Chapter 9 Worker Compensation

Joey was on the otherside of the floor that the incident took place, he was on his way to Lucas's office to get Sophia for training. Joey walked towards the direction of the noise as he watched the unruly couple being dragged out. His eyes narrowed and he noticed it was Alexander and Jasmine. 

Joey was taken aback by the fact that Alexander and Jasmine were both kicked out. He wondered did Sophia had something to do with this. Was Sophia THAT important to Lucas that he will do anything.

Sophia walked towards the door and spotted Joey as she fumbled with the papers.

"Ah, you must be Joey." stated Sophia as she smiled and stuck her hand out. The man glanced down at her hand then a moment pass till he took the handshake.

"Yes. You must be Sophia." stated Joey as he faked a smile at her and gesture her to follow him. "Sophia, you seem well, how are you and CEO Lucas?" 

"We are good and I never been better."

Joey felt disgusted at the sweetness of Sophia's voice and the fact is that Sophia stole his sister's position as being Lucas fiancée. Joey guided Sophia through the company as he go in depth with every department.

As his phone rang he left Sophia with a supervisor in charge. It was Aurora and she was pissed with the news from last night.

"Joey!! I'm angry! I want that girl gone, gone, gone!!!" her voice was like nails on a chalkboard as she threw a tantrum.

"Aurora, calm down. I will get rid of her soon..." replied Joey as he looked up and saw Sophia near a set of stairs as Riley came to greet her.  "Give me time." 

"Hurry up, I want to be the one and only Mrs.Carter! No one else!"

Sophia chatted with Riley as she waited patiently for Joey to come back.

"Do you think you might have the vice president position?" Riley laughed a little as Joey came up to them after hanging up and looked at Riley who glared back. 

"Vice President?" Sophia questioned as she smiled and glanced at 

"Joey, you shouldn't leave Sophia unattended. She still doesn't know the ropes of the company and hallways of the company." Riley lectured Joey as she clutched the stack of papers tighter. Riley had a disdain for Joey and she remember Aurora and Joey were  monsters to all the employees in the company back then when Lucas left overseas.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure she learns the company and all the work that must be done." Joey fake smile was hurting his face as he couldn't stand talking to Sophia and Riley.

"How about I get some coffee?" 

As Joey gestured towards the coffee cart and pointing out the assistant pouring the coffee. Joey walked over to the coffee cart and talked to the attendant. The attendant had blue eyes and dyed silver hair.

"Hey Eric, how's life?"

"Great nothing much, I'm so sad...Eve got fired and I really look forward to seeing her everyday." stated Eric as he poured a coffee for Joey.

Joey smirked and he realized he can use Eric at the moment to hurt Sophia if he were to knew that Sophia was the one who got Eve fired.

"It's a shame, Eve was a beauty. I heard that girl got her fired. She also stole my sister's fiance"  Joey pointed at Sophia as she showed Riley the folder for the upcoming meeting.

Sophia looked up and she noticed deep down she knew something was wrong but she choose to ignore that feeling.

"Really?!" responded Eric as he glared at Sophia. Suddenly Joey handed him a card and smirked with greed.

"Push that cart towards that girl as hard as you can! I'll pay you 10,000$" Joey handed Eric the money and Eric smirked as he was playing with the cart.

"What if the CEO knows?" Eric questioned as he yanked the cart back to him concerned.

"Lucas doesn't care about her she slept her way to the top, she's just a nobody" Joey stared at Sophia with malice written on his face.

"Joey, are you trying to get me fired...? I will not mess with the CEO'S woman important or not." Eric stated as he push the cart away then stop. "If you say she is a nobody why is she with Riley? Why was she with Kiara? Why is she with you most of all? She is all over the news."

Joey paused in thought as he realized Eric was onto him. Joey walked towards Eric and put an arm around his shoulder. "Eric, buddy of mine. The reason is Lucas doesn't favor his women forever...He'll just drop her in a month...He's showing that he doesn't care for her much."  

Joey kicked the cart in Sophia's directions enough for it to come fast all her as he distracted Eric. Sophia looked up and saw the cart hurtling towards her but instead of knocking her off the cart toppled over a box launching the coffee maker as hot coffee almost spilled on her.

"Ah!" Sophia shield her eyes from the spillage but instead slipped down the stairs. As Sophia slipped her eyes flickered to Riley who was holding her hand as she fell sending them both toppling down the stairs and coffee spilling the steps. 

Sophia opened her eyes to see she was on top of Riley as she panicked to see Riley had blood dripping down her head and she shook Riley and her hands were covered in blood. Both Riley's legs were red and bruised indicated they were broken. Sophia tried to move only to be overwhelmed with pain. 

Staff and workers crowded around as they watch the injuried girls, Sophia was wet and the coffee that spilled down the steps. Sophia cried out in pain and desperation as the crowd formed. 

"Riley! Riley! Wake up! Ah..." Sophia shake Riley as hard as she can as she lay her head on Riley's chest. Slow breathing and blood started dripping out of Riley's nose. 

Joey smirked but he wasn't totally satisfied if only Sophia took Riley's place then it would be perfect. But Sophia's leg was bent wrong and that was enough as a warning that life isn't all happy-go-luck and luxury. Some people pay the price and sadly Riley had to be used to bring Sophia to misery.

'Lucas this is how I will slowly drive your woman to insanity.'

"Sophia!" Lucas pushed everyone aside as he arrived with Kiara who quickly rushed to Riley side. "What happened?" 

"A coffee pot...Riley and I were chatting...We slipped and fell together..." Sophia was still in shock as she held Riley with Kiara as everyone whispered.

"A coffee pot went flying but Eric was suppose to be in charge of the coffee pot." 

"Sophia is severely burned, look at her leg it's bent the wrong way. Who ever caused this is getting fired especially since Sophia is Mr.Carter's fiancée and Riley is right-hand woman."

Eric trembled he was used to scheme against Sophia. Joey told him, she was nothing of importance to Lucas and he fell for it. He felt more guilt for Riley who was just doing her job to protect Sophia but ended up shielding her taking every blow she got.

"The coffee pot is from the coffee cart and it was Eric who was responsible for it, today." Joey stated with confidence to not be suspected.

"What?!" Eric exclaimed as he panicked.

"Lucas, my leg and Riley is unconscious!" Sophia shifted a little as he noticed the bruising was becoming worse.

"Nevermind that call the ambulance!" yelled Lucas causing everyone to be silent as he examined Sophia's leg and Kiara examining Riley.

"We'll, figure it out later! If I do know someone is involved, they're going to jail!"