CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

"Lia, you have finally arrived, what took you so long?" Ellie asked.
"Traffic"
"I can't wait to see our team leader's face once she sees you" Ellie chanted.
"Let's go give her a surprise"
The both of them walked to their office.
" You guys better show me some more respect, if not I will suspend you all just like I did with... " The leader was saying but she was interrupted by Lia.
" With who? " Lia asked and the leader turned around to see who it was that dared to interrupt her when she was speaking.
Her eyes widened in shock once she saw Lia.
"You, what are you doing here?" She pointed her finger at Lia's face and Lia frowned.
"I work here ma'am" Lia replied stating the obvious.
"Don't act smart with me. I suspended you, or have you already forgotten?"
"I already told you, You can't suspend me or anyone else".
" Yes I can and I did, so get out right this instant before I lose it and drag you out myself"
" You have no right to do so"
" Oh yeah, says who?" The leader asked.
" Those are the rules," a man said from behind Lia.
Some people gasped while others ran to their assigned desks and acted as if they were busy with one thing or the other.
" Mr. President, nice to have you here in my department," The leader said nervously.
" Indeed"
" What brings you here sir?" The leader asked.
" I was just doing a little inspection and it looks like I came at the right time" The president replied.
" Oh yes sir, I was just about to put this Lazy worker over here, in her place," The leader said proudly.
" Hmm, but what is this I hear about a suspension?"
" Uh, it was the punishment that I came up with sir"
" You know that it's not your place to do that right?"
" I'm sorry sir, it's just that I didn't want to bother you with such trivial matters, that's all"
" Well it seems like you are using your position as the head, to oppress the other workers"
" Nonsense, I would never do such a thing"
" I have had a lot of complaints about you, it seems to be true"
Blood drained from the leader's face.
" It looks like you are the one who needs the suspension the most, it looks like you need some rest to clear up your head" The president spoke.
" What? I'm ok sir"
" Pack your things" the president stated firmly and the leader gulped.
" How long?" The leader asked.
" Perhaps a month"
" I can't be gone for a month, what about my pay?"
" Of course, you won't get your salary for this month, you should know that by now"
" But who is going to guide them when I'm away?" The leader so desperately tried to find an excuse just so she could stay.
" I am sure they can manage for a month"
" Oh, please sir have mercy on me. I have children to feed at home" The leader got down on her knees to beg.
" Ah I see, you need an extra one month added"
" No thank you, sir, I am very grateful to you" the leader instantly composed herself.
" Very well. Report to my office when you resume"
" Thank you, sir" The leader bowed at an angle of ninety degrees.
The president then nodded his head at Lia before taking his leave.
" Woah, what was that? I didn't know you knew the president" Ellie said.
" I didn't know I knew him either," Lia said with amusement.
" You. You reported me, didn't you?" The leader accused Lia.
"I have nothing to do with his inspection"
"Stupid snitch, I always knew you were a weakling. That's probably why you open your legs"
"Don't go too far" Lia warned.
"Don't worry, I won't forget you. I will make sure to teach you a lesson"
The leader said and left.
"I have so many enemies" Lia stated.
"I'm sure that's not true. You are a very lovable person" Ellie said.
"You have no idea".
...
"Ellie"
"Hmm?"
"What time is it right now?" Lia asked.
"It's almost time for our lunch break"
"Thank God, if I have to sit on this chair for another hour, I would break," Lia said standing up.
"You still haven't gotten used to this chair yet?"
" Nope"
" Let me take a guess you are leaving earlier"
" You guessed right"
" Bring something back for me, I'm too sleepy to go out"
" Sure"
Lia went up to meet Leo.
She checked his office but he wasn't there. As she was about to leave, she suddenly heard a sound coming from another room on the floor.
"Leo" Lia called out but there was no reply.
She decided to go and check out where the sound came from.
She was met with a shirtless Leo holding a mop and just by his leg, there was a mopping bucket. There were also other cleaning materials dispersed around him.
Lia was speechless and her throat suddenly felt dry.
She watched as bids of sweat rolled down his back. Blood instantly rushed to her cheeks and she gulped with her heart pounding violently against her chest.
She felt a lot more attracted to Leo than she had ever been and she wondered why. After all, she had already seen Leo's body countless times. She literally hugs him every night.
Leo finally noticed the frame standing by the door.
"Lia, are you alright?" Leo asked with concern laced in his voice.
"Of course, I am, why wouldn't I be?" Lia laughed awkwardly.
"You are bleeding" Leo would have already embraced her and wiped away the blood but he was dirty and sweaty, he didn't want to taint her skin.
"Hmm?"
Leo touched between his lip and nose and Lia did the same. She felt a liquid.
She instantly covered her nose with her hand when she realized that it was blood dripping down her nose.
How can I have a nose bleed? Lia asked herself.
"Are you sure that you are fine? Or should I call a doctor?" Leo asked.
"I'm fine. It's just a nose bleed" Lia said as she wiped off the blood from her nose with her hands.
"Do you need something?" Leo asked.
"I just wanted to know if you want anything for lunch"
" No, I'm good"
" Do you need help with cleaning?"
" Don't bother yourself"
" Why don't you call someone to help you clean?"
" I don't like people going through my things. Everything on this floor is important"
" Oh, um I'm going to take my leave," Lia said.
" See you later"
As soon as she left Leo's floor, she went straight to the Lady's room to clean up the blood completely.
Just when she was about to leave a crying lady barged in.
" What's wrong?" Lia asked the woman.
" Oh miss, please help me" the woman begged.
" What is it?"
" I just suddenly got my period and I don't have any tampons with me"
" Do you want me to buy some for you?"
" No there is no need for that, someone already agreed to help me with that. I need your help with something else"
" Ok"
" You see, I don't know how long it's going to take for the tampons to arrive and my boss asked me to retrieve some files from the storage room, I'm afraid that I won't make it in time" The woman explained.
" You can always explain to your boss, I'm sure they will understand"
" My boss is very demanding and it's my first week here, I can't afford to lose this job. We have a presentation in less than thirty minutes. Those files are super important"
" So how may I help you?"
" Please help me get those files from the storage room"
" Ok, where can I find them?"
" It's in section C, drawer 3999. The file with a pink folder"
" What department are you in? So that I can drop it off there."
" There is no need to go to my department. My boss is already waiting for me in the conference room on the fifth floor"
" Got it"
" Thank you so much, I don't know what I would have done if I didn't meet you in here," The woman said happily.
" Happy to help," Lia said and left the Lady's room.
The woman opened the door to make sure that Lia had truly left before dialing a number.
"Hello," The woman said into the phone.
"Have you done what I asked you?"
"Yes, she is on her way there right now"
"Good girl"