Paola suddenly halted due to her instincts. Her instinct told her to return to the office, which she did.
She returned but didn't enter the office.
The walls of the office were glass, but it was not transparent like the doors. Meaning, those inside the office would not be able to see outside the office, through the glass. The same with those outside the office. They would not be able to see those inside the office through the glass.
Paola stood very close to the glass wall and listened to the conversation going on in the room.
"Team leader Frank, are you serious? Is she finally fired?".
"This is Cindy's voice". Paola muttered, and was careful enough not to make any loud noise that would make those inside the office catch her eavesdropping on them.
Anytime Paola heard or noticed people approaching, she would bring out her cell phone from her purse and pretend she was on a phone call. Then, she would wave a hand at them, indicating to them that she was on a phone call. In that way, they would not talk to her and make those inside the office stop talking.
And when they left, she would pay attention to the conversation going on inside the office.
"Yes. Paola was fired today and an official message will be sent to her soon. Two of the board of directors and our very own director, who had also been taking advantage of Paola through us, have finally agreed to fire her. Since recently, Paola has been refusing to help us. Her great ideas are what is getting us constantly promoted. Her great ideas are also the reason why our department is favored greatly by the chairman and CEO. But, since she is not helping us anymore, she's a risk to us, and everyone knows that". Team leader Frank explained and shrugged his shoulders while at it.
To him, Paola's fate had already been decided.
"You are right, team leader Frank. If the CEO or chairman ever finds out about Paola, Paola will be promoted, and it would be over for us if she finds out that we have been using her and have also stolen most of her ideas and proposals". Jack nodded in agreement.
Sarah stood up from her seat and ran to meet Cindy. She squatted and held Cindy's hand, saying, "That stupid Paola is of no use to us anymore since she is not helping us again. You are our star, Cindy. You are favored by most superiors in this company despite not being the team leader or the director. We are counting on you to elevate us".
Cindy sheepishly waved her other hand. She quickly said in a sweet voice, "You guys are placing too much hope on me. I am just a nobody. Paola is better than me".
"Oh, please don't say that, Cindy. You are everything to us. Through you, our department would rise even higher thanks to your connection to superiors, like the president, who is the childhood friend of the CEO. Additionally, you are a hundred times better than Paola. You should know already that she is simply a naive fool. And a tool, meant to be used and discarded by us. She can never be compared to you, Cindy". Jerry, who was standing with his hands inside his trousers' pockets, said to Cindy, causing a thankful smile to appear on Cindy's face.
"Thanks, everyone, for your kind words". Cindy said to them.
She made Sarah let go of her hand and stood up, before bowing her head to everyone, as a means of showing her appreciation. 'Tsk. Do you guys think that I am a fool like Paola, whom you can make use of? Dream on. In this company, I will make all of your lives a living hell. This company isn't big enough for all of us'. She lifted her head and was smiling so innocently, as she thought to herself while staring at them.
Paola's eyes were gradually getting redder after listening to what they had said.
The people she considered her friends, were actually backstabbers all this while.
It was recently that she noticed that they were using her. So, any time they came to her for help, she would politely turn them down. She was purposely doing that to confirm if her suspicion was correct. And now, she had heard it with her own ears.
A drop of tears escaped from her eyes and she swallowed the invisible lump in her throat. To make it all worse, her cell phone beeped twice. Her hands were shaking a little bit as she switched on her cell phone after a little struggle.
She saw the notification sign at the top of her screen and clicked it. It directly led her to her email, where she received the letter about her being fired from her job.
Hot tears escaped from her eyes. "What about my paycheck? The month is about to end. At least, before they fire me, I should get paid, right? I need that money". She said to herself and, thinking about this, she quickly entered the office.
Everyone was shocked for a brief moment after they saw Paola crying and glaring at them. They figured out that she must have overheard their discussion. Despite that, they showed no sympathy or remorse for what they had done.
"What about my paycheck? What about it?!". Paola yelled at them.
They were stunned again, most especially Sarah. She left Cindy's side and went and stood in front of Paola, pointing a finger at her while saying, "What's this? You got fired, and the thing you care about the most is your paycheck? I said it. You are so poor. There is no way you have bought the same clothes multiple times. You are shamelessly rewearing them over and over again! What a pig! And for your information, there is no paycheck for you. So, Paola, scram!".
Paola gritted her teeth tightly and bit her tongue in the process, causing blood to cover her teeth.
She shut her eyes and slightly shook her head because of the insane pain she felt.
'I have been behaving nicely and behaving easy-going, just to be betrayed like this?'. Paola thought.
Her hands reached out and grabbed Sarah's hair, refusing to let go of it.
"Arghhhhh!!". Sarah screamed so loudly. She struggled to get free from Paola, but since she could not succeed, she shouted, "Help me!".
Jerry and Jack hurried to Sarah's aid.
At the same time, they nodded at themselves before they pushed Paola away, and she fell on the floor and landed with a loud thud.
Cindy ran to Paola's side and tried to help her up while saying, "Guys, you shouldn't have pushed her like that. You could injure her".
Before Cindy could help Paola up, Paola pushed her away. "Don't touch me. You are disgusting". She declared.
Everyone's eyes darkened.
"How dare you say that to Cindy?! She is the nicest thing in the world. Wait a second. Has this always been the real you? I thought you were a gentle lady. I never knew you were shameless". Sarah frowned as she asked.
She got distracted when Cindy began to sob and said, "I was only trying to help you, Paola".
"How could you make Cindy cry, Paola? You are truly evil". Jerry pointed a finger at her and said.
Paola stood up. She was completely speechless. Whatever you call it. She clenched her fists, because she knew she could not do anything to either of them.
That was the saddest part for her.
'Look at them. They are defending her, not knowing the kind of person she truly is. And did they hear themselves speak? Me? evil? Hypocrites'. Paola thought to herself.
She knew that if she shouted at them and quarreled with them, there would not be any changes.
She knew that if she fought them, she would surely lose as she was outnumbered. She could not do anything to them as she was completely powerless.
What could she possibly do? Cindy has most of the superiors wrapped around her fingers.
Who should she report this injustice to?
The boards of directors are not to be trusted. This department's director was not to be trusted either. And probably the superiors are not to be trusted either. Then, who should she report to? The CEO? The chairman? They were out of her League.
"You will regret today. All of you. Mark my words". Paola sniffed her nose and said to them.
She turned around.
And as she left the office, they laughed at her.
"Finally. Go ahead, Mrs Orphan and Mrs Poverty!". Sarah's loud voice was heard in the entire room. She made sure her voice was loud enough, as she wanted to repay Paola for daring to ruin her precious hair.