The next morning, Alex woke up with a heavy mind, his thoughts tangled in the events of the previous night. His dreams had been restless, as if his subconscious was still working through the details of all the conversations he'd had. Blinking his eyes open, he suddenly recalled something important—the papers.
The writing from the night before was still lying on his desk, wide open for anyone to see. In a sudden panic, Alex threw back the covers, rushing over to the desk. He gathered up the page, hastily stuffing them into the back of a thick, leather-bound book before hiding it in the corner of the bookshelf.
He exhaled, relieved that no one had seen the personal notes.
Pulling the curtains aside, Alex stared out at the streets below. Though the snowfall overnight had been light, the sky remained thick with clouds, the soft gray indicating more snow would likely arrive by midday.
It was a holiday, most people were either still asleep or wrapped up in family traditions, preparing for celebrations. The office, too, reflected this slow pace. As Alex walked through the hallways on his way to his desk, he noticed how few people had shown up that morning. Mr. Lawrence had already left for the holiday, heading back home to spend the New Year with his family. That left just a handful of people lingering, finishing up last-minute tasks before the break.
Director White, ever punctual, arrived early as usual. Alex admired her steady presence, even on days when most would have taken a break. She always seemed composed, never showing a hint of exhaustion despite the workload she carried but yesterday she revealed how exhaust it is, and she is just putting on show.
This morning, she called a quick meeting with the staff who were present.
"We've received new regulations from the bureau," she announced, her voice calm but firm. "Each department needs to leave one person on duty for today."
Alex looked around the room, noticing how Jane, who lived outside the city, immediately glanced in his direction. It was clear that neither she nor Director White, who also lived outside the city, could realistically stay. Frederick, who lived in the same building as Alex, had mentioned earlier that he would likely head back to his hometown for the New Year.
Alex didn't hesitate. "I can stay," he volunteered, raising his hand slightly. "I don't have any immediate plans, and it's no trouble."
Jane's face lit up at his words. She beamed at him, playfully punching his arm in a way that made him smile. "Thanks, Alex! You're a lifesaver."
Director White nodded in approval. "Alright then, Alex. Thank you. Jane and I will take care of the morning's tasks, and Frederick will finish up any work that's left from home. You and Jane will accompany me to pay New Year's visits to the former directors and other officials. After that, you all have the afternoon free beside Alex."
Alex nodded, mentally preparing himself for the day ahead. It wouldn't be difficult, but he knew that the visits to the former directors would involve a lot of formal pleasantries, something that wasn't exactly his strong suit. Still, he was happy to help.
Jane, ever the ball of energy, wasted no time in pulling him along as soon as the director finished giving her instructions. She practically dragged him down the hallway, her excitement for the day palpable.
"Come on, Alex!" she urged, her enthusiasm infectious. "This is going to be great! We'll finish up."
Alex couldn't help but chuckle at her eagerness. "You're more excited than I thought you'd be about all this. I figured you'd be eager to get out of here and head home for the holiday."
Jane waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, I'll have plenty of time to relax later. Besides, it's not every day we get to visit the old directors and see some of the other top brass. I'm curious to see how the day goes."
As the morning unfolded, the visits went smoothly. They traveled from one official's residence to another, exchanging well-wishes for the New Year and making polite conversation. Each former director was gracious, welcoming them warmly and offering refreshments. Alex found it all somewhat exhausting, but he could see that Jane was thoroughly enjoying herself, taking in every moment.
Their last stop brought them to the residence of the former director, a stately home that carried the weight of history in its walls. After exchanging pleasantries and offering their New Year's greetings, Alex and Jane followed Director White toward the door, ready to move on to the next part of their day. Just as they were about to leave, they unexpectedly ran into Secretary Jessica, who had arrived for her own visit.
Jessica greeted them warmly, After the usual exchange of pleasantries, she turned to Director White, her voice soft but hopeful.
"Why don't you come celebrate the New Year with me?" Jessica offered, her eyes lingering on the director. "Your husband isn't coming home this year, and my place is going to be so quiet. You and Emily should join me."
Director White smiled graciously, though Alex could tell she was already shaking her head. "Thank you, elder sister," she began, her voice filled with warmth. "But my husband, knowing we'd be alone, has arranged for Emily and me to celebrate the New Year at the Haverbrook. We're planning to leave early tomorrow morning. Why don't you come with us?"
Jessica let out a soft, dry laugh, though there was little joy in it. "Oh, how could I impose like that? I wouldn't want to intrude on your plans. I'll just stay home and make the best of it. You enjoy your time with your family; that's what matters."
Though Jessica's words were polite and even lighthearted, Alex could sense the loneliness behind them. Her voice carried an undercurrent of helplessness, and something in her expression tugged at his heartstrings.
Director White didn't push the matter any further. "We'll be thinking of you, elder sister," she said kindly. "If anything changes, you're always welcome to join us."
After exchanging a few more words, they said their goodbyes and left.