Here Comes the Lord

Chapter 10 Keep Up the Good Work

"Miss, do you know this guy?" João pointed at Mark with disgust.

"I don't know him intimately," she replied, "But he is not entirely unfamiliar to me."

"IMPOSSIBLE!" Mary Ellen screamed, "You and he come from completely different worlds!"

Gisléne stepped forward, "Miss, let me explain: this guy, although he is not wearing a uniform, is the most deplorable janitor in our company. The other janitors at least manage to keep their uniforms clean, but Mark insists on keeping his always dirty and grimy."

Mark smiled ironically. His uniform was the dirtiest because Celia always dumped it into the sink and used it as a mop every time he had hand-washed it.

To make matter worse, Celia forbade Mark from using the washing machine because she didn't want his uniform to stain her clothes.

João added salt to the wound, "Furthermore, he made us lose a day's pay today, so we need to straighten things out with him."

The lady disagreed with the views of the others, "Excuse me, but I thought I was entering a company, not a violent and disorganized high school premises."

The others were shocked by the visitor's statement.

"I'm Briana Vasconcelos." The visitor introduced herself, "I came here, indeed, to speak with Manager Curtis and discuss business.

"But I never expected to find such a situation. What do you intend to do with this janitor, lynch him?"

Everyone felt uncomfortable with Miss Vasconcelos's reprimand.

Mary Ellen, who felt jealous of Briana's beauty and assertiveness since first sight, decided to challenge her, "Why do you defend this useless janitor so much?"

However, Briana turned to the troublemaker with an ironic smile. "Useless? Do you really work in this company?

"I am a visitor, but it's not my first time here. Every time I visit Glamour, I find this man diligently performing his duties!

"I bet you rely on him when a toilet is clogged. Look how shiny the floor is today. Who made all this happen?

"If this man is as useless as you say, why is he still here? Manager Curtis is a smart man and wouldn't keep lazy people in the company."

Mary Ellen and the others rolled their eyes inwardly. They didn’t take Briana’s word seriously but they also didn’t dare show it on the surface.

After all, Briana wasn’t a janitor like Mark. It might be risky if they really offended her.

Mark, however, looked up at Briana and gave her a slight smile of gratitude.

As the owner of the company, he certainly knew who Briana Vasconcelos was. She was the CEO of another company and was always visiting Glamour seeking business collaborations with Anthony Curtis.

Sometimes, Briana spotted Mark in the hallways at a distance, that's why she could tell he wasn't some lazy worker.

"You stay up there in your ivory tower, judging the janitor because he is poor." Briana made a point of it, "So what? Is it a crime to be poor? I believe that this man here, like anyone else, is capable of overcoming difficulties and rising in life."

Mary Ellen couldn’t hold back anymore and began to laugh.

...But a warning gaze from João made her suddenly fall silent.

Brianna glared at Mary Ellen and she covered her mouth with her hands.

"This lady is here to speak with manager Curtis." João thus concluded today's show, quickly heading to his desk.

Everyone understood the message. If they continued to belittle Mark, the lady could very well report them to Manager Curtis, telling him that the employees continued to waste time even after being punished with the loss of their day's pay!

Only after Briana witnessed the crowd of lazy employees dispersing back to their duties did she relax and decide to go to the office of the general manager.

"Keep up the good work," Briana said to Mark and left.

Mark pretended to tip an imaginary hat, like a gentleman from the Wild West greeting a lady.