BEHIND OFFICE DOORS

e, commanding attention and halting the brewing conflict be

anded, his voice stern and uny

sensing the power shift, quickly scrambl

false innocence, their expressions smug. They couldn't help but f

ntrol slipping. She wept uncontrollably, a mixture of emoti

in an uncontrollable flow of tears. Without answering, she took her cleaning sup

fering a shred of sympathy or concern,

she hoped to get away from the torment. She started cleaning the floor, but eve

he maltreatment filled her mind, and

o the office and be happy for a change"? Her feelings swirled and

her stream of consciousness. She hastily placed the cleanin

r younger

e said in a qui

al, answered impatiently, "What's going on D

he hospital," he said as h

impact blow to the stomach. She immediately ha

Which hospital?" She asked as

ed. "I tried to tell you this morning, but you were o

ave taken a moment to listen. She should have.

g more, a cold, commanding v

he cal

er stomach dropped. Slowly, she turned aro

other in a rush and disconnected the call. She was

eived a hard hit on her face again on the same che

ntense. Her face burned, and

mbled, "Sir, you slapped me?,

s face hard as he voic

restroom, leaving Laura reeling as her mind s

d to herself, her thoughts becam

nted behind him and panicked in the middle

desperation. "Why am I being fired?" The words tumbled out, raw and plead

nside, clutched the door frame as if to steady herself,

the three troublemakers and several other coworkers alre

asked, her voice quivering,

e looked at everyone present in sea

ly and pretended not to notice

s beginning to understand that no one wa

er was shutting down on her while even the eye contact was

nager's table. Beside it was a stack of money. Her heart ski

n't wait lon

cusing. "We've gone through the CCTV footage but found nothing. However, wh

o the cash and then back to her employer as

fend herself, her voice lifted in desperation. "I - I didn't do this! I've been

hant glances. They smiled at her misf

she was cleaning the restroom, they had secre

patience as he

You're fired," he declared, his voice final. "Pack your things a

d out of the office, leaving L

One of them leaned in and whispered maliciously, "We told you we'

in disbelief. Her eyes filled with unshed tears, and her voice

nerable, as if she pleaded for an answ

pable, each one carrying the weight of

ions broke through as it caused her to f

d out and left her as she

and the pile of money beside it

ion, the betrayal, the depressed feeli

her legs buckled under her. Her heart pounded vio

despair washed over her and she collapsed