Oh Cinderella: True love next door

Such A Huge Mess...

"It's just a few more steps left,

You're almost there,

You can do this Olivia."

Olivia kept muttering to herself as she quietly snuck past her boss, Carrie's office. She immediately froze as she heard voices from inside. Could she have seen her? Olivia thought to herself as she peered out and listened. There was no movement, just voices.

With the little courage she had left, she took a step further. Then another, and another, until she was sure the coast was clear. She heaved a deep sigh of relief and let it out slowly as she opened the door to her office and entered.

"Oh, thank God. That was a real close one." She said to herself.

Her resort to Vodka last night resulted in a huge hungover which was evident on her bloodshot eyes and swollen face. She knew if Carrie sees her in such state, it would call for answers and explanations she wasn't ready to give.

She was still relishing in her little escape from her boss when the door flung opened. She immediately jumped on her feet, thinking it was Carrie.

"Is this a bad time?" Julie asked when she noticed the uneasiness on Olivia's face.

Julie is one of the new interns who just joined the firm. She took a liking in Olivia because of her brilliance and exceptional skills. Olivia also considered Julie her personal trainee because of this and would always put her through.

"Come in..." She said to Julie while signaling her to close the door and be fast about it.

"Is anything the matter? You look... uhm... Hungover?" Julie asked with a concerned look while she entered and closed the door behind her. She gave Olivia a swift look-over as she sat down and then noticed the new black, Louboutin stiletto heels. Olivia saw this and then gave out a tired blush.

Give it to Olivia to always tick all boxes when it comes to fashion. Despite the breakup hungover, she still made sure her sad mood didn't affect her dressing.

"Are those new shoes?" She asked with a bright look.

"I know right, they look so nice." Olivia replied with a half smile while trying so hard to hide her gloomy mood. Julie noticed this and then pressed further.

"Are you sure you're fine?" She asked again

"Totally fine as always." Olivia answered with a raised thumb.

"Okay then, Carrie wants to see you. Like right now." She chimed in calmly while Olivia quivered in fear.

"Did she say why? What was her reaction like when she asked for me?" She asked nervously.

"Relax. I'm sure there's nothing wrong. Though, there was an impromptu meeting this morning but I already covered for your lateness and absence." Julie assured her.

"Really? I didn't even know there was a meeting. What would I ever do without you Julie?" Olivia said as she cupped her face in her hands in a cute little girl's manner.

"Uhmmm... Let me think about it..." Julie replied while pretending to do some serious deliberation.

"Nothing." She chimed in with sarcasm, followed by a loud giggle.

Olivia didn't waste anymore time. She quickly grabbed her phone and left for Carrie's office.

As she walked briskly there, Olivia flashed back into the previous night when she got back home. She had put a call through to Josh immediately to fill him in but his line didn't go through. She then decided to drink away her sorrow instead.

Meanwhile, she had a work deadline with two clients which she had planned to submit when she gets back from the date night. But because of the breakup and the cheat discovery, she forgot and slept off. It was Carrie's incessant calls that woke her up.

Seeing Carrie's calls and messages jerked her back to life real fast. She quickly sent the documents to the two clients. She was glad she had prepared the files beforehand, if not, she wouldn't have been able to meet the deadline. She then slept off afterward...

Olivia heaved a sigh of worry as she got to Carrie's office. She stayed for a few seconds at the door to check if she could catch a glimpse of what the meeting was about, but when she got nothing but total silence, she went in.

"Morning boss." She said politely while trying to hide her swollen face as she closed the door behind her and advanced towards Carrie.

"Hi Olivia. Please sit." Carrie replied with a bright smile while she pointed her to a seat.

Carrie's smile was so reassuring. It made Olivia feel more relaxed and calm. She immediately dropped the idea that she was called in for her delay in meeting her work deadline.

"How are you doing? I Trust you're doing good. Without much ado, I called you here to hear your side of the story because honestly, I do not know what to make out of all this. Why did you send wrong documents to the clients that were assigned to you. I want to believe this is a mistake but it's so hard to..." Carrie revealed which made Olivia look up for the first time since she walked into the office. She had been avoiding face contact with Carrie because of its present state.

"What? That's not possible... I didn't..."

"Oh my God, what on earth happened to your face?" Carrie exclaimed with so much scare when she finally saw her face.

Olivia couldn't care about her face in that moment, she had only one thing on her mind and it was the supposed mistake she's been saddled with.

"It's nothing. About the documents, I'm sure there was no mistake on my part. I admit that there was a little delay but I did send out the right files to each client." Olivia argued while Carried then turned her computer to her. It was then that Olivia saw she really did make a mistake. She mixed up the files which meant both clients now have confidential informations about each other.

What Olivia felt in that moment was indescribable. Fear consumed her whole being. She could feel her heart out in her hands and it was pumping really hard. Her mistake would cost the firm a huge amount of money to settle the clients and that's even if they don't get sued. All that's left is to hope she doesn't get fired.

"Carrie, I am really sorry about this, if only words could express how sorry I am right now but sadly it can't. I had a major life crisis yesterday which I can't get into right now but I want you to know that this wasn't intentional. I love this firm and I love my job, I could never do anything to tint our reputation. I hope you can forgive me for this and I promise to never mix work with my personal life ever again." Olivia apologized deeply while Carrie sat calmly and listened raptly. Olivia didn't know if she should be happy with her calmness or not.

Silence followed for about a minute after which Carrie took a deep breath and then leaned forward.

"I accept your apology. I know how effective you are and I trust you, but this is way out of my control now. I am the CEO but you know I also answer to some people high up. A meeting was held this morning to fathom ways to cut the situation but you were not even in attendance. Trust me, I really tried to fight for you but it just wasn't meant to be. In as much as I don't want to do this, I've been left with no choice." Carrie explained while Olivia anticipated the next part with so much scare.

"You're suspended Olivia, for the next three months. And I hope you use this period to reflect and deal with your personal issues." Carrie let out calmly while Olivia looked lost.

She was dumbfounded and couldn't say a word. She bowed her head and an aftertaste of vodka filled her mouth which caused her to flash back again into the previous night when she was downing the drinks, one bottle after the other. Maybe things wouldn't have gotten this far if she had not resorted to that and just went to bed instead. If so, she would have been in her clear mind when sending the documents— Olivia thought to herself as she took her suspension in good faith. She quietly stood up and made for the door.

"Olivia..." Carrie called out which made her turn back so fast, thinking Carrie had changed her mind and decided to waive the suspension.

"It's without pay." Carrie chimed in slowly...

Olivia didn't say a word more. She slowly closed the door and left. Julie, who had been waiting to get feedback saw the sad look on Olivia's face as she walked past the intern's office. Julie was standing right at the entrance but Olivia wouldn't even look at her. It was as if she didn't see her there at all.

"What happened in there? Please talk to me." Julie asked as she ran after Olivia into the office.

"How could she heap so much salt on my wound? I hate her so much." Olivia said with so much anger as she narrated the details to Julie.

"Three whole months?" Julie exclaimed

"And with no pay!" Olivia said while mimicking Carrie's voice.

"She might as well just fire me and leave me with nothing. Who's to even say that's not the endpoint? I mean, suspension comes first and then they realize they can do without you. Three months later and they no longer need you." Olivia illustrated nervously as she paced the office.

"Relax. I'm sure that is not the case here." Julie replied.

"Well, thirty minutes ago, you were so sure the meeting wasn't a big deal and yet, here I am, on the brink of being jobless and homeless." Olivia countered her.

"But..."

"Could you please keep your opinions to yourself? Please Julie!!" Olivia angrily shut her up. She didn't mean to lash out at Julie but she couldn't help it. She has so much emotions bottled in and who else to transfer the aggression to other than Julie who was available at the time. Julie on the other hand didn't take an offense, instead she made a funny gesture which made Olivia immediately guilty.

"Okay, I'm sorry. You know I don't mean that. I'm just so pained and angry." She quickly apologized as she finally took a seat and buried her head in her hands.

"You'll be fine. Trust me." Julie said gently.