Chapter 9

Elli went back to her desk after having a quick lunch at the cafeteria of the building’s service crew. Thomas Jones, a man in his sixties, discovered her having lunch at the broom closet last week. He then invited her to eat where the crew eats. After the accident she experienced at the food hall, she decided to bring her own lunch and find a small, private place where she can eat in peace. It would also be the time to allow herself to rest from all the orders her supervisor, Valerie is throwing her way.

“Are the drawings done, Elli?” Her supervisor’s voice came.

“It’ll be done in ten minutes, Ma’am,” Elli answered formally as she neatly stacked the drawing pages and filed them properly. “I will put it on your desk.”

“I don’t have ten minutes!” Valerie sneered at her coldly. “I told you that I need them right after lunch! God! You’re such an idiot! Are you doing this to ruin the rest of my day or are you really just confirming that you’re stupid?”

“Hurry up!”

Elli quickly clipped the papers and handed them to her.

“What the hell is this?!” Valerie yelled and she threw the thick file at her, hitting her squarely on the face. “I told you to print the drawings for the Fine Jewelry store! Why the hell did you give me that?!”

“You said to print the drawings of Pots and Pans,” Elli explained, ignoring the pain on her face.

Valerie looked at her menacingly and took a step towards her, pointing one finger.

“Are you calling me a liar?” She asked threateningly. She turned to the others. “Did any of you remember what I told her to prepare?”

“Fine Jewelry, Ms. Val,” one said maliciously.

“Those papers you wasted will be coming off your paycheck, you useless piece of trash,” Valerie sneered. “That includes the usage of ink as well. Taylor, have IT compute, the amount of ink that was used and submit to accounting the cost that will be deducted from her pay.”

“Right away, Ms. Valerie,” Taylor responded.

“You should have been grateful that I’m finally giving you something to do,” Valerie scoffed. “But, here you are wasting the company’s resources. Most newbies here won’t get that chance being just a few weeks onboard. You’re such a disgrace!”

“I will print the drawings right away, Ms. Valerie,” Elli said formally and bowed to apologize.

“Get to it, then!” Valerie snorted.

Elli turned back to her desk and quickly wiped the tears, spilling down her cheeks. She grabbed some bond papers and placed them properly on the printer beside her. She took a quick glance and saw Valerie snickering with her group of friends. Elli knew right then that she had set it up.

“You’re a strong girl, Elli,” she whispered with encouragement. “Just let it go. You can handle this.”

“About time!” Valerie said loudly when Elli finally placed the drawings of Fine Jewelry on her desk. She looked at her disdainfully. “Go and make us some coffee. While you’re at it, have the small meeting room set up for a meeting with the client. Don’t bother calling a janitor. The client is on her way up. Move!”

“Yes, Ms. Valerie,” Elli said and hurried off.

Elli then hurriedly went to bid her order. She started preparing the coffee and then the small meeting room. She turned on the lights and AC, making sure the chairs are arranged properly. She then sprayed a bit of freshener.

“Right this way, Mrs. Newman,” she heard her supervisor’s voice said formally. “I’ll have coffee serve for you and your company. Ms. Paulson is on her way up from lunch.”

Elli went out just right on time for Valerie and the client to appear. She bowed at them formally before rushing off to prepare the coffee. She lined up four cups and arranged the sugar and cream before reaching for the coffee pot. She poured them and then carefully lifted up the tray, walking slowly to not cause any spill.

She knocked on the glass door gently to signify that she’s coming in with coffee. She gently pushed the door open with her left arm and walked in. Just as she took a step inside, she felt a whack and a push on her back that made her fall, the coffee crashing below her.

“Oh my God!” Elli said in fright as she knelt and started cleaning the mess, ignoring her blouse and arms that were dozed with hot coffee. “I am so sorry.”

She looked up and saw Valerie looking at her with a smirk, the owner and companion of Fine Jewelry with a look of disgust and Florence Paulson, the Department VP of Interior Design, looking at her calmly.

“I didn’t know that SJ allows hiring personnel that are klutzes,” Mrs. Newman commented to Florence.

“I will make you a fresh batch,” Elli said a few minutes later as she stood up with the tray and two broken cups. “I am really sorry, Madame.”

“Never mind,” Florence assured patiently as she typed on her phone. “I’ll have my secretary get us some coffee from the food hall as well as some sweets. Valerie, call cleaning crew to clean the mess up.”

Elli went out from the room, and she hurriedly went back to the pantry. She knew that the broken cups will be deducted from her salary again. She wondered as she wiped the stains on her blouse if there’s anything left on her salary come pay day.

She finally went back to her desk, her head low to avoid looking at the faces of her officemates, who despised her without any reason. She closed her eyes and breath deeply to prevent any tears from flowing.

“Hey,” she heard someone said. A stack of papers were then slammed down on her desk. “Ms. Valerie needs this after the meeting. She wants you to arrange them according to material number.”

She spent the next two hours, doing the task assigned to her. She heard the door of the meeting room finally opened and exchange of conversations.

“Tell SJ to come and see me, alright?” Mrs. Newman said. “That boy always keeps himself busy making more billions. He seems to forget to have some relaxation.”

“I will, Mrs. Newman,” Florence replied politely. “You know how SJ can be. Once he keeps on working, the only way that can stop him is something that has to do with his mother.”

“Probably the reason why he didn’t marry that model yet,” Mrs. Newman added.

Elli heard the conversation and didn’t quite understand the comment, finally choosing to let it go. She had her work finish and she quickly stood up and proceeded to her supervisor’s desk.

“Elli, a word please,” Florence called out politely after the client took off. “I’ll be at my office.”

Elli put on her blazer and fixed herself. She buttoned her blazer to try and hide the coffee stains before proceeding to the VP’s office. It could only cover a little part. Before she could proceed, Valerie stopped her abruptly.

“You better watch what you will be saying,” Valerie warned. “I can make your life much hell, remember that.”

Florence looked up when Elli knocked on her door.

“Take a seat, Ellisande,” she said politely. She looked at the file she’s holding which contains her details. “First and foremost, are you okay?”

“Yes, Ms. Paulson,” Elli answered.

“Florence will do,” Florence corrected before finally closing the folder. She clasped her hands on top of it and looked at Ellisande for a few seconds. “Is there anything you would like to tell me? My apologies that I wasn’t able to talk with you when you came on board since I was completing an urgent project. So, how’s your work going? Anything you want to say?”

Elli remained silent for a while.

“I am sorry about the incident a while ago,” she finally said quietly. “I promise that I will be more careful and will work harder.”

Florence looked at her in surprise when that was all she said.

“Is that all?” She prodded gently.

“Yes, ma’am,” Elli replied.

“Very well,” Florence finally said with a sigh. “You may go back to your desk.”

“Thank you, Ms. Florence,” Elli responded.

She then stood up and bowed lightly before turning around to see the door open and came in her husband. She stood in surprise, looking at him, who is looking at her up and down, his face unreadable.

“Good afternoon, Sir,” Elli greeted with a bow before stepping aside and heading out of the office.

She quickly rushed back to her desk, hoping that her husband didn’t notice her physical condition. She noticed her desk was piled up with paper works and a note with instructions. She checked and concluded that she’ll be going home late again to finish the task. She started right on it.

But, what she didn’t noticed was the moment the glass door to the VP’s office was close, SJ Kincaid received a slap from Florence and some tongue lashing.