Rena sighed and headed towards the room.
She saw the manager, Willis seated on his seat seemingly waiting for her.
Upon sighting her, he didn't hesitate. He spoke immediately.
"It you don't want to dismissed, it's possible but you must correct your conduct and learn to be docile."
Rena was a little dumbfounded. She had expected to hear the words 'You are fired' not this.
Remembering Estella's words from earlier, her eyelid twitched.
Had she perhaps stopped wanting to fire her?
But it didn't matter. She didn't care.
She had grown quite an aversion to this place. It was at all not a suitable working environment. She had endured harassment, assault and lots of verbal abuse — at this rate she was drained and done. She wanted to quit.
"I want my pay." She stated firmly. "I don't want to continue working here, you can fire me if you want."
It was expected. Willis didn't bother to coax, he uttered.
"Pay?" He scoffed. "The server's salary comes monthly, it isn't month end yet, how can you be paid?"
"What?" Rena frowned.
"Have you forgotten the agreement you signed? Unless you are fired, you won't be paid until the months' end. It's still two weeks till the date. If you want to resign and take alongside your salary, you have to wait until then."
Rena paused.
Yes indeed she had forgotten the contract she signed the day she was employed. One of the rules stated there was just as he said.
She pursed her lips. She didn't want to accept this, she yet wanted to leave. She mouthed. "Just fire me then."
But he disagreed. "No..."
He was about to say more but was abruptly interrupted by a ringtone.
Glancing down at his phone, his face turned even more unpleasant but he yet answered the call promptly.
"Martha, I told you already, if you can't deliver your remaining order tonight, I have no choice but to fire you."
"..."
The call was on loudspeaker.
Rena could hear sniffs from the other end before a hoarse voice came on.
"Sir, I told you I caught a cold and my back had been paining more frequently than usual. I'm even in the hospital right now. I promise I would return tomorrow and resume work as usual. Please I beg you, just spare me for today."
Rena was surprised.
It was Aunt Martha speaking... She was in the hospital?
Thinking of it, she had indeed not seen her for a while, was she ill?
Willis sighed as if weary. "You have been gone for two days. As you know, the boss' daughter visited yesterday and she deemed your reason of absence as trivial. She instructed you to start today but you were absent. If I were to cover for you and she finds out, won't I be putting myself at the forefront of her wrath?"
"But..." Martha's voice grew more pleading.
But Willis didn't waver. He continued. "That's it, Martha. I already conveyed to you what's necessary. If you can't fulfil your orders tonight or find someone who can, expect your sack letter to be brought over when you're come."
Aunt Martha made to speak, only for the phone to hang up on her.
Rena was static. She wanted to leave but also felt an urge to ask of Martha.
Aunt Martha was one of the few who treated her well, she couldn't just watch her get sacked, right?
With that thought in mind, she asked. "Is Aunt Martha alright?"
Willis paused for a moment. "She claims to be ill but her job is awaiting. Miss Estella has noticed her absence and informed her to resume today but she didn't. She however persuaded one of her coworker to help handle her orders but the coworker just now went home to attend to an emergency. There are a few orders left but it's unfortunate, there is no one chanced to help her. If she can't fulfil this, her labour today would be recorded as insufficient. If Miss Esyella finds out her absence altogether, she would definitely want to fire her." Closing his eyes briefly, he murmured.
"It's a pity. Martha is one of the most hardworking staffs here, it'd be unfortunate to lose her."
Rena felt her heart slightly quiver.
It was true. Aunt Martha even though older had dedicated herself to her work, she did be terribly hurt if sacked.
'No one chanced to help her'
The keyword struck her.
No one chanced? Chanced? She of course was. Wasn't it just some few orders? She could indeed deliver them in no time.
She turned to Willis. "I can help her out but am not part of the delivery department. Would it be allowed?"
Since she couldn't be content on leaving without her pay, she had resolved to remain.
After two weeks passes by and the month ends, she would definitely take her salary and leave with no hesitation.
Willis nodded with a faint glint in his eyes. "It's no issue at all." Stroking his jaw, he handed to her a list. "These are the customers information you must know. Their addresses and names. The transfers had already been received. You only need to finish quickly, return the delivery bike to the restaurant and then go home."
"Okay." Rena sighed. She took the list and kept it safely.
She couldn't believe she had assigned herself a work at night.
It wasn't even hers...
But thinking of Aunt Martha, she couldn't afford to stay back.
About to leave, Willis called, recollecting something. "Oh, you must start off first with the first address on the list. It goes according to those who ordered earlier. The more time taken, the more dissatisfied and impatient the customer gets. It wouldn't go well for both Martha and the restaurant's ratings if a customer is over disappointed, don't forget this aspect."
"Alright." His last statement gave off how important it was, certainly she would listen, she would not do anything to tarnish Aunt Martha.
She left.
Watching the girl leave, Willis' eyes darkened.
He took on his phone and dialed a number. He spoke as soon as it connected.
"Miss, it's done. She would surely be there soon."