Chapter 2 Beauty Tears
MIA’S POV
"I am sorry, Mia. But we have to let you go,"
I furrowed my brows as I fiddled with my fingers while staring at Mr James, our manager.
"Le.... Let me go?"
"Yes, Mia. We have no use for you anymore," he said, looking at me without any emotion.
"Did I do something wrong, Mr James?" I almost whispered.
He heaved a sigh and relaxed in his swivel seat.
"Not really. We just feel we have more than enough cleaning staff in this little mall."
Little mall?
"I don't understand," I said lowly.
"The number of cleaning staff in our possession is bigger than the number we can afford."
"But....we are just six."
"Exactly," he retorted.
My sweaty palms needed ventilation and my eyes were becoming sore from gathering tears which were about to flow.
This can't be happening.
This can't be happening this peaceful afternoon.
"Six is quite a huge number. We can't afford to keep all of you."
"But it is.....It is a huge mall. I actually think you need to employ more...... "
"You can't tell us what to do, Mia," he snapped, making more tears approach my eyes.
"We have decided to let one of you go and that is you,"
My heart tightened in my chest as I stared at him.
He nodded slightly.
I leaned closer to his desk. "Please, Mr James, this is the only job that I..... "
"That will be all, Mia," he retorted coldly.
I froze, staring at him.
"Leave my office," he ordered, dropping his gaze on his laptop screen.
He left no room for an argument or a plea.
My hands trembled slightly as I moved my eyes around randomly, thinking about where I could go from here.
I can't believe I have lost this job.
I really can't believe this.
"Leave, Mia," he said, making me look at him. His eyes are still on his screen.
"Go to the locker room, get your stuff and leave the premises," he instructed, like he was kicking me out.
I rubbed my sweaty palms on my knee-length uniform, feeling devastated already.
I got up slowly and took slow steps towards the door. I stopped and looked behind me, hoping he would change his mind.
"Close the door behind you," he instructed without looking at me.
I felt like breaking down in tears as my heart tightened again.
He doesn't look like who will change his mind, even if I break down in tears.
I turned to the door, grabbed the door knob, opened it and walked out of the office.
I closed the door gently and tears rolled down my eyes as I stared at the tiled floors.
This is the only job I have.
What am I going to do now?
Where will I start looking for a new job?
I looked up, feeling stressed.
Oh God, help me.
Help me, please.
I sniffled, lowering my gaze as a lot of thoughts danced in my head. I wiped my tears and walked away from the office door.
I headed towards the locker room. Entering it, I found it empty, and I headed towards my locker.
I took out my key from my pocket and pushed it into the lock. I stirred the key and unlocked my locker. Opening it, I stared at the folded dress in the locker with my tiny phone and house keys on top of it.
My heart tightened as Mr. James' words repeated in my head. Another tear rolled down my eyes and I wiped it off with the back of my hand, sniffling.
I reached for my phone and turned it on. I went to my call log and searched for the one and only contact that could help me with my situation.
I stopped searching the minute I found Axel's number.
I remained still, staring at it as tears approached my eyes.
"Mia?" Mary's familiar voice took my attention.
She is approaching me, dressed in the same uniform as me.
"What happened? Why did the manager call you?" she asked the minute she got closer.
I didn't respond but lowered my gaze.
"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked, holding my arm and placing her other hand on my shoulder.
A tear fell on my phone, making me wipe it on my dress.
"Mia, talk to me,"
"I got fired," I whispered without looking at her.
"Oh no,"
My heart tightened at the sound of her voice.
"That is terrible. I am so sorry. What is the reason? Did he tell you the reason?"
I opened my mouth to speak, but the reason was just so unfair.
We are just six cleaners in this huge mall. I actually thought they would hire more cleaners to make the work easier.
I wasn't expecting this from them.
I work tirelessly and diligently each passing day.
Why would they take my job?
"Mia,"
I sniffled.
Mary sighed and caressed my shoulder.
"I am so sorry,"
The door opened, and I heard the voices of other cleaners as they approached.
"Don't worry, you will find another job. A better one," Mary said, still caressing my shoulder.
That's the problem.
I have no idea where I can find a job.
It is difficult to find a job in this city.
I know how long it took me to get this one.
It is very hard.
This really can't be happening to me.
"Oh no. Some people will be leaving us today for some juicy reasons," Gina, one of the cleaners, mocked.
She clicked her tongue.
"Too bad," she mocked, chuckling with the others.
My legs weakened as I held my phone tightly, and I glued my gaze on it.
Gina can be very terrible. I hate it when she talks about me.
Especially when she does it like I am not in the room.
"Tell us this juicy reason, Gina," Diane, another cleaner, urged.
My palms became sweaty again.
"Oh, I heard someone has been sleeping with the owner's son lately,"
My heart dropped instantly.
Everyone except Mary gasped.
"Shut the front door," Cassie, another cleaner, said.
"Damn, that is really one spicy, juicy reason, don't you think, Mia?" Diane asked.
I looked at her with my panicking face.
She chuckled and so did the others.
I faced my locker, feeling my heart pounding.
How did they find out about that?
Oh God.
"Funny how someone could think because she is beautiful, she could seduce her way to the top. What a slut," Gina said, making my heart tighten severely.
"A slut indeed," Diane said.
"Shut up, you two!" Mary snapped, making them chuckle.
"More like a cheap dirty gold digger slut," Cassie chipped in, making everyone chuckle again.
I can't be here.
I grabbed my dress and keys from my locker and ran for the door.
"Run along, slutty ass," I heard Gina say as everyone continued laughing.
"Mia!" I heard Mary call but I didn't stop. I ran out of the room, sobbing as I headed towards the restroom.
I got to the counter, looked in the mirror and stared at myself.
I sobbed painfully as Gina's mockery repeated in my head again.
I let out a loud sob as tears rolled down my eyes.
How did she find out?
I lowered my gaze, sobbing continuously.
"Mia," Mary called.
I looked up, and I saw her at the door through the mirror.
I sobbed silently.
"Is it true?" she asked.
I sobbed more.
Her shoulders fell. She walked closer to me and turned me to her.
"I didn't seduce him. We met here in the mall. I didn't even know he was the owner's son. I thought he was just a regular customer. We exchanged numbers and we started talking. We fell in love, Mary. I didn't seduce him," I sobbed.
"It's okay," she said, wrapping me in a hug and I let it all out.
"Shh," she cooed, caressing my long curly blonde hair.
"He wanted our relationship to be a secret. I don't know how they find out. Now I have lost my job." I sobbed.
"I think one of the girls snitched on you," she said, making me unwrap myself from her hold and look at her.
"But how? My relationship was kept a secret. How did they find out?"
"Gossips will go to any length to find information, Mia. Never underestimate them," she advised.
I looked at her with my tear-filled eyes.
"I am so sorry," she said.
I lowered my gaze and sniffled.
"The owner's son, does he really love you?" she asked.
I looked at her.
She is staring at me.
I nodded.
She nodded. "Then call him or go to him. Talk to him about your job. Or he can help you find one elsewhere. He is your only hope now."
I lowered my gaze on my phone and I saw Axel's number again.
"Just talk to him about it. Everything will be fine."
I looked at her.
She nodded in assurance.
I nodded. "Thank you,"
She held my hand, squeezing it a bit before letting me go and walking away.
I looked at my phone again, staring at Axel's number.
I dialed it.
AN HOUR LATER
Dressed in my knee-length dress and my black bag hanging on my shoulder, I got out of the taxi that pulled up right in front of Axel's mansion. I paid the driver and he drove away.
I stood still, staring at the building. I looked at my phone and dialed Axel's number for the umpteenth time since the restroom.
He hasn't picked up any of my calls.
I am becoming worried.
I walked towards the gate and pressed the pin on the machine which he had given me since we started dating.
The gate opened and I walked in. His beautiful compound gave that warm feeling anytime I came here. I walked towards his entrance door and I found it open.
I furrowed my brows slightly but pushed the door further open. I walked in and closed the door behind me.
I moved my eyes around the house. The house is empty.
"Axel?"
I got no response.
I walked towards his spacious living room and my eyes fell on two used glasses on the table.
Did he have company?
I looked towards the broad stairs and I headed towards it but froze the minute I saw a red dress on one of the stairs.
I furrowed my brows at the dress. I looked up the stairs leading to the rooms.
"Axel,"
No response.
I looked at the dress again.
That's not mine.
That's not.....
My heart picked up at the thought of the only thing this means.
With my weak legs, I climbed the stairs. My heart pounded in a way as I walked.
I got to the hallway and I walked slowly.
"Hmm....yes....yes....oh Fuck!"
I stopped in my tracks.