"I want to know about them, are they taking their work seriously, do you see them in the company's future?"
"....Well Sir, from what we know, her aunt is her only legal guardian, I've sent you a file containing her personal data. She works in the kitchen now, Miss Lin recently transferred her there for some unknown reasons, she's smart, does her job well, but tends to be clumsy sometimes. It's almost been a year since she started working with us. She's friends with Betty May and Tracey --two other ladies from her previous unit, and they all take their jobs seriously and yes I see them in the future of the company.." He concluded
".... Good, that's commendable. Suspend all three of them at once." He suddenly said,
"Pardon me?"
"You heard me John, these are your insiders, Mia Anderson, Betty May and Tracey—"
"But Mr. Colin said—"
"What you goddamn fools wanted to hear, do you really think one person pulled this off alone!" He snapped,
"N-No Sir." Mr. Fisher stuttered,
"Now quit the sorry act and do as I say."
"Yes Sir!"
________
On Saturday morning, Mia woke up to the sound of several notifications coming from her phone.
"...Ugh! Who are these people!" She groaned as she sat up on her bed and unplugged the phone by her bed stand.
There was a mail from the hotel, while the notifications were mostly from the "BMT" group chat; it was a girl's group chat that consisted of her and her friends, Betty and Tracey. She ignored them; they always had nothing useful going on, just the constant bickers and latest gossips. She went on to read the mail and she nearly screamed.
"Defamation! Suspension! An entire week??!" Was all she could see.
She quickly face-timed Betty and Tracey.
"Hey Mia." Betty greeted,
"....Dude you look like shit." Tracey began,
"Thanks Trace, I just got up." She replied with an eye roll,
"Did you guys get the mail too?" She asked,
"Yeah, I've been suspended for being an accomplice to your defamatory act, Mia." Tracey laughed sarcastically.
"Same thing here, and funny enough, he asked us to totally stay away from the premises, we aren't even allowed to prove ourselves not guilty." Betty sighed,
"We could go over to his place and ask why he had to do that—"
"Trace, do you want to lose your job altogether?" Betty chipped in.
"Right." She murmured.
"…I'm really sorry guys, this is all my fault and somehow, you've been dragged into all these. You don't deserve this, I'm going to talk to Miss Lin and make things right." Mia told them,
"....Miss Lin?? Isn't she like the only one apart from us that knew you were the insider? If you'd ask me, I'd say she snitched on you to Mr. Fisher. You can't trust anyone from the management." Tracey concluded.
"Wow Trace, that's like the first meaningful thing you've said your entire life." Betty mocked,
"Wha—"
"…Tracey's right, but still, I've got to fix this—"
"Whoa! Hold your horses Miss Avenger, I'm totally cool with this suspension thing." Tracey halted her,
"Me too. It's like a week off for me." Betty agreed,
"Well I guess it's a good think, look on the bright side ladies, we've got a whole week to spend together—"
"Ooooh, about that.... I'm gonna have to bail, I planning on visiting my parents at C-City—"
"Betty, just like that?" Mia retorted,
"Yeah, just like that ladies, our jobs are on the line here and you're thinking of trips??" Tracey said,
"....Sorry, it's like an early Christmas for me." Betty shrugged,
".... That leaves me and you Trace to—"
".... I've got to bail too, I'm going to my boyfriend's place in London, man I haven't seen him in weeks! Long distance relationships suck." She tutted.
"But you just said—"
"I'm really sorry, Mia but in all honesty, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and look on the bright side, the mail said it's a time to ponder on what we've done, and what better way than to do it in the arms of your loving boyfriend."
"…Well, that leaves me....all alone the entire week."
"You won't be alone." Betty assured her,
"Yeah, look on the bright side, you get to spend quality time with your aunt—"
"Seriously Trace! I haven't seen her in like three days, I don't even know if she's still alive. Last time, she fell from a ladder and landed in the ER."
"Ooh." The ladies cringed.
"So hell no Trace, I'm not spending an entire free week of my life, searching for Aunt Megan."
"Then you could have secret dates with new head chef." Betty laughed.
"His name is Christian Oh and I told you before, we're just friends—"
"But friends do turn to lovers." Tracey chipped in and she and Betty broke into a loud laugh.
"Very funny guys, ditch me for an entire week then laugh about it right in my face, how helpful." Mia smirked.
"But seriously Mia, from all you've told us about the last week, it's quite obvious he likes you, who knows....you might not be alone this Christmas—"
"He's my boss, Tracey! I can't imagine that right now." She replied in frustration, while the others laughed,
Just then, Mia got an incoming call notification and her lips spread into a wide smile.
"....Um, guys I've got to take this call, I've got to go." She grinned.
"Ooooh, looks like Mr. Oh's calling." Tracey said.
"Tsk! No it's not him." Mia replied as she rolled her eyes.
Betty scoffed,
"If you say so cupcake."
"Bye guys, talk to you later." She blurted out as fast as she could then hung up.
"Hello? Mrs Pena?"
"Mia!" Mrs Pena replied in her most cheerful voice.
Mia chuckled,
"How are you doing, it's been a pretty long while."
"A week actually." She replied, "I'm doing well, exhausted right now if I'm being honest.... And you, how are you doing?"
".... Well I guess, work has been pretty hectic this week. But I'm good, and Noel? I haven't gotten the chance to hear from him since then."
"I know, he's been begging for this call like forever....But you know I wasn't allowed to do that.... It was part of the instructions—"
"I understand, so am I allowed to speak with him now?"
"....Um, well yes—"
"Is he there right now?" Her voice lit up,
"Hello? Miss Anderson??" A tiny voice replied instead.
"Awwn Little Man!" She cooed,
"How are you doing Love."
"I'm fine, but I miss you a lot." He said sadly
"I miss you more, I should have called but your dad made it clear not to, and I didn't want to put Mrs Pena at the risk of losing her job."
"I understand. But Dad is sorry now, I promise...."
"He is?"
"That's why he let me call you—"
"Really?"
"He wants to apologize over lunch, and he wanted me to invite you myself." His voice lit up.
"Wait what? He really said that, are you sure?"
"Yes I am."
Mia was confused,
"....Um, wow!"
"So are you going to come?" He innocently asked,
"Um....Noel is Mrs Pena still there?"
"Yes?"
"Could you give her the phone for a sec."
".... Okay."
Mia could hear the muffled speech in the background as he handed her the phone.
"Hello Mia?"
"....Um, about lunch, did he really say that?"
Mrs Pena chuckled,
"You heard the kid, his father has invited you for lunch today."
" B-But—"
"I know how the last time turned out—"
"My point exactly—"
"But!" She emphasized, "It's obvious that he now has a change of heart."
Mia let out a loud sigh.
"....So give him a chance Mia." Mrs Pena added.
After a brief silence, she replied,
"Fine....I'll be there, time?"
"2pm.... Thank you Mia, this really means a lot."
"Sure."