Fired!!

Mr. Mateo cared less about pouring rain ––not so heavily though–– as he trod the watery paths and even splashed into rain pools and though he had on the comfort of his puffer-style coat but he shivered with restless abandon. 

The loud noises could be heard from a long distance; the cheering of drunk and slightly drunk men, the clattering of tankards and the soft tone of Klavierstück. 

Mr Mateo smiled. "Guess there's a huge amount of chilling in the house tonight" he muttered staring expectantly at the tavern. 

He stopped at the entrance when he got to the building, sighed with a smile and pushed the door open with a force that could be likened to the arrival of a military...

The crowdy hall became quiet immediately at his arrival, few men sitting round a circle table banged on the poor wooden table with their fists as several acknowledgments flooded in. 

"Ah! Blaser i thought you wouldn't come see us today since your Wife kicked the bucket" one of the men said amusingly with a grin. 

"EX wife Lucas, though I'm not divorced with the Pork, I still see her as an EX" Mr Mateo corrected in his grouse terrifying voice. He found himself a seat and yelled out to the bartender "A Tankard of Beer please?"

The men cheered him once again, he seemed to be a well known person in the tavern, probably because of the way money is highly spent whenever he's around... 

When his order arrived, he didn't waste anytime to gulp down a reasonable amount of the content in the Tankard. He slammed the Tankard hard of the table when he was done and belched loudly. "So Lucas was speaking of the wretched Ex wife of mine" he started raggedly. "Was I the one who asked the Lady to kill her so called precious heart with envy and jealousy? I have the right to celebrate all I care, in fact... Waiter!!!" The bartender came rushed in and Mr. mateo waved his fingers carelessly at him... 

"Ask the men what they want, serve them as many as they can take. Meanwhile, I need another two of this" he tapped the sides of his Tankard and the bartender hurried to make arrangements for the order. 

And Mr. Mateo was still speaking. "I want us to make a toast... A toast to the unwanted dead. at least, my wish had been granted, my prayers have been heard" The drinks arrived and Mr. Mateo stood on his feet. 

"Cheers to the death of Elena Domerio!!" He yelled lifting his Tankard up to the air. 

The men does the same too and there was a thunderous bang of... "CHEERS!!!". 

Just then, The clouds rumbled, the rain beat faster upon the thatched roofs and a lightening struck... 

~

Same night at Berlin, Germany. Leon and Mareili sat together on the Porch, Mareili's head placed on Leon's Shoulder and Leon's Hand behind her back, busy with caressing her unhealthy looking blonde hair. 

The Moon, a full Moon!, was already showing up it's cold but comforting face. 

The two rocked themselves for a while then Mareilli smiled a sad smile. 

"I remember when mother would have to lay me face up toward the moon outside and sing a lullaby just to make me sleep so she could think properly because I was an involuntary talker, I was eight then"

"Was she already separated?" Leon asked. 

"Yes, she actually left when I was six and Joachim was nine, she found out my Dad was cheating just two years after I was born and what made it worse was when his side chick took in when I was three, it broke the camels back and broke the marriage, there was no more harmony, father even brought the bastard into our home to prove to mom that he could do whatever he pleased.. 

So mum got tired and left, she suffered depression for years before I could even understand what the word meant. I watched her in my day to day life. I observed she still loved Dad—very much— and I could hear her crying sometimes when alone and staring at a photo of Dad. All this must have caused her heart failure because she didn't still get over it until now" Mareili sniffed and Leon rubbed her shoulder to assure her. 

"That must be very hard for you to cope with, not seeing your Dad, having to watch your mom go down the drain without doing anything... "

"At least I should have tried, I was just worthless"

"Shhh, it's okay" Leon pecked Mareili's forehead and made her sit more comfortably 

"You have to rest now, it's been a really long day, I promise to stand by you no matter what, henceforth you're my first priority... 

The morning wake of the sun got Mareili rubbing her eyes from the sun rays and propping herself up on the bed. 

"A beautiful day isn't it?" A voice suddenly came beside her ears and she shuddered and turned to her side to find Leon beside her, with hands palming his chin. 

"You scared me Buddy!!" She yelled throwing a pillow at him, he laughed. 

"What?"

"What you did was creepy, beside aren't you supposed to be at your apartment?" Mareili pulled down her feet and slid them into her flip flops. 

"Well,... Miss nuggy head fell deeply asleep on my shoulder and it would be very bad to just droop her and run as she may wake at the middle of the night to search for her price charming but.... She actually forgot him" he said the last part more like a question. 

Mareili grabbed her robe from the wardrobe and wrapped it around her slender body, she looked at him questioningly and he shrugged. 

"Don't worry, I slept on the couch in the lounge, Breakfast served"... 

~

"So I made a delicious breakfast of Brot & Brötchen" Leon said excitedly rubbing his palms together like an able chef.

Mareili smiled and seated herself on the tall kitchen stool which Leon pulled out for her. 

"Can't wait!" She exclaimed licking the sides of her lips and staring hungrily at the food before her. 

"Don't do that will you? Are you that hungry?" Leon said uncomfortably but funnily. 

Mareili scoffed down her meal while Leon placed his elbow on the kitchen counter watching her, she belched. 

"Mhmm, what would I have ever done without you Leon, you're one treasure that can never be replaced. I can't believe you cured me of the whole sad thingy within few hours" she said between munches.

"That's why you should always have me" Leon boasted raising his shoulders... 

Mareili eyed him. "Stop hyping yourself. Uhm... I have few schedules today I don't know if you could help and be by my side through it"

"Don't worry Crystal, I'm your puppy as long as you wish, I'll always wag my tail at your command"

Leon turned his back at Mareili and demonstrated a wagging tail that Mareili couldn't help but laugh out loud..

"So... I'd be going to the bakery, I'd need to take a leave from my mistress... "

"She doesn't know of your loss?" Leon butted in. 

"She knows she cares less" Mareili thought about this for a while, she wasn't so lucky as Joachim to win a college scholarship and her Mom wasn't getting much from the corporation as her share was only a little. So, Mareili had to work in the bakery till she could enroll for college. 

She snapped out and shrugged. "Anyway, I'd be going to the company too to clear few of Mom's files with her personal assistant before I leave"

******

The day was indeed a very nice day, sunny and warm. Mareili was grateful, at least there would be no wearing of thick hand gloves, long rain coats, hats or rain boots, hopefully till the end of the day which will actually ease a bit of stress. 

Way more better clad in a short red velvet skin tight gown, a pair of dark knee boots and dark sunshades. 

She clung unto Leon's as they walked one on one along the tarred roads of Tiergarten, they weren't going to hail a cab because the bakery wasn't far from Mareili's apartment and soon they were already walking into the balcony... 

The smell of baking and flavors filled their noses as they stepped into the building... 

"A very nice scent to start the day with to start the day with, Mhmm" Leon murmured beside Mareili's ear, she chuckled and slapped his thigh with the back of her hand... 

She lifted her sunshades and walked to the receptionist counter. 

"Hi!"

"Hi Reili" The receptionist drawled completely giving her attention to what she was scribbling on a note... 

"I'd like to see Mrs. Thompson, is she chanced?"

The receptionist looked up with cold eyes then smiled unexpectedly... 

"You and I know Mrs. Thompson hates unappointed visits but will be very glad and spaced to chide an incompetent worker who forgets her duties and rather prefers to hang around with a hag" she said coldly, eyed Leon and turned to her work... 

Mareili shrugged and showed Leon to a seat before proceeding to the doorway leading to Mrs. Thompson's office. She placed a light knock on the shut door and awaited a reply timidly. 

There was no response but after a short while Mareili heard Mrs. Thompson's voice in the office, probably speaking to someone else... 

"How many uncountable times have I told you Lea Not to allow an unwanted and unappointed visitor?"

Everywhere became calm again after this and Mareili knew she called the receptionist and then... 

"Come in young Lady" came the harsh tone. 

Mareili opened the door slowly and peeped into the office. The tall slender woman with a trimmed haircut sat primly behind her desk, her index finger went up on the upper tip of her spectacles and she pulled it down a bit, raising her eyes to look at Mareili. The girl walked fully in. 

"Welcome from a not-permissioned day off, how nice of you" Mrs. Thompson let out a sheepish smile but suddenly frowned. 

"Now can you explain this unprompted attitude of yours"

"I'm terribly sorry ma, I lost my mom" Mareili said shyly, trying to avoid every look of self pity. 

Mr. Thompson removed her spectacles. "So? How does that got to do with my work? Are you the only one who lost a parent, some kids younger than you are even loose two yet they stay strong and here I was thinking I was doing you a favor by letting you work with me even though I observed you and saw how weak and dull you are and you've just proved me right, just a parent and you gave yourself a day off coming into my office dressed like some commercial stripper I am so much ashamed and disappointed at you and I'm sorry to say this... YOU ARE FIRED!!"

By now Mareili couldn't take it anymore, she let out the tears and bursted out, placing her palm over her mouth, she ran out of the office...