CHAPTER TWO

The elevator doors at Reynolds Financial opened up, leaving me frozen at the sight before me. This place looked nothing like the offices I was used to cleaning. Everything shined. The floor looked so spotless, causing me to feel both scared and guilty for pushing my cleaning cart across it. People walked past me in expensive suits and dresses, talking into expensive-looking phones as if they didn't have a single problem in the world.

I looked down at my faded blue k could probably cover the cost of my rent. The watch of the man who was walking ahead of me could probably buy out my whole apartment.

“Don't just stand there, Claire.” I blinked and looked up. Mia was already a few steps ahead of me , smiling at me.

“You look like you've never seen rich people before.”

“I've seen them,” I said pushing my cart forward, “I've just never been this close to so many of them.”Mia laughs at where she was walking besides me.

“Just try not to stare, they hate that.”

“I wasn't staring.”

“Yes, you were.”

“I was……observing.”

“Same thing, girl.”

I shake my head and follow her down the hallway, trying not to stare but failing miserably.

We hadn't gone far, when a woman in a tight-fitted suit approached us.

“You must be the cleaners from the cleaning agency”

“Yes ma'am.” Mia said, answering before I could.

“You've been assigned to cleaning the conference rooms,” she said pointing at Mia's direction, “While you've been assigned to cleaning the executive offices.”

“Just me.”

She nods, barely acknowledging me before continuing “You’ll find the office numbers on each door. Don't touch any files, laptops or personal items. If an office is occupied, move to the next.”

“Understood ma'am.” She walks away without another word.

“The executive floor on your first day? That's huge!”Mia said, whistling beside me.

“Well, it sure doesn't feel huge.”

“You'll be fine. Just clean and keep your head down, and no one will remember that you're there.”

I was wiping down on the last office of the day, when the door suddenly burst open. A woman in a dark blue suit entered, having a judgemental look on her face.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?”

“I'm a cleaner from the cleaning agency. I was cleaning but just about to round up.”

“What are you doing by my desk?”

“Cleaning ma'am.” The look on her face was starting to worry me, but I still kept calm. Before I could realize what was going on she made her way towards where I was standing by the desk, and started going through the drawers.

“Where is it?”

I stared at her wondering what she was talking about.

“I said, where is my envelope?”

I froze, “I'm sorry, what?”

“The envelope I left here this morning before my meeting. It had seven thousand dollars in it. Where is it?”

My stomach dropped at this point. Seven thousand dollars?

“I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about an envelope ma'am. I didn't see it.” She opened the drawer again, as though the money would magically appear.

“I left it here this morning and you're the only one that has stepped foot into this office since I left.”

“I haven't touched anything on the desk ma'am. I only cleaned around it, but didn't touch anything in the drawers”

“But I clearly found you standing by the drawers, how do you explain that?”

It was then I realized how complicated and contradicting the situation was.

Before I could get a grip on what was going on, the office security had already flooded the office and my supervisor had already been called in from the agency.

They searched my cart, my bag but still nothing was found.

“Ma'am, there's nothing in her bag nor her cart,” one of the security guards said to the woman.

“Well, she's the only one who has cleaned this floor and the only person that has entered my office since I came to work today.” It was as though she desperately wanted to believe that I was the one who had stolen the money. I looked at my supervisor, trying to see if she at least believed me, but all I met was her trying to avoid eye contact.

I looked around the office, trying to see if Mia was here, at least she would believe me. But she wasn't.

My supervisor comes to stand in front of me, releasing a heavy sigh. I didn't need her to talk before knowing what my fate would be.

“Claire, I'm sorry but Reynolds has requested that you no longer work on this account from henceforth, as a result of this incident.” A ray of hope starts forming in my chest. At least I wasn't fired, I just wouldn't be working at Reynolds Financial again.

“Also, management is compelled to relieve you of your position at the agency. You'll be required to take all personal items from the agency at the end of the day.”

I could feel the little hope I was building, break.

“But I didn't take anything ma, I promise.”

“As much as I would want to believe you, things aren't looking good for you at this point.”

I looked in the direction of the woman who owned the office, trying to explain and make her see reasons with me, but she wouldn't even look in my direction. My fate had already been decided even before the security guards came in.

“You'll be paid for the service you rendered today, but that will be all you'll be receiving.” And just like that, my supervisor walks out, like she hadn't delivered the most heart wrenching news.

As though on automation, I picked up my things that were scattered on the floor and made my way towards the exit of the building, not bothering to take the cleaning cart along.

I walked out of Reynolds Financial without bothering to look back. There was nothing to look at though. The moment I stepped on the sidewalk, I could feel the tears threatening to fall. I quickly wiped my eyes, willing the tears not to fall, at least not here in front of these people.

I started walking, with no direction in mind. I could go home, at least not like this. Daniel would immediately sense that something was wrong immediately he saw my face, and the last thing I needed was him stressing over our finances.

So instead of heading to the train station that would take me home, I decided to take the long road and walk home. Given that my house was a long distance from where I worked, the day would have gotten dark before I got home, making everything seem normal. I crossed the road and began walking. I didn't have anywhere to go, I just didn't want to go home.

I walked through the shopping area on the next street, looking at clothes I knew I wouldn't be able to afford and pretended I had somewhere important to be, but my uniform was evidence enough that I wasn't someone important.

My stomach growled about 30 minutes into my aimless wandering. I looked into my bag to see if the sandwich I had packed this morning was still there. But unfortunately, I discovered that it was one of the things that I had forgotten to pick up when the security guard checked my bag.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I looked to see that it was a text from Daniel.

Daniel:How was work today?

I stared at the message, thinking of what to tell him. I definitely couldn't tell him that I was fired.

Claire: Work is fine.

The lie felt so bitter in my mouth, but it was the only thing I could do to reassure him. I locked my phone and dropped it into my pocket.

By the time I got home that evening, the sun was already going down. I stared at the door, thinking of whether I should knock or probably go for another walk round the neighborhood before returning. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and walked in.

“You’re home.” Daniel said, looking up from the couch.

“Yeah,” I say, offering him a smile. He looks at my face as if trying to figure something out.

“Are you okay?”

“ Just tired.” He looked like he wasn't convinced, but decided to drop it, which I was grateful for.

I dropped my bag and walked into the kitchen.

“Have you eaten?” I asked.

“Yeah, I have.” I nodded, serving the leftover Mac and cheese to eat.

I sat at the dining table, trying to figure out what to do next. I could feel his stare at the back of my head, but didn't want to turn. I wasn't ready to tell him, not yet anyways. At least until I was certain that I couldn't get another job.

I opened my banking app, hoping to find something tangible inside after I had received an email from the cleaning agency about my charge that was paid.

My heart sank when I saw the balance. I had only been paid half of what I was expecting. I stared at my screen for several seconds, then at Daniel whose attention was now on the assignment he was working on.

I could hear Mr. Smith’s voice echoing in my ears. I now had 48 hours before eviction and no way of getting the rent.

Lowering my head, I picked up the plate and dropped it in the sink, before heading into the room.

We were going to be homeless.