CHAPTER THIRTY–ONE–THE NEW ASSIGNMENT
Nia wiped the sweat from her brow as she finished polishing the expansive marble lobby of Colossius Tech. The afternoon sun streamed through the floor–to–ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the gleaming floor. She stepped back to admire her work, a sense of pride swelling in her chest despite the menial nature of the task.
“Nia!” a gruff voice called out. She turned to see Old Man Barnaby shuffling towards her, his weathered face creased with concern.
“What’s up, Barnaby?” Nia asked, setting aside her cleaning supplies.
Barnaby ran a hand through his thinning gray hair. “Mr. Harlow’s called an emergency meeting in the break room. Says it’s urgent.”
Nia frowned. “Emergency meeting? That doesn’t sound good.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Barnaby agreed, shaking his head. “Better hurry. He wants everyone there pronto.” Together, they made their way to the small break room tucked away in the back of the building. As they approached, Nia could hear the murmur of voices and the scraping of chairs. The stuffy room was already crowded when they entered, the air thick with tension and the lingering smell of microwaved -leftovers.
Nia squeezed in next to Barnaby, her shoulder pressed against the wall. She scanned the room, taking in the worried expressions of her colleagues. Rosa, a petite woman in her forties, nervously twisted a gold band on her finger. Jim, his salt–and–pepper hair neatly combed, stood with his arms crossed, a deep frown etched on his face.
Mr. Harlow stood at the front of the room, his usually immaculate suit looking slightly rumpled. He cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the low hum of conversation.
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” he began, his voice strained. “I’m afraid I have some… difficult news to share.”
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Nia felt her stomach tighten, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
Mr. Harlow continued, his gaze fixed on a point above their heads. “The company has made the decision to cut the janitorial budget by 30%.”
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Nia’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What does that mean for us?” Jim asked, his voice gruff.
Mr. Harlow sighed, finally meeting their eyes. “It means reduced hours for everyone. And… potential Jayoffs for our newer staff members.”
The room erupted in a cacophony of voices. Nia watched as Rosa’s eyes filled with tears, her hand flying to her mouth to stifle a sob. Jim’s fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles turning white.
“But why?” Nia found herself asking, her voice rising above the commotion. “We’re already stretched thin as it is!”
Mr. Harlow held up his hands, attempting to calm the room. “I understand this is difficult news. Believe me, I fought against this decision. But it’s out of my hands. The order came from the top.”
Nia’s mind raced. The top… did that mean Leon Allistair was behind this? The man she’d been trying so
CHAPTER THIRTY–ONE–THE NEW ASSIGNMENT
hard to avoid, the man who didn’t recognize her as the person convicted of killing his girlfriend?
“What about our families?” Rosa asked, her voice trembling. “I’m a single mother. I can’t afford to lose
hours.”
Mr. Harlow’s face softened slightly. “I’m sorry, Rosa, I truly am. But there’s nothing I can do.”
He began handing out new schedules, the paper feeling like lead in Nia’s hands. She stared at the reduced hours, her heart sinking. This job had been her lifeline, her chance at a fresh start after prison.
And now…
“This is bullshit,” Jim muttered beside her. “After fifteen years of service, this is how they treat us?”
Nia nodded, a fire beginning to ignite within her. This wasn’t right. There had to be something they could do.
As the meeting dispersed, Nia hung back, watching her colleagues file out with slumped shoulders and dejected expressions. She caught Barnaby’s eye, silently communicating her intention to stay. He nodded, .understanding without words.
Once the room had cleared, Nia approached Mr. Harlow. “Sir, there has to be another way. We’re essential to the company’s functioning.”
Mr. Harlow sighed, rubbing his temples. “Nia, I appreciate your passion, but this decision is final, My hands are tied.”
“But if we could prove our worth, show them how cost–effective we are compared to outsourcing-
“Nia,” Mr. Harlow cut her off, his voice firm. “I understand you’re upset, but this isn’t a negotiation. Please, just… try to make the best of it.”
With that, he left the room, leaving Nia alone with her thoughts and a determination she hadn’t felt since her days in prison. She wasn’t going to let this go without a fight.
That night, Nia’s small apartment became a war room. Spreadsheets and documents covered every available surface as she pored over the company’s annual report and employee handbook. The soft glow of her laptop illuminated her focused expression as she crunched numbers and analyzed data.
“Nia?” Maria’s sleepy voice called from the bedroom doorway. “It’s 3 AM. What are you doing?”
Nia looked up, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the darkness beyond her screen. “Sorry, did (wake you? I’m just… working on something important.”
Maria shuffled over, peering at the laptop screen. “Budget analysis? Nia, what’s going on?”
Nia sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. “They’re cutting our budget at work. Reducing hours, threatening layoffs. I can’t just sit back and let it happen.”
Maria’s eyes softened with concern. “Oh, Nia. I’m so sorry. But… are you sure you should be getting involved? You’ve worked so hard to keep a low profile.
Nia–shook her head, determination flashing in her eyes “I can’t think about that right now. These people… they’ve become like family to me. I have to try to help them.”
Maria squeezed her shoulder. “Just be careful, okay? I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
Nia nodded, turning back to her work. As the first rays of dawn began to peek through the curtains, she sat back, a rough plan forming in her mind. She might not be able to change the company’s decision, but she could give her colleagues a fighting chance.
The next evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Nia
of an gathered her coworkers in the parking lot. The air was thick with humidity, carrying the promise
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE–THE NEW ASSIGNMENT
approaching summer storm.
3/4
*Thanks for coming everyone,” Nia said, standing on an overturned bucket to address the small crowd. “I know we’re all upset about the budget cuts, but I think I have an idea that might help.”
She outlined her plan, explaining how they could document their work to prove their value to the company. As she spoke, she could see the skepticism in some of their faces.
