Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Mom, I got him! I found that jerk's company!"

Sam is kind of a wildcard, never really holding down a proper job but always had his ways of getting things done, albeit through some shady methods.

Farley, with a mix of skepticism and hope, didn't really expect much. But, lo and behold, Sam actually came through.

"Fantastic! I've been itching for a chance to confront him, and now we've got it. Let's roll, kiddo," Maisie said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

For the past few weeks, just lurking around the entrance of the Sherwood residence, hoping to catch a glimpse of Beverley and give her a piece of their mind, had yielded nothing but frustration. Beverley was practically a hermit now. But this... this was a game changer.

Half an hour later.

"This is Murray Sherwood's place? Look at the size of this tower! How rich is this guy?"

Farley stared in awe at the towering skyscraper, his eyes revealing a flash of greed he couldn't quite hide.

"Wow, sis really snagged a big fish this time. This dude's loaded!" Maisie couldn't help but marvel.

If they played their cards right, they might just hit the jackpot and secure a cushy future for themselves.

With a shared look of determination, they made their way inside.

However, Murray's office was located in a prime downtown location, equipped with top-notch security systems. It wasn't just a walk in the park to get in.

Noticing a janitor slipping into a utility room, Maisie quickly hatched a plan. They swiped a couple of uniforms and blended in as cleaning staff.

Once inside, they awkwardly surveyed the lavish lobby, clearly out of their element among the well-dressed professionals coming and going.

Oblivious to how much they stood out, they wandered around until the elevator arrived, and they squeezed in with the crowd.

"Did your friend say what floor he's on?" Maisie whispered, feeling swamped by all the floors listed in the elevator.

Farley shook his head. "No, but I'd bet the penthouse. Figures, right?"

As soon as the elevator doors opened at the top floor, they stepped out, unsure of where to go next.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"This place is massive. Which way now?" Maisie muttered, scanning the area.

"Let's just head straight. We'll figure it out," Farley suggested, hoping for a stroke of luck.

They didn't have to wander far before spotting the "CEO's Office" sign. Farley's eyes lit up.

Suddenly-

"Hold it right there! Yes, you two!" An assistant, having risen from her desk, approached them with a suspicious glare.

"What cleaning crew are you with, and what brings you to the top floor?" she inquired, her suspicion growing by the second.

Maisie, caught off guard but quick to improvise, blurted out, "Oh, uh, we're new here. Got a bit lost and ended up here. But, you know, while we're at it, we might as well clean up around here too..."

She made a move towards the CEO's office.

"Stop right there! Mr. Sherwood's office is off-limits to unauthorized personnel, including cleaning staff. We have a dedicated team for that." the assistant firmly stated, her gaze then shifting to Farley, noting his youthful appearance and the fact he was male-unusual for their cleaning staff.

"You would've been issued ID badges to access the elevator. Let's see them," she demanded.

Maisie froze.

Farley, the less experienced of the two, began to panic, avoiding eye contact.

The assistant's suspicion deepened. "If you can't show me your IDs, I have no choice but to call security!"

Realizing their ruse was up, Maisie dropped the act, standing tall with defiance. "Who said we're cleaners? We're here for Murray. Now, where is he? Get him out here!"