Chapter 6. The Lawsuit
1123 Words
The day after lunch with the great Mr. Mayer, Ilenia continued her job search. She was sitting in comfortable clothes in the living room of Lilian's apartment when there was a knock on the door. She opened it.
"Good afternoon, I'm looking for Ilenia Toms."
"That's me, what is it?"
He handed her a document and simply said, "Sign here please."
Ilenia was puzzled but did so, went back inside, and opened the document. Her eyes widened in surprise and disbelief at what she was reading, her fists clenched the paper in anger.
"What the hell is this?" she asked herself, hissing with rage.
The document was a lawsuit for unjust dismissal, damages, and severance compensation.
Ilenia felt frustrated reading such a thing. She was notified that she had a maximum of two days to attend court and resolve the situation, otherwise, she would be arrested for contempt.
She let herself fall heavily to the floor; everything was spinning, and she didn't know how to solve the problem. She took out her phone and thought about calling Javier but remembered he was unreachable, so she just sent him a message.
Javi, please call me as soon as you see this, I need you. I'm in trouble.
She continued with a blank mind and didn't know what to do. She thought about hiring another lawyer but knew well she couldn't afford it.
She just sighed and went to the room to get ready to attend as soon as possible, thinking it would be better to resolve it as soon as possible.
She left the apartment and went straight to the courthouse. Upon arriving there, she realized that her workers were there. She closed her eyes and thought this wouldn't end well.
She entered and headed to the room assigned to her. When she entered, a judge and a clerk were waiting. She sighed and approached.
"Good afternoon, my name is Ilenia Toms, I don't understand what I'm being sued for."
The judge extended his hand asking for the requirement she was carrying, read it, and raised his eyes to observe her. She was a very young and extremely beautiful woman, what was she doing here going through this situation, the judge thought. With one hand, he showed her a chair, indicating she should take a seat.
"Miss Toms, your employees are suing you for a severance compensation amount because they argue that you no longer have sufficient funds to pay them. They want a settlement."
Ilenia was speechless and didn't know what to think about what they were asking for; it was an absurd amount.
"Can some deal be made? It's a lot of money."
"I'm sorry, miss, but if you don't have the minimum amount to proceed with the lawsuit peacefully, you will have to be detained, as your former workers think you will flee, and based on your actions, we can't say you won't."
"What? What actions?" She was furious at what they were saying. Did they think I would flee? What the hell do these people think? Her face showed extreme irritation at what was said.
"Your former workers say you no longer live at your residence, that you abandoned it, and for us, it's proof that you intend to leave it permanently."
"How could I leave my home? I'm just going through a crisis due to my parents' death. I've been staying with a friend, but sooner or later I'll return home," her eyes saddened at the mention of her parents' passing.
"I'm sorry, Miss Toms, but if you don't pay the minimum amount to proceed with the lawsuit peacefully, you will have to be arrested."
Ilenia's eyes widened in astonishment, and she was left speechless.
"What do you mean arrested? They'll lock me up, what do I do!"
She took her phone and called Lilian, but at that moment, Lilian didn't answer because she was making a cake and didn't hear her phone ring. She decided to leave her a message and sighed.
When she was putting away her phone, Hilda entered the room with a lawyer, with a brazen smile, acting as if she owned the Toms mansion.
"Your Honor, I present myself as the lawyer for Miss Toms' workers."
Ilenia felt furious seeing Hilda enter the room. This woman was truly a parasite trying to take her money, after working for her family for years, it was too nauseating.
"Well, Your Honor, my clients, knowing that Miss Toms has no money, want the Toms mansion to be transferred to their names, and they will take care of distributing it equally."
"What?" Ilenia exclaimed furiously. "My parents' house will not pass into the hands of these people, what do they think they're doing?"
"Miss, please maintain your composure, or I will lock you up for disturbances."
Ilenia was on the verge of a mental collapse; she didn't know what to do, and everything was spinning around her. She was furious at the behavior of those she thought were loyal workers to her parents, but now she saw they were not; they were vultures and parasites trying to take advantage of her situation.
The judge would arrest her if she couldn't post bail. Ilenia didn't know what to do. Her eyes reddened and filled with tears at the thought of losing her parents' house. She thought everything was over when the judge ordered her to be taken into custody.
She looked at Hilda, hoping she would reconsider, but she only showed a malicious smile.
"Your Honor, we just want to be compensated for years of service. As you can see, I am an elderly person, I won't find a job easily anymore. I just seek well-being for my old age," putting on a pitiful look, she pretended to be wronged to elicit sympathy.
"Don't worry, ma'am, everything will be under the law and you will benefit if it has to be so."
Ilenia couldn't take it anymore, and with her tearful eyes, it occurred to her to call one more person.
"Please wait! I want to make one last call."
The judge saw her sad, tear-filled eyes and agreed, indicating that the call would have to be made in everyone's presence, and she accepted. She took her cell phone and searched her contacts for a number she thought she would never dial.
"Grandpa? Help me, please," her tears rolled down her flushed cheeks, and she just nodded, wiping her tears.
"I'm at courthouse 17," she nodded and hung up the phone.
"Please wait a few minutes, someone is coming to help me."
"Please, you don't have grandparents, Miss Toms, I know that better than anyone. Is this some kind of joke?"
The judge noticed Hilda's hostility.
"We will wait."
- Writer
