After exhausting themselves in an epic battle of pillow warfare, Adelina flopped onto the bed and turned to Mabel with a curious expression. “Do you really feel pride in being a cleaner?”

  “Of course, I do,” Mabel replied without hesitation.

  Adelina raised an eyebrow. “So, you don’t see it as demeaning?”

  “I never have.”

  Adelina smiled, nodding in approval. “That’s nice. It’s not every day you hear a multi-millionaire say that.”

  Mabel frowned slightly. “Ow-kay… but I’m not a millionaire anymore.”

  “You still are. The money you voluntarily froze—for reasons beyond my comprehension—is still in your name.”

  Mabel waved a hand dismissively. “Well, I can’t unfreeze it until a year passes. So, I’m not a millionaire.”

  Adelina rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll rephrase it: It’s not every day you hear a former multi-millionaire say she finds pride in being a cleaner.” Then, with a skeptical squint, she continued, “And you feel powerful in it too?”

  Mabel tilted her head, still confused as to why this was such a pressing issue for Adelina. “Ye-ah?”

  Adelina scoffed. “Nah, I think it’s the cold. That’s what you’re feeling.”

  “No, it’s the power!” Mabel declared. “I know you cannot fathom it because you've never worked in such a place.” She dramatically raised her arms toward the ceiling, her voice filled with conviction. “I feel the power!”

  Adelina stared at her, completely deadpan. Then, suddenly, both of them burst into uncontrollable laughter.

  And then Mabel started sneezing. “Achoo! Achoo! Achoooo!”

  Adelina smirked mischievously. “Told you. It was the cold you were feeling.”

  Mabel squinted at her. “Yeah, right.” She barely got the words out before another round of sneezing attacked her.

  Adelina chuckled. “It’s so nice seeing you suffer the consequences of your actions. How did you think you could walk in the rain for an hour on your way to work, then stay in it for another seven hours without catching a cold?”

  Mabel groaned. “You know, I don’t need your criticism right now.”

  “Oh, you do.” Adelina folded her arms. “I don’t mind the part of you that’s obsessed with your job, but the part that willingly stands in the rain for eight hours straight? That part definitely needs my criticism. Otherwise, you’ll do it again.”

  Mabel pouted. “Learn to ignore that part too. Because I will do it a thousand times if my job is at risk.”

  Adelina stared at her, pained. “You know what? I’ll just leave.”

  Mabel blinked innocently. “Why?”

  Adelina threw her hands up. “Because that’s the only way I can deal with this! If I stay, I will care. I cannot not care about your health if I’m around you. So, I’ll cut you off. I’ll ignore you by ignoring you. I hope you like that.” She stood up, ready to leave.

  Mabel sighed. “Fine. I won’t stay under the rain for eight hours ever again.”

  Adelina narrowed her eyes. “Do you mean that in all ramifications?”

  Mabel rolled her eyes. “Fine. I mean it in all ramifications. But I can stay under it for like, six hours, right?”

  “No!” Adelina snapped.

  Mabel pondered for a second. “How about five?”

  Adelina’s eyes deadened. “You are not allowed to stay under the rain intentionally for more than ten minutes.”

  Mabel tilted her head, blinking twice. “Why should I do as you say?”

  Adelina crossed her arms. “Because I will walk out and I will not look back. I mean it.”

  Mabel smirked. “Go ahead.”

  Adelina froze. “Are you seriously going to end our friendship over this?”

  Mabel’s expression turned thoughtful. “Your question just proved that you also have a mental issue. How can you ask that when you are the one giving the ultimatum?”

  Adelina huffed. “Well, it’s your fault! How do you expect me not to care about you? At least for your physical health! Why would you even ask that of me? So, I will stay away from you so that I won’t care!”

  Mabel shook her head, smiling. “Yeah, yours is deformed.”

  Adelina, still seething, blinked in confusion. “What?”

  “Your mental issue. It’s deformed.”

  Adelina sighed deeply. “Why do I keep you as a friend?”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  Mabel grinned proudly. “I know, right? I’m your bad habit. Hehe.”

  Adelina, now drained of all energy, sighed. “So, you’re still going to stay under the rain?”

  Mabel nodded. “Yeah. But since you care so much about my health, I’ll be considerate. I won’t stay under it for more than six hours.”

  Adelina clenched her jaw. “And you don’t mind if I walk out this door and never look back?”

  Mabel shrugged. “Of course not. You know I don’t.”

  Adelina stared at her, stunned “Does that mean our friendship has meant nothing to you?!”

  Mabel met her gaze with an even stare. “Think about our relationship and answer that question yourself.”

  Adelina frowned. “Then why won’t you just do what I say? It’s for your own good!”

  Mabel gave her a calm but serious look. “I am not a robot. That’s why. Adult humans don’t work like that. If you want me to do something, you have to make me want to do it. If you can’t handle that, walk out—” Her tone suddenly deepened, her eyes darkening as she spoke with quiet intensity. “But baby girl, you better not look back.”

  Adelina felt a chill run down her spine.

  Why is she angry? This is for her own good! I could still walk out. I should walk out. But… maybe tomorrow. They say it’s bad to make decisions when you’re angry. Yeah. I’ll just let it be today. But I’ll definitely do it tomorrow. Watch and see Mabel, I will walk out and you will regret what you just said, especially that last statement. I don’t need her. She just makes me worry needlessly every single time. And now she’s angry?! Ahhh, the audacity!

  Adelina’s voice was eerily calm, though her rage seeped through. “I’ll walk out. But not today.” Her eyes narrowed with determination. “I will definitely walk out tomorrow, and I will not look back!”

  Mabel blinked twice. “Why tomorrow? Why wait till tomorrow when you can do it today?”

  Adelina tilted her head, giving Mabel a deadpan look. “It’s my choice, isn’t it?”

  Mabel nodded. “Fair enough.”

  Adelina continued, “And guess what? I hope that as you walk under that rain, you get struck by lightning. Not enough to kill you or set you on fire, but just enough to make you feel the excruciating pain of it. I really hope that.”

  Mabel blinked, taken aback. Then she grinned. “See, that’s why you’re my bestie. Even when you’re mad, you still wish for things that I strongly desire. I’ve always thought about what it would be like to get struck by lightning. I’d love it. Imagine having that as a record! 'Mabel: Struck by Lightning and Survived.' That’s literally legendary. Your wish for me truly warms my heart.”

  Adelina just stared at her, deadpan. Then, slowly, she smiled mischievously. “You know what else I wish? I wish Eadric would fall in love with you. He, or the guy who splashed you with water this morning, or—better yet—the one who stole my moment. No, actually, I wish all of them would fall madly in love with you.”

  Mabel gasped dramatically, hands clasping her chest. “Sooo, you want me to have a harem of really handsome men? Oh my, Adelina, I didn’t know you were like that.”

  Adelina sat in furious silence. She had wanted to get under Mabel’s skin, to make her feel at least a fraction of her frustration. But Mabel, being Mabel, had somehow flipped it into something positive. She rarely ever lost her temper. Even when she did, she somehow remained disturbingly calm. Adelina clenched her fists. Fine. I’ll be patient. One day, she will feel my pain. One day, I will be avenged!

  As she seethed in her thoughts, Mabel entered a sneezing fit—one so intense that it lasted a full seven minutes. Each sneeze stabbed Adelina right in the heart like a tiny dagger of concern.

  When it was finally over, Adelina asked, deeply concerned. “Do you think you can even go back to work today? You're clearly sick.”

  Mabel sniffled. “Pfft. You’re acting like you don’t know me. Man, I literally survived a tsunami and drifted in the ocean for a whole day and a half. Eight hours of rain is nothing.”

  Adelina’s eye twitched. “Yeah. And you were in a coma for three years after that! Stop saying it like it’s a flex! It’s a miracle you survived. You shouldn’t keep putting yourself in harm’s way. Please.”

  Mabel waved her off. “I’m fine. Stop worrying.”

  Adelina exhaled, exasperated. “Okay. I just hope, at the very least, he doesn’t make your life miserable today.”

  Mabel chuckled. “Don’t worry. He won’t. He’s just really passionate about his job. And he wants his employees to be, too.”

  Meanwhile, in his office, Eadric sat at his desk, doodling on Mabel’s employee form. He smirked. I will absolutely make her life miserable. He checked the time. Ah, it's almost time for her shift. He chuckled, then suddenly paused, frowning. Wait. Why am I so invested in this girl?

  He answered himself immediately. Well, she insulted me. Called me selfish. Threatened me. Made me go back on my word. And worst of all, she made me—of all people, a man who hates tardiness more than anything—late. I was tardy because of her. Unforgivable.

  His frown deepened. I will not let her off so easily. Yeah, I definitely should and will be invested in her. Though as CEO, I have more important matters to handle… I think I’ll set aside just one hour each night to deal with her. Let’s see how long she lasts.

  He received a call but continued doodling on her picture, smiling mischievously as he spoke.

  Back at Mabel’s apartment, it was time to leave. She and Adelina walked to the bus stop, with Adelina making one last desperate attempt to convince Mabel to just call in sick. It failed. Mabel had to console her repeatedly, assuring her she wouldn’t collapse and die in the middle of scrubbing a floor. Finally, they reached the bus and said their goodbyes. Adelina watched Mabel board the bus, sighing.

  I hope she’ll be okay. No. It’s Mabel. She’ll be fine. Stop worrying. She’ll be fine. She will be fine. She will be fine… She kept repeating the mantra as she walked home, trying to convince herself.

  Meanwhile, Mabel was on the bus, sneezing every few minutes.

  I just have to get to work, clean, and go home. That’s it. Just get to work, clean, and go home. She continued her own mantra all the way to the company building, where she took a deep breath and stepped inside, ready to begin her shift.

  As she grabbed her cleaning supplies, Jasmine approached with a smile. “Hi, Mabel! I see you’re on time.”

  Mabel grinned. “I hear that tardiness is not tolerated in any form in this establishment, and I plan on living by that.”

  Jasmine beamed. “Aww, you have such a warm heart. I can see it just by looking at you.”

  Mabel’s smile widened. “You’re too kind, ma’am.”

  Jasmine hesitated, choosing her next words carefully. “I just think you’re too good for this position. You’re young and full of life. You could have a better job. Even being a barista would be better than this, don’t you think?”

  Internally, she was pleading. Please, leave. He already hates you. You’re too sweet to endure his fury. This is my way of helping you, Mabel. Just go.

  But Mabel, oblivious to the warning, responded cheerfully. “Not really! I like The VIC. It’s an outstanding establishment. Even though I’m a cleaner, I’m happy to be here.”

  Jasmine felt her heart sink. I knew she’d say that. But I can’t openly say, ‘Hey, our fiercest CEO, Mr. Eadric, is a nightmare and you are already a target, run while you still can.’ What am I to do? She inhaled deeply. Fine. If she starts struggling because of him, I’ll bring this up again. But I’ll give it one last attempt. If she doesn’t act on it, I’ll wait till then.

  “Yeah, the company’s reputation is great. It is the top company in the world. But it can be draining. The CEOs, especially Mr. Eadric, can be very strict. Even being a minute late can get you fired. Or sued.”

  Mabel’s eyes shone with determination. “That’s why I promise to give my best in everything I do for this very important company.”

  Jasmine studied her for a moment. Then, she smiled to herself. This girl… might actually survive the fiercest CEO in the country.