[I HEARD you had a handsome client today at work. Brix, isn’t it?]
After furrowing her brows, Vivianne's expression was replaced by a smile. She didn't leave the driver’s seat yet to type her reply.
[Why do you ask? Are you jealous?]
Less than a minute later, Beckett replied again. It seemed like he was just waiting by his phone now and had nothing else to do.
[You’re my wife. Why would I be jealous?]
[Then why are you asking if you're not?]
After sending that, Vivianne had to wait a while for Beckett's reply. The smile didn't leave her lips.
She knew Beckett. She knew he was reflecting now because of her question. She put the paper bag in the compartment and was about to put her phone in her pocket.
But her phone rang again.
[I miss you.]
Vivianne's face suddenly reddened after reading that message. She couldn't react. She was used to Beckett being straightforward, but even so, she was still surprised sometimes.
She cleared her throat to calm herself before typing again.
[I’m back to the warehouse now. I just need to take care of some things. Take care, and don’t forget to rest from time to time.]
She thought Beckett wouldn't reply anymore, but before she could set her phone aside, it vibrated again.
[Yes, wife.]
And that's why Vivianne's smile didn't fade until she entered the warehouse.
“Good afternoon, Ma’am Vivianne,” greeted the staff when they saw her.
Vivianne only showed a weak smile and nodded in response. She went straight to her office afterward and looked at the documents on her desk.
Having finished studying the business operations of the Allamino mafia, she now focused on their various sources of income. All of them were illegal, and sometimes Alfred ordered killings just to get what he wanted.
She couldn't bear to look at all of that, but she had to. If she wanted to bring down Alfred, she needed to know how the mafia operated. She must destroy everything from within… to free the other people Alfred used for his selfish interests.
But before she could do that, she needed to rid her life of the plague.
"Vivianne!"
And speaking of the devil bitch, Joan suddenly stormed into her office without even knocking. She also slammed the door open, clearly angry.
But what caught her attention the most...
“It’s Ma’am Vivianne, Joan,” she corrected, raising her eyebrow while still holding the document and sitting down. “Have you forgotten how to respect now? Or do I need to teach you?”
Joan ignored what she said. Instead, she approached Vivianne with a sharp gaze.
“What’s this?” Joan asked before placing the paper she was holding on Vivianne's desk. “A request for my transfer to another place?” She sarcastically chuckled. “Why? Are you feeling threatened by my presence here that you're being this petty?”
“No, but I'm irritated by you, and by your audacity,” Vivianne replied in a cold tone. “You're calling me petty just because I'm cleaning up this place from people who assume and don't know their place like you? Oh, wow.”
“People who don't know their place?” Joan's lip corner lifted. “Is it really me? Or you? Your only contribution here is being Sir Alfred's daughter. I can do more than you!”
Upon hearing those words, Vivianne laughed. It was a genuine laugh. Her eyes almost teared up from laughing, which irritated Joan.
“What’s funny?” Joan asked with a furrowed brow. “Do you think this is a joke? You’re being unprofessional—”
“Says the one who just stormed inside my room without asking what happened,” Vivianne interrupted Joan. She stood up and took the document Joan was holding earlier. “Let me help you know where you should stand, okay?”
“What—”
“Ma’am Vivianne!”
Joan's question was cut off when someone else entered Vivianne's office again.
“Jill, you’re here.” Vivianne smiled, especially when Jill approached her to show respect. She glanced at the suitcases Jill was carrying. “I see you brought your things. Are you ready for what you're going to do here?”
“I'm a little nervous, but I'm ready,” Jill replied confidently but with a hint of shyness.
Joan grimaced upon hearing that, so Jill turned to her. “Hi, Joan! I didn't know you were here.”
Joan's mood darkened further due to Jill's smile. “Pathetic,” she muttered, but she didn't expect Jill to grin back, causing Joan to furrow her brow even more. “And why are you smiling, huh?”
“Oh, I thought you were talking to yourself. You know, maybe you see things that we don't,” Jill said, pointing to her forehead as if suggesting that Joan might have a third eye open.
Jill's tone sounded innocent as she said that, but Joan knew better. She knew Jill was mocking her just like Vivianne.
“You're all worthless!” Joan couldn't hold back her outburst. She exploded with frustration.
Vivianne chuckled at that. “Seeing how envious you are, I wonder how you managed to fake it in Syneverse before? But then again, I found out you were a spy because your stench gave you away.”
“You're so arrogant because you requested a transfer, but do you really think Alfred will allow this?” This time, it was Joan’s turn to laugh sarcastically. “I'm one of his trusted agents, so he won't get rid of me!”
“Not anymore,” Alfred answered as he entered Vivianne's office.
It was timely as he heard the commotion from outside, so he entered to see what was happening. It was also timely because he was looking for Joan to give her something.
“Embezzlement, and illegal usage of our drug products. You used to be one of my favorite agents, but if you think I'll overlook this, you're mistaken.” Alfred threw the document at Joan.
Joan nearly went pale at what she saw. Everything written in the document was evidence of her theft of money and drugs inside the warehouse. She looked at Vivianne, and just from the latter's grin, she knew she was the one who gave the documents to Alfred.
'How did she get these?' Joan wondered to herself but soon realized that it didn't matter anymore.
Her job is at stake, and if she gets transferred to another warehouse, it will be even harder for her to curry favor with Alfred. That couldn't happen, especially since she loved the drugs she stole because they tasted good but were expensive!
"Sir Alfred! I-I'm only taking a small amount of money!" Joan explained while kneeling in front of her boss. "A-As for the drugs, they taste so good but I can't afford them! They're too expensive! I won't do it again!"
“With that reasoning, I don't believe you'll change. Stealing is still stealing, no matter how little or how much you take,” Alfred said in a cold tone. “You’ll be transferred to a warehouse where we hide the women we trade in the black market. There, you won't have anything else to steal.”
“So you're putting me in that kind of job while that woman indulges herself here in the main warehouse?!” Joan stood up, glaring at Vivianne. “I've done more for the company, Sir. I gave my entire life for this organization!”
“As you should.”
“S-Sir?”
“You should indeed give your life for this organization. That's why you're paid, isn't it?”
Joan's lips fell open at what she heard. She thought that giving her entire life and principles to work was enough... apparently not. For people like Alfred, that sacrifice was nothing.
But she still wanted to own the company. She should own it.
“I only approved your transfer and not about your termination because I’m giving you a second chance. Once you fuck this up, you’ll pay for it,” was the last thing Alfred said before leaving the room.