Sumr walked with Luellen to the seats lining the wall. She pouted a little. "See? Higher positions really carry power. I wonder when I can walk up to soone and be all like that..."
Luellen, despite her better judgnt, made the joke in her soft voice. "Maybe when I’m Mrs Wentworth? I can give you Shirley’s spot. She doesn’t give it justice."
"Evil...!" Sumr giggled and slapped Luellen’s shoulder.
"Okay, so who’s the little leg-worker today?" A woman ca out of the office after a few seconds. She even sounded so irritated as she walked past Sumr and Luellen. When the receptionist gestured at the two ladies, the woman turned to them. Her gaze went up and down as if assessing them.
Jackielyn smiled in dismissal. She walked toward Sumr. "Hey, look, girlie. I know your bosses are asking for good news, but... you aren’t getting any. Inside that office is a warzone. Unless you can get those manicured hands dirty, you’re stuck waiting."
Sumr flinched. Her wide eyes forgot to hide how offended she grew. She glanced at Luellen before raising the folder to her face. "I wish I could play the ga with you, but I’m here for this. Your empty report."
The older woman glanced at the folder and took it. She opened it and saw no papers inside. After one deep breath, she gave it back. "Sa difference."
"I don’t understand." Luellen’s gaze darted around in confusion. "You submitted a report with no actual papers in it? What’s happening here?"
"If I were you, I would keep my mouth shut." Jackielyn waved them off. "I can’t do anything for you. Look, the CEO can request all he likes, but unless he gets those computers he promised us, we can’t speed anything up. There’s no way we can fast-track reports that even our computers cannot generate in days."
Sumr held onto her folder and opened her mouth. However, she didn’t know whether it was worth arguing with this woman.
Luellen stared at Jackielyn, who waved them off for the second ti. She didn’t move for another second before sitting down on the waiting bench. With her phone in her hand the whole ti, she made use of it. She visibly dialed a number and eyed the older woman.
In return, Jackielyn watched her supposed stunt. How many little leg-workers have threatened her by fake-calling their bosses?
"Hey, Mr Houston, I’m sorry for bothering you." Luellen brought her gaze down as soon as Houston picked up. "I’ve reached the office, but Ms Jackielyn tells they don’t have the report ready. Their computers cannot generate what they need. They even said sothing about Mr Leander promising computers to them. What should I do?"
"How about you give this phone to her? Is she still there?"
Luellen flinched and shifted left and right like a robot. She took a deep breath and looked up at the woman, who arched an eyebrow at her. Luellen stood up again. She handed the phone to Jackielyn.
"Mr Leander wants to talk to you."
"Nice try, girlie." Jackielyn smiled and pushed the phone back to Luellen. "No one’s buying that stunt here. If your friend did it, maybe I’ll think twice."
"Why? Don’t I look like I work for the CEO?"
Jackielyn smiled deeper. "Maybe. I saw the intern that skimpy wench brings around. Aside from those two, the only people working in that pretentiously designed office... are an old hag and a tree log in a suit. You can dress as slutty as you want, like the CEO’s eyecandy, but you’re not going to be part of that office."
Luellen froze. Her mind went blank at the blatant insult not only to everyone in her office, but even to her very appearance. Her hand shook as she fought the tears from falling with her all.
"You can’t just say that!" Sumr gasped and pulled Luellen away from Jackielyn. She even whipped her hand in the air. "Just because you worked here longer...!"
"Cathy, call Security on these two. They’re bringing noise to my office." Jackielyn snorted at Sumr and walked back into her office. The receptionist hid her laugh and called the front desk.
"I can’t believe this!" Sumr huffed and pulled Luellen out of the office’s reception. She used her thumb to wipe the forming tears off. She even did so carefully that Luellen’s makeup didn’t smudge. "Don’t worry, Lue! We’ll get them back! I’m going to forward a report! Matilda won’t let this slide! Well... because they submitted an empty report..."
"Why is she like that...?" Luellen looked down at her phone. She noticed that the call was still active. She could only bring it up to her ear. "I’m sorry, Mr Leander."
However, silence ca from the phone. It even dropped before Luellen could say sothing again. It was as if soone had just rembered the call was active from their end. The end tone rang along Luellen’s ear as if soone had just cut her lifeline.
She brought her hand down and leaned on the wall behind her. She turned to Sumr, who looked as devastated as she was. Luellen tried to smile. "Do I look miserable?"
"Lue, it happens to the best of us..." Sumr combed her hand through Luellen’s hair. "I’m so sorry... but this really happens. Trust , even to ... I an, it happened to the two of us at the sa ti."
"But she did say she would think twice if you were the one who handed her that phone..." Luellen laughed in self-derision. "If it’s , I just dress slutty..."
Sumr’s grip on Luellen’s arm tightened. She glanced at the office steps away. "I can slap her all I like, but I might get reported. Dammit... you don’t deserve that."
Luellen stood up and sighed. "It’s fine. Let’s just head back to our building. You’re missing a lot of ti to work. I think Matilda has more to answer for than you in this scenario. Tell her that woman brushed you off. Maybe, don’t include in the picture. She might even bla my presence for your treatnt."
A gasp ca from Sumr. "Luellen Piper, I would never...!"
Before Luellen could say sothing more, they heard voices coming from the end of the hallway. Sumr and Luellen could only stand frozen until they saw the crowd. Luellen then flinched within her.
"Mr Leander?" Luellen softly gasped. Her heart skipped a beat at the man’s ergence. Everything that hurt felt soothed just because he showed up. Was he there to avenge her? Should she smile widely at him for helping? Wouldn’t this act be too confrontational? It might even blow things out of proportion.
"Do you want to watch?" Leander’s voice was deep and cold. A few words were enough to press down the overwhelming feeling within Luellen.
The CEO, however, just passed her by. He strode through the hallway in haste, but his threatening aura kept warning everyone who saw him. He was like a killer tide looking to drown every person caught in the water.
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