Carla’s Suspicion

"What happened up there, Josh?" Maia sat on her chair behind her desk. "You know very well how much Lee hates you. I already warned you, don't cross that guy. I don't want you getting in any trouble on account of Lee."

Josh just stood there, staring at the floor. He was weighing in his mind if he would tell Maia about the incident upstairs — how Lee had humiliated him in front of others. But he knew Lee enjoyed Maia's favor. Whatever he would say, Maia will definitely reject so Josh decided to keep his mouth shut.

"Look, Josh, I know you and Lee have a history. And since I'm fairly new here, I really don't have a clear picture of what happened between the two of you. All I know is that you two don't get along well. As your superior, I am telling you to make sure you don't offend Lee in any way. That guy has connections in this company." Maia saw Josh's hurt expression. "And as your friend, I am asking you to please stay out, as much as possible, from Lee's way. I don't want you losing your job because of him." Maia smiled. She liked how Josh works. She may not understand what happened between Lee and Josh, but she would protect Josh - and everyone under her care — from anyone who plan to hurt them, professionally speaking or otherwise.

. . .

It was almost lunch and Maia was preparing to leave for lunch.

"I'm going to have lunch with Josephine, okay? She said President Enriquez is in his office and will drop by this floor after lunch so PLEASE don't leave any mess, if or when, you go out for lunch. Today's, uhm, incident is enough for the day." She looked at Josh as she said it and then went out.

"Are you okay?" Mandy asked Josh after Maia went out.

"Yeah," Josh replied quietly. He wasn't in the mood to talk and Mandy sensed it.

"Uhm, okay, that's good. It's almost lunch break. Would you like to come with me? We can go out for lunch. My treat this time."

Josh thought for a moment. "I think I'll skip lunch today. I really need to clear this floor before President Enriquez comes here." Josh looked over at the coffee they bought. It was still on the table where they left it. A lot has happened since they came in from their coffee break.

"And besides," Josh added, "I still have to finish my coffee."

Mandy remembered the coffee. She went over to the table where it was and touched the cup.

"It's still warm," Mandy said and then took a sip. "Hey, this coffee is good!" And Mandy wasn't kidding.

"I told you so." Josh smiled and went back to work.

Mandy took another sip before she resumed filing the invoices and receipts that Jane gave her earlier. She looked at the clock again. It was exactly twelve noon.

"Come on, Amanda! Why don't you join me and Carla for lunch?" Jane asked as she turned off her computer and picked up her bag.

"Sure. I'll be there in a sec." Mandy wanted to stay in the office, too, to help Josh but she was famished. She noticed Rae was still working.

"Come, Rae, have lunch with us," Mandy said as she took her purse.

"No, thanks. I'd rather eat alone than have lunch together with…" Rae stopped mid-sentence. "Don't worry, I brought my own lunch so I promise and I guarantee you that I will not go hungry today." Rae assured Mandy after seeing a worried look on her face.

"Okay, then. I'll go now." Mandy said to no one in particular but she made sure both Josh and Rae heard it.

"Have fun!" Rae smiled though Mandy thought she was being sarcastic. She watched Mandy go out the door before speaking to Josh.

"She's nice, don't you think?" Rae asked Josh when she was sure everyone was out.

"Yeah, she's okay."

Rae wasn't a very good conversationalist but she's a very good observer.

"You like her don't you?" Rae couldn't resist asking.

"What!" Josh's voice echoed in the quiet room. "What went to your head to even think that!" Josh shook his head vigorously as if trying to shake Rae's voice out from his head.

"I've seen you look at girls before," Rae teased. She was determined to get an answer from Josh.

"What 'girl'?"

"I think you mean WHICH 'girl'."

"I have no idea what you mean." Josh turned his back to Rae.

Rae walked over to him. "Of course you do. You know exactly what I mean."

"No, I don't," Josh lied. He knew exactly what Rae meant.

"How's Alynna?" Rae asked. Josh gave Alynna a piercing look.

"Okay, okay, if you don't want to talk about it. I can take a hint." Rae said and then went back to her desk.

"But, in case you want to talk…" Rae's voice trailed away.

"Geez, Rae, just drop it okay?" Josh was upset now.

"Okay, sorry, I didn't mean to upset you! But seriously, if ever you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

Josh sensed Rae's sincerity. He looked over his shoulder and saw Rae smiling at him.

"I'll remember that," was all Josh replied.

. . .

"It seems to me that they have been serving spaghetti for the second week now," Carla commented as she, Jane and Mandy queued for food at the cafeteria.

"I know, right? This office cafeteria is worse than my high school's," Jane replied.

Mandy looked at the food. They do not look appetizing at all. She wasn't used to cafeteria food.

"Is there no other place where we can have lunch?" Mandy asked hopefully.

"No, there in no other. Well, actually there is but the place is always packed during lunch. The other ones are a bit far from here. It's a short drive but parking will be hard and it's too hot to walk." Jane said as she scooped some mashed potatoes and put it in her tray. "If you ask me, they should change the chef here," Jane added, this time she whispered to Mandy. "The place also needs some renovation."

Mandy looked around. She would have to agree with Jane. The tables are old and worn out, the chairs need some re-upholstering. Even the walls' paint is starting to peel off.

"If they renovate the place, where will we eat?" Carla said, picking up a carton of juice as she passed the beverages.

"Oh, yeah, you're right." They were already at the end of the line and were making their way to the cashier.

Mandy looked at her tray — mashed potatoes, vegetable salad with vinaigrette, pork chops and a carton of orange juice. Mandy hoped they would at least taste good.

After paying for their meal, the three ladies searched for an empty table and found one at the far corner of the cafeteria.

"Great!" Jane exclaimed. "It's usually hard to find a table at this hour. But this one will do." Jane smiled at Mandy as she took the seat beside the glass wall. Mandy took the seat beside her and Carla took the seat opposite Mandy.

"So, Amanda, how did you end up landing a job here in EGC?" Carla asked as she nibbled on her carrot stick.

"What do you mean?" Mandy asked.

"I mean how did you know about this company? Did you know anybody from inside to help you get the job?"

"Carla!" Jane couldn't believe Carla had asked her that question.

"No, it's okay," Mandy said, interrupting Jane. "EGC is a big company. Everyone knows it. And about landing a job here, the answer is no. I do not know anybody from the inside that would back me up to get a job here." Mandy looked down at her food to avoid eye contact with Carla. She's bad at lying. People who know her well can easily tell if she's lying or not.

"I see," Carla said, studying her. "She's lying," she thought. She looked at Mandy who has started eating. There is something about Mandy that she can't quite put her finger to. She seemed nice but…

"Are you gonna finish that?" Jane asked, interrupting Carla's thoughts. She was looking at Carla's carrot sticks.

"No. You can have them if you like." Carla replied without looking at Jane.

"Where are you from, Amanda?" Carla asked Mandy again as she picked up her fork.

Mandy couldn't answer. She hasn't read the documents Josephine gave her.

"Uhm, I'm just from around here. And you?" Mandy returned the question to Carla, hoping it would divert the attention to her.

"Same as you," Carla replied. "And where is…"

"Carla will you stop interrogating Amanda," Jane cut Carla's question. "She might think we're unfriendly here!"

Carla looked at Jane from the corner of her eye. She was eating, her mouth full.

"Okay, sorry. I just want to get to know our new colleague better." Carla smiled at Mandy.

"The food here is not so bad," Mandy said to change the topic.

"Well, if you're not used to gourmet, I guess you can say that." Carla said nonchalantly.

"Are you used to gourmet?" It was Mandy's turn to interrogate.

"I can't say gourmet. But I am used to good food."

"Carla's family owns a restaurant." Jane explained.

Mandy was impressed. "Wow! Really? What's the name of your restaurant?"

"The Chicken Joint."

"Oh, I've heard of that, though I've never been. They said you serve really good fried chicken." Mandy lied again. She has never heard of the restaurant before.

"You've never been? We should go there some time. On the house," Carla said, her face beamed with excitement. She was clearly proud of the family business.

Mandy suddenly felt envious of Carla. Why can't she be as proud like Carla about her own family's business. She has always tried hard to hide that she's the daughter, the heiress, to a large business.

"Sure. I would love that," Mandy replied.

"Great! We should set a date then." Carla put out her mobile phone and searched her calendar. "How about this Friday?"

"Can I come?" Jane asked.

"Of course you can! Let's ask Maia, Rae and Josh, too! Oh this is gonna be so much fun!" Carla clapped her hands together.

Mandy didn't say a word anymore. She just continued eating her lunch, thankful that the topic has shifted. She hoped there would be no more questions about her, at least until she could read those papers from Josephine.