I wished the ground would swallow me whole, erasing the mortification. Mia's eyes locked onto mine, and time froze. The air thickened with awkwardness, as if we were trapped in a silent staring contest.
My chest was exposed, my hair disheveled and dripping wet. The words I had whispered still lingered, and now Mia had heard them.
She advanced toward me, her heels clicking on the tile floor. I fumbled to button my shirt, my fingers trembling.
"Virgin boy," she said, her voice low and husky, "we have a meeting in five minutes."
Mia's chuckle echoed as she exited the restroom, leaving me feeling humiliated and exposed. I bit back a scream, knowing it would only worsen the situation.
Racing against time, I hastily splashed water on my face and smoothed my hair. The meeting loomed, and I couldn't afford to be late.
As I entered the conference room, my teammates were already seated, laptops open. Nathan gave me a reassuring nod.
"We're almost done with the report," Alex summarized. "Let's review and ensure everything's in order."
My eyelids drooped, fatigue overwhelming me. Despite the urgency, my body succumbed to exhaustion. During the meeting, my eyes began to close, and I drifted off to sleep. Nathan's discreet tap on my leg jolted me awake. As I opened my eyes, Mia's gaze met mine, our eyes locked in an awkward moment, mortified, I swiftly looked down, unable to face her.My heart raced, the silence felt oppressive.
Mia's voice cut through the tension. "Nate, are you with us?"
I nodded. "Yes, ma'am." My voice barely above a whisper.
The meeting concluded successfully, with Mia approving the team's work and greenlighting stage two.
"Nate," Mia called, her voice piercing through the haze of my exhaustion.
Initially, I didn't respond, lost in a surreal world where Nathan's head was being devoured by a shark. Mia's second call shattered my hallucination. "Nate!"
"Yes, sir!" I blurted, hastily correcting myself as I met the amused gazes of my teammates. "Sorry, ma'am! Yes, ma'am!"
Mia's expression remained stoic, but a flicker of amusement danced in her eyes.
"You will assist Nathan today. That's all for today, guys. We have one week to finish this. Thank you."
With that, Mia departed, leaving the conference room in a flurry of movement. Perplexed, I turned to Nathan. "What am I assisting you with?" I mouthed silently.
Nathan's enigmatic smile and nod beckoned me to follow him. He grabbed his laptop, and we exited the company building, leaving the fluorescent lights and sterile air behind. As we stepped into the bright sunlight, Nathan's pace quickened.
"Where are we headed?" I asked.
Nathan replied. "Just follow me."
Intrigue piqued, I trailed Nathan through the bustling streets. I grasped Nathan's arm, my eyes wide with curiosity. "Where are we headed?" I asked.
Nathan smiled knowingly. "Have you forgotten your own idea? We need to interview the people behind EcoCycle – employees, owners, everyone."
My memory flooded back. "Oh, right! Where do we start?"
"From the top, of course – the owners. Then we'll work our way down to the cleaners. Brace yourself, Nate. It's going to be a long day."
The day dragged on relentlessly, each minute ticking by at a glacial pace.
However, one interview stood out, an elderly cleaner who had dedicated 25 years to EcoCycle.
His eyes sparkled with pride as he shared stories of his tenure.
"This company's growth and wellbeing rely on every single one of us," he said.
We concluded our interviews at 6 p.m., and came back to the office but no one was around. As I packed my bag, visions of my bed danced in my mind, soft, inviting, and refreshing.
"Nate, are you done gathering your things?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah, why?" I replied.
Nathan responded: "Just wondering. We have one stop to make before you head home."
"One stop to my death," I thought grimly.
We hailed a taxi and arrived at a cozy restaurant. Nathan opened the door, gesturing for me to enter.
"Is this where we're having the meeting?" I asked, confusion etched on my face.
"Surprise!" they shouted in unison.
My eyes widened as I took in the scene before me. The table groaned under the weight of an extravagant spread – succulent meats, steaming vegetables, and exotic dishes from around the world. Mia, resplendent in a sleek black dress, raised her glass of wine from the table's head.
"Cheers to our new member! May you last longer than the last guy," she said, her smile hinting at mischief.
The team erupted into laughter, and I joined in, unsure if it was an inside joke or a veiled warning. Had the previous employee fled due to Mia's demanding nature or the crushing workload?
My first day had been a baptism by fire; the future looked daunting. As we clinked glasses and sipped our wine, I felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. We drank into the night, laughter and stories flowing like the liquor. For the first time, I felt part of a family.
As a light drinker, I usually paced myself, but tonight was different. The camaraderie was intoxicating. I downed drink after drink, embracing the carefree spirit, my inhibitions disappeared, replaced by a boldness I never knew I had. Slurring words, I stumbled to my feet, grasping the table for support.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" I shouted, lifting my glass. "Surprise!"
The room spun, and my legs wobbled. I turned, pointing accusingly at Mia.
"I know you wanted me to quit," I slurred. "You never liked me at all... but I proved you wrong."
Mia's expression changed from amusement to surprise.
"I just want to tell you..." I began.
My words trailed off as I swayed, Nathan rose from his seat. "Nate, maybe you've had enough," he suggested.
But I pressed on. "No, no... I mean it. Yo
u thought I wouldn't make it, but I did. And I just want to say..."
My vision blurred.