Chapter 30: Why Don’t You Try Some?
Scarlett didn’t notice that it was already lunchtime and most of the staff had already left. Leah came over and tapped her table,
“Let’s go for lunch! I’m hungry.”
Scarlett was still immersed in the magazine; she was now gazing at a new Givenchy bag.
“Where?”
Leah pulled her up and said,
“The office canteen. Come on, hurry up!”
When they arrived at the canteen, Scarlett was surprised to see how grand it was. There was also a vast array of different kinds of foods worldwide: Chinese noodles and dumplings, Japanese sushi and ramen, Vietnamese pho, Mexican tacos, Spanish baked seafood with rice, German pork sausages… and the list went on and on. There was also a dessert station stocked full of different kinds of cakes and ice creams.
Scarlett was surprised by the astounding variety of foods before her. She felt terribly confused; this was a serious dilemma. What was she going to decide to eat? She finally settled on the paella and some pork on the side. When Leah came over with a salmon and avocado poke bowl, she was startled at Scarlett’s lunch.
“Wow, you’ve got a big appetite, haven’t you?”
Scarlett took a glance at Leah’s salad, “Are you on a diet?”
“Nah, no diet. This salad is actually really good. Why don’t you try some?”
“No, thanks. I like this better.” Scarlett picked up the juicy pork sausage and chewed on it happily.
“Hey, I’m the first person to talk to you. Don’t be catty. Be nice, okay?”
“Alright, alright. I’m sorry, a little bit of pork sausage for you. This is my apology– a peace offering if you will.” Scarlett put a piece of the pork sausage on Leah’s plate. After she had finished her lunch, Scarlett browsed her phone and asked,
“Hey, I know we just met and stuff, but… do you wanna go out for a movie tonight?”
“Don’t you have a date to take instead? A boy?” Leah smirked.
“Nope. Why, do you? I doubt it.” Scarlett laughed and walked out of the canteen. Leah started to feel that taking the initiative to get to know Scarlett had been a huge mistake.
Because of her friendship with Leah Reeds, Scarlett actually began to enjoy her time working at T. B. S. Empire. Whenever they would get a break from hours of intense work, they would go to the store downstairs together and buy a whole bunch of snacks. At lunchtime, they would laugh and coo at endless loops of cute cat videos on Youtube.
As everything got better, Scarlett became very willing to help other staff members deliver folders, copy files, and even buy afternoon snacks and coffee. She’d always been efficient and reliable, and now, day by day, her colleagues in the office saw her charms and grew to appreciate her. She received many favorable comments from other staff members at the office.
“Scarlett, I need you to get these documents to finance asap!”
Scarlett raised her eyes to see a large pile of documents on her table, with about forty or fifty folders.
“All of them?”
“All of them.”
Scarlett had already recognized that high-pitched squeaky voice– it was that same woman from the bathroom who had suggested that Scarlett had undergone a bunch of plastic surgery. Scarlett was full of rage, but she decided that she wouldn’t lash out in anger or do anything impulsive. After all, she needed to treasure this good opportunity and not let Francis down.
Leah walked up from behind to Scarlett’s table after Katy Lee had left. “That bitch picked on you again?” Leah sneered at Katy’s back and said. “These folders!” Scarlett hinted at the mountain of files in front of her. Leah divided half a pile and held them in her arms.
“She’s just ridiculous. Don’t pay her any mind.”
“Hey, tell me some juicy gossip about her! In case we get into a quarrel, I can have my comebacks all prepped and ready to!” Scarlett smirked. She held up another pile of the folders and walked out of the office with Leah.
While they were waiting for the elevator, Leah lowered her voice and said,
“She’d been seducing Chuck for a long time. You know that guy, right?”
“Yep. And then?”
Scarlett was thinking about how she knew that guy, Francis, much better than Leah could even imagine.
“And they probably had a one-night stand. But you know, it’s Chuck. She’s probably just one of a hundred girls, or a thousand, to be more exact, that Chuck has slept with! But she didn’t give up and announced everywhere that she had successfully become queen. That she’s Chuck’s girlfriend now or some shit, I don’t know, and it’s crazy.”
Scarlett interrupted,
“Well, well. Who knows! She’s probably Chuck’s girlfriend by now!”
“No way. You know what, last year at the annual meeting, she came to Chuck and toasted him, but Chuck didn’t even remember who she was. And Stella Sandler made a crack about her in front of the executives.
I couldn’t imagine how embarrassing that must have been! I would hate to be her!” The elevator stopped at the 59th floor, and Leah walked out first to lead Scarlett to the finance department.
“Why is she still even part of the company?” Scarlett quickly followed Leah’s steps.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
“She’s just a small potato. Nobody on the board even remembers her name. They’re just not bothered. Anyway, her qualifications are pretty good. The director liked her, and she managed to get promoted a couple of times.”
When they entered the Department of Finance, a man came to them and said, “Wait, what time is it right now?” He glanced at his watch. “Yes, that’s right. We have already sent the reports to the president in his office. So, please deliver these folders yourselves.”
Scarlett blurted out, “Sorry!”. At the same time, Leah cheerily said, “Thanks!” They gave each other a look and then walked out of the office together.
“The president’s office is kind of…weird. Be careful, okay? Mind your behavior!” Leah gave Scarlett a kind warning when they headed for the scary place.