The manager wanted to help the cleaner with money, but in her handbag he found something unexpected.
The tall executive had intended to discreetly offer financial assistance to the cleaning lady, but when he opened her purse, he froze.
William noticed the young cleaner, a girl sitting in the corner with tear-stained cheeks.
“Excuse me, is everything alright? Can I help?” he asked gently.
The girl flinched, quickly wiping her face. “I’m fine, sorry for the trouble.”
“Dont apologise. Are you sure youre okay?” William pressed with concern.
“Yes, really. I should get back to work,” she said hurriedly before slipping away.
Left alone, William muttered to himselfthere are no smoke signals without fire. As he walked to his office, he wondered how to help her. Then it struck himhe needed to speak with Margaret Whitmore.
Margaret had worked there for years, overseeing the cleaning staff. William found her number in his notes and called.
“Margaret, could you come to my office in ten minutes?”
Soon, Margaret sat across from him, sipping tea.
“Did I summon you just for tea?” William joked. “Cant a manager share a cuppa with the cleaning staff?”
Margaret chuckled.
“Oh, stop it, Mr. Harrison. Whats on your mind?”
“I have a question. You know the staff better than anyone. What do you think of the new cleaner?”
“Shes a good girl. Hardworking. Life hasnt been kind, but she doesnt complain. Why?”
“I saw her crying earlier. I asked, but she rushed off,” William explained.
Margaret frowned.
“She was upset. I told her to ignore those stuck-up girlsall lipstick and eyelashes. Sophie takes things to heart.”
“Someones been bullying her?” William leaned in. “How?”
“It started when she first arrived. Those girls are all about flashy clothes, trying to stand out. Sophies just naturally pretty. So they mock her’rags queen,’ ‘donkey coat.’ No designer shoes, same old outfits.”
William was stunned.
“Our team has degrees. How is this possible? Are you sure?”
“I warned Charlotte to back off. They think its just fun.”
“And her home situationis it really that difficult?”
“Yes. Her mothers ill, but disability claims keep getting denied. She needs medicine, but cant work. Sophie does what she can. Bright girl, but no time for school.”
William sat in silence. How could people act this way in the modern world? After thanking Margaret, he was left alone, stewing over the injustice.
Later, he decided to act. Taking out his wallet, he went to the corridor where Sophie and Margaret were cleaning.
Seeing Sophies bag, he quietly opened it to slip in the moneydoing it openly might shame her. But as he reached in, something glinted: a golden cross.
This couldnt be here.
The cross was uniqueit had once belonged to his father. Memories flooded backtwenty years ago, his mother had fallen ill. As a boy, hed watched helplessly as his father, exhausted, drove her to endless doctor visits, but nothing helped.
One morning, his mother made breakfast. She seemed betteruntil she suddenly turned pale and collapsed. His father carried her to the car, shouting,
“Quick, to the hospital!”
William sat beside her, clutching her hand as his father sped through traffic. Just outside the city, another car swerved into them.
His father cursed, slamming the brakes. Their car spun out.
Through the shattered windshield, William saw a little girl inside the overturned car. The mother was bleeding badly. His father pulled her out, but she grabbed his fathers cross, whispering,
“Help my daughter.”
His father stepped back.
“I cantmy wife is dying!”
They drove off. William begged,
“Dad, someone else will stop for themwe have to get Mum there!”
But at the hospital, it was too late. His mother was gone. Life split into before and after.
Now, holding that same cross, William felt time collapse.
A voice startled him.
“Excuse me, what are you doing?”
Sophie stood there, confused.
He stammered, “II wanted to give you a bonus. Didnt know how to say it.” He handed over the money, apologised, and hurried off.
At home, William debated before confronting his father.
“Dad, we need to talk.”
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
“Finally getting married?”
“No. Do you remember the day Mum died? The accident?”
His father stiffened.
“I thought youd forgotten.”
“I remember everything. We left them. Mum died in that car.”
“We had no choice.”
“We didnt even call an ambulance. Dad, the girl from that carshe works for me now. We have to help.”
His father paced, then turned.
“How do you know its her?”
William recounted the day.
“That woman was badly hurt. She was doomed.”
“She survivedbut disabled. Her daughter carries everything now. Nineteen years old. Dad, we have to make this right.”
Alexander sighed.
“William, its the past. We werent at fault. That driver panicked. We never even touched their car.”
“I know. But we can fix it now. Do you want her hating you forever?” William stood. “Ive always respected you. Now, Im more disappointed than I was thenbecause this time, you couldve done something.”
He left, heart heavy.
Later, when Sophie entered his office, William truly saw her for the first timeradiant, despite everything.
“Sit down, Sophie. We need to talk.”
She looked nervous.
“Have I done something wrong?”
“No. Why didnt you go to university?”
She shrugged.
“Couldnt manage it. Mums sick.”
“What happened to her?”
“Car crash, years ago. Something with her spine. Pain comes and goesnow its constant. Doctors dont know why. Im saving for a private clinic.”
William turned to the window.
“So the accident ruined everything?”
“Pretty much.”
His phone ranghis father.
“William, I met her. Arranged treatment at our clinic. Shes a good womanholds no grudge.”
William smiled at Sophie.
“Sophie, I want to help. Your mothers being seen by specialists. My father arranged it.”
She stared.
“Why?”
He rubbed his face.
“I dont know how youll take thisbut I was in that car. My father was driving. My mother died in the back seat.”
Sophie absorbed this.
“So thats why you didnt stop?”
“Yes. He wasnt himself. No excusebut let us help now.”
She stood by the door, thoughtful.
“I understand. It mustve haunted you. But maybe this will help your father too. Mum was a new driverrarely drove. That day, someone called, said Dad was with another woman. She panicked, took the wheel.” She paused. “If not you, someone else mightve scared her.”
With that, she left.
Weight lifted, William breathed easier.
Six months later, he visited his father again.
“Dad, we need to talk.”
“What now?”
“This time, I really am getting married. Sophies finishing her examswere submitting the application.”
The office celebrated, led by Margaret. Sophies mother, after rehab, even danced a little.
As for the office mean girls? They couldnt meet Sophies eyes anymore.
