MELANIE
"I got a job!!" I squealed as I breezed into my apartment. I had literally run all the way from the company to my house in excitement. I still couldn't believe it. Finally, luck had shined on me. Take that, universe.
Emily tossed her phone on the couch and practically raced to my side. "Oh my goodness, when? How? Where? Tell me everything!" She asked all at once, making me laugh.
"Well, I didn't want to tell you before I was completely sure because I didn't want to disappoint you or myself. We've had a lot of that."
Emily nodded in agreement. "I get it."
"So, it's this huge company called Smith Industries. And I'll be working—"
"What? You got a job at Smith Industries?" She shrieked, staring at me. "THE Smith Industries? Owned by Kane Smith? What sorcery did you have going on?"
"Is it that famous?" I asked, puzzled.
She grabbed me by the shoulders. "Have you been living under a rock? That's one of the top leading companies in the country. Owned by multibillionaire Kane Smith. You're telling me you've never heard of it before yesterday?"
I shrugged, laughing as she slapped her forehead. "It doesn't matter, I got a job! A good job!"
"We have to celebrate," Emily laughed, after she had enveloped me in a bone crushing hug.
"Uh, uh," I protested. I knew what her celebrations were like. I would drink, party, get high and probably miss my first day of work.
"Why?" She pouted.
I glared at her. "You know why."
Laughing, she finally raised her hands in surrender. "Fine, on the weekend then."
I nodded, walking into my room. I needed to rest up and prepare for tomorrow. I jumped into the shower, unable to control the smile that sat plastered to my face.
The next morning I got up an hour earlier to get ready for the day. As soon as I had breakfast, I began to contemplate on what to wear. Finally deciding on a navy blue chiffon button up shirt and a pencil skirt, I grabbed my things and exited my apartment, quickly going through the email Tamara had forwarded to me one last time. The requirements were just the regular secretary duties, nothing too heavy. For the amount I was getting paid, it was pretty easy.
As I got halfway down the street, I quickly hopped into my favorite Café to grab a cup of coffee. I would need it to stay active for the rest of the day. After a few moments of exchanging pleasantries with familiar employees, I paid for my coffee and turned to leave.
As I neared the door, a tall figure walked through the doors, bumping into me and making nearly half the coffee spill all over the front of my shirt.
"What the hell!" I shrieked. When I turned and saw that the man, instead of stopping to apologize, had kept on walking as if a bug had flown past him, the anger surged through me.
"Are you blind or something? Can't you see what you've just done?" I yelled. He still didn't turn.
Clenching my teeth, I took long, quick strides to get to him. When I did, I turned him over roughly and emptied the leftover coffee on him, watching in satisfaction as it dripped from his hair down to his crisply ironed white shirt.
"That should instill the manners you clearly weren't brought up with, you fucking idiot," I spat, turning on my heels and leaving the shop. With the rage that still pumped in my chest, I would have liked to give him a piece of my mind. But I had work, and I couldn't be late on my first day. I quickly hailed a cab and jumped in.
Tamara's eyes widened in surprise when she saw me. She stood in the office she had shown me the previous day waiting for me. "What happened?" She asked, staring down at my shirt. It's your first day, Melanie. This isn't good."
I rubbed my forehead, sighing. "I know, I know. It's a long story. Some idiot spilled coffee over me a few minutes ago, and I didn't want to waste time going back home and changing."
She nodded. "Okay, then. Some of the executives and managers have a meeting with the CEO, aka your new boss, in ten minutes. It's going to be held in that office, down the hall the first door by your left. Be punctual," She said, breezing out with a stack of papers in her hand.
Nervous already, I hurried to the bathroom. Thankfully, the coffee had not left too much of a stain. It should be okay if I cleaned it up a little bit. I turned on the tap, cupping some water in my hand and scrubbing the front on my shirt. I needed to look professional and I couldn't screw this up.
I scrubbed my shirt until I was satisfied, and tore off a bunch of paper towels to dry it so it wouldn't look weird.
"You can do this, Mel," I said to my reflection as I took deep breaths and raced out of the bathroom. I followed the directions Tamara had given me and luckily, I met her just about to go in. She smiled at me, giving me a thumbs up as she stood at her place just behind the round table, tablet in hand.
I observed the managers and employees seated in chairs, conversing amongst themselves. The atmosphere was more relaxed than I expected. That was good. Maybe I really did have nothing to be scared of.
"What the fuck do you mean?!" I heard someone curse.
The entire room silenced all of a sudden at the entrance of the new person. I guessed he was the CEO we had all been waiting for. I took quick, short breaths trying to calm myself. When I was okay, I looked over to observe my new boss who was still cursing and yelling on the phone.
I let out a sharp gasp as a familiar mop of dark brown hair came into view. He was the guy from the coffee shop.
Fuck. My. Life.