Lena followed Ms. Greene through the bustling office, her footsteps echoing on the polished floors. She couldn't help but feel the weight of the stares that followed her from all directions. She had been in rooms full of people before, but the intensity of the scrutiny here felt different—more critical. It didn't help that she was already on edge, having barely survived her awkward encounter with the receptionist.
Ms. Greene stopped in front of a desk in the far corner of the room, her expression warm but tinged with the same surprise Lena had caught earlier. "This will be your workspace," she said, gesturing to the desk, which was neat and well-organized, with a computer screen already on. "We're so glad to have you on board, Lena."
Before Lena could settle in, Ms. Greene straightened up, her tone shifting to a more professional one. "Everyone, this is Lena Williams, our new intern. She'll be joining us today and getting hands-on experience with some of our projects. Let's make her feel welcome." Her voice was pleasant, but the way she quickly looked around the room seemed to signal that she wanted this introduction to go smoothly.
Lena's pulse quickened as the room fell into a brief, tense silence. She noticed the quick, judgmental glances exchanged between her new colleagues. Some of them raised their eyebrows, and a few even scoffed, their eyes scanning her as though she were some kind of novelty.
Lena took a deep breath, holding her head high, determined not to let their judgment affect her. It wasn't easy, but she had been through worse. After all, this doesn't want to be invisible again. And She didn't need to be liked by everyone.
One of the colleagues, a young man with a sharp suit and slicked-back hair, leaned in toward his coworker, whispering just loud enough for Lena to catch the words. "What's she doing here?" he muttered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Looks like she's more suited for a different kind of office, don't you think?"
Lena clenched her jaw, trying not to let the words get to her. She had heard them all before, just not in this setting. She wasn't here to please anyone. She was here to do a job, and she was going to do it well.
Ms. Greene continued introducing Lena to a few more colleagues, most of whom were polite but distant. She could feel the eyes following her every move, the skepticism palpable. As Lena prepared to sit down at her desk, she carefully adjusted herself, wanting to avoid drawing any more attention to herself than necessary.
But as soon as she lowered herself into the chair, it let out an unmistakable, loud creak. The sound seemed to echo through the room, followed by a brief, awkward silence.
Then, as if on cue, one of the women sitting nearby by name Rita, a tall woman with blonde hair and sharp features, smirked and called out, "Careful there, I think the chair might break under you."
The comment stung, but Lena didn't flinch. She sat up straight, meeting the woman's gaze as she adjusted herself in the chair. Her words were deliberate and calm, not letting the mocking tone rattle her. "It's fine. Just getting comfortable," Lena replied, keeping her voice steady.
Rita didn't let up, leaning over to another colleague at the desk next to her and saying, loud enough for Lena to hear, "I mean, it's not like they even check if the chairs can hold up, right? Imagine if she breaks it before she even starts working."
Lena felt the heat rush to her face, but she wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of seeing her upset. She straightened her back and stood up from the chair, ignoring the whispers that resumed around her.
"I think I'll just stand for now," she said, her voice cool but firm. "I wouldn't want to make a scene. You know, with all the broken furniture."
The woman who had made the comment exchanged a quick glance with the others, clearly taken aback by Lena's response. The laughter that had bubbled up at first faltered slightly, but Lena didn't let it faze her. She could feel the heat of their gazes, but now she was determined not to let them control the narrative.
Ms. Greene, who had been standing by the side, seemed to sense the growing tension in the room. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she cleared her throat, addressing the group with a tone of finality. "Alright, everyone, that's enough," she said firmly. "Lena is here to do a job, and we will treat her with respect. I expect no further comments on her appearance or anything else. Understood?"
The room fell quiet, and while Lena appreciated Ms. Greene's intervention, she could sense the discomfort in the air. She wasn't sure if they would really take the message to heart, but she wasn't about to let it ruin her day.
She reclaimed her seat, the chair creaking again as she carefully lowered herself into it, determined to not let it get to her. This was her space now. And as long as she was here, she would make it her own.
The office settled back into its usual hum of activity, but Lena could still feel the occasional glance. She focused on the computer in front of her, finding solace in the work she was about to dive into. It didn't matter what they thought. She was here for a reason.
And she wasn't going anywhere.