LOVE BETWEEN CUBICLES

Chapter 8

Kayla dials Doreen and Francis' numbers, her fingers trembling slightly. As the phone rings, she inhales deeply, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. Finally, Doreen picks up and Kayla lets out a sigh of relief.Doreen's voice comes through the phone, bright and friendly
"Hey Kayla! What's up?"Kayla hesitates for a beat, mentally preparing herself to share her predicament. "Hey Doreen," she begins. "I need to talk to you and Francis about something...it's kind of serious."Doreen's tone shifts immediately, concern evident in her voice. "Serious? What's going on? You sound a bit worried."Kayla pauses, taking a deep breath before finally spitting it out. "It's about my manager at work. He's...he's been behaving inappropriately towards me. Touching me, making lewd comments. I...I don't know what to do, it's been really affecting me, and I don't know who to talk to."Doreen is silent for a moment, processing Kayla's words. Her voice is softer now, laced with outrage and worry. "What? Kayla, that's unacceptable. That's not how anyone should be treated, let alone by your boss. Have you reported him yet?"Kayla shakes her head, even though Doreen can't see her. "No, I haven't. I'm scared. He's got a lot of influence in the company, and I don't think they'll believe me. And if I speak up, he could make things even worse for me.Kayla takes a breath. "Can I talk to Francis, too? I really need to speak to both of you about this."Doreen nods, even though Kayla can't see her. "Of course, I'll get Francis."

She shouts out to someone in the background, presumably Francis. "Hey Francis, Kayla needs to talk to us, it's important."After a moment, Kayla hears a new voice on the line, Francis'.
"Hey Kayla, what's going on? Doreen said it's important."Kayla's heart is pounding as she begins to explain the situation to Francis. "It's my manager, he's been acting really inappropriately towards me. Touching, making comments, threats, you know. But I'm so scared. I don't know what to do or who to tell.Francis reacts to Kayla's confession with a mixture of anger and worry. "That's outrageous. Your boss has no right to behave that way, especially towards an employee. It's not only highly unprofessional, but also deeply unethical and potentially illegal."Francis continues, his voice firm. "You need to report this immediately, Kayla. You deserve to work in an environment where you feel safe and respected. No one should have to deal with such harassment while trying to earn a living."Doreen cuts in, her voice filled with anger. "Yeah, absolutely! That scumbag has no right to treat you like that. If he thinks he can get away with this, he's got another thing coming."Kayla fidgets, feeling torn. "I know, I know, you're both right. But I'm so scared of the repercussions. I could lose my job, or worse, he could retaliate against me."Doreen scoffs, her voice filled with conviction. "That's bullcrap, Kayla. You can't let that creep get away with this just because you're scared. You work hard and deserve respect, and no one has the right to treat you this way. We won't let him bully you into silence."Francis chimes in, his voice steady yet resolute. "Doreen's right. We're in your corner, and we'll back you up every step of the way. You won't have to face this alone.Kayla retorts, her frustration evident in her voice. "It's easy for you to say that, you're both rich and influential. You don't know what it's like to be in my shoes, worrying about losing your job and income.""Doreen sighs, her tone softening slightly. "You're right, Kayla. We don't fully know how you feel. But that doesn't change the fact that you shouldn't have to endure that kind of treatment. We just want you to be safe and treated with respect."Francis adds, his voice gentle yet firm. "We might not understand exactly what you're going through, but we care about you. That's why we want you to take action and protect yourself. You shouldn't have to be afraid because of some creep's power trip."Kayla's shoulders sag as she takes in their words. She knows they're right, but the fear still grips her. "I...I appreciate your support. I just feel so overwhelmed and unsure of what to do."Francis responds, his voice firm but compassionate. "We understand it's scary, Kayla. But you need to do something before things get worse. We're here for you, and we'll support you however we can."Doreen chimes in, her voice filled with sisterly concern. "Yeah, we've got your back, Kayla. You're not alone in this. We'll help you figure out what to do next."Kayla nods, feeling a mix of emotions. "Thank you guys. I don't know what I'd do without you. I'm just so scared of what might happen if I report this. What if he gets mad and retaliates?"Francis responds, his voice steady and confident. "We understand your fears, Kayla. But you can't let that stop you from standing up for yourself. It's important to remember that you're not the one in the wrong here. You deserve to be treated with respect, and he needs to be held accountable for his actions."Kayla nods again, feeling a mix of gratitude and determination. "Okay, I'll think about what you guys said. Thank you for listening and for your support."

Francis and Doreen echo their support, assuring Kayla they're there for her if she needs them. They then end the call.Kayla sets her phone down, feeling a mixture of emotions. On one hand, she's grateful for her friend's support and encouragement. Their words have instilled a sense of determination in her. But on the other hand, she's still scared and unsure of what to do next. The thought of facing her manager and potentially losing her job sends chills down her spine.