CHAPTER TEN

"What?"
"I'm just kidding, the machines are for each pulse he has"
" Oh"
" Mr. King, Mrs. King and you" Mr. Black greeted.
" Who are you referring to by 'you'? show some respect"
" The car is ready, The meeting starts exactly one hour from now"
" Are you ignoring me?" Josiah asked offended.
" Lia let's go"
" How ungrateful can you guys be? "
Lia turned back and waved at Josiah.
" At least someone is decent enough to wave at me"
...

" Mrs. king where are you heading? " Mr. Black asked.
" I'm going back to my apartment"
" Why? " Leo asked.
" I'm going back there to pack my things"
Leo let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't planning on leaving him.
" I will see you later in the day, okay"
" Yes"
Leo gave Lia a peck on her forehead and entered his car with Mr. Black.
The driver drove Lia to her apartment, she packed all her clothes and said her goodbyes. She arrived back at Leo's mansion and put her things away, and did some little cleaning.
She still hadn't seen anyone, in the house. Lia spent all day reading books until it was time for her to go back to work.
Lia decided not to disturb the driver and went alone. She was just going to take a walk down to the nearest bus stop.
As she got closer and closer to the Griffon's mansion, her heart clenched. She began to regret taking this journey alone. She didn't want to face them again.
The only thing she wanted right now was to just pass by without her being seen by anyone. But unfortunately, that wish didn't come true.
"Lia" Lia stopped and then continued, this time she increased her pace.
"Lia" Jack called out again and ran over to her. He took a hold of her arm and turned her around come face to face him.
"Why are you here? Did you come here to beg me for money again?" Jack asked.
Lia rolled her eyes
"Let go of me Jack"
"Don't get too full of yourself, remember you still need me" Jack said cockily.
" Can't you see that I was just passing by, you ran passed your gate just to come to harass me"
" Pfft, don't make me laugh. What would you be doing out here? Let me remind you I'm the only one who you know around here"
" No, you're wrong. In......"
" What's that supposed to mean, Did you sell your body to one of those rich men?" Jack looked furious.
He increased his grip on Lia's hand. Lia winced from the pain.
"Almost a year Lia, and not once did you ever let me touch you. Did you even see me as a man" Jack was tearing up.
" Just leave me be, Jack. I've had enough of you and your fiancee" Lia emphasized the word just so she could remind him of his darling Mabel.
" You did, didn't you? How much did he pay you for the night? If you sleep with me I would give you double the price " Jack said shamelessly.
" So what if I did? it's not your business and I would never sleep with you."
" Your just a disgusting whore Lia, I pray your father rots in hell for raising a ..."
" Pah"
Jack had crossed the line, Lia couldn't hold it anymore and slapped him with her free hand.
" And you, what are you, Jack? A man whore who goes around sleeping with other people's friends while being committed"
" She was never your friend"
" And you were never a man to me Jack, get that through your head. You disgust me" Lia said every word with hatred while looking into Jack's eye's
"you're going to regret ever laying a finger on me. When I take over the company I'll make you pay and beg me for mercy"
Jack shoved Lia's hand away and walked back into his mansion. Lia's wrist hurt a lot from the event that just happened.
It even began to bruise. She was happy because she changed to long sleeves before stepping out.
Lia quickly scurried away, she didn't want to go through another episode of what had happened before. Especially not with Mabel or Mrs. Griffon.
"Lia, what are you doing here?" Mary asked.
"I work here"
"Duh, I meant that the manager gave you the rest of the week off, so why are you here?"
"True, but I just wanted to come to work. I want to make more money"
"I wish I could be as devoted as you, if I was given even just a day off, I would look for a lot more excuses just to stay home," Chris said appearing into the picture.
"I agree," Mary said.
"That's why we are different"
"You seem cheerful today, by the way, how is your father? were you able to get the money?" Mary asked with concern.
"He is doing great, he had his surgery yesterday"
"Oh thank goodness, but how were you able to gather so much money in a short little time?"
"Someone helped me pay the bill?"
"Really? is he hot? Is he your prince charming?"
"Of course he isn't, I'm her prince charming" Chris stated.
"I didn't even say it was a guy, and I just got lucky enough to cross paths with him"
"Ah, so it was a guy" Mary winked.
"Sure, whatever you...Oh my God?"
"What's wrong"
"There is a venomous snake behind you. Don't look back"
"What?" Lia screamed.
"Shhh, calm down"
"How am I supposed to calm down you just said there was a snake at my back"
"Yeah, I don't see any snakes," Chris said in confusion.
"You guys are both idiots, I don't mean an actual snake. It's that lady who came to see you that day. I don't know why but she creeps me out"
"Who? Is it that woman who caked her face up with makeup?"
"The same"
Lia turned around.
"Mabel" Lia said under her breath.
Mabel looked as if she had just been robbed.
"Please give me a minute"Lia dismissed herself.
She wondered why Mabel would want to see her. As far as she was concerned she and Mabel had now completely cut ties with each other.
" How may I help you?" Lia tried to sound polite.
Mabel scoffed.
"Don't be stupid, a lowly beggar as yourself will never be of help to a Queen"
Lia sucked in a deep breath.
"Oh really, so then tell me why you are here? Because I believe that this place wouldn't be enough to please you with a peasant's service"
"The world doesn't revolve around you, however, I did come here to solve a matter concerning you"
"What is it?"
"You will know soon enough"
Mabel walked past Lia and headed straight for the owner's office. It just so happened that the owner was present today.
Lia just shrugged it off. Lia was happily chatting time away with Chris and Mary seeing as they didn't have much work to do.
"Amelia" Karen called out with disdain.
"I'm here"
"What have you done now? It looks like you have offended the boss himself"
"What do you mean"
"Don't ask me slut. I was only asked to call you. But I do know that he was angry, you better go before you make things worse for yourself"
Lia was confused, she didn't know why her boss would call for her, even worse be angry.
Sure she wasn't an eye candy to him, but she had never done anything bad that could make him angry.
She hardly even saw the guy, she wasn't even aware that he was present today.
Lia began to think hard and retrace her steps. It finally hit her.
***Mabel***
Mabel must be the culprit behind her boss's sudden anger, well either Mabel or the fact that she took some time off. But Mabel seemed like a much better explanation.
When Lia entered her boss's office she saw her boss trying to console Mabel, she was in tears. Mabel had her back facing Lia, but it didn't stop her ears from hearing Mabel's sniffles.
"Mrs. Anderson, please explain to me what you did to Mrs. Griffon.
Wow, they aren't even married yet, Lia thought.
" I'm sorry sir, but I have no idea what I did wrong"
"Well then let me enlighten you, Mrs. Griffon here has just informed me about your rude and arrogant behavior towards her"
"But I didn't do anything"
"Oh, so now you are calling her a liar"
"I didn't say any of that. You know what yes, she is a liar"
"You see what I'm talking about, she isn't even sorry. And now she insists that I'm a liar" Mabel said with more tears pouring out of her eyes.
"Mrs. Anderson apologize right now"
"How can I, I'm not even wrong"
"Mrs. Anderson" her boss warned.
"I didn't even speak to her for what I can call three minutes, and it was nothing related to work"
"Do you have any proof to what you are saying?"
"Well yes, Chris and Mary were standing close by"
"So now you are bringing your friends in this matter to gang up against me"
"Mrs. Anderson since you don't want to admit your fault you are suspended from work"
"What?"
"Mr. ..." Mabel began.
"Martin, just call me Martin"
"I don't think a light punishment like that would be enough for the humiliation she put me through"
"I agree, Mrs. Anderson you are fired."