Maxon's tires screeched as he pulled up in front of SwiftX Courier Services. Fury pulsed through his veins. The evening lights from the streetlamps reflected off the hood of his sleek black BMW, but Maxon didn't notice—his mind was focused on one thing: the girl who messed up everything.
He stormed into the office. The receptionist flinched slightly at his sudden entrance, and just ahead, Daisy, the branch supervisor, was seated behind the front desk, organizing some files.
"I'm looking for a girl," Maxon said without a greeting, his tone sharp. "Light-skinned, slim waist, brown curly hair, average height, has a soft voice and this overly innocent smile."
Daisy blinked, then nodded. "Oh, that's Isabella. Why, sir? What's wrong? Your face doesn't look good."
Maxon didn't smile. "Call her first."
Concern rising, Daisy stood. "Isabella!" she called. "Come here quickly."
From the back room, Isabella came rushing forward, adjusting her SwiftX shirt and smiling brightly. "Ma, I'm here... Oh!" she said upon seeing Maxon. "You're back, sir."
Maxon folded his arms. "And what's so funny?"
Isabella's smile faded. "Sir?"
"You're so incompetent, if you aren't capable of this work then leave" Maxon snapped. "I gave you two simple packages to deliver, and you sent them to the wrong people."
Isabella's face paled. "Wait, sir… I don't understand. How?"
Maxon reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number. He turned the screen toward her, letting her hear every word.
"Hey baby," Shima's voice chimed sweetly through the speaker. "I got your gift! That teddy bear was so cute. And that card? You're such a romantic man."
Maxon's face went stiff. He ended the call without replying.
"No... no, no, no, no…" he muttered, eyes narrowing at Isabella.
Isabella's heart sank. "Sir, I'm so sorry. It was a mistake. I was pressed and I—"
Daisy cut her off sharply. "What kind of stupid mistake is that? Are you here to ruin my company, Isabella?! Are you mad?!"
"I didn't do it alone," Isabella stammered. "I gave the box to Lucas. I asked him to help me label them while I used the restroom."
"Lucas!" Daisy bellowed. "Come here now!"
Lucas jogged in, slightly breathless. "Ma?"
Isabella turned to him, panicked. "Lucas, remember? I gave you two cards and asked you to place them on the right boxes."
Lucas looked at Maxon, then Daisy, then Isabella. "Oh no... I—I must have mixed them up."
Maxon exploded. "Enough with the drama!" he shouted. "If that girl doesn't forgive me, I swear I will make sure the both of you regret this. You think you can toy with people's lives like this?! You incompetent fools!"
Without waiting for another word, he stormed out, slamming the glass door behind him and heading straight to Rose's apartment.
Inside the office, silence fell. Daisy's lips were trembling with rage.
"Are you both trying to ruin me?!" she screamed. "Especially you, Isabella!"
"Ma, I'm really sorry—"
"You will be the one to come late, the one who forgets her ID, and now this? Just to deliver two things, you've managed to disgrace us?!"
"Ma, I was pressed, I didn't want to delay the delivery—"
"Shut up!" Daisy barked. "Both of you will regret this. I'll deduct your salaries this month. I swear it."
"Ma… Ma…" Lucas called her hopelessly.
Isabella lowered her head, guilt washing over her. "I'm so sorry, Lucas. This is all my fault."
Lucas sighed. "No, Isa. It's mine too. I should have double-checked."
They both stood in silence, knowing they had just made a mistake they couldn't take back.
Daisy stood still for a moment after Maxon left, her lips pressed into a thin, furious line. Then, in a sharp voice, she said, "Isabella. Into my office. Now."
The rest of the staff lowered their heads, pretending not to listen as Isabella followed her into the small glass-walled office at the corner. Lucas watched silently, guilt etched all over his face.
Daisy shut the door behind them, her heels clicking on the tiled floor as she walked to her desk. She opened a drawer, pulled out a white sheet of paper, and placed it firmly in front of Isabella.
"This," she said coldly, "is your query letter."
Isabella's heart sank. She slowly picked up the paper with trembling hands and read the bold words at the top: Query for Gross Negligence and Operational Misconduct.
"But ma," Isabella began, her voice small, "I already said I'm sorry. It was a mistake—"
"Mistake?" Daisy snapped. "This isn't just a little mishap, Isabella. This mistake involved one of our top-paying clients. Do you realize what Maxon's reaction means for our company? What if he posts it online? What if he sues us for defamation or emotional distress?"
Isabella's lips quivered. She had never seen Daisy this upset before.
"You're hardworking, Isabella, I know that," Daisy continued, now with a slight tremble in her voice. "But this is not your first time being careless. You come late. You miss delivery deadlines. Now this? I can't keep covering for you."
Tears welled up in Isabella's eyes, but she blinked them away, nodding slowly.
Daisy sighed, tapping her fingers on the desk. "One more mistake, Isabella—just one—and it won't be a query letter next time. It'll be a sack letter."
Isabella swallowed the lump in her throat. "Yes, ma."
Daisy softened just slightly, her voice quieting. "You're a good girl. You've got potential. But if you want to survive in this world, especially without parents or a backup plan, you have to be sharp. No one will hand you anything for free. You get one more chance. Don't blow it."
Isabella nodded again, this time more firmly. "I understand you ma."
"Good." Daisy turned her chair around and waved her off. "You can go now."
Isabella stepped out of the office, query letter still in her hand, her chest tight and eyes burning.