"Celine, it's ok. You'll find another job." Magret Celine's sister said, trying to comfort her.
"But why? Why would anyone want to see me suffer?" Celine said with tears all over her eyes.
"It's going to be alright. We can use my savings for now." Mrs Grace Celine's mum said with a weak tone.
"No, mummy, that savings is for your surgery, so we won't touch it," Celine uttered.
"I'll be fine, but you and your sister won't be if you barely eat anything." Mr Grace noted.
It's early morning on Monday. Celine had dressed her best that morning. She wore a basic dress not rough, not expensive, just neat.
During the weekend, she applied for a job at the Herbal Luxe company, but as a cleaner.
She was told to come on Monday for interviews.
"Who the hell interviews a cleaner? Magret asked.
"Mrs Sinclair. The manager of H&L company." Celine answered.
Mrs Sinclair is the front desk and the face of Herbal LUXE. She's always on TV and shows, she's like the CEO that nobody knows. She manages everything starting from the finances to the least.
Rumor has it that she's the daughter-in-law of the owner who died recently, so her husband must be the CEO.
"Does she interview her drivers too?" Magret added.
"Yes, who knows?" Celine replied and they started laughing.
Celine's mother and sister are the best things that have ever happened to her since she was born. She carried the weight of her family since high school, when she worked part-time at the convenience store.
"Celine Johnson!" The attendant called her for the interview.
"Performance art?"
"Yes, I studied performance art in college," Celine said, replying to Mrs Sinclair.
"Well, that's poor."Mrs Sinclair said, still going through her files.
"What concerns a cleaning job with a PhD?" Celine said to herself.
"I studied performance art but I can also clean. I'm a good cleaner man." Celine said, putting on a fake smile.
"Okay Mrs Johnson, you're dismissed for now. We'll get back to you before you know it. Just keep checking your emails." Mrs Sinclair said, packing up Celine's file.
Two days after Celine went for the interview. She received feedback from them."
"Congratulations to you Celine Johnson. You're currently the new custodian. You'll receive a sum of four thousand dollars for this per month you can resume...."
Celine was shocked at the amount she would be receiving just from working as one of the maintenance staff.
"It's definitely better than the two hundred dollars you receive from Mr Cole every weekend," Magret said when she heard the news.
"Mr Cole is a good man," Celine noted.
"And he fired you?" Magret added.
"He had no other choice. After all that man is to be blamed for being heartless." Celine said.
The following day Celine started work immediately. Her dress was good and okay. It's giving a professional cleaner vibe.
Although they had plenty of rules and regulations, the pay is really worth it.
Celine was having a coffee break when the CEO was announced. All workers are meant to stand and wait for him to enter.
According to Evelyn, her CO worker. The CEO only visits once in a blue moon. Sometimes, once a month or every two months.
To Celine's greatest surprise, the CEO was the man at the convenience store. She quickly hid her face to prevent him from seeing her.
"All the newbies should see me for a welcome payment." Mr Wilfred said. Everybody was happy except Celine.
What if she loses her job? That man already hates her and she won't risk it.
"Is it cool not to visit the CEO for the welcome payment? Celine asked Evelyn.
" I honestly don't think it's a good idea. You could lose your job for it, plus who doesn't want to collect the welcome payment?" Evelyn answered.
"And I could still lose my job if I go there," Celine whispered to herself.
She already made up her mind not to go. That she shouldn't get fired for going and still getting fired after being humiliated.
"Celine. newbies are at the CEO's office." Mrs Joana, the head of the maintenance staff, said when she saw her hiding in the cafeteria.
"I'm okay here. Ma." Celine muttered.
"No you're not. You're coming with me now to the office." She said dragging Celine.
Reaching there Mr Wilfred was shocked and asked who employed her.
"I was employed by Miss Sinclair, your manager," Celine said in a low tone.
" Miss….?"
"Celine Johnson," Celine said, replying to Mr Wilfred.
"I'm sorry to break it to you but you're fired." Mr Wilfred said.
"Sir, you can't do this to me. How could you be so heartless? You made me lose my first job and still made me lose my second one. What have I ever done to deserve it?" Celine said with a drop of tears.
Everybody was shocked, not only at the way she was fired but also at how she spoke to him instead of pleading.
Wilfred ordered the security to take her out, which he did.