Shirley froze when the detectives came to fetch her. She glanced at the other intern, but she could no longer ask for help. Then her eyes turned to Gala.
"Auntie—"
"I should have known that you’re the vilest. I would have never gotten you close to Leander and his brother." Gala chastised her niece. Her voice was even so loud, as if she were screaming without it cracking. The detectives didn’t pay attention to her, either.
Shirley could only accept defeat. She got out of her seat and walked with the detectives. Her expensive jacket covered her cuffed wrists, and her heels echoed lowly against the floor.
More onlookers poked their heads out when Shirley walked with the detectives to the elevator. No one from their office followed those people out. None of them would speak to Shirley and promise her things like a good lawyer and her freedom. Perhaps what happened last night wasn’t as simple as Beckett Wentworth slipping into the pool.
Inside their office, Luellen watched everyone else. Gala hissed and walked out, her hands gripping her phone. Houston didn’t follow her out immediately, but he did step out to make his own calls.
"Dear, why don’t you, uh, see the emails first?" Madam Henny patted Luellen’s shoulder. "Ask Houston to let you use his computer for now. We need the room for ourselves."
"I’m on it, Madam." Luellen nodded and excused herself from Leander. She pocketed her phone and almost got out of the door.
"Luellen..." Leander called out her name without looking at her. "Tell Gala to vacate her desk before lunch. If not, I will call Security to walk her out of the building."
The maiden received the task, but she faced Leander first. "Are you sure about this? You seem to need her here."
Leander slightly smiled. "Well, not anymore."
Luellen slowly blinked once before heading outside the room. Instead of confronting the angry Gala at the side, she went to find Houston. When he ended his call, Luellen tapped his shoulder.
"Can you help me?" the maiden asked. "Leander wants Gala gone before lunch. How do I tell her?"
"Let me do it." Houston cleared his throat, erasing any traces of a smile. Luellen didn’t even get to see it before he wiped it off.
The maiden watched from where she stood. Houston stood a meter away from Gala and spoke to her after she brought her phone down. The loathsome look on Gala’s face completely shattered her beauty. Her nose flared, and her face crumpled. She stomped once and opened her mouth to argue... only to catch Luellen looking in her direction.
No one expected Gala to shove Houston out of the way. She stomped toward the maiden and got on Luellen’s face. Gala even bumped Luellen with her full bosom as if intimidating the maiden some more. Of course, Luellen only stepped back to avoid her.
Gala sneered. "You think you can get rid of me? You’re just a little whore who wants Leander for herself. Have you seen yourself in the mirror? How could an ugly pig like you dream of holding him to sleep?"
"Just because you don’t approve of it doesn’t mean it can’t be true." Luellen glared at those scary eyes looking down on her. "He doesn’t want you, Ms Gala. You’re fired. Please leave."
"I’m fired?" Gala huffed and poked Luellen with a finger. Her poke was even strong enough to make Luellen wince and step back. The auntie mocked the maiden with a laugh. "Do you know what half my job is? That’s right. Standing next to Leander and pleasing eyes. He’s a beautiful man who deserves to have a beautiful companion. Do you think you can take over my job? How dare you think that you can compare to me?"
Gala gestured at Luellen with her finger. "This... is nothing. You are nothing. Just a pig who thinks a dress means he loves you."
Luellen balled her fists. Her eyes almost watered, but she refused to cry in front of Gala. "Don’t call me a pig!"
"But you’re a pig, pig...!" Gala slapped Luellen tightly, but the maiden’s face didn’t move. Her tears just fell when Luellen closed her eyes from the pain. The auntie laughed and slapped her again. "Go back to your muddy sty and—"
"No!" Luellen cried out in anger. She even pushed Gala away. "You’re the one who doesn’t belong here! Not anymore!"
Gala gasped in offense. She then charged at Luellen. "Bitch! You—!"
Without warning, Luellen stomped and raised her chin. Looking down at the auntie, she said, "Touch me again, and I swear your family will regret having you as a member."
The auntie stopped in her tracks. She glared at the maiden, who looked so pathetic in her eyes. Luellen’s eyes were glaring red, but tears streaked down her cheeks. Her teeth clenched in seething, but her hands shook in fear. The maiden’s entire body must have trembled at the idea of standing up against her.
Still... Gala could only boil within her. She could slap this pig all she wanted, but if Leander found trouble with her, she could only flee the country.
"Bitch, you don’t know who you are threatening." Gala barked before walking to her desk. She grabbed her bag and shoved a few things inside.
Unlike what Luellen figured, Gala packed up what she could put inside her designer shoulder bag. The third secretary didn’t even look her way anymore. Perhaps Houston was the only one who had enough backbone to approach Gala and place a box for her stuff. Even when Gala glared back at the male, Houston didn’t let up on his overt anger.
Luellen saw movement in her peripheral vision. She turned to the inner office’s door and found Leander leaning on the doorframe. No wonder Gala didn’t act out anymore. He was already watching.
However, Luellen stayed quiet. She only watched Gala leave with a box for her office effects.
"The month has just started, but we have an upcoming meeting for the merger. Work on your assignments," Leander said after letting Madam Henny leave the inner office. He then beckoned to Luellen, "Can you come closer for a moment?"
"I’m sorry for what happened. I tried to make it quiet." The maiden walked toward Leander and stood at the edge of his personal space.
"No need. What you did is brave. However, next time..." Leander lightly rubbed his thumb on Luellen’s reddened cheek. "Call me. You don’t have to get hurt. You even cry when you’re in pain."
Luellen winced a little. The slap was so painful that the slight brush of his finger stung her. "But I don’t want to bother you all the time."
Leander hummed with a smile. "Nonsense. You’re my wife now. It’s your job to bother me with everything that bothers you."
Before Luellen could argue, he lightly kissed her reddening cheek.
[You have gained more of (Leander Wentworth)’s interest! EXP +20!]