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And Sam knew why. “You’re leaving now, aren’t you?”
I could take back everything I said and have a midnight kiss with Sam. I could start the new year with him. Start over altogether again and add ‘being adventurous enough to ditch my bucket list’ on my bucket list.
Alas, I was the least daring person on Earth.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him, yet I couldn’t utter a word. My brain was shut off except for the part connected to my eyes where it recorded significant moments. Until Sam spoke the words that I couldn’t.
“Goodbye, Lucille.”
“Goodbye, Sam.”
And a midnight goodbye was how I started my new year.
* * *
Chapter Twenty-One
This was the gloomiest place ever.
It was like this place was stuck in the nineties era. There were blue carpets everywhere, the walls were painted grey with patches of a darker grey of mould, the chairs were red and mismatched and the lightning was too warm. The first time I stepped foot in here and saw these outdated surroundings, I half-expected to find typewriters instead of laptops. The office building needed some serious refurbishment. The whole place didn’t even look any prettier when it was decorated with Christmas decor two months ago.
My office was as drab as the rest of it. If not worse. During my second week there, I had requested to have some artwork hung up on the wall. You know, just a measly attempt to upscale the place, but so far, my office walls are still dirty and naked.
Not that I had much time to admire my surroundings.
Office life in the city was much different than in town. Since this was a much larger company than any other I’ve worked at, it was a double busy routine. My responsibilities were neverending and demanding. It was meeting after meeting, decision after decision. Still, regardless of how hectic it was, I loved my job with all of the long hours included. Sometimes I even stayed at the office until eight. There was no reason to rush home to an empty apartment anyway.
And it wasn’t just my hours that had increased. My caffeine cravings too. My coffee intake was now every two hours or less. Blame that on the stress or the anxiety.
Speaking of which. At around midday, I wrapped up the document I was working on and reached for my cup, only to remember it was a disposable paper. I still hadn’t replaced my beloved thermos cup. I discarded the cup in the bin and began my trip to the kitchen upstairs.
Along the way, I passed by a few familiar faces which I hadn’t yet memorized their names. So far since I’d been here, I hadn’t made an acquaintance with any characters I didn’t like. Everyone was friendly enough. Though I suppose most of the staff beneath my grade would smile civilly at the new Creative Director who was also in the running for the Chief Creative Officer post. My candidacy was unofficially official now. I heard gossip in the corridor the other day about how the newcomer who they hadn’t met yet was already targeting the big seat. Yep, that newcomer was me and hell yes, I was aiming to climb that last step of the ladder. And I didn’t even ask for it. The boss and her bosses selected me.
The stupid grin of self-pride quickly vanished as soon as I reached the coffee machine in the kitchenette. It was better to drink poison than that vile drink. Ugh. The alternative was instant chicory coffee and hot water from the water dispenser. Not the best choice but tolerable enough. If I become a Chief, the first on my agenda would be to recommend investing in a new coffee machine. That would surely score me some points with the subordinates.
“Hey, there you are.” Nina, the PA to the CEO, called from behind me as I stirred my coffee. Her chest was heaving like she was breathless from running. “I knew I should have looked for you here first. You and your coffee. Anyway, she wants to see you.”
“Now?”
Nina nodded vigorously. “She’s waiting in your office.”
Of course it was now. Why else would the big boss send the poor PA on a wild goose chase?
I popped a flimsy plastic lid on my even flimsier coffee cup and followed Nina. The young girl’s steps were quick. So were mine to keep up with her. Poor Nina worked around the clock to keep up with Ms Beaumont. She was a pretty nice girl. We might have become friends if I hadn’t abruptly struck an invite to her to meet at the bar. The girl had looked at me weirdly and curtly replied, ‘I don’t think my girlfriend would approve.’ She thought I was hitting on her. Gosh, look where my desperation for a friend lead me. Throwing lines without munching them over and coming off as a flirt. For heaven’s sake, I’m a director. There’s an unspoken decorum to be kept here. Also, there’s the non-fraternization policy to keep me in check in case my libido flickered up.
When we reached my office, Nina popped her head in to announce me. “Ms Monroe’s here.” Then a beckon with her hand gave me permission to step into my own office.
I found my boss sitting in my chair behind my desk. She sure didn’t seem to mind the slight wobble of the chair.
Ms Beaumont was a small woman who defied her fifty years of age with her natural beauty. Her full white hair suited her well and perfectly popped out her cerulean eyes. She had the most pleasant smile with a full set of pearly white teeth. Though when she wore her glasses perched on her scrunched-up nose, she squinted her eyes over the lenses with the meanest look. Today, she wasn’t wearing any glasses, nor smiling, so I wasn’t sure what to make of her visit – whether it was pleasant or otherwise.
“Ms Beaumont.” I greeted with my best gracious smile.
“Sit down, Lucille.”
“Lucy’s fine.” I corrected for the hundredth time as I took a seat on the visitor’s chair. Was that a boss’s thing to call me by my full name?
I caught the boss eyeing my coffee cup. “Hope you haven’t been waiting for long. I just went for a quick coffee break.”
