After that, Leonard began thinking of the other stuff he was gonna handle after getting his salary. Yeah, he remembered them completely, he was gonna purchase outfits for work. Buy foodstuff, try opening a bank account, and so on. But as known, implementing his idea to make Eva fall for him would come first.
Now that he was done reasoning, it was about time to go to bed...and so he did.
*******
Leonard woke up the next day remembering that today was another D-Day. Yesterday was a D-Day 'cause he made the attempt and asked the manager for his salary, the manager agreed, but he wasn't able to collect it. He was gonna collect it today, so today was another D-Day.
He got up from bed, took his bath, and brushed his teeth. Then he dressed up, groomed himself, ate breakfast, and departed from his apartment. Getting outside, he began contemplating if he should take a cab or not. He woke up really early today, so even if he treks to work, he was still gonna be on time. He had money with him, so was there need for him to trek?
Though he woke up really early today, it's best to arrive really early at work, maybe he could even reach the 'Q and R construction company' before the security guard. He was done contemplating, and he decided to board a cab. He stopped a cab and said to the cabman,
"Take me to the Crimson Alley".
"Hop in". The cabman said.
Leonard hopped into the cab, and the cabman sped off. He put the car in motion until they arrived in front of the company. Leonard hopped out of the car and paid the cabman, then he said to him,
"Thanks for the ride".
The cabman smiled and drove off, Leonard sauntered straight to the company and entered it. Stepping into the company, he sighted those men in helmets once again. Those men accompanied him and the manager to one of the buildings, one of the current projects. Leonard sighted their van outside, that same van they made use of to get to the building.
He knew that the van was familiar, but he didn't really recall that they were the ones that own it until he saw them inside the company. Well, he's got no business with them, so he just walked past them and sauntered straight to the staircase, mounted it, and arrived on the first floor.
********
Leonard was focused on work, but definitely, he was still thinking about his pay. The manager had arrived, he was in his office, and he didn't even call Leonard to hand over his salary to him...and it was making Leonard confused. Had the manager forgotten? who knows, maybe he didn't have Leonard's salary with him.
Or was the manager waiting for Leonard to come to his office before giving him his salary? He has no plans of calling Leonard and handing his pay over to him, that might be the case. So what was Leonard's plan? He was gonna wait until after lunch hour, then he'll go straight to the manager's office. But things would work out better if the manager comes out of his office, Leonard would signal him...and he would understand.
But throughout that time Leonard sat on his desk working, the manager didn't step a single foot out of his office. It got to lunch hour, and all the employees went straight to the lunchroom, the cooks prepared that delicious noodles for lunch again...and they didn't forget to put the big piece of chicken on each plate. After lunch, everyone went back to their desks and continued with what they were doing.
Now, it was about time for Leonard to go straight to the manager's office. The manager really had no plans of calling Leonard to his office personally to give him his salary...unless he forgot to bring it. Leonard stood up from his desk and began sauntering to the manager's office. Felix stared at him as he strolled, but he dared not to ask him any question, he didn't want to be shunned.
Leonard arrived at the door of the manager's office, and his heart started beating a little. Why? There could be a possibility that the manager forgot to bring his salary. And if that was the case, men, it would be really bad. He glanced at the door for some seconds, then he knocked on it. The manager's voice resounded from inside,
"Who is that?".
"Umm..it's me, Leonard". Leonard responded.
"Ohh! Leonard, come in".
With that, Leonard opened the door and stepped into the manager's office. The manager beckoned on him to sit down, and so he did. Making himself comfortable on the chair as he was facing the manager directly, he said,
"Umm..sir, I know you are aware of why I'm here. I didn't come since 'cause I was reasoning something stupid, I was thinking maybe you'll call me to your office and...you know? But you're the manager of this company, so. But I'm here now".
There was a type of expression on the manager's face after Leonard made that statement, like he forgot to bring Leonard's salary. And the moment Leonard noticed that expression on his face, he became scared, so the manager truly forgot to bring his salary? The manager said to him,
"I'm sorry, Leonard, I forgot to bring your salary. I kept on reminding myself that I must get your salary from the bank, but I forgot. I'm sorry, Leonard".
"What! Holy shit! This can't be happening, I really need my salary. As more days keep passing, the need to get my pay is becoming more urgent".
A smile appeared on the manager's face right after Leonard made that utterance, and that smile of his made Leonard confused. What was he smiling for? Was he smiling 'cause he wouldn't be giving Leonard his pay? Did he do it on purpose? But the manager's next utterance surprised him,
"I was just joking".
"Joking about what?". Leonard inquired.
"About your pay, I brought it, I was just pulling your legs".
"Seriously?". Leonard inquired with excitement in his facial expression.
"Yeah, seriously, it's safe in the brown envelope".
The manager dragged out the drawer under his table and brought out a brown envelope from it. Just by glancing at the envelope, one could tell that it was loaded with money. He handed the brown envelope over to Leonard and uttered,
"That is your complete salary, the amount we both agreed on before I employed you in this company. If I had transferred it into your bank account, you would have confirmed that it was the complete amount from the credit alert...but you don't have a bank account currently. If you wanna confirm that it's the complete amount, you can count it here".
"No need, I trust you. You giving me my pay now is enough for me, I don't have to count it. Just by glancing at the bundles of money inside this envelope, I can tell that it's the complete amount. Thanks for giving me my salary though I haven't even worked up to two weeks in this company". Leonard voiced out.
"Your hard work earned you that, and I can't just ignore the fact that you said you're in serious need of money. Go solve all your money problems, Leonard".
Leonard smiled the moment the manager made that last statement, then he said to the manager,
"I'll be going now".
"No prob".
Leonard stood up from the chair, and as he was about to start sauntering, the manager halted him with a statement,
"Once again, Leonard, don't forget, at the end of this month when other workers would be receiving their salaries through bank transfers, you wouldn't be getting anything".
"I'm aware of that, manager".
"OK then".
With that, Leonard strolled out of the manager's office carrying the brown envelope in his hand. As he sauntered to his desk, there was a smile on his face, he had collected his salary. Felix and some other employees noticed the smile on Leonard's face, and they also noticed the brown envelope in his hand. Felix was itching to ask him why he was smiling, but once again, he didn't want to get shunned, so he was gonna wait until Leonard reaches his desk.
Leonard reached his desk and kept the brown envelope inside the opening in his desk. Felix waited patiently for a minute and some seconds before asking Leonard in a bit of a low tone of voice,
"Why were you smiling?".
"I was smiling 'cause I had a nice conversation with the manager. And as for the brown envelope in my hand, don't ask what is in it, 'cause I won't tell you".
Felix nodded his head in understanding, at least, he told him the reason why he was smiling.