Sweet Love

Let her decide? How should she call Yusef to make him happy? Joey? Seffy?

The nicknames that cross her mind give her chills. Never mind, just call him by his full name.

Macy changes her shoes before she enters her house where she arrived from Yusef's villa. She doesn't see her mom.

She agrees to make a deal with Yusef today meaning she is ready to let the Downey's go. She has to tell her mum. As for her dad, she'll see. After all surviving is the most fundamental and urgent option comparing to the Downey's.

"Mom?"

Macy is walking upstairs while she is calling, she doesn't see anyone around the house. She turns to find something to eat in the kitchen.

Macy's mother is a highly raised lady who is used to being served by maids. However, at this moment, all the servants were dismissed from the Downey family. She starts cooking, but what she can do is very limited, like pasta without sauce or oatmeal.

Macy is expert at many forms of arts, but only, she has never cooked in the kitchen, but she has to do anything concerning the current situation.

Macy is trying to make scrambled eggs following the recipe online. There comes a sound from the outside before Macy can turn on her stove.

Macy stops her cooking and goes outside. There is her mum.

"Where have you been mum?"

Her mum startles upon seeing Macy coming out of the kitchen, and she mumbles, "I...I have tried to contact a few friends to see if they can help us out." Friends? According to Macy's knowledge, her mum's friends are so unreliable. Their attitudes changed so fast when bad things happened to their friends. Macy takes a deep breath and holds her mum's wrist softly, "Mum, I have something to tell you."

Macy's mum becomes serious when she sees Macy's serious face. "Macy, just tell me the truth, have you found the person that can help us through it?"

"Mum, to be frank, the Downey's is only an empty shell at the moment. It really has nothing left except for its reputation..."

"What are you talking about?" Macy's mother's expression suddenly changes, "Do you also believe the rumors? We are not gonna fail!"

Macy's mum's strong reaction really shocks Macy. She takes a deep breath and explains more patiently, "Mum, listen to me. The bank is urging us to pay our loan. If we don't have the money, our villa will be auctioned. If we do nothing but wait until then, we will really have nothing!"

"And dad, we don't know how he is treated in prison. We also need money to manage his life there. If we still hold on to the empty Downey's, we will sink deeper in this crisis!"

Upon hearing the house will be auctioned, Macy's mum panics, "What are we going to do, Macy? We need this house, if we lose it, where are we living?"

"Mum, we need to find a way to keep this asset. We have to go through the bankruptcy procedure and liquidate all the properties of the Downey's. I will find a job to support our living." Her mum looks a bit in despair, but she sighs after considering it over and over again, "Well, it seems to be the only way to go."

Macy feels guilty when she notices her mother's haggard face. She leans on her mum's shoulder and says softly, "Stop worrying, mum. I will work hard to give you a comfortable life..."

She doesn't have any options but to trade herself in order to make a living. She is no longer the highly regarded missy.

Macy goes to her office as the bankruptcy procedure requires. In the Downey's, the rumor about bankruptcy has travelled every corner.

The employees have been very unsatisfied with the fact that they will soon be unemployed and here comes the rumor about the company refusing to give the severance pay, which makes everyone in the company jittery.

On her way to her seat, Macy has heard people discussing. Some colleagues even gossip about it in front of her. Macy informs the finance department to have an emergency meeting.

In the middle of the meeting, there are some noises coming from the outside. Macy looks at Sunny who is next to her, and says, "Sunny, check out what happens."

"OK."

Sunny leaves the office. Macy looks upwards to the manager of the finance department who is making his finance report and invites him to continue.

Macy feels a bit headache after hearing loads of professional terminologies and data. She presses the spot between her two eyebrows and asks briefly, "Manager Wood, do we have enough money to pay for the severance package after we subtract all the expense that we have mentioned before?"

Manager Wood looks a bit hesitant, but he can't hide the truth, "With all the official employees, contractors, and all the department managers, I am afraid we can't cover the severance pay for all labors..." Before Manager Wood finishes, the noise gets louder. "Bang!" the door is pushed open by someone. Sunny enters panicking. She locks the door with a great effort and rushes, "Miss Downey! The workers are protesting!"

"What!" Macy immediately straightens her back and stands up hurriedly. "What is going on? Did you explain to them?"

"They aren't listening!"

Apparently, Sunny has run out of ideas. All of a sudden, the managers and secretaries are looking at each other not knowing what to do. Someone outside is patting the door strongly. Some conversations can still be heard even though all the noises are mixing together. "Open the door! Bitch! We need a solution!"

"I have worked for the Downey's for 7 to 8 years! How can you kick me out! Open the door!"

"That's right! We didn't leave even the company is in trouble but where is our severance pay now?"

Their words hit on Macy's head and make her hears endless buzzing.

She grits her teeth and clenches her fist. She has to face it alone.

She looks at Sunny who is by the door and says calmly eventually, "Sunny. Open the door."

"Miss Macy, no! They have completely lost their mind! They might come in and beat you up!"

Manager Wood suddenly suggests, "Call the security guards!"

Sunny shakes her head, "The guards are with them."

"Then what? We can't let it continue! Let's call the police!"

"No!" Macy rejects.

If they call the police, the workers will be more disappointed with the Downey's and the matter will only get bigger. What they can do now is to let Macy talk to the protestors. "Open the door!" Macy strengthens her tone, "I will talk to them!"☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐