Lucy tried to ignore it.
She really did.
After the confrontation, she went back to her work, moving from desk to desk like nothing had happened.
But nothing felt normal anymore.
The air had changed.
People weren't just watching now—
They were avoiding her.
"Lucy."
She turned.
The supervisor stood at the end of the hallway.
Her expression unreadable.
"Come with me."
Lucy didn't argue this time.
"…Okay."
The walk felt different from before.
Quieter.
Heavier.
Lucy noticed the way people looked up, then quickly looked away.
Clara didn't even call her this time.
She just watched.
Inside the office, the door closed.
"Sit."
Lucy sat.
Her hands rested on her lap again, but this time they weren't as relaxed.
The supervisor didn't waste time.
"What do you think you were doing out there?"
Lucy blinked. "Ma?"
"Don't act like you don't understand," the woman said, her tone sharper now. "You approached a visitor. Not just any visitor."
Lucy frowned. "I spoke to someone, yes. I didn't know—"
"That is exactly the problem," the supervisor cut in. "You didn't know."
Lucy's jaw tightened slightly.
"I wasn't being disrespectful," she said.
The supervisor gave a short, humorless laugh. "You call that not disrespectful?"
Lucy didn't respond.
"You raised your voice. In front of staff. In front of people you have no business speaking to."
Lucy looked up. "I didn't do anything wrong."
The words came out before she could stop them.
Silence.
The supervisor leaned forward slightly. "Lucy… you are already under review."
That hit.
Lucy's expression changed.
"What does that mean?" she asked quietly.
"It means your name is already involved in a serious issue in this company," the woman replied. "And instead of staying low, doing your work, and avoiding attention—"
She paused.
"You decided to create a scene."
Lucy swallowed.
"I didn't know who he was," she said again, softer this time.
"That doesn't matter," the supervisor replied. "What matters is how you behaved."
Lucy looked down for a moment.
Then back up.
"…Am I in trouble?" she asked.
The supervisor didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"You're suspended."
The word landed heavy.
Lucy blinked. "…Suspended?"
"Three days," the woman said. "Starting now."
Lucy stared at her. "Without work?"
"Yes."
"…Without pay?" Lucy asked, her voice lower now.
The supervisor held her gaze.
"Yes."
Lucy's chest tightened.
"I need this job," she said before she could stop herself.
The words slipped out.
Real.
Honest.
The supervisor's expression softened for just a second.
Then it was gone.
"You should have thought about that before," she said.
Lucy shook her head slightly. "It wasn't like that."
"Lucy," the woman interrupted, calmer now but firm, "this is not a discussion."
Silence.
Lucy looked away.
Her mind was already racing.
Her father.
The house.
Everything.
"…What about the other issue?" she asked quietly. "The missing documents."
The supervisor watched her closely. "It's still under investigation."
Lucy nodded slowly.
"I didn't take anything," she said again.
The supervisor didn't respond.
"Pack your things," she said instead. "You'll leave early today."
Lucy didn't move immediately.
Then she stood.
"…Okay."
Outside the office, the noise returned.
But it felt distant.
Muted.
Lucy walked past the desks.
No one stopped her.
No one spoke.
Clara stood up slowly. "Lucy…"
Lucy shook her head slightly. "It's fine."
"What happened?" Clara asked.
"I'm suspended," Lucy said simply.
Clara's eyes widened. "What?"
"Three days."
Clara lowered her voice. "Because of what happened just now?"
Lucy nodded faintly.
"That's not fair," Clara whispered.
Lucy gave a small, tired smile. "Fair doesn't really matter right now."
Clara hesitated. "And the other thing?"
Lucy picked up her bag. "…Still there."
Clara exhaled slowly. "Lucy…"
Lucy looked at her. "I'll be fine."
She didn't sound convinced.
At the entrance, the security guard looked at her again.
"You're leaving early," he said.
Lucy nodded. "Yes."
He hesitated. "Everything okay?"
Lucy paused.
Then, "Yes."
Another lie.
Outside, the sun felt too bright.
Too normal.
Lucy stood there for a moment, holding her bag.
Three days.
No pay.
And a problem that wasn't going away.
For the first time—
She didn't know what to do next.