Preoccupied, stressed, extremely busy

The firing of the housekeeper instantly became a talk of the town in ASC headquarters. Employees are so intriguing on how did she triggered the utmost patience of the COO and why did it have to end with him firing the hardworking lady.

At the cafeteria.

Employee 1: Ate Marie got fired? Why?

Employee 2: I don't know the entire reason, but they've said that Ate Marie did something that Director Fuentes didn't approve. She was canceled right away.

Everyone talked about what had happened, and to minimize the hotness of the topic the HR department prepared a memorandum saying that to have a harmonious workplace let us practice and maintain the remainders given to us. It was like an innuendo for those who are being too friendly and close to the outsider in ASC.

The peaceful workplace has now become the opposite after the arrival of one person.

That person was also inside the cafeteria when those two employees were talking about Marie, the old housekeeper. Actually, he didn't know what is her name, why would he bother using his brain cells remembering her name, as long as there is no debt of gratitude among them he promised to himself that it's worthless keeping them remembered. For him, his conscience is clear because she agreed to do it in the name of money. The paid her, she does the job. That is as simple as that.

Hearing about how Director Fuentes remorselessly fired one person because of the affiliation makes him wonder, does this boyfriend of her really insecure with him? That it drives him to make someone jobless because he is helping him?

With this thought, Michael relieved that his effect can drive a person crazy, crazy like how Nickel is becoming.

Inside the four corners of the Director's office, Zoey was still oblivious of what had Michael did this time. She was clueless that Nickel fired one accessory to Michael's doing. It was her month end closing week. So basically her packed up schedule become or tighter, and she was asked to finish her reports on or before Wednesday, which is two days after this.

Nickel, who was watching her being disconcerted on her desk, placed her lunch set on her table. Even though he called her thrice, Zoey was so into her monitor screen. He thought maybe Zoey wants him to feed her? Well, did she?

But he immediately dismissed his fantasies and turned his back to her and went to his chair. Ten minutes had passed but Zoey hasn't touched her lunch. Nickel crumpled on scratched paper on his desk and made it into a ball-shape. He was aiming to hit her head with the crumpled paper when suddenly Zoey screamed and slammed her head into his desk.

"Waaaaaaah!" she screamed like a kid whose candy was snatched by someone. After that, a loud bang surrounded the room.

Nickel, on his chair, was shocked by what had happened. He let go of the paper and straightaway went to check Zoey.

"What's wrong?" Nickel was clasped her shoulders and helped her raise her head wherein a red spot was too visible on her forehead.

"Hey! ZOEY WHAT IS WRONG?" He asked once again. Zoey was too disoriented today. She wanted to release her stress that is why she tried to scream and band herself out.

"Nothing is wrong. I'm just sleeping and hungry at the same time." Zoey looked at her wristwatch and see at it was already past twelve. She looked at Nickel and said, "Why didn't you tell me that it was already twelve noon. I've been waiting for this break time since I entered this room."

Nickel was lost to everything that she had said, the only thing he can explain was him not telling it to her.

"Well, excuse me. I already called you three times. Three freaking times. Sometimes I have thought that I should ink myself with your name so whenever you looked at me you will see me calling you all the time."

"Hahahaha! In case you will do that, ink my name to your forehead, so I can really see it all the time."

"Be careful what you wish for because the day I will do that you have to take responsibility to me from making my life with your name."

"Whatever you say." Zoey brushed him like that but Nickel was already thinking it hard.

Zoey was trying to enjoy her meal when Nickel questioned her about her progress.

"Is there a problem with your data?" he was a concern of her because she is always like this every month end closing.

Preoccupied, stressed, extremely busy, that was just all her norms every end of the month. He thought that bringing her here will lessen her talk, but he was wrong.