Phone 26

“Come on, I’ll give you a ride home,” Albert offered.

With tired steps, I followed Albert who was walking beside me. That earlier incident still had me all tense and a bit emotional.

I hopped in and sat in the passenger seat after Albert opened the car door for me. After putting on my seatbelt, Albert revved up the car.

“Joy, you really scared the heck out of me.”

“Huh? Scared? Why?” I asked, puzzled.

“I was scared of losing you….”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I replied, feeling embarrassed.

“Do you know? There’s this new thing about the Earth not being round,” Albert said with a serious face.

“Huh, seriously? How come I haven’t heard about it?” I asked, confused.

“Because ever since I met you, the Earth became the shape of a heart. Teehee!”

Oh, Albert. That was so cheesy! I smiled shyly, too embarrassed to even look at his face. Suddenly, my heart felt all warm. What was this feeling, though?

“Joy, you know what the most beautiful night is?”

“Hmm… the first night?”

“Wrong.”

“New Year’s Eve?”

“Nope.”

“Then which night?”

“The night with you.”

“God damn it, Albert!” I yelled, smiling and trying to hold back my laughter.

“That’s it! Don’t be all tense now.” Once again, Albert ruffled my hair, messing up my hair a bit, Just then I felt more relaxed and started to forget about what happened BRING Albert had always been the best at cheering me up. We always had VAG VO laugh about together. Before I knew it, we arrived at the apartment. Then Agen dropped me off at the lobby before he continued on his way.

“Mommy… It’s lonely living here. When are we moving back to G house?” Gillian leaned on me as we watched TV, ndma’s “To Grandma’s house? Are you sure you wanna go back there after what happened yesterday?”

My only daughter felt lonely. Although I didn’t want to keep her away from her grandma, I couldn’t stand it if my kid was being treated unfairly there.

“I have many friends there, and I can study with them…”

“Sorry, Ma’am, It seems Gillian doesn’t feel at home here. She’s constantly daydreaming,” Sofia explained, Poor Gillian. My kid became a victim because of her screw–up parents. It looked like I had to give in to her, for the sake of her happiness.

But there was no way I would move back in with those heartless folks. It was finally my time to get pay back for what they had done to me for eight whole years.

I got back in touch with Carrie, “Carrie, have you changed the name of the house deed? Is it done?”

“It’s ready, Boss. Just waiting for you to say the word,” Carrie replied from the other end.

“Okay, send some people there tomorrow and kick them all out!” I commanded. “Got it, Ms. Johnson, I can’t wait to see them all confused when suddenly someone comes to collect the debt. Ever since the loan shark sold the house to us, nobody’s come to collect. Bet they’ve been enjoying not having people yelling at them for debts,” Carrie explained.

“Thanks, Carrie. I’ve always been able to rely on you,” I said, then hung up my phone.

I couldn’t wait to take over that house. Through a pretty complicated buying and selling arrangement, I finally managed to buy Derrick’s family house at a fair price from the loan shark. Lorraine’s mortgage of the house had accrued a ton of interest because they hadn’t paid the installments for months.

Knock knock knock!

“Come in!”

Hmm. What was Derrick doing coming to my office? From his pitiful face, it seemed like he had a big problem.

“Sarah, I need your help.”

“You should be calling me Ms. Johnson,” I interrupted firmly.

“Y–yeah, Ms. Johnson, I–I… need your help!” he stammered.

“You? Needing my help? Isn’t that unusual?” I grinned. Then I stood up, folding my arms in front of my chest.

“I can’t promise that I can help. What do you need?”

“I–I need ten thousand dollars…”

“So?”

“I–I beg you, Ms. Johnson, can you lend it to me?” His voice was shaking.

Carrie must’ve sent people to collect the debt there this morning. Derrick was absolutely shameless.

“What do you need that much money for, Huh? For your cheap mistress?” | tried to rile him up.

But this time, there was anger on this guy’s face. He still looked as pitiful as before.

3/5 VIS BOANNIS “Ms. Johnson, please help me. If not, we’ll be kicked out of the house,” he whispered. Suddenly, Derrick knelt in front of me.

I finally got Derrick to kneel and beg.

I stepped back and sat back down in my chair, while Derrick remained kneeling not too far from me.

“Have you forgotten? When your family insulted me and looked down on me? Do you also forget when your mom always kicked me out ‘cause I was just crashing at your place?”

“Sorry, we regret it,” he replied, head bowed.

‘Regret is not enough now. Don’t expect me to help you. Especially after what Lorraine and your mom did to Gillian the other day.’

Derrick then stood up and let out a heavy sigh. He was starting to get mad. Which means his kneeling act earlier was just an act.

“So you really don’t wanna help us, huh?” he shouted.

“Hey! Watch your tone!” I commanded.

Derrick looked even more furious.

“Get out of my office right now!” I started to get worked up too.

With an angry expression, Derrick walked out while muttering under his breath.

He was about to get what was coming of him. It was going to be me who would kick him and his family out later. I was just waiting for the right moment.

Not long after, Bradley came up to me.

“Sarah, where did you get the food from yesterday?”

“I asked one of the office girls to buy it from the restaurant across the street. But I didn’t end up eating it. Why, what’s up?” I asked, curious.

“Our office guard John ate it. Not long after, he started throwing up. Luckily, he got taken to the hospital and got help.” I was utterly shocked by what Bradley had told me.

4/5 “Oh my God ‘Is that food not for consumption anymore?”

“According to John, the pasta and soup were still fresh and warm. It seems like someone intentionally put something in the pasta.”

“Withan???” My suspicion immediately turned to someone. But since there’s no proof, it couldn’t just accuse them. I had better start being more cautious from now on “How’s John doing now? Make sure the company covers his medical expenses until the recovers.”

“He’s doing better now. The doctor mighflet him go home in three days.” Bradley’s explanation made me releved “Thank goodness,” I sand Bradley, starting today that office get named Lorraine is not allowed to enter my office anymore”