The Other Side of the Offices

The next day, Kanalaa went to work earlier than usual because unexpectedly, aside from the vip case they have had yesterday, there were few phone calls they also received in the middle of their dinner. They paid no heed as they were not expecting to receive more in the morning.

Kanalaa, for the first time in her corporate job she went to the office without any trace of beauty products on her face and hair undone. She thought that she could do it when she got in the office. However, that's probably will not be the case.

She went in Alistair's office, their office, to start sorting the most urgent one and the ones she could hand over to others with supplemental documents attached to them. It's not that all the job falls in their office but Alistair's name in the industry is quite loud that a lot of important people comes for his service.

The company established by Alistair and his friend is actually a home for a lot of competent lawyers and brokers. Even though they can't deny the fact that they aren't the best of best, they are still one of the best, and they are not falling behind.

Kanalaa knows that if she wants to be on the top firm here in Crestview she can definitely get in there. However, she chose to stay and learn here because the company became her comfort. Initially, she didn't plan to have an internship here however, during law school days they have loved to play around their future career. They made draw lots of few of the top firms around in the city so they wouldn't crowd a firm and also they could share notes of the firms. Yet, of course, confidentiality still exists in them. It's just that they share techniques and strategies they learned in their firm whenever they have debates on their classes, that really helped them a lot. Somehow, someone could say that they still breached the confidentiality of their firms because of the strategies they have gathered and learned. In the end, Kanalaa knows that it doesn't matter whether if she's in the top firm or not, what matters is knowing full well that the ones working in the firm are competent and she could learn from them continuously, that's what she's aiming.

As she didn't have time to have breakfast or even have to go breakfast, she ordered online. While waiting for the delivery, she started browsing the papers on her desk and started to sort and compile the important documents and even attached the supplementals. As she had planner, later she's going to call for a meeting to discuss the information they have and the defense they will make. She also collected the important details of the people involved on the cases especially the one that they have received yesterday as they are being pressed immediately. Soon, the trial will start. If luck is on their side, they could still negotiate it outside the court.

"Good morning, love," Alistair greeted with a smile on his lips upon entering the office.

Kanalaa who's busy looking at her company and papers, looked up and returned the pleasantry, "Good morning," she then stood up from her seat and received Alistair on her embrace which gladly returned.

She freed him but Alistair declined. He hug her more tight instead then gave her a peck on side of her cheek before letting her go and going to his seat. As he do, Kanalaa did the same but she watched him. With her prescription glasses on, she saw how tired and sleepless he looks like. It seems like pulled up an all nighter again because of the impending cases he's holding, the old ones and the new ones.

The breakfast came and they had they had it. Despite Alistair's persistence they need to work, Kanalaa refused because of how Alistair looks like right now. His eyes sunk in whoch indicates lacks of sleep. To reassure him, she handed the documents she finished doing to at least inform him that some things are already done and they could go on the other tasks. Indeed, law industry is very hectic, therefore, only tough ones survive.

The morning was hectic and full of papers more than usual. Everyone in the office have been either on their phones or computers or papers, talk about work. With a lot going on, Kanalaa decided to take a break and relax her mind first. Absorbing too much information all at once and working continuously is not a good practice, it causes burn out. It will likely to affect work even more than taking a couple of minutes break.

To ease her mind and without disturbing anyone, she went to the pantry to make some iced coffee. She's planning to stock in her flask so she could go in her day wihout having to make another batch of coffee. To reach the pantry, she had to go through the cubicles of the junior lawyers and interns, and offices.

"Kanalaa? The one working with Mr. Manning?" The girl with brown hair said with disbelief in her face.

Kanalaa stopped from her tracked upon hearing her name and Alistair's. She decided to stay where she is and made sure that none of the two talking will see her. She wants to hear more.

"Yes, they are actually together now. I mean, how is that even possible? Did she seduce him?" The other girl with blonde hair replied, rolling her eyes as if Kanalaa and Alistair being together is absurd and an impossible thing.

'My face is enough for him to like me!' Kanalaa thought when she heard the remark. She's getting annoyed but she can't help but argue with them inside her mind. She's got a lot going on then she'll hear something like this.

"Well, probably. Maybe only she wanted Mr. Manning but also to climb the social ladder. How ambitious woman!" Brown haired girl exclaimed in a low town voice so no one could hear them. The two talks not so loud but since the place is quite enough, Kanalaa easily hears them.

Kanalaa who's listening can't help but roll her eyes because she need not Alistair when it comes to social status. She knows that her family is worth more than Alistair's company. His company may be thriving in the industry, but the ventures of her family is bigger than what other sees.

"How do you think she got him? Slept with him? She probably slept with a lot of men to be good at doing so!" The black haired girl remark is the last straw to Kanalaa's patience.

"College interns are supposed to be assisting and learning, not gossiping around about their boss. If you came here to gossip about us, at least make sure we won't hear any of it." Kanalaa intervened with stone cold tone of voice that no one have heard of in the office. She made sure that her voice is not very loud but enough for others who's near hear it.

The two interns who were gossiping are college students who's taking legal management. It is reasonable for them to have their internship in this kind of environment but gossiping in this kind of environment is not so reasonable.

"I'm very sorry, Miss!" The brown haired girl immediate apology. She held her head down, clasping both of her hands.

"We are sorry for gossiping about you!" The black haired girl followed showing remorse, panickly.

"Rest assure I won't meddle with your internship but I won't forgive you. What I hate the most is having my name tainted. Scram and do you end." She replied monotonely that made the interns more nervous.

They both did not hesitate to leave immediately, feeling all the embarassment they have felt with their encounter. Kanalaa followed them with her eyes.

"What happened?" Kayla interrupted her gaze with concern.

"Just kids gossiping around. I'm going to the HR," I answered indifferently.

"They are just kids, Kanalaa."

"What if I tell everyone around here that you sleep around higher ups to get where you are right now, would you be so understanding and accept people's, "they are just kids, Kayla"?" I retaliate. I'm in no mood to asnwer kindly. I've been stressing to a lot of things these day.

Kayla feeling ashamed shyly uttered, "I'm sorry, it's just that... nevermind. Come on I'll accompany you."

"No, thanks. You can get back to your thing. There's a lot of work today."

Kanalaa did not give her a chance to speak more as she turned her heels towards the HR office.

"Good morning, Ms. Davids," she greeted.

She was then welcomed with warm smile and greetings, "Good morning, Ms. Reese. To what do I owe this visit?"

"I don't want to order you but I want you to talk to the supervisor of the interns. Whoever oversees them should give them a lot of works. They have so much time in their hands that they can still gossip around as if the we are not as hectic as we are right now." She spat, failing to conceal her annoyance.

The Manager notice how serious she is that she agreed immediately, "I'm so sorry to hear about that. Rest assured I will give notice to Mrs. Song."

No more questions were asked as she knows Kanalaa did not want to reveal more of the details. She also trust that she did not ask it out of him as Kanalaa was once an intern here.

Kanalaa can be so kind and considerate but she can also holds grudge. For her, holding a grudge is what she do best.