Monday had finally reached. I was so excited. I was never one to wake up early. But this was different. This was the start of my professional life. I finally had a job.
Work did not start till 8 am but by 6 am, I was already dressed. I thought of getting g breakfast but I was too wound up to eat. So I made myself a cup of tea drank it to soothe my nerves.
At 7 am, I was already on my way. I did not want anything to make me late. I was going to crunch some numbers today and no one was going to stop me.
At 7:30, I was already in front of the building. It was huge. And I knew this was not the only building.
I got in happily and walked to the front desk. It was the same receptionist of the day of the interview. She smiled at me and I smiled back cheerfully.
"You got the job?" she asked and I nodded happily.
"Congratulations!" she said.
"Thank you. Where exactly am I headed to right now?" I asked her. I really did not want to make a fool out of myself on my first day here.
"Head over to human resources department. And ask for Mr. Thurman. He's going to direct you. Welcome!"
I muttered a thank you and headed to the elevator. I at least knew where the HR department was. I had been there the first time around for a brief moment.
I walked into an office with Thurman on it. There was a man in it but he seemed busy, so I knocked hesitantly.
He instantly looked up then motioned for me to come in. I walked in completely and stood in front of him. What did the drink in this place?? All of them were attractive!!
"Good morning," I said and he looked at me strangely. I put my hand on my elbow and rubbed it awkwardly. Was I not supposed to say that.
"I presume you're Ms. Durham?" he asked and I nodded.
"That's me," I said a bit stupidly in my opinion.
"Right. Come on, I'm going to show you to your workspace and you'll settle in." He stood up and started walking towards– actually I don't know where he was walking to.
I followed him blindly, trying to keep up with his long steps. Yes, I was tall, for a woman anyways, but he was taller than me.
We got into the elevator and went to the fourth floor. As soon as we got out, he led me to a very big and open space with lots of cubicles. He walked to a relatively big cubicle that was already set up with a desk, a computer and all the other stationery.
"Here's your desk. And what you have to do today is on. Welcome to the team Ms. Durham." He was so unenthusiastic that I simply nodded, not knowing what to reply to that dry welcome.
As soon as I nodded, he turned on his heels and walked away.
"Alright," I said lowly. I looked around and almost everyone's eyes were on me. I sat down awkwardly and put on the computer.
I opened the file in front of me and then stretched my fingers. Time to crunch some numbers.
***
A few hours later– or minutes, I don't really know, I lost track of time. Until I was sent an email. Harry Killian was expecting me in his office in fifteen minutes.
When I got the email, I widened my eyes. Why the heck did he want to see me? Bash my stealth skills again? Or tell me I was fired? I hadn't done anything wrong! It was my first day here for crying out loud.
I stood up shakily and started walking towards the boss's office. My heart was pounding and I was so conscious about the looks of the others on me.
I entered the elevator and pressed on the button for the last floor. I was a little bit claustrophobic but I wouldn't have minded if at that moment, the elevator stopped suddenly. That was how scared I was.
I didn't want to lose this job. Not after I had called my mother and told her about it. I was sure by now, everyone in my hometown knew that I had a job. And in a big company at that. I really didn't want to disappoint myself or my mom. And most of all, I didn't need some people who had been living my life by the sidelines to have a reason to judge me.
As soon as the elevator stopped, I started reciting a Hail Mary. I wished I had my rosary so bad so I could count. I had a plan. I was going to beg him so much that he would have no choice but to let me keep the job.
I knocked on the door, still reciting the Hail Mary in my head. The same man who had told me Harry was waiting for me told me to get in. I did. And waited for him to tell me when it was a right time to go in.
To my surprise, the man stood up and left. I raised my eyebrows but didn't say a thing. I decided to start reciting my Hail Marys out loud this time around.
"Hail Mary, mother of God–"
"Woah, little flower. Didn't know I scared you that much," was all I heard and I jumped almost ten feet up.
I turned to the person speaking. It was Harry– Mr. Killian– whatever. It was him. The person who wanted to see me. I swallowed. Now was the time. I was going to start with my pleading.
"Sir–" I started but he interrupted me.
"I thought it was Harry?" He asked and I got the feeling he was teasing me. But I was too wound up to judge whether my theory was right or wrong.
"Sir– Harry, please. I'm begging. Please, don't fire me. I will do anything in my capacities. I will even stay after work hours of you want me to. But please, I don't want to lose this job." That was convincing enough right.
"Woah woah little flower. I'm not going to fire you. I wanted to welcome you as a matter of fact," he said and I didn't know whether to frown or smile.
Yes he wasn't going to fire me. But he called me little flower. I wasn't little, one and it was not because my name was a flower that he was going to call me flower. I was neither fragile nor delicate. And welcome me? What did he mean by that?
"Welcome me?" I asked, suddenly scared for the worst.
"Yes. Welcome you. And consider yourself special, because you're the only one who is on the receiving end of it so far. Follow me."
I swallowed. And prayed for the best. Then followed him.