As Scarlet rushed into the office, the moment she stepped out of the elevator, she ran into Lolita. This morning seems to be against her that she has to meet her enemy on this narrow road.
Lolita gazed at her mockingly, taking in her disheveled state, light stains on her shirt, rumbled skirts due to squeezing and her sweaty face. "Tsk, tsk, are you just coming? In this state? She smirked.
Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "I hope you have a good excuse for missing the crucial Monday meeting."
Scarlet gritted her teeth in frustration, suppressing the urge to retort, she was too tired to fight, too tired to explain herself.
Seeing her silence, Lolita sighed and casting a furtive glance at her as she walked past her. Scarlet headed straight to her desk, hoping for a moment of peace. She could feel Lolita's eyes drilling into her back, but she didn't have the energy to engage.
Just as she sat down, preparing to bury herself in her work, the door to the office slammed open.
Keira—her departmental head walked in, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as she strode toward Scarlet. The sharpness of Keira's expression made it clear she wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.
"Scarlet," Kira's voice cut through the room like a blade. "I've been trying to find you. You missed the meeting again?" She questioned her gaze locked on her.
Scarlet's stomach tightened. She opened her mouth to respond but Keira didn't give her chance, her tone venomous as she continued "If you're so eager to be late, maybe you should just quit. We don't have time for people who can't show up on time to do the needful." Her words struck like a slap to the face.
Scarlet clenched her jaw, she has nothing to say because nothing would change. She wasn't about to argue her way out of this, she is at fault and especially now when Kira's temper was already on the edge.
Kira waited, her eyes cold as she stared down at Scarlet expecting her response.
Scarlet could feel the weight of Kira's glare burning into her.
Her thoughts a tangled mess—family pressures, the loss of breakfast, the looming feeling that everything was out of her control. The stress was mounting, and Keira's words only added fuel to the fire.
Lolita, stood at her desk staring at her, her gaze complicated. Scarlet could almost hear her mocking voice in her mind. She had been through this before—being pushed, taunted, treated as the underdog. It was familiar, and somehow, that made it worse.
Scarlet took a slow, deliberate breath. She didn't want to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her crack. Keira's patience seemed to be running out as she waited for an answer, her fingers tapping on the desk impatiently.
Scarlet sighed "no matter how bad this moment was, it was just another challenge she had to face—like the ones that always came before, and like the ones she'd conquer again." She mused.
"Actually, something came up at home," she began, meeting Keira's gaze directly. "I was trying to handle it as fast as I could, but things didn't go as planned." Scarlet replied exhaustively.
There was a brief silence, Keira's eyes narrowed slightly she studied her seriously for any trace of lying. Scarlet has always been one of the best staff she has but gradually she became an ardent late comer.
"I think you need to handle this family matter quickly and not delay the progress of everyone's work due to your absence and lateness. Keira instructed concisely.
Though, she values her effort but when her actions becomes deterimental to the company she can't save her.
Scarlet nodded slowly, understanding the point Keira was making, but she couldn't deny the frustration that began to simmer inside her again.
Kira's eyes softened just slightly. "Fine. Just don't let it happen again, or you'll have more than just a missed meeting on your plate."
Scarlet, trying to swallow her frustration, gave a small nod. "I won't let it happen again." Her tone determined. She will have to plan her life.
Lolita clapped her hands in mockery "some people are really good in pretense. Who doesn't know you are just ....mtchew" She smirked as she left the office swaying her hips.
Scarlet paid her no mind but buried herself into her work. She already misses so much for the morning and she needs to hurry up and complete it. Scarlet never took notice of the situation in the office until noon.
As the office slowly emptied for lunch, Scarlet let out a frustrated sigh and slumped back into her chair. She felt drained and tired from her chaotic morning.
Her stomach rumbled—a reminder of her lost breakfast. She sighed as she rubbed her forehead in exhaustion. She is not in the mood of going out, the day had already been chaotic enough that she wants to calm herself.
"Scarlet, let's go for lunch," Mario called out to her as she opened the office door. Scarlet shook her head, Mario had been her good friend but since she was transferred to another department they rarely get together except in an arranged meeting which is hard to come by due her busy schedule.
"You go on, I have got something to do", she replied. Mario sauntered off with a promise to get her something for lunch. "I'd appreciate that", she muttered as Mario shut the door behind her.
She picked up her phone, her fingers automatically navigating to her social media app. Scrolling through her messages, she really needs to talk to someone then she paused at a familiar chat—one that had become her quiet escape over the past few months.
"Lucian".
That was the only name she knew him by. His icon never shows his face but rather a flower which had been her favourite "Rose".
They had never met, never spoken beyond texts, but somehow, she had confided in him more than she had with anyone else while he gives her a listening ear. It is easier to say he has become her dumping bag.
He was always there—offering advice, listening to her rants, throwing in the occasional sarcastic remark that made her forget her troubles for a while, she couldn't but wonder how his voice will sound when he speaks.
A light smile crept up her face, the only smile since the morning hours. Her fingers hovering over the chat icon in contemplation, "It's lunch time, will he be free?" She muttered.
With a decisive click, she tapped the chat box "Hi, Off for lunch?" She stared at the screen, waiting as three dots appeared immediately, signaling that he was typing, Scarlet sighed in relief.
"No, will soon go. How was your day?" he replied.
Scarlet: "I had a terrible morning that I nearly lost it".
Lucian : "If the morning is terrible, should you be planning for a horrible afternoon"
Scarlet smiled at the response, that is him with humour. "But come to think of it what will the afternoon be like" she muttered to herself.
Lucian: Alright, care to share with me? Maybe I'll send out the magical wand to magically fix everything for you."
Looking at the reply, Scarlet laughed brightly. "I really need that magical wand to take me away from my adoptive mom, you know. May be I will live longer away from her and my sister" She thought to herself.
She hesitated for a second, then sighed and started typing out the series of events she had encountered through the morning. This was the one space where she could be honest—where she didn't have to pretend she was fine.
She leaned back in her chair, staring at the last message he sent:
Lucian: See? You're still alive. Now, you get something to eat before you pass out at your desk and blame the company for over labouring you.
Lucian always had a way of making her laugh, teasing her in just the right way, and giving advice that didn't feel forced. It was effortless, comforting—even addictive.
"May be one of this days, I will request to see his picture, he is a friend worth knowing better", she thought to herself.
Scarlet chuckled, shaking her head. He was right—her stomach had been protesting for hours. Mario came in the same time, handing her a pack containing the lunch she had brought for her.
Scarlet was very grateful, one providing emotional comfort, the other food. It is not too bad for her, she is not alone.
By the time Scarlet was done chatting with Lucian, her mood improved that she began humming a beautiful tone as she returned to her work full of energy.