteady. "Ah, and don't think you'll get severance. Salary and your severance pay will be directly deducted to pay off your debt!"

Velia paled even more.

"Sir, please."

Ricardo ignored Velia, who had been taking pity on him. He actually moved to want to get out of his room.

Velia instantly grabbed Ricardo's hand. "Please, sir. I really need money, Sir. I don't know where to go if I get fired."

Ricardo shook his hand strongly. "That's not my business! Remember. The company hires people who want to work!"

Velia's body staggered because of a jolt from Ricardo.

"There are still many who want to work here."

This time, Velia could not think of anything but dropping and kneeling on in front of Ricardo.

"Sir, please, Sir. Don't fire me."

Ricardo grimaced as he pulled his foot away from Velia. "You've been fired. And not by me, but directly from the boss. I can't do anything."

Velia sobbed. Trying to keep begging the middle-aged man. "Sir, please."

Ricardo saw Velia's face covered with tears. Few seconds for a long time he smiled at the sight. Where Velia looked prostrate to him. Until one thought flashed through his mind. It slowed down, squatting and lifting Velia's chin. Looking at Velia's face for a moment.

Velia's glassy eyes seemed to blink repeatedly. His lips trembled. Looks desperate. But that just made Ricardo grin.

"Maybe I can persuade the company not to fire you."

Velia's eyeballs are enlarged. The words made her hope arise. "W-what? How?"

Ricardo's eyes flashed-lightning looked at Velia. Bowed his gaze on the shirt worn by Velia. Velia's looking up position made the short print soft curve of her breasts.

Ricardo gulped his saliva. His free hand moved toward the buttons top Velia shirt. The girl paled.

"If you want to fuck me," said Ricardo with a trembling voice. "I will try to keep the company from firing you."

Velia shuddered. She could not accept Ricardo's offer. No way!

In such a quick second, Velia's hand was already floating, slapping Ricardo's old face until the man was surprised. He shocked and felt pain at the same time.

"You!"

Ricardo, with dark eyes, scooped Velia's hair. Jerking the girl's head up, Velia felt dizzy from it. But Velia did not give up. With all the power that she has, she was trying to reach for the cigarette ashtray on the table. And by using that, Velia hit Ricardo's head.

Ricardo instantly roared. Regardless of the roar, Velia quickly came out of that room. Did not realize that she was running through a special elevator, which is in one quiet point that people rarely pass by. The elevator stopped and the door open. Showing an employee bowing and saying, before going out.

"I will immediately check the monthly reports of all departments and hold audit as soon as possible."

Silence for a moment. Until the man who served as an internal auditor was back speak up.

"Mr. Hernandez?"

Lucas gasped. "Okay, I'll wait, Mr. Taylor."

He nodded before finally getting out of the elevator. After that, Vlora realized just now holding the elevator door immediately withdrew her hand. Leaving the elevator door closed, go back and crawl back up.

As for Velia, her body trembled when she escaped to the women's toilet. Trying to calm down, she sat trembling in one of the toilet cubicles. But the fear, it made her tremble.

Velia was crying. Not enough with the news of dismissal, she almost even gets acts of abuse. She was nervous. And in her tears, she tried to strengthen herself.

Try to keep thinking clearly. Finding solutions to fresh problems faces it.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Velia wiped away her tears. The sound of the knock was clear at the door of her room.

"Ve, are you inside?"

Velia gulped her saliva. She knew that voice for sure. "Yeah. What's up?"

There was a deep breath from outside.

"Ve, come out first. You're okay, right?"

However, Velia was not all right. So, when she came out of the toilet cubicle, Mecca it gasped in surprise.

"Oh my God, Ve," prepared Mecca. "What happened to you?"

Velia immediately rushed at Mecca. Hugged Mecca tightly. Ignoring how disheveled she looks.

Mecca invites Velia to move on the side of the empty toilet. Using the low walls of the mini garden divider inside there, they sat there.

Velia told what happened to Mecca. From dismissal to indecent acts committed by Ricardo on her.

"Bastard, old man," growled Mecca. "He should be ashamed of his age and that old face!"

Velia sipped while Mecca tidied herself up.

"So, what now, Ve? What's your plan?"

Velia shook her head. "I don't know where to find a job. You know how hard it is to find a job these days."

Mecca took a deep breath. Velia's words were true. It is very difficult to search for work at a time like the present. Even if it could, salary problems also worse circumstances later.

The next minute, Velia calmed down. She wiped her tears and tried to put a smile. She wanted her friend not to too eager to think about it.

But Mecca was even more compassionate looking at Velia. She knew Velia's been struggling. Velia was a strong woman up to can survive until now.

"I have to go home now," Velia said softly then. "I'll clean up my stuff in the room and back to the rented."

"What are you going to do?"

"Now?" Velia took a deep breath. "I don't know. I don't know. Maybe I'll ask the hired friends. If they knew there was a vacancy, a job I could get into."

Mecca squeezed Velia's hand tightly. And Velia smiled at it.

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