Walking into the building was a test of courage, walking into the office, however, was a test of willpower for Rita. Each moment felt like she was being watched, graded and glared at. Each step felt as if it was weighed down by an anvil that got heavier and heavier with each stride.
She fought several internal battles that morning, mostly heated debates between her brain, anxiety, ego and determination. Some of which had been between either turning tail and going back to the safety of her gloomy apartment or going and staying in the office. Between just flat out quitting the job or honkering down.
It did not help that everyone and everything on the floor was acting strangely. For being four and a half weeks away from the job she was fairly sure that Marlene would have had a couple of Mount Everest sized stacks of paperwork on her desk right about now but the only things on her desk were the desktop, a couple of the usual stationary and…was that–good God–normal sized files?
She stepped into the workspace eyeing everything within the small space with a watchful gaze, the gaze accompanied by furrowed eyebrows.
This could not be her cubicle, there were not as many files on her desk as there would usually be. She stepped out, confident that she was right and did a little backward take when she saw her name written in the usual black block lettering on the outside wall. This was her cubicle.
‘Okay, this has got to be some sort of prank…right?’ She thought. Her eyes swept passed her block lettered name on the wall to the person who just walked out of the elevator.
She walked with a smooth and almost predatory gait and an aura that said you had better ship shape or you will be shipped out. Her vibrant red hair, stern brown eyes and fitting black suit made her look like a certain red headed espionage linked superhero. She was definitely the no nonsense kind of woman.
If none of those facts did it for you then the sight of Anthony in less than perfect primrose form would do it. Rita’s jaw nearly slacked wide open.
Anthony, actually working?! And not only that, struggling to keep up and looking like he needed three weeks worth of weekends.
Ok, what was going on here? Big question was, who was she? Even bigger question, why was she here?
Rita was so stuck alternating her glances between the woman and Anthony that she had not realized that she was standing–no, gawking–directly in their line of passage until it was too late.
“Ah, Miss Anozim, glad to see you are finally back at work.” The woman said, a less stern look on her face. Rita stopped her gawking and responded, something about the woman told her that this show of…care would be a one time thing.
A certain fact with the astonished look on Anthony’s oh so tired face as he not so openly gawked at her.
“Good to be back. Thank you Miss-um”
“Silly me, I haven’t introduced myself yet. Normally, my assistant would do that but seeing as he looks like shit’s distant cousin, I would not let him do it even if his life depended it.” The words came out harsh, judgemental and every bit condescending.
Anthony visibly cringed and withdrew into himself with his eyes to the floor, looking utterly miserable. ‘Wait. Did she say new assistant?’
“It’s Miss Irina Verushka and I’m the new head of this department.” She finished with a small smile and an outstretched hand.
‘Russian. Her American accent could have fooled me. Wait?! New head?! What happened to Marlene?!’
Rita took the outstretched hand in her own and gave it a polite shake. Her head was still buzzing with questions and maybe more than just questions but better to take it all in stride. “Thank you Ma’am, looking forward to working under you.”
They both withdrew their hands to their sides. “I’m looking forward to it. Your work is quite nice, I hope the accident doesn’t put a damper on things.” Praise was a hard thing to earn in this department and even when earned it was almost rarely given. Rita felt some of her anxiety melt away and happiness take its place.
“I hope it doesn’t. Thank you Ma’am.” She said, with a small smile on her face.
The new head nodded. “My assistant here will give you a run down of how things work here now thirty minutes after lunch, if he’s even capable of doing that slow and redundant as he is.”
Again Rita was taken aback and felt sorry for Anthony who now looked utterly dejected, miserable and on the verge of crying.
“I’ll let you get started with your work. Have a good morning.” One last polite smile on her face before the semi friendly air dropped to a stunning strict below zero atmosphere. Time for pleasantries was over.
“Come Anthony.” The order was given coldly and left absolutely no room for anything else except obedience.
Anthony did so, looking like a puppy who just got kicked severally by an awful owner all the way till they both disappeared in the HOD’s office.
Rita, after watching them enter the office, entered hers and sat down. ‘Great. Another new boss.’ She thought.
‘What the heck had happened while she was away? When had the new change in power happened? Not that this could not be a good thing for her, it could turn out great…or worse than the situation she had been in.’
All the questions and thinking had started making her brain hurt and she had not even gotten started for the day.
Clearing her head of all thoughts she got to work. Any of the questions she had would have to wait till 11:30 am. Hopefully by then Anthony would no longer look like…well, as Miss Verushka put it, the distant cousin of shit or a dog that would happily be put down.
Ok, this was going to be a lot to get used to.