It was the second time in two weeks that she was late. The first time, she was adjusting to the new lifestyle and had gotten the first-hand scolding from her boss in person, but now, she had gotten it over the phone.
It took twenty minutes to reach her workplace, a tall skyscraper that was exotically beautiful with gorgeous landscaping surrounding it.
Finding a durable parking spot in the large car park, she quickly gathered her stuff from the backseat. Known as a busy body, Sharlene was great with multi-tasking and maneuvering. It was because of this main thing her boss had hired her.
Closing the car door with her foot, it automatically locked.
Rushing into the large building, she greeted as many people as she could on her way up.
Some smiled her way, while others laughed at her unkempt hair and lack of makeup face. She brushed it aside because it was the least of her problems.
The news had already spread around the building that she was the 'errand girl' of their boss, although she was the woman's secretary. It was the beginning of her third week of working in the company.
Many people had sent her 'great job' postcards and 'well-wishes' baskets and flowers. She was a new milestone in the department. Sharlene's heart quickened when she saw the two elevator doors were slowly closing. Brushing her hair from her face, she chose the latter one since the first one had close.
She screamed at the top of her lungs towards the conductor.
"Wait!"
Thankfully, the woman had heard her. She stopped the door from closing. Rushing, she flew into the stacked place like she was a ballerina dancing on a stage.
"Thank you, everyone. Floor 6, please."
Breathless, she spoke to the frowning conductor, who was squeezing like a fish in the corner. Placing the loose strand of hair behind her ears, Sharlene was content.
"Good morning, everyone."
In a loud and polite voice, she gained a few scoffs and polite hellos and mornings in return, but she did not care. Known for her bubbly and optimistic view of life, everyone was enamored or tolerated her presence. She hopped out of the elevator as soon as her floor came on.
Running through the many cubicles, while waving a snickering Rita standing near the water fountain, and ignoring the curious eyes of her workmates, Sharlene barged into her office.
Finally able to dump the constricting bags on the sofa in the room, she had barely breathed in when her boss came strutting in without a single knock.
With red heels and a fabulous turtle neck, sweetheart shaped knee-length dress that hugged all her curves; Madam Sinclair was like a supermodel on the runway. She flipped her hair with her acrylic nails.
"Where is my coffee?"
Raised eyebrows, she pursed her lips.
"You know I cannot function without it."
Sharlene felt a bomb explode in her brain. She had forgotten about her bossy boss coffee.
"I forgot, maybe I…"
Cutting her off with a huff, Madam Sinclair waved a finger in the air.
"No. We have a meeting to attend to in the next hour, so you should get yourself..."
Glancing from her unkempt windblown hair to her ruffled clothes and bared makeup face, her boss's nose scrunched with distaste.
"What are you wearing, and what happened to your hair?"
Rubbing the back of her head with thinned out lips, Sharlene glanced down at her clothes. A few wrinkles adorned her skirt, but it was not bad looking. She found Madam Sinclair's reaction useless.
"I don't see anything wrong."
Pursing her lips, Madam Sinclair scoffed.
"Please fix the mess you call yourself. Meet me in my office after 30 minutes. That will give you enough time. You do not have any clue about fashion as you do jewelry."
Flipping her hair, her boss walked out of her office. A heavy sigh, for she had escaped her execution, Sharlene sank into her chair. If she were anybody else, she would have fired herself many days ago but was not someone to run away from her troubles.
Removing her glasses, something she would always forget if she did not keep them in her bag, she groaned. Placing it on top of the company laptop on the desk, she leaned her head in her hands.
Hearing a loud ping in her bag from her phone, she rushed to retrieve it. She saw it was a message from her boss.
'Stop gallanting. You only have thirty minutes' it read. Glancing up to see an impatient Madam Sinclair tapping her heels with her phone in hand through the glass window separating the two offices; Sharlene quickly got to work in fixing herself to match her boss since that was what the stuck up woman wanted.
It was, after all, part of her job description.
Thirty minutes later, she rushed towards her boss's office with a tablet in her hand. Light makeup adorned her face. The bird nest of her hair tamed with two pins fastening it behind her ears; it was glossy and shiny. It was like waves down her back. She looked durably pretty.
"You clean up well."
Commenting, which was something Madam Sinclair rarely did, Sharlene smiled.
"Thank you, ma'am."
Humming, her boss stood from her office chair with her laptop under one arm and a tablet in the other.
"The conference room is setting up, so you can make my coffee then."
"Of course."
Nodding, Sharlene hoped from one foot to the next until her boss nodded after double-checking the information on her tablet was following her phone.
"Hold this."
Stretching her phone towards Sharlene, Madam Sinclair walked towards the office doors.
"Let's go."
And this was how her morning went. Meetings after meetings went on until lunch break. At mid-afternoon towards the rest of the day, she was stuck at her desk finishing up Madam Sinclair's paper-work, drafting her ever-changing schedules, and drawing various new designs, while the woman was lounging in her office speaking to friends.
By the time it was ready for her to go home and sink in her warm bed, her boss had made a last-minute visit. She pranced into her office like she owned the place once again, and she probably did.
"I was invited to a dinner party this afternoon regarding the new hospital."
Madam Sinclair's voice was velvety soft as she leaned on the door. Her clothes were unsurprisingly different from early morning. It was a trait she realized the woman had. She changed clothes, makeup, hair, and pedicure every day.
Frowning, for it was not business-wise, Sharlene was about to decline when the snarky and bossy woman flashed her a friendly smile.
"Don't worry, Britt. It is not business-wise. They mentioned a plus one, and since all my friends are busy, you will be that plus one."
"But, I do not have any change of clothes."
Putting her bags back down on the sofa, Sharlene was honest. She was never one to overly dress up or had the means to attend outstanding gatherings, if not work-wise. It was a rare opportunity that she pondered upon agreeing on.
"Oh, no matter. I will buy a dress for you. It's the simplest gift I could offer since you do most of my work."
Silently agreeing in accordance, Sharlene was surprised.
'Did her boss get abducted by aliens.'
Questioning her rationality, she slowly nodded.
"Then, I will come."
"Good. Don't worry about your car. Whenever you would like to leave, I will have one of my drivers drive you home. I know you have weak tolerance towards alcohol, so I will make sure to order wine."
Appreciating her thoughtful consideration, Sharlene smiled, but she was wary.
"Thank you."
"It begins at four, but considering it was last minute, we will attend it by five, which is in the next 20 minutes. Please meet me in the lobby downstairs after you are done."
"I will."
It was an odd invitation and interaction, as she watched her boss leaving her office with a small twirl of her fake hair. True to her word, the dress came no sooner after her boss left.
She quickly got changed in her office private washroom. It was a beautiful silver dress that reached a little above her knees.
Her boss had also gifted her silver heels. It was too kind and suspicious.
"Wow, I must be dreaming."
Muttering, she removed a card that was among the clothes. Recognizing it to be her boss's handwriting, Sharlene frowned.
'Keep everything, dear,' it read, and she was somewhat amazed.
Two weeks and a day of working for her bossy and snarky Madam Sinclair was paying off. She followed her instructions and met her in the lobby. Soon, they were off to the venue.