Chapter 6 First day at work

Alice has been checking her phone almost every minute to see if there is feedback. But she got none and was now feeling impatient and disappointed. Why does it take forever to get feedback? It was just the day after the interview. Finally, the message came in. Alice jumped out of bed and screamed hysterically.

"I got it! It got it!"

"Dad, I got the job" she ran to her father who was still trying to comprehend why she was screaming, and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.

"Okay, I think you're going to strangle me if you keep holding me like that," he said, before Alice realized that she was squeezing him too tight.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so excited" her father paused for a while staring at her

"What is it?" She asked

"Nothing. I just remembered when you were five years old, you were playing a game with your mother and for the first time you won. You were just as ecstatic as you are now"

"I've always known that you'd make me proud" he said in a tone that almost made her cry.

After talking with her father she went to her room and picked up her phone before diving on the bed. Without wasting time, she dialed her friend's number. Audrey answered the phone at third beep.

"Hey girl! What's up" Audrey said, sounding usual

"I... I didn't get it" Alice said with a cracked and shaky voice

"You didn't what? Nah, you're joking"

"I'm not kidding Audrey. I just received an email from the company. I don't know what to do, how do I even tell my dad?" Alice lamented like a kid who got into trouble.

"But he told me that the interview went well the other day. You know what? Let call him" Audrey said

"No! I mean you don't have to call him. Maybe he'll think I'm taking advantage of you being his friend" Alice objected immediately.

"Alright, so what do we do now?"

"Wait, I have a plan..." Audrey said, but got interrupted by a hysterical laughter from the other end.

"Oh my God! That one really threw me off balance" Alice said in-between laughter.

"So this was just a prank? Jeez! Ali, and I totally fell for it. I should have known better" Audrey said, making a disappointed face.

"I can't believe you were already strategizing a plan. You've been too serious these days, so I couldn't help it"

"You should have been an actress instead of an artist" Audrey stated and they laughed heartily. Audrey congratulated Alice for her new job. After few seconds of silence, Alice asked

"Have you considered taking the job you and your parents talked about?"

"I told them already. I can't. Of what use it anyway, I don't even need a job. My dad has his own company and I have everything I need so what would I be working for?"

"It's alright, but I still think you should listen to them" Alice said

"I could stop by at your house tomorrow. When you're back from work off course" Audrey stirred the conversation to another direction in order to avoid talking about that. She sees it as absurd for her to work under someone when she already has all she needs.

"That would be fine. Anyways I'm about to get busy, so I'll talk to you tomorrow"

"Okay, bye" they said and disconnected the call. Alice had to prepare herself for tomorrow. It was going to be her first day at work so she needed to make a good impression. She opened her closet and let her eyes sweep through it, in search of the right combination. Thanks to Audrey, who helped her select some formal clothes on the day they went shopping together.

She picked a black formal pencil skirt which she bought and a sky blue chiffon top that has a bowtie, along with a pair of black covered shoes. Alice was not a big fan of heels so she only wore them on elaborate occasions. Everything was set for tomorrow.

She also spoke with Luke and told him the good news.

"I knew you would get it, because my girlfriend is very smart"

"Can you stop flattering me?" Alice said and blushed.

"We should celebrate this. We've been kinda distant lately, and I really miss you" Luke said.

"Yeah, I miss you too. But I'll be going to work tomorrow and it's my first day"

"Okay, how about tomorrow after work, you slide over to my place so we can have dinner together"

"Arrgh! Audrey said she wants to come to my place tomorrow"

"Audrey can wait. I just want to be with you" Luke complained

"Okay, I'll speak with her tomorrow," Alice agreed. They talked for a while before Alice fell asleep.

==========

[First day at work]

David left early for work that morning and for some reason, he was happy and eager to get there on time. He has never felt so eager about going to work. Getting to work, he went straight to his office which was on the fourth floor of the building. His office was at the right end of the majestic building of the company, and from the window, one could get a clear view of whatever was happening in the premises.

As he stood by the window, he noticed a Mercedes drove into the compound. A guy was sitting at the driver's side and he could see him hugging the girl sitting beside. Or was it kissing? He wasn't sure because of the distance. The girl opened the door and got down from the car, and his mouth fell open. It was her. Alice. Does that mean that she has a boyfriend? He felt his heart aching from the thought of her being with someone else. Yet he was confused why he was feeling such emotions. Why did she affect him so much? David felt the window to sit down. His mood had become sour all of a sudden

After getting dressed in the clothes she prepared the night before, Alice took a light meal. She always found it difficult to eat whenever she was leaving the house early. She spoke with her Dad, who encouraged her, before leaving. But getting a bus to that direction that early was quite a problem. Her efforts to prepare early would soon be in vain, as she had already wasted fifteen minutes of her precious time. Her phone ran and it was Luke calling.

"Morning sunshine"

"Good morning. I've been expecting your call"

"I'm sorry, I was quite busy. Are you at work now?"

"Nope, I'm still waiting to catch a bus. But it seems like it would take a while"

"I'll come pick you up. Just give me five minutes"

"But you said you're busy. I can manage" she said

"I insist. It's your first day, you shouldn't be late" he said and hung up before she could even protest.

Luke arrived in no time and she got into the car. She arrived early and thanked him for his help. And he kissed her before she got down from the car.

"Remember dinner tonight" he said to her before she left.

Alice went ahead to carry out the resume process since it was her first day at work. Someone was assigned to put her through and show her around, before she was assigned to her desk, where she will start work. Her colleagues were nice and welcomed her well. Then work started.

The tasks weren't difficult to handle as it was her area of expertise and she loved anything that had to do with designs. Presently, her task was to create character designs in a cartoon, and she started right away. She hoped to at least get a glimpse of him, but nothing. Maybe he was busy in his office, as the boss.

"Aren't you going for lunch?"

"Hi! I'm Jane" the girl whose desk was beside her said with a welcoming smile.

"Alice, nice to meet you" Alice responded in the same way.

"Same here. Hope you're aware that the graphic design team would be having a meeting with the CEO before lunch time?"

"Really? I wasn't aware" Alice exclaimed with excitement before she realized she was making herself obvious.

"Well, now you are. You can join us"

"Yeah, I will," Alice said. The voice in her head screamed "finally". She felt weird that she was excited to see him.

"You might want to sketch your ideas so you would have something to present" Jane suggested

"Yes, I will. Thanks" Alice said and started working on some designs she had in mind as Jane had given her a clue. She was so engrossed in her work and didn't realize it was already time for the meeting. She wanted to have something tangible to present. So Jane brought it to her notice and they all went to the meeting room on the third floor.