I woke up late on my first day of work, and I knew I would be late if I didn't hurry. I jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom to take a quick shower.
As I toweled off, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and tried to imagine how I might appear to others. Would Mr. Knight think I looked professional and put together, or would he see through my facade? I wondered if he would be able to tell me how nervous I was. After all, I was just a new employee, and he was the CEO of the company.
I had planned my outfit the night before. I chose a crisp, lilac button-down shirt and tailored black pants. I wanted to look professional, so I wore a girdle to compress my stomach. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to wear, but it helped to reduce the appearance of my belly fat a little.
I styled their hair neatly and applied a light touch of makeup, aiming for a natural and professional look. I felt like my appearance was polished and well put together, but I still couldn't shake my nerves.
**************
I hurried through the elevator and down the hallway to my office. I was walking so fast, I didn't notice the person coming towards me. I crashed into them, and we both stumbled back.
When I looked up, I realized it was Mr. Knight. He gave me a disgusted look and kept walking without saying a word. I felt a wave of shame and embarrassment wash over me.
As I stood there, trying to regain my composure, I could feel my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. I knew I had made a terrible first impression, and I was worried I had already ruined my chances of success at the company.
I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself. Then I straightened my shirt and walked towards the receptionist.
Just as I sat down at my desk, my phone rang. I answered it tentatively and heard a deep, commanding voice on the other end.
"Report to my office immediately."
I felt a shiver of apprehension run down my spine.
"Yes, sir." I hung up the phone. I gathered my things and made my way to Mr. Knight's office, my heart pounding in my chest.
As I hurried to Mr. Knight's office. The door to his office loomed before me like a dark and foreboding gateway. I knocked, and a deep voice from within commanded.
"Come in." I took a deep breath and stepped through the door. Mr. Knight was sitting behind his desk, his expression severe and unreadable. "Have a seat," his voice was brooking no argument. I quickly sat, straightening my pants and smoothing out my blouse.
I couldn't bear to meet Mr. Knight's eyes, so I kept my head down and focused on my pants, smoothing the fabric and adjusting the hem.
I heard Mr. Knight's voice booming above me like a thunderclap.
"Look at me."
I lifted my gaze to meet his eyes, and what I saw made my breath catch in my throat. His eyes were blazing with anger, and his face was contorted with fury.
His lips were thin and tight, his mouth set in a hard line that never wavered. His jaw was strong and angular, and I could see the muscles tensing beneath the skin.
"Quit being such a coward," he barked, his voice was sharp with anger. "If you continue with this behavior, you will be dismissed from my service. I expect my employees to show strength and resolve, not cowering and weakness."
I wondered if he was truly angry with me, or if he was simply taking out his frustration on me. Maybe something else was troubling him, and I was simply the target of his ire.
"I...I'm sorry," I stammered, my voice wavering with fear. I tried to control my nerves, to be the strong and capable person he expected me to be. But his words had shaken me, and I found myself trembling, barely able to speak. "I'll do better," hoping that my apology would satisfy him. But his eyes remained hard and unyielding, and I could tell that my words had no effect.
********************
I heard a knock on the door and called out. "Come in!"
The door to my office swung open, and a slender, beautiful woman entered the room. She was tall and graceful, with a warm smile on her face. "Hello, my name is Sophia, I'm the special adviser to Mr. Knights, and I wanted to welcome you to the team." Her voice was soothing, and I felt myself relax a bit in her presence.
"I'm about to go out for lunch. Would you like to join me? It's not a problem if you have other plans, of course!" I hesitated, unsure of what to say.
I didn't want to seem rude, but I also wasn't sure if I should go out to lunch with a colleague I'd just met.
"No, no, I'd love to join you!" I was trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Great!" Shall we head out now?
I nodded and followed her out of the office. We walked to the office's cafe, chatting about the weather and other small talk.
I was still a bit nervous, but Sophia was easy to talk to and made me feel more at ease. As we sat down at a table, I thought to myself that maybe this job wouldn't be so bad after all.
"So, what would you like to order?" Sophia asked, picking up a menu.
"I'm not sure yet." I was still feeling a bit flustered. "I'll give you a few minutes.
"How are things going with Mr. Knights?" she had a knowing look on her face.
"Oh, you know, fine." I was trying to sound nonchalant.
But she could tell I was lying and let out a soft laugh.
"C'mon, you can be honest with me. We both know that working for Mr. Knights can be... challenging." She hesitated but finally decided to be honest.
"You're right." Is he always like this?" I asked, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.
"I've been working for him for three years, and I've never seen him smile," her expression was serious. "I know it's hard, but I'm here to help you get through it. We're a team, right?"
I took a deep breath, nodding in agreement. It was good to know I had an ally in this difficult situation. "Right." I was feeling a bit more hopeful. "We're a team."
***********
Lying in bed, I thought back over my day at work. Sophia had been kind and understanding, but the thought of having to work with Mr. Knights again tomorrow left a pit in my stomach. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't seem to make him happy. It felt like a never-ending cycle of frustration and disappointment. I sighed, wishing things could be different. But for now, all I could do was try to get some sleep and face another day at work tomorrow.