The Struggle of Women
Episode 19's
Sanctions to Be Accepted.
“You know what kind of fatal mistake you have made?” snapped hotel manager—Sack Alex who called Elma came to his room after they returned from the police station.
Elma's eyes closed for a moment as she clasped for the sake of snapping at him, bowing deeply whenever harsh words came out from her superior's lips.
“I just want to keep the good name of the hotel, really no more than that.”
“But what you just did is worse than the rumors about this hotel if the kidnapping really happened, Elma! The one you just accused was the President! Mr. Liam Tanubrata is the largest shareholder of the Tanu Group business, of which the hotel is only a small part! You still don't realize your mistake, huh?” Mr. Alex really looks wrathful, seen from his gesture that has been pacing in the room since, can not stand still even though he was nagging Elma who had been standing in the same place.
“If you really do want to keep the good name or reputation of this hotel, shouldn't you discuss it with me first? Shouldn't you be coordinating with your boss? Not even moving alone until something fatal like this happens. Which employee does not know the owner of the hotel itself? Shouldn't you clearly remember the face of our President?! Didn't—” Alex's head felt throbbing pain to be unable to continue his own speech.
It's not just about Elma anymore, but her and her position are also at stake here. He is the lobby manager, and Elma's specific position is the lobby receptionist. That already means automatically his position is also at stake here, because Elma's mistake is also clearly his fault, let alone this concerns the privacy of their hotel owners.
“Again, you should have turned a blind eye to things like that Elma, our lives are too far away to understand the life they lead. If in your perspective it looks unnatural, not necessarily in their eyes it becomes the same thing. Especially when it comes to privacy issues, bed issues, we obviously cannot mix it up!” added Alex with overflowing emotions.
Elma looked down at her place. No matter how much his desire to defend himself, in this case he seemed to have lost the right to do so because what he had accused Liam was clearly falling on the wrong person.
After so many times venting his anger in a high voice, Alex was finally made tired and sat in his chair. Next to the hand was supporting the head, as if all its weight was now there. “I don't know what kind of punishment they will give you.” Alex smiled silently. “Don't your fate, I myself don't even know what kind of fate will come to me after this incident.”
Alex's gust of breath came back out at the same time as his head was raised, pointing straight at Elma who was several meters before him. “Pray that we both—or that one of us is not kicked out of here. Because if that happens, we're done,” murmured Alex but still enough Elma can hear.
Elma wanted to say sorry again and again, but she knew that it would not satisfy Alex and forgive him. Instead of forgiving, Alex could be more wrathful than this if Elma dared to interfere.
“Come out, return to your position. It's still working hours.” Alex's orders are cold.
The sentence was obeyed by Elma who immediately turned her body back to leave the room. Walking still with head down and mind raging in head. His heart was no less troubled, worried that the worst possibility that his superior conveyed would actually happen to his life. If that happens, what about his family? What about Kiara? Mammy? And the lives of those Elma thought were starting to stabilize?
***
Elma returned home in a state of lethargy. Even so, he did not forget his promise to the princess to buy her favorite chocolate milk. And Kiara's response that greeted him with a crisp face and a loving cry called for the mother to eliminate all the worries she was originally carrying.
Perhaps, while at home it is better for him to get rid of problems at work first, because his expression like anything can make both his mother and Kiara worried if they see him.
“Hai, Mother's Daughter. Today after school, why?” Elma greeted Kiara in a hug, peeked at the girl's cheek and crouched down in front of her, putting down the shopping bag she was carrying. No matter if they are still outside the house, for him to give full attention to the child is clearly more important.
“It’s okay... Kiara is not angry, instead Kiara should apologize to Mom. Sorry for interrupting working hours, and sorry for asking too much.”
Elma touched her daughter's cheek, gently rubbing it. “Hey, it's okay, honey. Mother who apologizes for not being able to keep her promise.”
The girl stepped closer, grabbed her mother's neck and hugged the woman tightly. No more words came out of her lips, but the gesture Kiara showed was clearly a sincere apology. Presumably, he was really sorry for being upset with his mother earlier, until Om Aidan realized with his words.
Elma's engraved smile got a sweet treatment from her daughter. The young mother finally lifted Kiara's body, as the little girl seemed reluctant to take off her arms. Although Kiara's body had begun to weigh, moreover she still had to lift the shopping bag she had brought, Elma could not object, how could it be if her daughter was spoiled and relied on it this way.
“Your question has not been answered yet, you know. What did Kiara do today? Did something happen that was fun?”
The two entered the house with a long huddle of Kiara who seemed to be thinking, what kind of incident should she tell? His day was indeed gray because of his mother's refusal from his request to go to the amusement park, but after being invited Om Aidan to go play, Kiara thought the day was not that bad.
“Eung... Kia was invited to play!”
“Oh yes? Play what?” asked Elma who was now in the dining room that was integrated with the kitchen, trying to put her shopping bags on the table.
“It, Mom. Om—”
“Ahhh... Kia!” the cry of a man who was none other than Aidan stopped the sentence that Kiara was about to say, the man out of nowhere appeared was now in front of the two mothers and the child.
Elma and Kiara stared with a confused look, which Aidan replied with an awkward smile. “Eum... earlier Kia want to make PR, right? Let's finish the PR before dinner. Same with Om first, huh? Let me rest for a while and cook quietly.”
Kiara's been taken over from Elma's sling. Although confused why the neighbor suddenly appeared, however, Elma was grateful as well. He is afraid that if he interacts too long with Kiara his mind will go everywhere, remembering the events in the hotel and police station that could now have an impact on his family, he said, especially Kiara—Elma was afraid of her sad expression for a long time to read, and it made her even more upset.
“Lho, have you gone home?” Arini appeared from the back door, it seemed like the middle-aged woman had just spent her time with the vegetables she had grown in the small backyard of the house.
“Iya, Mom. Is everything okay today?” routine questions that Elma always asks every time she comes home from work.
“Everything's fine, Honey. Kiara also looks happy because she can play with her omnya. So clean yourself up, then help Mom prepare dinner.”
Elma nodded, obeying the mother's orders by moving straight from there.
📽To be continue🎞