The manager wanted to help the cleaner with money but found something unexpected in her handbag.
A high-ranking executive had intended to secretly assist the cleaner financially, only to stumble upon something peculiar nestled within her purse.
Oliver noticed the young cleaning girl sitting in the corner, her cheeks streaked with tears.
“Excuse me, can I help? Whats happened? Has someone upset you?” he asked gently.
The girl flinched, quickly wiping her face. “Sorry for the trouble. Its nothing,” she murmured.
“Dont apologise. Are you sure everythings alright?” Oliver pressed, his voice soft with concern.
“Yes, Im fine. I should get back to work,” she replied hastily before hurrying away.
Left alone, Oliver muttered to himself, certain there was more to it. Smoke never rose without fire. Walking to his office, he puzzled over how to help her. Then it struck himhe needed to speak with Margaret Whitmore.
Margaret had worked there for years, overseeing the cleaning staff. Oliver found her number in his notebook and rang her.
“Good afternoon, Margaret. Could you come to my office in ten minutes?”
Soon enough, Margaret sat across from him, sipping tea.
“Did I just summon you for tea?” Oliver joked. “Why shouldnt a manager invite a cleaner for a cuppa?”
Margaret chuckled. “Oh, stop it, Oliver. What did you want to know?”
“I have a question. Who knows the staff better than you?” he began, steeling himself. “Whats your take on the new cleaner?”
“Shes a good girl. Hardworking. Life hasnt been kind, but she doesnt complain. Whats happened?”
“I saw her crying. Asked her about it, but she ran off.”
Margaret frowned. “She was crying here too. I told her to ignore those stuck-up girlsall lipstick and lashes, no sense. Lily takes things to heart.”
“Someones been bullying her?” Oliver leaned in. “How?”
“Oh, it started when she first arrived. Our lot like to flaunt their looks, but Lilys just naturally pretty. So they mock hercalling her rag queen, donkeys coat. No designer shoes, no fancy clothes. Same old story.”
Oliver was stunned. “Our teams highly educated. How is this possible? You must be mistaken.”
“No mistake. I even warned Samanthapack it in. But they enjoy it too much.”
“Is her home situation really that bad?”
“Yes. Her mothers ill, no disability allowance. Cant work, but needs medicine. Lily does what she can. Bright girl, no time for school.”
Oliver brooded. How could people act like this in a modern world? After thanking Margaret, he sat alone, stewing over the cruelty lurking in human nature.
After long thought, Oliver resolved to intervene. He emptied his wallet and slipped into the hall where Lily and Margaret were cleaning.
Timing it right, he crept into their storage room. Lilys bag caught his eye. He meant to slip money insidediscreetly, to spare her dignity.
But as he opened her purse, a glint of gold stopped him. A crucifix. It couldnt belong therethis was his fathers. Memories surgedtwenty years ago, his mothers sudden illness, her worsening state. A boy of ten, watching his father, exhausted, ferry her between doctors to no avail.
That morning, she had made breakfast, seemed better. Then, without warning, she paled and swayed. His father scooped her up, shouting, “Quick, to the carhospital!”
Oliver held her hand in the backseat, weeping silently. His father drove recklessly, other cars swerving aside. Nearing the city, they took a bend too fastanother driver panicked, veered off.
His father had sworn, braking hard. Their car spun, but the other flipped.
Through the shattered windscreen, Oliver glimpsed a little girl inside. The mother at the wheel was bleeding badly. His father pulled her free, then frozeblood streaked one cheek, the other untouched.
Suddenly, the woman seized his fathers cross, whispering, “Help my daughter.”
His father recoiled. “I cantmy wifes dying in that car!”
He returned to their vehicle, speeding off. Oliver begged, “Dad, they need help! Someone else will stopwe have to get Mum there!”
Only a broken chain remained. At the hospital, it was too latehis mothers heart had failed. Life split into before and after.
Now, holding that crucifix, the past roared back.
He and his father never spoke of it. Oliver had searched newspapers, found nothing. Thirteen years passed. His father retired, travelled often, visited his mothers grave. Never remarried.
Oliver became a successful businessman, burying the memoriesuntil now.
A voice startled him. “Excuse me, what are you doing?”
He turnedLily stood there. He must look mad, rummaging through her things.
“Sorry, Lily. This will sound odd, but I wanted to give you a bonus. Didnt know how else to do it.” He pressed the money into her hand, apologised, and left.
At home, Oliver debated for hours before confronting his father.
“Dad, we need to talk.”
Alexander raised a brow. “Finally getting married?”
“No. Remember the day we rushed Mum to hospital? The crash?”
His father stiffened. “Thought youd forgotten.”
“No, I remember. We didnt help them. Mum died in that car.”
“Oliver, we had no choice.”
“Not even calling an ambulance? Dad, the girl from that car works for me now. We have to help.”
His father paced, then faced him. “How do you know its her?”
Oliver recounted the day.
“You think I havent thought of that day? That woman was badly hurt. She was doomed.”
“She survived, but disabled. Her daughter carries everythingnineteen years old. Dad, we have to make this right.”
Alexander sighed. “Oliver, guilty or notthats the past. The other driver lost control. We never touched their car.”
“I get that. But heres a chance to help now. Do you want her hating us forever?” Oliver stood. “Ive always respected you. Now Im more disappointed than I was thenbecause now, you could fix it.”
He left, grief hollowing his chest. The father he revered now felt a stranger.
When Lily entered his office later, Oliver saw her beauty properlystriking, likely envied by her spiteful coworkers.
“Sit, Lily,” he offered. “Weve a lot to discuss.”
She hesitated. “Have I done something wrong?”
“No, not at all.” He placed coffee before her. “Lily, why didnt you go to university?”
She shrugged. “Couldnt manage it. Mums been sick.”
“Whats wrong with her?”
“An old accident. Something with her spine.” Lily sighed. “Pain flares if she walks or stands too long. Now its constant. Doctors dont know why. We cant afford a good clinic. Im savingcleaning here, night security, stairwells. Its not much.”
Oliver walked to the window. “So the accident caused all this?”
“Pretty much.”
His phone ranghis father. “Just a moment.”
Alexanders voice was tense. “Oliver, I met her. We talked. Ive arranged treatment at our clinic. Top specialists. Shes a good womanholds no grudge. Ill explain later.”
Oliver smiled at Lily. “Lily, I want to help properly. Ill sort your education, finances.”
“But I cant studyMum”
“Your mothers being seen at a top clinic. My father arranged it.”
Her eyes widened. “Why? Why would you?”
Oliver rubbed his face. “I dont know how youll take this, butI was in that overtaking car. My father was driving. My mother died in the backseat. We were in a hurryshe was unconscious.”
Lily studied him. “Thats why you didnt stop?”
“Yes. My father wasnt himself. No excusebut let us help now. Ill change your life.”
He offered every support. At the door, Lily turned.
“I understand this haunted you. Maybe itll help your father too. Mum was inexperiencedjust learned to drive, barely used to it. That day, someone rang saying Dad was with another woman. She panicked, took the wheel… If not you, someone else mightve scared her.”
With that, she left.
Oliver exhaledlighter, as if unburdened. Hed helped Lily, her mother. His conscience was clear.
Six months later, Oliver visited his father again.
“Dad, we need to talk.”
Alexander tensed. “What now?”
“This time, I really am getting married. Lilys finishing her term. Were filing the papers.”
The office celebrated, led by Margaret. Lilys mother, after long rehab
