After Stephanie brought the file, Lolita stared at it, unfamiliar and foreign. Lolita could read the words on the page, but they might as well have been written in another language. Figures, clauses, and formal terms tangled together until meaning slipped through her fingers. She wasn't stupid she simply hadn't been taught this world. So she did what she had learned to do best: observe, pretend, and wait.
As an inexperienced stop-out with no real understanding of corporate work, she wondered how Monica and the crew expected their plan to work.
She pinched the skin on her head, wincing at the headache that was already forming, and stood up, walking toward the restroom to clear her mind.
Just as she finished peeing and was about to flush, she heard footsteps. A group of women entered, their chatter carrying an unmistakable tone not just idle gossip, but gossip about her.
Oh, Lolita, she thought, rolling her eyes. It's always about you. She didn't understand why she always seemed to attract women like this, always eager to talk about her. Hopefully they don't ruin ur plan Monica. If they spoil my plans I will spoil urs,After all if I go down ur coming with me I won't let myself be ur scape goat Monica, Monica should've known better than to place me here. Pretty women attract attention. Attention creates problems..
She wasn't about to go out to confront those women not out of cowardice, but because one wrong move could blow her cover.
"She's gorgeous, I'll give her that," a high-pitched voice said.
"Oh, please. Under all that makeup? Not even close," another voice replied.
Lolita immediately recognized the voice. Stephanie.
"Still," the first woman continued, "most of the men can't stop looking at her."
Stephanie scoffed. "And? Laila Sofian likes natural women, not girls hiding behind makeup. Besides, she's not competition."
"You sound worried."
"I'm not." Stephanie's tone sharpened. "And even if she was, she'll be gone before Sofian ever notices her."
"Really? How?"
Stephanie laughed softly. "Just watch me."
A moment later, water splashed into the sinks, followed by the sound of footsteps leaving the restroom.Then continue with:
Lolita emerged from the stall and rolled her eyes.
"Before you take me out, I'll get rid of you first.
She checked the time. Break would be over soon, and she hadn't completed a single task.
Fuck.
Reapplying her red lipstick, she made a mental note. Step one: deal with Stephanie.
If Sofian preferred natural beauty, then tomorrow she would come natural.
She couldn't allow Stephanie's jealousy to ruin her plans.
She checked the time break would come soon, and she hadn't done a single task. Fuck, she cursed under her breath, reapplying her red lipstick. Mental note: Step one, take out Stephanie. If Sofian prefers natural beauty, then tomorrow she would come natural. She couldn't let Stephanie's emotions ruin her plan; she needed to get her out of the way. With that thought, Lolita walked out of the restroom and headed to the cafeteria.
In the cafeteria, she grabbed her food and slid into an empty seat near by and dug in her food.
As she dug in, her mind wandered. Should she sit with someone who might give her information about Sofian? Her eyes scanned the room calculating.
Just then, a young couple approached, trays in hand. The woman wore a knee-length gown, her skin a soft milky tone, brown hair framing her face, and bright blue eyes. The man was mixed-race, looking relaxed and approachable.
"Hello," they said as they slid onto the bench beside her.
"Hello," Lolita replied, shoving a bite of spaghetti into her mouth, smiling fake, but functional. She needed information, and this pair could be useful.
"My name is Nina, and this is my husband, Michael," the woman said squeezing her husband's hand which Lolita didn't fail to notice,
"Oh, am Lolita " Lolita nodded. Young couple do people still marry young this days, she thought looking at them they seem to be in their early twenties, she guessed.
" Yeah we know,Hope you don't mind us sitting here," Nina added her face bearing a smile.
"I actually told her we shouldn't bother you, but she says you look lonely, hope u don't mind " Michael said.
"Not at all, I don't mind," Lolita said, her small smile returning.
"Thanks," Michael said softly.
"Sigh… since I'm pregnant, it's the hormones, it keeps messing with my emotions," Nina added with a shy smile.
"Oh, congratulations," Lolita said, quietly wondering how the company allowed a pregnant employee to work.
"Thank you," they both said in unison.
"You're really welcome to Sai Corporation. How have you been coping? After all, the last assistant left such a huge mess—that's why they fired her," Michael said.
"Yeah, I'm trying to get everything together," Lolita replied with a smile, fully aware she hadn't touched a single piece of paperwork.
"Oh, that work can get so messy," Michael continued, his face boreing a smile . "If you need a hand, I can help you."
"Me too," Nina said, before Michael interjected, "No, honey, you wouldn't do it—you're pregnant, and it's not something you should stress yourself with."
Lolita glanced at them, curiosity flickering across her face. As she couldn't help her self to wonder why a pregnant woman is working in her condition.
"But I want to," Nina said softly.
Lolita managed a gentle smile and intervened, "I think you should listen to your husband. Pregnancy isn't easy—it's hard, and you don't need more stress."
" Oh Lolita, I really want to help, I won't work with u for long two hours is fine I promised " Nina says with a smile..
" ok " Lolita says as she picked her boba tea putting the straw in her mouth and sipping it her gaze drifting to the crowd.
Soon Lolita's phone beeped and she looked at it to realize it was a message from Monica's and she rolled her eyes.
And in the message it says "Come meet me outside SAI Cooperation now " Lolita frowned as she hisseed silently in displeasure, she stood up checking her time, " I need to leave I have so some stuff to take care of, hope u guys dont mind "
" Oh it's okay Lolita, I will come to ur office when am done, to help." Nina says.
'That is if u will see me in the office,' she thought but had to say instead" Alright take care u two " and with that she walked out.