"Good morning, sunshine", Mia greeted as she saw Leslie walk into the kitchen. "Coffee"?
If one didn't know, one might have thought nothing happened between them. That was the unspoken understanding they shared.
"Yes!" Leslie said, eyeing the fresh pot of coffee Mia brewed.
Handing her a cup, "Should we observe a moment of silence for the poor soul who died unexpectedly but deservedly?", Mia added snarkily, with her eyes closed.
Whoosh! A sharp crack echoed through the kitchen. Mia didn't flinch, she had known exactly what would happen the moment she made the suggestion.
Turning to look at the shattered porcelain plate on the floor, Mia sighed, "Can't you take a joke?, That was my favorite plate, if you care to know. I paid top dollars for that" she said, appearing heartbroken as she stared at the remains.
"It's just a plate", Leslie countered, offering compassion.
"Just as this plate means nothing to you, that's how I feel about the dead girl," she retorted, not even bothering to mention her name.
She gathered her bag and keys to leave, "and Leslie?" Leslie paused, watching her.
"Solve the issue by the end of the day or I will be forced to step in," Mia warned.
*****
"Good morning, Boss", Special Assistant Delia greeted, opening the car door.
Stepping into the vehicle after the boss, she was about to brief her on the day's agenda, when you caught Mia sniffing the air as if she smelled something rotten.
"Do you smell that? Who is using the fake ass perfume?"Mia asked, pressing the switch, the window glided down with a faint hum, letting the humid air in.
"I think it is the new driver", Delia offered hastily.
"You think or you know", Mia asked, giving her a sharp side-eye. "You already know what to do. Don't let me tell you twice"
"Okay, boss, it won't happen again", she quickly apologized. She didn't know what possessed her to hire a new driver when you could have used someone from the company's pool after the old driver retired. Making a mental note to fire the new driver and chew out Louis for convincing her to hire this guy, she began her report.
"Antonio said he has new collections for you, and hopes you will pass by before you go to work", she said, closing her folder.
With her eyes closed, Mia asked, "And why are you telling me this now?" in a voice that suggested Delia was a fool for waiting this long to tell her.
"Sorry, boss, I thought the meeting with Addison Corporation was important, that's why", Delia offered as a way to justify her mistake.
"And who do you think you are to tell me what's important and what's not", Mia asked, her eyes still closed.
Knowing better than to answer, Delia started making the necessary calls.
"We have arrived", the driver announced after some time.
Looking outside, Delia panicked, searching in her memory for when she had given the driver the directions to this specific place.
"I hope the boss doesn't realize what just happened", she prayed, but with how sharp Mia is she knew that was a fool's dream.
"Stay here", Mia commanded as she stepped out of the car.
Watching her boss enter the building, she hurriedly went to the driver's side, "How did you know the direction to the place?", she questioned him.
Trying to maintain his cover, the driver replied coolly, "Louis told him". It was the half-truth.
"Oh okay," Delia nobbed. The guy is an undercover agent, which means the boss has likely already come to the same conclusion.