Another Problem

Sia did not know when she fell asleep. She was lost in her dreams when she received a call. It was from Elaine, Mr.Reasus' secretary.

"What happened?"

"Why haven't you come? Come quickly"

"Why?"

"Mr. Reasus was looking for you. I lied to him that you were not feeling well so, you went to see the doctor. Just come as quickly as you can."

She hung up the call and quickly woke up. She was late so, she got ready in such a hurry that she forgot to wear socks with her sneakers. She took her bag and went downstairs.

"Where are you going in..."

Before her mother could finish, she said:

"I am going to the office. I have some urgent work. I'll tell you later. Goodbye."

She told her parents that she would take a day off the night before. She had even informed Lisa and Nat about it. That is why her mother did not wake her up for work. She left the house and went to the bus stop. Luckily, her father was not home so, she was able to leave the house without a safety check. She caught a bus and kept on checking her phone. The bus was crowded. Everybody was discussing Mr.Daniel and a woman's scandal (which was Sia but people did not recognize her). She felt uneasy but mustered up courage and remained calm and composed as if nothing happened. She reached the office after a while.

As she entered, she realized there was pin drop silence, a queer hush. Everybody was working. Nobody focussed on her. She caught the attention of Elaine who walked straight towards her.

"Thank God! You're here. Mr. Reasus was looking everywhere for you."

Sia thought that if they wanted to give her a termination letter, then they could have sent it home. Why bother calling her at the office? She was lost in her thoughts when Elaine said:

"Are you listening?"

"Yes...Yes."

"Then go."

"Where?"

"To Mr.Reasus' office, dear."

"Why?", she got confused.

"JUST GO!"

Elaine pushed her.

"This girl would make me crazy.", cried Elaine and went away.

When Sia reached Mr. Reasus' office, he was sitting on his chair, working. He asked her to wait until he finished his work. She sat on a chair silently. Every second was misery for her. The next couple of minutes would decide her fate. As soon as he finished his work, he looked at her who was nervous. While twirling the pen in his hands, he said:

"You had time for thinking. Do you think you did the right thing or you were impulsive?"

"About what, sir?"

"About what happened yesterday. Do you regret it?"

"I don't"

The answer was quick and it made Mr.Reasus pale.

"Don't you think that your attitude can get you fired?"

She tried to hide her fear.

"I was doing the right thing, sir.", replied Sia fearfully.

"I'm sorry, Sia."

That was it! The end was near. She was prepared so she pretended to be calm. She closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry that you have to bear all those negative comments. You can resume your work.", said Mr.Reasus, with a smile.

That was unpredictable! She opened her eyes and involuntarily said:

"What!?"

"I don't like to repeat myself."

"Thank you, sir."

"It was not your fault anyway. Now you can go."

As she left Mr. Reasus' office with a smile. She wanted to sing and dance. She told the good news to her friends first. Then, she went to her desk where a lot of work was waiting to be accomplished.

For the very first time, her office felt like heaven to her. She started working immediately. She saw Mr. Han who stared at her with disgust. She started staring back at him so he went away. It was a delight for her to watch Mr.Han's plans crumble. The BFFs went back home happily.

As soon as Sia entered her house, she saw Finao who was bursting with anger. Memona was also tensed. When he saw her coming home, he ran towards her and slapped her so hard that she fell to the ground.

"Is this what you call work?"

Fiano showed her the video of her and Mr.Daniel falling to the ground. It was extremely edited. Their neighbor's daughter showed the video to Fiano after realizing that the girl in it looks a lot like Sia.

"Actually, papa that was....."

"Enough! Tell me, who is this guy?"

"He is our campaign's model, Daniel."

"Were you assigned the task of holding him?"

He was being straightforward. The edited video really showed that. Memona interrupted:

"Let her speak in her defense. Tell me, sweetheart, what happened?"

Sia told them everything that had happened, the trolls she received for being an easy woman, the threats she received from his fans, and so on. She further told them how she slapped him. As a result, she nearly got fired from her job. Above all, she almost died if he had not intervened. Fiano did not believe her but as soon as she showed him the full video, he got convinced.

Her cheek was hurting. Fiano was a clever and well-built man. His one slap could land a person on the ground. He apologized to her. She went into her room. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her cheek had turned red. Her eyes were filled with tears. She took a bath and lay on her bed to sleep. The door opened and her father brought her favorite chocolate-coated donuts for her as an apology.

"Sorry baby!", said her father while holding her hand.

"It's okay, papa"

"It makes my heart ache that you were this close to death. We could've lost you."

Tears rolled down her father's eyes and he hugged her tightly. She wiped her father's tears and said:

"Papa, from now on, never ever doubt me. Please have faith in me."

She was teary-eyed. He hugged her again.

"Is there room for me?", said Memona jokingly.

Both of them stretched their arms with a smile and hugged her as well. That moment was the best moment of her life. She got to tell her father about her feelings. Her parents assured her that they would stand by her through thick and thin.

The next day was different. Lisa and Nat called Sia at work and informed her that all the videos regarding her as well as the rubbish social media posts were completely deleted from the Internet as if they never existed.

"Who would have done that?", asked Nat.

"But whoever has done that would be very powerful. After all, it is quite difficult to remove each and every post of that scandal.", added Lisa.

"I think Mr.Daniel has done this. He surely has a good PR team.", commended Nat.

"So, it means that my slap really paid off.", joked Sia.

The trio started laughing before going back to work. Mr. Daniel was to come soon for another campaign. She heard from the authorities that there would be an outdoor shoot to avoid any scandal.

Mr.Daniel came for a meeting with the brand representatives. He was less concerned with work and more with Sia. He stared at her while going towards the manager's office. He intentionally clicked a candid photo of Sia on his cell phone. Nobody could understand why he was taking so much interest in a woman who slapped him in front of all the employees. A woman who is not that attractive. In short, a woman the audience would never like to end up with Mr.Daniel.

At his luxurious apartment in Hazel Towers, the most expensive and elite housing society where many celebrities lived, he was checking his phone while sitting on the sofa in the living room when a woman came.

"What would you like to have for dinner, sir?"

"I have already eaten. You and Audd can eat."

"Okay, sir"

As soon as the woman left, Rafael came inside.

"Give me complete details of this woman.", said Daniel while handing him Sia's picture.

Rafael went away and Daniel stared at the picture, his lips curved into a grin.

"Interesting woman.", he thought.