Chapter 39: You Are Dismissed With Immediate Effect.

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: You Are Dismissed With Immediate Effect.

Flora walked around the house like a vigilant patrol officer, carefully observing every corner. Something about her movements suggested that danger was close. The lights were dim, but her steps remained steady and confident.

Her eyes moved from one hallway to another. She was not taking any chances tonight.

"Something isn’t right," she whispered, stopping briefly.

She listened carefully, hoping to hear even the slightest movement. Her heart was alert, but fear did not control her.

Simon watched her in shock. He knew something was wrong. If Flora had discovered evidence, tomorrow would be troublesome. He swallowed nervously. "I hope she isn’t watching me. It seems like this woman hardly sleeps at night," he thought.

"What is she doing outside at this time of the night? She never comes to the staff wing. Never. In all the months he has worked for her, she has never come here. This place is for guards, and house staff."

He watched her. She wore a long silk night robe, walking slowly, looking around. She looked angry and restless. Like someone who saw something that is disturbing her mind.

Simon stayed quiet behind the window. He did not want her to observe that he was watching. He held his breath.

Flora walked close to Simon’s door, speaking in tiny whispers as her anger slowly grew.

"Even the women of Sodom were never this shameless," she muttered, shaking her head.

"Who knows? If Simon had already fallen into her trap, she would probably force a pregnancy on him just to secure her position."

She let out a frustrated breath.

"What an outrageous strategy! From desperation straight to long-term suffering.

Flora folded her arms, looking at the door.

"The audacity of some women is unbelievable."

Simon thought in his mind, "Why is she here? Could it be that she saw the chef?"

He wanted to open his door but he remained calm.

After about ten minutes, Flora turns around. She shakes her head slowly and walks back into the main house. Her steps are faster now.

She goes inside and the big door closes.

Simon stood at the window for a long time. He could not understand what just happened.

He just slumped back into his bed and slept off.

---

It was 6:30 a.m.

The sun was up. The staff are already going about their daily duties.

Suddenly, a loud crying sound came from the living room.

The chef was on her knees crying. Her eyes were swollen, like she has been crying for hours. She was still in her uniform, but her present state takes away the dignity of her noble profession. She looked like her world has crashed right in front of her.

From Flora’s face, one could see meanness. She was angry and did not care how much the chef was pleading.

The crying became so loud..

"Enough! I said you are dismissed!" Flora fired, her voice cold. "Get out of my house!"

Everyone heard her, they left their duty posts and ran to the living room, watching from corners,Maya stood at the staircase and watched her mother. She whispered,"so even the chef likes him too".

Simon hurriedly came out but stood far from them, in a place where he could still see the scene. He already knew that Flora saw the chef last night.

"Maybe the chef was not aware that Flora has hidden cameras in the house," Simon thought to himself.

"Flora is the kind of woman you don’t mess with, because if she gets you, you are doomed".

Flora looked at the staff. Her voice was calm but very cold and powerful.

"Leave this place and go back to your duty post. Now."

Her voice was not loud, but it carries authority. Nobody dares to stay.

Everyone disappeared at once.

Now it was only Flora and the chef in the living room.

Flora looked at her from head to toe.

Then she spoke. Her voice filled with pain and anger.

"Oh, you are properly dressed now like a chef. You look decent now. But at night, you looked like a stripper in my own house."

Flora brought out her phone." I have transferred your outstanding salary and holiday pay to your account. Check your phone. I owe you nothing again. You chose to breach your code of conduct ".

The chef reached for Flora’s clothes.

Flora stepped back.

"Don’t touch me."

The chef froze, then placed both hands on her head. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Madam, please... I am sorry. I did it out of ignorance. Please, give me another chance."

Flora stared at her coldly. She did not move.

"I heard and saw everything. Are you not ashamed of yourself? In my own house. You went to Simon’s corner to seduce him at night? Is this what I pay you for?"

The chef was shaking. She puts her two hands together, begging.

"Madam,the agency won’t take me back. Please, madam."

Flora shook her head as she remembered how she felt when she saw her on camera.dressed almost naked. Flora felt insulted in her own house.

"It is too late for sorry," Flora says. "The agency has already given me a go- ahead order. "A woman who has no discipline cannot work in my house. You have lost your respect."

Flora turned and calls the security.

"Security!"

Two security men ran in immediately.

"Take her outside. Carry her bags to the gate. Do not touch her."

The security men walked to the packed luggage. They bent down and lifted the bags.

"Had I known is the last word of a fool," one of them said, shaking his head.

The other chuckled. "She will learn the Egyptian way inside the cold streets, Pharaoh awaits her."

They exchanged cold smiles.

"Some people only understand when reality slaps them," the first man added as they carried the luggage away.

The chef was still on her knees, trying to hold Flora’s leg again

"Madam, please, give me another chance!"

Flora shifted her leg gently but firmly.

The security men carried her bags and walked her towards the big gate.

Outside, the chef’s voice could be heard.

"Madam Flora, please!"

The security men pointed towards the gate, showing her the way out. They looked almost happy to see her leave, making no effort to hide their amusement. They stood watching as she prepared to walk away with her luggage.

"If you had given me enough food, I would have begged on your behalf," one of them said, laughing.

The other man burst into laughter. "So food is all it takes to win your loyalty?"

They both laughed again, shaking their heads as they watched her leave.

Inside the house, everywhere became silent again.

Flora stood alone in the living room. Her face was still hard. She had done what a disciplined woman must do to protect her house.

The chef had stopped wailing, but tears still rolled down her cheeks. She kept checking her phone.

A few minutes later, she began looking around the compound, whoever it was, was nowhere to be seen.

The security men exchanged glances.

"The eagle is hunting again. Who is the next prey?" one whispered.

"The gardener told me everything," the other replied, shaking his head.

They both burst into laughter.

The chef heard them. Her face tightened with humiliation. She stared at them for a moment, then quickly looked away.

"Bloody civilians," she muttered.

Inside the building, Simon watched from behind a pillar. The security officers had gone back to the control room.

Simon walked slowly to the gate where she was standing. His hands were in his pockets. He stood behind the locked gate.

"I’m sorry," Simon said quietly.

The chef looked up at him, surprised.

"I didn’t report you," Simon said. "I swear I didn’t. I never went to Madam Flora. She saw you through the camera. She has hidden cameras all over the house."

The chef held the iron bars of the gate. "I thought you reported me. I thought it was you."

"It wasn’t me," Simon said. "I know what that house can do to a person. Flora is a woman you don’t mess with. If she notices any misconduct, you are dismissed. I have been working here for months. I know how she operates."

The chef wiped her tears and nodded. "Thank you for telling me."

Simon brought out his phone and looked around to be sure no one was watching from the windows.

"I know she paid your outstanding salary," he said, "but that money will not last long in this city. You need something to start over. Call your account details".

"Oh okay... She called it.

He tapped his phone and transferred ￡10,000 to her account.

A moment later, her phone beeped. She looked down and saw the alert. Ten thousand pounds. Her eyes widened. She was about to jump for joy and scream.

Simon immediately raised his finger to his lips.

"Stay calm," he whispered urgently. "Stay calm. Don’t shout. If you shout, she will see you from the camera. Please, stay calm."

The chef understood. She covered her mouth with her hand to control her excitement. Her body was shaking, but she forced herself to stay calm. She nodded repeatedly.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you so much, Simon."

Simon nodded. "Go now. Get a taxi. Leave this place quickly before she changes her mind. Take care of yourself."

The chef held her bags tightly. She remained calm, just as Simon had told her. She walked away from the gate toward the estate gate to find a taxi. She looked back once, smiled at Simon with gratitude, and then disappeared around the corner.

Simon watched until she was gone. He sighed with relief and turned to go back inside.

At that moment, his phone rang.

It was Flora.

His heart started beating fast as he looked at the screen.

Flora’s voice was cold and clear. "Simon, come to the living room immediately."

Simon froze. He slowly looked up at the living room window. The curtain moved slightly. Flora had been watching everything that happened at the gate from inside.

He put his phone back in his pocket and walked slowly toward the living room.