Kasya's voice made her turn around.
The woman walked over.
"Your boss called for you. He's waiting in his office."
Emeera nodded.
Then she rose from her chair.
Actually, she could already guess what her boss was going to say.
She would probably be fired soon for supposedly bringing shame to the company's reputation.
Pregnant out of wedlock and not even knowing who the baby's father was.
Her suffering was now complete.
Emeera walked toward her boss's office.
Knock! Knock!
"Come in."
Emeera opened the door.
"What is it, Boss? Why did you call me?"
She lowered her head slightly.
Her boss looked at her with a solemn expression.
"This is your severance pay."
Emeera fell silent.
"I'm sorry, but I have no choice but to fire you. I don't want this company to suffer even more embarrassment because of the indecent news about you."
The man sighed.
"I know you're competent. Your performance was pretty good while you worked here, too. But I can't keep you on."
Emeera held her breath. She reached out and took the envelope her boss offered her.
The amount probably wasn't much, considering she had only worked there for a short time. Still, she was grateful to receive severance pay rather than be fired without getting anything at all.
"Thank you, Boss."
Emeera tightened her grip on the envelope.
"In that case, I'll be going now."
She turned and quickly left her boss's office. She had to be strong. That was all she could do for now.
Emeera didn't want to make her parents even more worried about her situation.
Maybe there was still another job waiting for her out there.
"Where are you going?"
Kasya approached Emeera, who was putting her belongings into a large box.
"I don't work here anymore, Kasy."
Emeera gave her a faint smile.
"I was fired."
Kasya fell silent.
Emeera could see her friend's eyes beginning to glisten with tears.
Emeera immediately pulled Kasya into a hug.
"Don't cry. We can still see each other. Just not here anymore—we can still meet outside."
She gently patted Kasya's back.
After a while, Emeera let go of their embrace.
She wiped away the tears beginning to roll down Kasya's cheeks.
"I'm leaving now, okay?"
Emeera picked up the box containing her belongings and walked out of the office.
"Emeera, wait!"
Kasya chased after her and accompanied Emeera out of the company.
As soon as they reached the lobby, Kasya spoke again.
"I'll drive you home, okay?"
"I can get home by myself."
"I don't take no for an answer."
Kasya pointed toward the door.
"Wait out front. I'll get the car from the basement first."
After saying that, Kasya hurried straight toward the basement.
Emeera sighed.
Stubborn.
Her friend was just like that. She asked questions but refused to accept no for an answer.
So Emeera chose not to argue.
However, before she could take a step, someone suddenly approached her.
"How much did they pay you?"
Emeera turned around.
She knew that man.
He was Evan's friend—or more accurately, her former lover's friend now.
Emeera and Evan did work at the same company. In fact, Emeera had only been able to work there because Evan recommended her.
Before that, Emeera had only helped her parents sell things at their food stall.
But Evan had forced her to work at that company.
He said it was a waste for Emeera, a business management graduate, to be nothing more than a food-stall attendant.
"How much did they pay you?" The man smiled contemptuously. "If it was cheap, I want in, too."