6. Barter 1

Velia felt a slight relief when Harry's condition improved, but it did not last long. The reality was looming ahead. There were days she had to get through with very little money. And now she was unemployed?

“You’ve been fired. And not by me, but directly from the boss. I can’t do anything.”

Ricardo's voice echoed in Velia's mind. She pondered and ended up with one question. Could she regain her job by directly asking the company owner?

There was a possibility. Despite feeling a bundle of doubts in her heart, that's what Velia would do.

Could Velia meet Lucas? Was there still a face for her to meet someone she had just rejected yesterday?

Velia had no other choice. Lucas was the only one who could help. It seemed she would have to set aside her pride for the sake of survival.

“What?!”

Mecca's exclamation echoed through their phone conversation. Velia had called her while inside the public minivan, on her way to the office.

“Meeting the company's CEO?” Mecca asked again. Her voice still sounded incredulous at what Velia had just said. “You want to meet Mr. Hernandez?”

Velia swallowed hard. Hearing Mecca mention Lucas's name sent shivers down her spine.

“Do you know what our company's leader is like? Everyone is afraid of him, Ve. No one wants to deal with him directly.”

I know. I know it better than anyone else, but what can I do? All the problems that come my way leave me with no other choice. This is the only hope I have to survive.

Two logics clashed, but it took only a short time for all doubts to vanish from Velia's mind. She would not back down.

“This is the only remaining hope. I don't know what else to do.”

Velia was truly cornered. It was not just about the daily living expenses and Harry's treatment, but also the arrival of the thugs earlier. It was unimaginable to think that she would have to become their object of desire.

“I know, but not like this,” Mecca said, sounding desperate. “You might not even be accepted again, and you're already embarrassing yourself.”

Velia dramatically closed her eyes. “I no longer have any shame left. This is my last chance. I'm truly cornered.”

Mecca let out a long sigh. “Even so, it's not guaranteed that you can meet him. Mr. Lucas is certainly difficult to meet. People have to make appointments in advance to see him.”

“I know,” Velia said, her voice trembling. “I will find a way to meet him.”

The call ended exactly five minutes before Velia arrived at her destination. She got off the minivan and handed over the fare. As the minivan drove away, she looked up at the towering office building.

Velia walked forward, briefly glancing at the grand name “Greatech” displayed before she smiled at the security guard. She entered without any hindrance.

The office atmosphere was still bustling as Velia crossed the lobby. Pretending that her ID card had malfunctioned, she managed to pass through the scanning system.

Just like the security guard who had smiled at her earlier, it seemed that the employees there were unaware that Velia had been fired earlier that morning.

Velia hurried towards the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor of the building. The place where the owner of the company she worked for resided.

The place where Lucas Hernandez was.

*

Vlora seemed to frown when she found an employee who meet his boss yesterday steped on the floor where she was. From a distance, it could be seen how the female employee looks very agitated. She wondered what Lucas was calling her. But for what business? Business work or personal affairs?

When Vlora found that the woman had approached her desk, she smiled and asked.

“Can I help you?”

The woman seemed to gulp her saliva once before answering the question.

“I’m Velia Angelica Howell. Mr. Hernandez called me.”

Vlora nodded once. Remember, for sure, about that one thing. “So?”

“T-today I was told to face Mr. Hernandez again.”

Vlora’s forehead wrinkled. Makes sense. But the problem was Lucas did not tell her about calling that employee. However, be wise, in the end Vlora said.

“Just a minute. I’ll tell Mr. Hernandez.”

As she moved from her seat, Vlora’s hand stretched out to point to a sofa that used as a waiting area.

“Please wait a moment.”

Velia nodded. Getting on that sofa and waited with anxious expectation.

Meanwhile, Vlora immediately headed for Lucas' room. She knocked twice on the door and walked in.

“What's the matter?”

Without lifting his face from the document that he was reading, Lucas asked. He seemed to be focused and several times the pen in hand moved, crossing out there.

Vlora took a quick breath before then answering. “Ms. Howell, Sir.”

Lucas’s body and face instantly froze. Slowly, he lifted his face from the document. There was a line of disbelief on his face when he finally asked Vlora. To make sure that his ears do not hear wrong.

“Velia?”

Vlora nodded. “Employees who yesterday hit you and she said that you were looking for her.” She explained.

The pen in Lucas’s right hand stopped moving, then he put it on the table. “What is it she came here for?”

This time, Vlora’s face looked shocked. “She said that you told her to come again.”

Lucas was silent. Seeing that, Vlora immediately lowered his head.

“Sorry, Sir. I wil—”

“No,” cut Lucas. His brain was quick to think. “I am indeed calling her. But I think she will come later in the afternoon.”

Hearing Lucas’s words, Vlora breathed a sigh of relief. A second ago, it was her body felt cold sweat. Worried about doing the wrong thing.

“Tell her to come in immediately,” Lucas ordered later.

“Yes, Sir.”

And as Vlora walked out of her room, Lucas stood up from his chair. Visible step towards the guest sofa in the middle of the room with a wondering mind.

Why did Velia suddenly want to come to see me? After what happened yesterday? When she fearlessly rejected me?

*