LATENESS QUEEN

LATENESS QUEEN

When Lily arrived at the office, she knew she was late and was expecting to be scolded by her superior.

When she was called up by the manager, she wasn't surprised, she was prepared to weasel herself out of the impending query.

"Lily good morning! I hope you aren't going through a life crisis?" Justin the manager said, his eyes silently scrutinizing her appearance, he could see the beads of sweat that stained her fair forehead.

"Life crisis! I don't understand." Lily creased her eyebrows in confusion.

Justin facepalmed and sighed, "This will make it the fourth time you're coming late to the office this week and this is Thursday. Last week you came late all through and the week before and the week before, you're becoming a shell of yourself. I could remember how you used to come early, it was as if you slept in the office but now." he paused and sighed again.

He shook his head sadly, "I will be forced to give you a query letter, you are a hard-working lady, it will be a shame to fire you." he put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze.

"So, just change for us okay? You know I got your back always, I have been doing my best to defend you but you always come late, making it hard for me to keep defending you. In the last meeting that was held, they decided to fire you but because of your previous record, they decided to only give you a query letter. I know the breakup is still going through your mind and it is making you lose your touch, but girl you need to snap out of it because it is costing you your job." Justin spoke to Lily gently with concern prominent in his voice.

Her mouth fell, never expecting such remarks from him. She was taken aback, "What! breakup!" Lily dragged her words, I was over Fred a long time ago.

"Last month, you guys broke up just two months ago, so it's not a long time ago," Justin added, an eyebrow slightly raised.

"Whatever," Lily rolled her eyes.

"I am sorry for coming late, I apologize...."

Justin raised a finger up, halting her halfway in her speech, "You supposed to add again, I'm sorry for coming late again. Seriously, if I was not your friend, you would have been laid off." Justin said.

She nodded her head meekly as if she had learnt her lesson, "I apologize for coming late, I will make sure I change my ways" She gave him a sweet smile.

Justin rolled his eyes and sighed, "Sweetheart! I hope you change for your own sake, clear off your mind, and get it back on track." He gave her a warning look, "If not, you will be out of a job very soon." He said and walked away, his long legs moving fast in long strides, leaving Lily to stare after his retreating form.

Lily stood with a troubled expression on her face, she scratched her hair, not knowing what to do with herself.

"I will do better, next time," she muttered beneath her breath.