And the two of them walked away hand in hand.
After Mireille and Mama left, Émilie stayed alone in the office, furious. How had a simple cleaning girl dared speak to her like that? Her face was red with anger. She immediately grabbed her phone and called her fiancé Cyril, the CEO.
As soon as he answered, Émilie started sobbing. “Cyril, something terrible just happened,” she cried.
“What? Are you all right?” Cyril asked, worried.
“No, not at all. That girl you hired, Mireille, she brought people into your company, thugs. They threatened me. They almost hit me. I was so scared.”
Cyril, stunned, clenched his teeth. “Are you serious? Mireille did that?”
“Yes, and then she shouted that she did not care about her job, that she did not need you. She walked out like she owned the place.”
Cyril let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead. “I’ll deal with her. Go home and rest.”
“Thank you, my love. You’re the only one who understands me.”
Émilie hung up with a satisfied smile. “Now let’s see how you get out of this, Mireille.”
Meanwhile, Mireille and Mama had just arrived at the modest one-room house Mireille rented on the outskirts of town. There was an old mat on the floor, a small mattress in the corner, a wooden table, and only one cooking pot. It was not much, but it was her home.
Mireille settled Mama on the mattress and handed her a glass of water. “Mama, it’s not much, but you can stay here as long as you want.”
“Thank you.”
Mama gave her a warm smile. “It is not the size that matters, my daughter. It is the love inside. And you, you have a heart of gold.”
Mireille smiled shyly. She served the food she had bought earlier. The two of them ate quietly.
Then suddenly, Mama sighed and looked at Mireille carefully. “My daughter, I have to tell you something.”
Mireille looked up curiously. “What is it, Mama?”
“In truth, I came to town to look for a wife for my son.”
Mireille’s eyes widened. “Your son?”
Mama nodded. “Yes. He is a good man, hardworking and respectful. But he is not married yet, and I’m afraid he may never be if he stays so reserved.”
Mireille smiled a little awkwardly. “That is every mother’s worry. He will find a woman at the right time.”
But Mama gently took her hands. “Yes, my daughter. That is exactly why I want it to be you.”
Mireille opened her eyes wide. “Me?”
“Yes, you. From the moment I met you, I knew you were different. You are kind, respectful, brave. You would make a beautiful wife for my son.”
Mireille was speechless. She had not seen this proposal coming at all. She looked at Mama, who was staring at her with softness and hope.
After a few seconds, she answered, “All right, Mama, but I must see him first. I cannot accept a marriage without knowing your son.”
Mama burst out laughing. “You are right, my daughter. But let me warn you, he has no money. He is not rich. But he is hardworking, brilliant, and very handsome.”
Mireille laughed softly. “Mama, stop selling your son as if he were in the market. Let me see him first.”
Mama laughed, filled with joy. Mireille smiled too. She did not know what to expect, but she was curious.
Just then, Mireille’s phone rang. An unknown number. She hesitated, then answered.
“Hello?”
A deep male voice replied, “Good evening. Is this Mireille?”
“Yes, speaking.”
“This is Cyril, the director of the company where you worked… until today.”
Mireille’s heart skipped a beat. She had never met the CEO in person. When she had been hired, it had been over the phone; he had been traveling. She took a deep breath.
“Good evening, sir.”
But Cyril was not in the mood for politeness.
“How dare you bring strangers into my company and attack my fiancée with your street friends? Who gave you that right?”
Mireille was stunned. “That is not what happened, sir. I swear. I did not bring anyone. I only helped an old woman who had nowhere to go. She was sitting calmly, bothering no one. But your fiancée insulted her and drove her out.”
“So now you’re implying that Émilie is lying?” Cyril growled.
“I am simply telling the truth. I only defended an old woman.”
There was silence on the line. Then Cyril said coldly, “You should have called me. You should have waited for me to come back to deal with it.”
Mireille frowned. “Sir, you were away, and I did not think helping an old woman required permission. Would you have preferred that I let your fiancée humiliate her without doing anything?”
But Cyril ignored her remark. “You are new here, barely two days, and you are already creating problems. That is not professional. Émilie told me she would leave me if I do not fire you, and I cannot lose my fiancée over an employee I do not even know.”
A pain shot through Mireille’s chest. She understood everything. He did not believe her. He preferred to believe a lie.
She let out a bitter laugh. “I’m not surprised. That is exactly what I expected from you.”
“What do you mean?” Cyril asked tensely.
“That you are a weak man. A man who lets a woman make his decisions. A real follower.”
“What did you say?”
“You heard me well. And guess what? I do not care. Keep your job. I do not want it anymore.”
She hung up.
Mireille set her phone down and took a deep breath. She was angry, but deep inside, she felt free.
Mama, who had watched everything, placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “My child, who was that?”
“It was my boss. He fired me.”
Mama’s eyes widened in distress. “Because of me?”
“Yes. Émilie lied to him. She said I brought people to beat her, and he chose to believe her.”
Mama lowered her eyes in shame. “I am sorry, my daughter. I am the cause of all this.”
Mireille took her hand. “No, Mama, do not say that. If I lost my job for defending you, then I have no regrets. I will find another job.”
Mama nodded, her eyes shining. “May heaven bless you, my daughter. You will never lack anything in life.”
Mireille smiled, but in her heart, she knew she had to find work again quickly. She had bills to pay, and now she also had to take care of Mama.
Mireille and Mama stayed silent after the call. Mireille was thinking about her next step, while Mama seemed lost in thought.
