After the manager departed from their midst, Leonard began thinking what the meeting would be about...what does the manager want to discuss with them? Well, that wasn't something Leonard want to start worrying about, he'll find out tomorrow at the meeting room.
The meeting room was a place in this company where all the workers come together whenever the manager wants to discuss something important with them. It was wide, and it's got chairs and tables in it, it was similar to the lunchroom. And it's got a wide TV in it, it's of great importance whenever the manager or one of the employees was explaining something to the workers. Explaining something visually is the key to more understanding.
It's one of the places Felix took Leonard to when he was showing him around this company. The rest of the normal day activities took place, it got to lunch hour, and everyone ate lunch, after that, back to work. And before everyone knew it, it was closing hour...time for everyone to go home. Leonard didn't stand up from his desk immediately when it got to closing hour, he's got to round up with what he was doing before he'll go home.
He rushed it without glancing up at all, and before he knew it, he was done. He quickly put off the computer, arranged the files with him and put it under the opening in his desk, then he stood up from his desk...it's time to go home. Then he glanced around, where was Felix? He'd totally forgotten about him while he was working. Definitely, Felix must have gone home.
But why didn't he come to meet Leonard before he went home? That's what he normally does. Even if Leonard was busy working, he'll still come to meet him to tell him that he was going home. And if Leonard wasn't ready to go home, he'll tell Felix to go without him. But why didn't he come to meet Leonard today? Was it 'cause of the suspicion that something was going on between him and Rita? Was he harboring something against Leonard?
That Leonard didn't know, well, it wasn't a must that both of them would leave the company together, not like they'll be going the same path. Leonard dismounted the staircase and reached the last floor, he found no one there...empty. But getting outside of the company, Leonard sighted the security guard, and he inquired of him,
"Aren't you gonna go home?".
"Not yet, I'm gonna stay here until 6:30 pm, that's the deal between me and the manager". The guard retorted.
"OK then, see you tomorrow".
With that, Leonard walked away. Walking half of the Crimson Alley, he boarded a cab, there's money. The cabman drove until he arrived at the boulevard where Leonard's apartment was located, and with Leonard's help and direction, they arrived right in front of the building where Leonard's apartment was situated.
He came out of the cab, paid the cabman, and began sauntering straight to the door of his apartment. Remember that guy that questioned Leonard the first time he came out of his apartment and was about to explore outside, Leonard sighted him again. But he didn't even stop for a second to glance at him or talk to him, he just walked to the door of his apartment, unlocked it, and entered.
Entering his apartment, he balanced on one of the sofas in the parlor. He sat there for some minutes before he stood up and sauntered straight into his room, took off his clothes and shoes, and dashed into the bathroom. Feeling refreshed, he came out of the bathroom, strolled into his room, put on something casual, and sauntered straight into the kitchen to prepare something to eat.
He prepared noodles, ate them, took a bottle of soft drink from the refrigerator, and mellowed down the food. Feeling satisfied, he sauntered to the parlor and balanced on one of the sofas. He began operating his phone, there were things to do with the phone, for example, game...that's what he was engaging in at that moment.
He was enjoying the game, it was just like the game on his previous earth, no difference. And because he was enjoying the game, there was a smile on his face, not until he heard the system's reminder,
[ Five days to go, complete your quest, or you die]
That smile on Leonard's face vanished the moment he heard the system's reminder, five f**king more days to go. He thought the system had gone, but she hadn't, she spoke again,
[ Leonard, what's wrong? Five days remaining, you haven't completed your quest, don't die, Leonard]
"I might if my plan doesn't work out, the first step to accomplishing it is to collect my pay from the manager. Would he give me or would he say it's too early for me to start asking for my pay? Even though he notices my hard work? The next thing is would Eva fall for me even after I've implemented what I have in mind? You're a system, you know a lot of things, can you tell if the manager would give me my pay?". Leonard voiced out.
[ No, I can't, but most likely, he'll give you your pay. How you'll approach him matters, the things you'll tell him matter. Like I told you before, you have to tell him that you're in serious need of money, make it evident on your facial expression. And he'll give you your salary, at least, you've been working hard for it]
Leonard nodded his head, then he inquired, "Is it possible for you guys to add a little time to when my quest would expire? I need some more time".
[ No, we can't do that, you have to accomplish your quest within the remaining five days, if you can't, you'll truly die]
There was nothing else that could be done about it, five days remaining, and if he doesn't accomplish his quest...he'll kick the bucket. Leonard wanted to ask a bit of a dumb question, so he voiced out,
"If I don't accomplish my quest within those five days, how would I die? Would I be burnt to ashes by fire? Would a deadly disease strike me? Or is it a fast killer like a stroke? Tell me, which one".
[ Fail to accomplish your quest, and you'll find out. Once again, don't die...She Lord, gone]
With that, Leonard heard her voice no more. His phone was in his hand, but he couldn't even continue playing the game, he just sat there thinking about if the manager would agree to give him his pay. You know, that was the first step, if he can't accomplish that successfully, then he'll be unable to do something else. He just sat there making determinations to himself that he must collect his pay tomorrow though it was based on a probability.
He managed to play some more games on his phone, then he stood up from the couch and sauntered straight to his room...here we come wonderland.
*********
Leonard woke up the next day with a bit of scared and determined expression on his face, yeah, it was a mixed expression. He was determined to collect his pay from the manager today, and he was also scared that his determination might fail him, it might be in vain. All he knew was that he'll try his best...nothing else.
He got up from the bed and did some push-ups, then he entered the bathroom, took his bath, and brushed his teeth. Done bathing, he came out of the bathroom and strolled into his room, dried himself, and dressed up...all ready for work. He prepared something light for breakfast, ate it, and departed from his apartment.
Getting outside, he boarded a cab that would drive him straight to work, this would become a norm soon. It was inside the cab that Leonard remembered that the manager was gonna discuss something with them all today inside the meeting room...he had forgotten. Maybe, after the meeting, he'll then ask the manager for his pay...yeah, that was a nice idea, that's what he'll do.
The cabman put the cab in motion until they arrived in front of the 'Q and R construction company'. Leonard hopped out of the cab, paid the cabman, and the cabman wasted no time driving off. Leonard began sauntering towards the company, the security guard was already there, so he greeted him before entering the company. He wasn't late today, so he got no weird stare from the workers that were already present at their desks.
Most of the workers that were giving him that weird stare yesterday weren't present at their desks yet, he came before them today. And they were staring at him yesterday like he'll never come before them again.