Chapter 5

At noon, I returned to Mr. Van der Bilt's office. There was no trace of what happened earlier, making me think that it might have just been my imagination. The mess was gone, and there were no people around. I cleaned Mr. Van der Bilt's office, but I couldn't help but have flashbacks whenever I saw the place where it happened.

That night, I could hardly sleep. I couldn't forget what I witnessed there. The movements they made were etched in my mind. I stayed awake all night. It was challenging, realizing that I needed a lot of things. I needed my own plate, spoon, fork, and glass. Fortunately, they had those in the Lounge, so I borrowed some.

The crew started arriving. I met many of them, mostly older individuals. I got to know Sir Robert, Ma'am Linda, and many others. Almost all of them were married and quite old. There was someone like Sophie, around my age, but they seemed elusive.

"I'll clean fast today. It's my grandson's christening," Sir Robert laughed. I was surprised because I knew Sir Robert was already old, not actually too old, but I didn't expect him to have a grandchild.

"You have a grandchild? It's not obvious!" I said, grinning. The other crew members listened, and someone started gathering cleaning supplies like mops and trash bins.

"You know how kids are these days, Cassidy," Ma'am Linda sighed.

"Yeah, my son is only sixteen, and he already has a child," Sir Robert chuckled. "We can't do anything about it; they're just kids."

I swallowed hard. Sir Robert's son was still a child, and he already had a child himself. For some unknown reason, it made me think of what happened last night. I bowed my head and started to get a mop next to Sophie.

It was only a half-day on Saturdays. We only did light cleaning because not many people came in on weekends. Only those with important tasks or unfinished work showed up.

"I'm done!" Sir Robert announced an early arrival.

Good for him. He was mopping and getting a plastic bag to put it in the trash below. I hurriedly gathered my things, wondering if Mr. Van der Bilt was upstairs now. I didn't know.

Sophie kept licking her lips after applying lipstick. She looked at me as if she had something to say.

"Cassidy..." she faced me.

I looked at her while pushing my cart with a mop and cleaning supplies to start my cleaning.

"Do you have plans tonight?" she asked.

I shook my head. "None. I'll be just here."

She grinned and quickly approached me. "Because, you know, I have a part-time job every Friday and Saturday," she said, excited like a child with a story to tell.

My eyebrows furrowed in surprise. If it was about selling flesh, I would decline immediately, but the idea of a part-time job intrigued me. "What part-time job is that?"

"At the Barbs," she said.

"Barbs?" I winced at what she said.

"Yeah. That's the name of Mr. Barb's group. We'll sell cigarettes in big bars. You can join, you know. Your legs are long and smooth. You'd fit in! But..." she frowned while grabbing her cart.

We both left the lounge, waiting for the elevator. "What? What will we do?"

"We'll sell cigarettes in different bars. We're a group of girls. We'll wear their clothes, the short ones. Then, we'll sell in high-end bars. I'll refer you because, you know, the others are already old, and Mr. Barb need someone a bit younger. You can earn up to 300 bucks per night."

My jaw dropped at the mention of money. I couldn't believe the amount I could earn from it. It's even bigger than my daily rate here at the VBC.

"Oh? Okay!" I excitedly said.

"But you might not be allowed because you're too young. How old are you?"

The elevator chimed, and I was surprised to see Mr. Van der Bilt with his cousins Chris and Alex inside. They were talking and got interrupted when we entered. Sophie froze, so I had to pull her inside to move and go to our respective floors.

Sophie's eyes widened as we entered, and the elevator doors closed.

"Where are you ladies headed?" Alex asked from behind us.

We were both in front of Sophie. Alex stepped forward, and Mr. Van der Bilt slightly moved to the side.

"I'm on the 40th. I don't know about Sophie. Where's yours?" I asked.

"30th in Finance," he stammered.

I fell silent and bowed my head. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mr. Van der Bilt's gaze on me. Was it really directed at me, or was he looking at Sophie beside me? He cleared his throat. In that movement, I slowly turned to look, and I was surprised to see his heavy gaze on me.

I almost stopped breathing, quickly bowing my head again. Why was he looking at me? I heard laughter behind me, and I knew it was Chris because he was the only one behind Sophie and me.

The elevator chimed, and its doors opened. I saw the Financial Department on the upper floor, and I realized that this is where Sophie would get off, who was still frozen in surprise. What could have surprised her so much?

"Sophie-" I said, nudging her with my elbow.

She jumped, quickly leaving the elevator. Alex smirked at Sophie's reaction, and I could see his face turning red as she walked away. My eyes widened when I realized I hadn't answered him.

"Sophie! I'm already twenty! I can go!" I said, and she nodded before the elevator doors closed.

My heart was still pounding fast because of what I just told Sophie. Do I look like a kid to her? Well, I did just turn twenty.

"Oh, you're twenty now, Cassidy?" Chris behind me asked.

I turned to him and smiled. "Yes, Sir. I just turned twenty."

"Don't call me sir. I'm not your boss. We're just cousins with Logan," he said, looking at Mr. Van der Bilt.

I nodded and avoided eye contact with Mr. Van der Bilt. I couldn't look at him because I kept remembering what happened last night. I just couldn't. I tightened my grip on the cart, waiting on the 40th floor.

I noticed that the three of them were in sports attire. Alex even had a large bag with a big check on it. I looked up and waited. I just focused my gaze on the corners of the elevator.

"I said I can't be here," Alex complained.

"Come on, dude. Just until next week," Chris said behind me.

"I'm leaving. I have a gig tomorrow, that's why I'm here today," Alex explained.

While they were talking, I felt Logan's glances on the side. If the elevator hadn't chimed and the doors hadn't opened, I would have thought he was staring at me blankly. I was surprised when he was the first to step out. He quickly and firmly walked, throwing his bag on the sofa and heading straight to his table.

I pushed the cart, contemplating where to start. How should I do this? Are they really here? Maybe I'll just clean the windows. I glanced at the large mirrors from floor to ceiling. Maybe that's what I should do.

"Damn, Logan. Do you have no water in your fridge?" Alex grumbled while looking inside Logan's large refrigerator.

"What?" Chris shouted and approached the fridge standing at the far end.

"I forgot," Mr. Van der Bilt said sternly. "I'll just have it delivered here," he added, quickly putting the phone to his ear.

I grabbed a step stool to start cleaning the mirrors.

Mr. Van der Bilt. It doesn't suit him to be called that way. We seem to be around the same age. It's ridiculous to say that he's involved in the stock market at his age. It's a different kind of life when you're born wealthy. No problems with work and money. 

I was annoyed with my large and somewhat loose pants. I might trip on them when I step onto the stool later.

Logan, huh.

"Logan, is that going to take long? I'm getting dehydrated here," Alex complained.

"Wait for me downstairs, then! I'm checking the database. The water will take a while," Logan said, coldly looking at his laptop.

He saw me looking at him again, so he looked at me. I immediately avoided his gaze.

Chris was laughing as if he was whispering something to Alex.

"Oh no, you don't—" Alex said, laughing.

"Jesus, Alex! Just get out of my office and drink your milk downstairs! I'll be there in fifteen minutes!" Logan said.

Chris continued laughing while grabbing his bag and pressing the elevator button. Alex lazily walked, mocking Logan.

"Go away," Logan said as he typed on his laptop.

"Whatever you say, cousin," Alex said, following Chris into the elevator.

They laughed together. It couldn't be denied that they were cousins. They had foreign features that I couldn't describe. Alex had unique eye color, was tall, had a well-built physique, a sharp nose, and a beautiful smile. Chris, on the other hand, had hair that looked good no matter how messy it was, expressive eyes, especially when smiling. It was evident that he had captivated many women because of that. And of course... Logan...

"You were here last night?"

I jumped at his question. I lowered the wiper and pretended to be washing it while answering him.

"Yes. I cleaned." I said firmly.

A deafening silence enveloped us. I saw him close his laptop. He took something from the drawer and wrote something on paper.

I stepped down from the stool to clean the lower part of the mirror. It was challenging to clean his office because the mirrors were quite large.

"Don't lie to me, Cassidy," he said coldly, making me look at him.

He was now standing in front of his desk, leaning, with a direct gaze on me. That's where last night's incident happened with... with his girlfriend!

I blinked rapidly as I remembered it again. His gaze darkened even more.

"You saw me," he stated.

I fumbled for words. He didn't see me last night; it's impossible! How could he have seen me? I don't know.

"Mrs. Lee said there would be no one here at ten, so I went up at 10:15," I explained.

He took a step closer to the stool and picked up his bag.

Great, Cassidy! You've just started, and it looks like that damned Logan will fire you soon! Great! Now he'll throw me out, and I'll have to look for a newspaper to lie down on in the Plaza tonight!

"I-I won't tell anyone what I saw, Sir. I don't care about what you and your girlfriend do. Next time, I'll come up at eleven to make sure," I quickly said, afraid he'd explode at me for this job.

"Stay away," he said. "Last night." He swallowed. "I couldn't sleep because I knew you were watching while I was doing that to her. I can't sleep thinking about you. And she's not my girlfriend. I don't have a girlfriend, Cassidy."

Shit! Did I make a mistake? I'm in deep trouble now! He might even sue me for libel for saying things that aren't true.

"Sorry, I didn't know she wasn't your girlfriend, Sir. I won't do it again. I won't tell anyone either. I really won't." I said, and my entire system was trembling with fear of losing my job!

Logan's eyes narrowed, and he clenched his jaw. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Just stay the fuck away."

My eyes widened, and I watched him as he seemed to dismissively leave his office. He didn't fire me yet. "Stay away" was all he told me!