my apartment and I would be back at about 6 p.m. tonight if he wanted to collect it. The thought of him coming back to my apartment sent my heart fluttering.
I left my apartment and the cold air outside was a slap of reality. The whole way to work I mulled over his speedy exit. I joined the hordes of other miserable Candice employees in the reception area. Just another day at work. With coffee in hand, I straightened the purple ruffled blouse I was wearing and my gray pencil skirt. The work elevator seemed cooler than usual as I looked above at the reflection of myself. My light brown eyes still had black bags under them from sleep deprivation. Even my foundation and concealer couldn’t cover it this morning.
I took another sip when the elevator door opened. The office lights were still on, but it seemed for now it was only me who had arrived in my department. I glanced at my watch. It was just after 7 a.m. I looked through the glass walls of my office and through to Debra’s office. She was there already looking over her paperwork. I begrudgingly admired her work ethic. Behind her the sun began to glow orange as it rose above the awakening city. “Another early morning we get to spend together,” I observed to myself.
I stopped at Cassidy’s desk to look at the purple flowers that sat on her round desk. It was a large circle that enclosed her, and it looked more like a bar with its white marble tiling. I walked in through the small opening and grabbed her small gift from my bag. It was her birthday today, although she hadn’t told me how old she was. It was only something small— gold hoop earrings. I hoped she would like them.
I sat it beside the purple flowers, which I noted were from Debra and Gary. I left my own small note beside the gift I offered her. I kept my note short and sweet: “Happy Birthday, Beautiful. Clover.” I collected my coffee again and walked to my office.
Debra took a sip of her coffee whilst giving me a harsh stare. My temperament was much more sensitive today than usual and I swallowed my annoyance. I would usually ignore it and focus on my work as much as I could, but now she just crept under my skin. All I could think of was the impression that Damon had—that I was unhappy at work. I slumped into my chair and stared at the photo of Megan and me on my desk. I had never taken the time to think of it before, so why now? Because Damon had said something?
The glass door between Debra’s office and my own silently opened as she entered without invitation. She positioned herself on the corner of my desk, crossing her legs intimidatingly. She was silent for a moment—all part of the torture. “The article posted was not the one I sent you; did you take it upon yourself to write your own story?”
I bit my tongue, not wanting to say the first thought that came to mind, which was an accusation. I was nearly certain it was her that hadn’t transferred the correct details over.
“When I opened the files, it was not there, so I improvised,” I retorted sharply.
“Clover, do you think this magazine is run on improvised decisions? You’re very lucky I am not issuing you with a written warning for such behavior. It will still have to be changed today, so really you have created more work for everyone else.”
I bit my tongue again, before turning my laptop on. I avoided her eyes so she couldn’t guess at the image I entertained in my head, and that was knocking her off the table. Was it just me or was she even more merciless today?
“I understand,” I said with control. “Anything else?”
“Yes, Marcial has handed in his resignation. He is supposed to give two weeks’ notice but there are some outside circumstances to consider. So, I would like it if you could organize a small party of sorts by this afternoon for him, just to say goodbye,” she said casually, taking another sip of her coffee and crossing her legs again.
“You want me to have that organized by this
I left my apartment and the cold air outside was a slap of reality. The whole way to work I mulled over his speedy exit. I joined the hordes of other miserable Candice employees in the reception area. Just another day at work. With coffee in hand, I straightened the purple ruffled blouse I was wearing and my gray pencil skirt. The work elevator seemed cooler than usual as I looked above at the reflection of myself. My light brown eyes still had black bags under them from sleep deprivation. Even my foundation and concealer couldn’t cover it this morning.
I took another sip when the elevator door opened. The office lights were still on, but it seemed for now it was only me who had arrived in my department. I glanced at my watch. It was just after 7 a.m. I looked through the glass walls of my office and through to Debra’s office. She was there already looking over her paperwork. I begrudgingly admired her work ethic. Behind her the sun began to glow orange as it rose above the awakening city. “Another early morning we get to spend together,” I observed to myself.
I stopped at Cassidy’s desk to look at the purple flowers that sat on her round desk. It was a large circle that enclosed her, and it looked more like a bar with its white marble tiling. I walked in through the small opening and grabbed her small gift from my bag. It was her birthday today, although she hadn’t told me how old she was. It was only something small— gold hoop earrings. I hoped she would like them.
I sat it beside the purple flowers, which I noted were from Debra and Gary. I left my own small note beside the gift I offered her. I kept my note short and sweet: “Happy Birthday, Beautiful. Clover.” I collected my coffee again and walked to my office.
Debra took a sip of her coffee whilst giving me a harsh stare. My temperament was much more sensitive today than usual and I swallowed my annoyance. I would usually ignore it and focus on my work as much as I could, but now she just crept under my skin. All I could think of was the impression that Damon had—that I was unhappy at work. I slumped into my chair and stared at the photo of Megan and me on my desk. I had never taken the time to think of it before, so why now? Because Damon had said something?
The glass door between Debra’s office and my own silently opened as she entered without invitation. She positioned herself on the corner of my desk, crossing her legs intimidatingly. She was silent for a moment—all part of the torture. “The article posted was not the one I sent you; did you take it upon yourself to write your own story?”
I bit my tongue, not wanting to say the first thought that came to mind, which was an accusation. I was nearly certain it was her that hadn’t transferred the correct details over.
“When I opened the files, it was not there, so I improvised,” I retorted sharply.
“Clover, do you think this magazine is run on improvised decisions? You’re very lucky I am not issuing you with a written warning for such behavior. It will still have to be changed today, so really you have created more work for everyone else.”
I bit my tongue again, before turning my laptop on. I avoided her eyes so she couldn’t guess at the image I entertained in my head, and that was knocking her off the table. Was it just me or was she even more merciless today?
“I understand,” I said with control. “Anything else?”
“Yes, Marcial has handed in his resignation. He is supposed to give two weeks’ notice but there are some outside circumstances to consider. So, I would like it if you could organize a small party of sorts by this afternoon for him, just to say goodbye,” she said casually, taking another sip of her coffee and crossing her legs again.
“You want me to have that organized by this
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