Gabrielle's POV

Mondays were invariably the worst. Not that the other days were much different, but there was something peculiarly dreadful about the start of a week promising nothing but the same drudgery. 

I stood outside the towering glass building of Blackwood Corporation, staring up at its sharp, gleaming edges that seemed to mock me. Nobody like me had no business being here.

But I had to be.

Automatic doors hissed open as I stepped inside, opening a welcome hole into the cold, sterile lobby. There was something repulsive about this place, something screaming from every door, each marring at the entrance-the luxurious pits. The sharp click of my heels echoed in the marble hallway, weak compared to the confident strides of others. Nobody would even glance at me. Nobody ever did.

I walked out toward the elevator, shoving my scuffed leather bag up tight into my side. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest already, and I hadn't even looked at Mr. Blackwood yet. My boss. The man everyone in the place feared, and with good reason, of course.

The bell rang. I got into the elevator, pushed the button for forty-seven and the doors closed. Much more grateful for a day that would again be filled with juggling phone calls and emails, and running errands for a man who probably didn't know my name.

The knot of worry rioting in my stomach emerged as soon as I reached the top floor, entered the great office space, and fell into my office chair. From here it was simply out of the whole city stretching below the large windows, a scene from some movie. But it wasn't mine to enjoy.

The shrill sound of a door slamming brought me back to reality.

"Gabrielle!" Mr. Blackwood's deep commanding voice boomed from his office. I flinched. Here it goes.

I shot up quickly, running my hand over my blouse as I scampered towards his door. 

My fingers were shaking while I knocked lightly on his door, barely audible.

"Get in," he barked.

Then I pushed the door open, stepped inside, and my breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight of Mr. Blackwood by the window, looking out at the city like some sort of king over his kingdom. Even from the back, he was overwhelming-tall, broad-shouldered, and wrapped in a crisp suit that probably cost more than my yearly salary.

I tried to clear my throat; it felt as though my voice was stuck.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

He turned around, those icy blue eyes tracking in on me like homing missiles. "How's it going with the Henderson deal?"

Blankness in my head. Henderson deal? I dug frantically for the last update I'd given. "Uh, I-I think the legal department is still going through the papers, sir. I'll check on that right away."

His eyes narrowed further, and with this, I wished I could shrink into the floor. "That should have been done by now. You're supposed to be keeping track of these things, Gabrielle. You're my secretary, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir." I swallowed hard, the heat rising to my cheeks. "I'll make sure it's handled immediately."

He let his gaze linger on me a beat longer, and I felt disappointment waft from the man. "You'd better. I don't have time for incompetence."

I nodded quickly, stumbling backward out of the office before he could say another word. I was shaking when I closed the door behind me, running back to my desk as my heart hammered against my chest.

I opened my email and started typing furiously, firing the message to the legal team: "For crying out loud, be done with the documents already.".

I sat and stared into the screen, willing myself to calm down, trying to tell myself this wasn't the end of the world, that this was only a job good, the panic would not leave. I needed this job, and couldn't afford to lose it-not with that pile of medical bills waiting for me at home.

My mom wasn't getting better. Every time I saw her, she looked a little more frail, a little paler. The debt was squeezing, pushing down on me inch by inch, day after day.

Every dollar of my skimpy check went to keeping the lights on, paying for her medication, and trying to stop our life from totally unraveling. "Gabrielle."

I was just about to get back to work when my name was called again. This time, Lana from accounts was standing next to my desk waving a handful of papers in the air.

"I'm so sorry to disturb you. Mr. Blackwood needs these signed and returned to accounts right away."

I smiled, nodding, "Of course, I'll get them straight to him.".

I steadied out and stood, the weight of the papers in my hands unbearable. I walked back into Mr. Blackwood's office, rapping once more on the door.

"Enter," he growled.

I stepped inside and showed him the papers that stuck out like a presented stage direction. "These require your signature, sir."

He did little more than glance at them while scrawling his name across the pages. "Have these scanned and sent to accounting by the end of the hour.

I nodded, not giving away how much the dismissive tone stung. Two years with this company, and every transaction felt like my first; I was nothing more than an irritant.

As I got once again to my feet, to leave his office, I couldn't help but consider how much longer I was going to be able to do this: all this tension; all this stress.

I wasn't one of the people in this building. I wasn't confident; I wasn't powerful. I just existed. Gabrielle Turner is a shy little weakling who can hardly hold together.

I got up and sat down again at my desk and began reading through them.

The only way in which I could attend to my work was by daydreaming- maybe one day things would be different; maybe one day I'd find my way out of this suffocating life. But today was not about that to happen.

How was I going to get through with it? In no aspect was it going to be easy for me.

My ringing phone on my desk pulled me back from my dream. I snapped it up quickly.