Company policy.

'Beep Beep.'

The loud sound of the bedside alarm clock could be heard, its insistent ringing jolting Charles from his slumber.

He stretched his hands towards the bedside table, reaching his fingers towards the alarm which he gave a firm hit, as a means of stopping the alarm clock from ringing.

"Ahh!" Charles grumbled, forcing himself to roll out of the bed.

Moving with a lethargic slowness, Charles made his way to the bathroom, where he indulged in a steamy shower, the hot water cascading over his skin and reviving his spirits.

Emerging from the bathroom, he quickly dressed, pulling on a pair of black trousers and a crisp blue shirt emblazoned with a delicate floral pattern.

The outfit was a perfect fit, the colors complementing his complexion as he took a moment to appreciate his reflection in the mirror.

His golden hair was a mess of curls and waves, his crew-cut style lending a roguish charm to his features.

His amber eyes were warm and inviting, their depths rich with intelligence and a hint of mischief and his lips, dry and cracked.

With a loud sigh escaping his lips, he made his way towards the bedside table where he grabbed his reading glasses which he swiftly wore. 'Better,' Charles mused to himself because he was now able to see things more clearly.

With practiced ease, he reached out for the straps of his backpack. He hoisted the pack onto his shoulders, the weight settling comfortably across his frame.

With a slow inhale, Charles glance at the room with a forced smile before stepping out of the house.

He walked down the busy road, heading straight to the company where he works.

'Beep… beep!'

The phone of Charles beep, prompting him to avert his gaze towards his trouser pocket.

He swiftly pulled his phone out of his pocket before proceeding to pick up the phone call.

"Hello, Charles," the caller stated with a frustrated tone.

Charles bit his lower lips while halting on the spot as his cheeks turned a crimson shed of red. His hands tightened on the straps of his backpack, his fingers gripping the fabric with nervous intensity as he scuffed his feet against the ground in a nervous manner.

"H-hello," Charles stammered, his voice barely above a whisper as a shy smile flitted across his lips.

The voice of the caller was like music to his ears, sending a shiver of desire through Charles's being as he struggled to regain his composure.

'I could listen to that voice forever,' he thought, his words a silent declaration of his adoration.

"Charles, do you remember our discussion from last time?" she asked, her tone devoid of emotion.

Despite the sound of her voice, Charles just couldn't help himself but to continue blushing.

To Charles, Anna was the most beautiful girl that he has ever laid his eyes upon, and he feels so lucky that he have her as his girlfriend.

Charles and Anna had been dating for two blissful months, and today, Anna had taken the initiative and called Charles for the first time, which was quite exciting for Charles.

Charles gently pinched the straps of his backpack as his gaze remained focused on the floor. "I… I know that you need a ring to signify that we're in a relationship." Charles whispered. "I currently have different jobs and in no time I will…"

"I don't care about how many jobs you take!" Anna spat, cutting Charles off from completing his statement.

"All I need is a diamond ring from you, Charles," she stated, her voice leaving no room for argument as she laid out her expectations with a matter-of-fact tone. "It's the only thing I require to signify that we are in a committed relationship. And make no mistake, it had better be a diamond ring."

Charles gulped down his saliva as he nodded his head like a compelled puppy.

"Anna, I just need some time to get the money together," he stammered, his face flushing a deeper shade of crimson as he struggled to find the words to placate her. "I will take out a loan from the bank and buy a smaller diamond ring. I promise I won't disappoint you."

The voice of Charles trembled with the weight of his commitment.

"Pfft!"

Anna scoffed and from the other end of the phone call, she rolled her eyes. "All my friends have diamond rings to show they're in a relationship," she snapped, her voice sharp and impatient. "You have one week to get me a ring, or I'm breaking up with you. Do you understand?"

Following the statement of Anna, she hung up the phone call, leaving no room for Charles to explain his current situation.

'How can I tell her about my illness without breaking her heart?" he asked himself, the words echoing in the silence of his mind. 'Besides, Anna won't be able to handle the news.'

As Charles continued to stand still, contemplating of a way to raise money for Anna's ring and his medical bills, he felt the hands of someone on his bag.

"Charles!" The voice of a young lady called out to him.

She was on a black flowery gown. "We are late!" She exclaimed with a smile, which was before Charles could open his mouth to speak up.

The young lady was Charles's co-worker.

"Good morning, Freda, and let's hurry," Charles suggested before placing his phone back inside his trouser pocket.

With a hastened step, they both began to run to their place of work so that they wouldn't be late.

Upon arrival, they head straight to storeroom where the company's cleaning equipment was kept, their footsteps echoing in the quietness of the building.

As they rounded the corner, they were greeted by the rest of their team, a group of familiar faces clad in their blue aprons and armed with mops and cleaning supplies.

"Good morning, everyone!" Charles and Freda chorused.

Their fellow co-workers replied with a nod as they began to converse with each other.

The head cleaner's voice cut through the chatter as she addressed Charles and Freda with a stern expression. "You're both late today, so you'll be cleaning the CEO's office," she declared, her tone brooking no argument. "Make sure it's spotless. The CEO will be here in an hour, so make it snappy."

"But…"

"Charles, you were three minutes late today, which means, according to company policy, you are required to clean the CEO's office," the head cleaner said, her voice firm and unyielding as she delivered the news. "It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. Make sure it's impeccable. The CEO has high standards and expects nothing less than perfection."

Charles had planned on defending the reason why he was late, but the head cleaner had cut him off from completing his sentence.

Having no other option, Charles and Freda donned their aprons with a resigned air, as they surveyed the array of cleaning equipment before them.

In their stroller, they loaded a bucket, mop, brush, packer, vacuum cleaner, detergent, and all manner of cleaning supplies.

As the last item was secured, they stole a furtive glance at each other, their expressions a mix of frustration and determination as they set out to tackle the CEO's office.

They rolled their stroller towards the company elevator, pressing the upper floor button.

"I hope the CEO is not around," Freda stated with a sigh.

Charles nods his head. "I hope so too. Besides, the company is empty for now, which gives us plenty of time to finish the job before the workers arrive." He boldly stated.

As a cleaner in one of the largest firms in the country, punctuality was crucial for Charles, who was required to arrive early each morning to ensure the premises were spotless before the first wave of workers began arriving.

Presently Charles and Freda exchanged a nervous glance at each other because they are scared of the CEO.

The elevator opened with a beep sound, prompting them to step out of the elevator.

"Do you remember what happened last week when Emily showed up late?" Freda whispered, her voice laden with worry as she glanced over her shoulder to ensure they were not overheard.

Charles nods his head, recalling what happened a week back. "She was assigned to clean the CEO's office and ended up losing her job because of a single smudge on the glass conference table. I don't want that to happen to us." Charles stated with a panicked tone.

They both sighed in unison, scared that the fate of Emily awaited them.

***

Author note;

Hello my lovely readers.

Please give this novel a try.

If you read the first fifteen chapters and happen not to like it… then I am sorry to say but this novel ain't for you.