Chapter 5 First working day

"Bek?" Ava stirred on the medium sized bed, her eyes out for her puppy.

Free day? She asked herself.

Nah. She smiled. She was starting work at KROST today.

It gave a good feeling.

Is she dreaming? She asked herself, pinching her soft skin.

She laughed softly.

"Buuuuh!" Bek moaned, rushing to her side. She tried jumping into Ava's side on the bed.

"It's work day," Ava said, smiling. She searched the bed for her phone. "I've got to go."

She jumped off the bed, into the bathroom to have a hot bath.

The weather seemed cold, and a hot bath was the best at the moment.

Hot bath? Yeah! It was a chilly morning, and she needed warmth.

If only she was Maya, Mark would definitely do the 'warming' that morning. But she isn't Maya! She never will be.

Even if she can't be Maya, she could just have a man. Yeah.

But, no! She screamed at her inner mind. She was done with Maxwell, and she didn't need herself more drama.

She was done!

She thought of changing her mind to have a cold bath. Nah.

She didn't use the shower this morning. She'd have a cold bath later, when she got back from work.

What was she doing? The time was far spent in the bathroom. She should have her bath soon.

Taking in the sponge and soap, she scrubbed. She scrubbed like she was going on a date to meet her husband-to-be.

But, no! She wasn't. It was her first day at work, and she wanted to give them a good impression.

She hurriedly walked out of the bathroom after her bath, into her bedroom. Naked.

"Buuuuh!" Bek said, seeing her naked body, dripping.

Was the innocent creature surprised?

"Shhhsh," Ava said, smiling. Bek left the room in seconds, hurrying to her safe space somewhere around the house.

She took her towel, she had forgotten to take it to the bathroom because she was in a hurry. She lives alone, afterall.

No one was coming to see her naked body, except the innocent looking dog, Bek.

Ava chuckled.

It was too early for all these, she cautioned herself, drying her body.

She dried her wet self, round after round. Walking to the small side table, she grabbed her roll-on.

"This is the worst ever!" She cried, taking in the heat the roll-on was giving.

"Hmmm," She was irritated. The heat of this roll-on irritated her so much.

She returned the roll-on to its previous state. She'd not buy a mint product next time, she decided.

She'd throw this one whenever she's chanced to visit the store. It burns her armpit.

Her phone rang. Who the hell was it? It was too early for talks.

Ohhhh, it was Maya. A smile appeared on her lips. Her friend was calling and it gave a good feeling.

Does she think I'm still in bed? Ava thought.

"Yes?" She said, her phone in her ears. "Maya?"

"Hey!" Maya said, excitedly. "Off to work?"

"Yes, baby." Ava said, rolling her eyes as though Maya could see her.

"I see," Maya said. Ava could hear her giggle.

"How's Mark?"

"Fine!" Mark screamed so she could hear.

"Silly!" Ava uttered. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Avv." He responded. Ava heard a weird sound. "Off to work?"

"Yes." She answered. "I've got to go."

"Alright," Maya said this time. "Stay safe."

"You too!" Ava said, ending the call abruptly.

She did some more applications to her skin, her face powder especially.

Grabbing her handbag, she walked to the corner of the room with the full-length mirror.

"Perfect!" She praised, admiring the simple black gown she wore. And the flat sandals.

"Bye!" She greeted Bek who was looking at her before walking to the door. Perhaps, the helpless puppet thought she was on a date.

The dress is giving! Bek must have thought.

She'd buy a male puppy soon so Bek can have company when she's away, Ava concluded. Staying alone at home wasn't too nice for a small puppet like Bek.

It wasn't hard getting a taxi this morning, she just hopped into the machine while the driver took her to her stop.

"Thank you." She said, walking away from the man after handing a note to him.

She wasn't going to repeat what had happened the last time.

"Yes," She answered a lady who said something to her. Although she didn't hear whatever it was the lady said.

Today, Ava didn't bother looking around the organisation again. She'd see it frequently, she knew.

"Good morning." The lady who attended to her on the day of her interview greeted.

"Good morning." Ava greeted, returning the smile she received from this lady. White set of teeth.

"Welcome, finally." She heard the lady say. "First day at work."

"Thank you," Ava greeted, walking to the Manager's office.

"Good morning!" Mr. Hayden said, standing to his feet. "I'd show you your office."

"Good morning," She greeted. "Thank you."

She followed suit, trailing behind him like a sheep ready for slaughter.

Mr. Hayden approached an office, stopping to look at Ava. He smiled at her.

"Taada!" He said, opening the door with the key. "Welcome, Miss smith."

"Thank you, Mr. Hayden," She smiled. "May I?"

"Ofcourse!" He said, giving room for her to pass. "Files will be submitted to you for treatment before the end of the day."

"That's alright," She said, standing in the middle of the office.

"I'd give you some minutes," Hayden said. "You should stop by again for a short introduction to the rest of the staff."

"Alright," Ava said, while Mr. Hayden left her new office.

"Ohhh," Ava cried, walking to the chair situated in a corner of her office. It was a big office.

She took a seat in the chair, not touching anything yet. She'd do that after the introduction.

"Yeah," She said, satisfied with everything in the office.

She walked back to the door, and out of the office. She shut the door behind her, locking with the key Mr. Hayden left at the teeth of the door.

She found her way back to Mr. Hayden's office, knocking slightly.

"Come on in, Ava," She heard him say.

"Thank you," She said, walking into his office. It was bigger than hers, she noticed.

"Hold on," Mr. Hayden said, saying something to someone shortly on the telephone in his office. Ava tried remembering if she saw a telephone in her office. Maybe.

"Good morning," A voice deeper than that of the Manager sounded, and a young man walked into the office.

He was the owner of the voice she heard.

"Good morning, Aiden," Mr. Hayden said, looking at Ava for a second.

"This is Aiden," Mr. Hayden said. "He works here."

"Hello," Ava said, giving Aiden a short smile. She liked him immediately, unlike the other lady who partners with the receptionist she likes.

The one who had congratulated like she knew what had happened.

"Welcome to KROST," Aiden said, stretching his hand for a handshake. Ava took his hand, letting go in another second.

"Tell the rest of the staff to gather at the meeting site," Mr. Hayden said, ending the short introduction.

...for our new worker's introduction."

"Yes, boss." Aiden said, walking away.

"Take a seat, Ava." Hayden invited, his eyes on the computer system before him.

"Thank you," She said, sitting. Not saying anything to Mr. Hayden.

In less than 20 minutes, Aiden returned. He didn't knock, Ava noticed.

"We're ready," He said, while Mr. Hayden simply nodded his head.

"I'd meet you there," Mr. Hayden said, looking up at him with a satisfactory smile written on his face.

"Okay," Aiden said, leaving the office. Back to the meeting site, Ava thought.

.

.

"Good day, ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Hayden greeted.

Ava thought his voice was thicker, since he was addressing his staff.

"Good morning," The rest of the people gathered at the hall greeted.

Ava sat in the midst of the congregation, they were quite many. She was seated in the middle of Aiden, and a lady she didn't know yet.

"We've called you here..." The Manager, Mr. Hayden started.

"...to introduce our new staff to everyone here," He said again.

"Ava Smith," He called. "Join me here."

"Ohhh," Ava muttered, her legs almost shaking.

She walked to the podium, avoiding gazes with anyone. Her eyes on the floor.

"Welcome Miss Ava Smith," Mr. Hayden said to the staff.

"Welcome!" She heard them chorus.

"Thank you," She greeted, smiling for the first time in minutes.

"She'd be working with us for the main time in KROST," Mr. Hayden said again.

Mr. Hayden was done with his speech in minutes, dismissing everyone present at the hall. Some people walked up to Ava to welcome her personally.

"Welcome," Aiden approached, smiling.

"Thank you," She greeted, smiling back at him.

"I could take you to the eatery," He said. "During break hour."

"Great," She said. They were already outside the hall, walking to her office.

"I see a comfy room here," Aiden teased.

"Ohhh, yeah!" Ava said, laughing for the first time.

Aiden laughed too.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing," He said. "Break time." He said again, walking away.

She liked him already. For a friend, she thought before unlocking the door to her office.

"Yes!" She said, sitting on her chair again. She turned on the computer system before her this time.

"KROST," Ava pronounced the boldly written text on the screen of the computer.

"I'd make it here," She said, searching for her phone to make a call.

-

"Really?" Ava said with excitement, looking at the two people seated with her.

"Yeah!" Aiden said, laughing. "Greener pastures brought us here."

"Ohhh, dear!" She cried, laughing.

She was at the eatery with Aiden, and another person, a lady.

She was more than surprised when she was told Aiden and Charlotte, the lady are both New York indigenes.

"We're family!" She said excitedly, hitting Aiden's shoulder.

"Yeahhh," The lady, Charlotte said, a smile on her face.

She wasn't a talking type, Ava noticed.

"My parents live there," Ava said. "And my elder brother." She added.

"Nice," Charlotte praised. "I'm an orphan."

"I'm sorry," Ava said, looking at Charlotte's face. "You'd be fine," She said again, touching her hands.

"Well..." Aiden said, causing her gaze to return to his face. "I'm fatherless."

"I'm sorry," Ava said again, smiling.

"Naaa," Aiden said, smiling. "He's not dead, I mean."

"Where is he?" She asked.

"I don't know," Aiden answered. "Left us for over a decade."

"That's bad," Ava said, her tone serious.

"I know," Aiden said, smiling. "But, I'm fine."

"You will be," She said, smiling at her new friends.

They talked some more, eating the meals they ordered from the organisation chef.

"This is good," Ava commended when they were done eating.

"Yeah," Aiden said, standing to his feet. "Time to go to work."

"Ohhh, yeah." Charlotte said, joining Aiden. "Come," She said, showing Ava her hand.

"Yeahhh!" Ava said, standing on her feet. "Thank you, guys."

"It's our pleasure," Charlotte chipped in, looking at Aiden who simply smiled.

She walked back alone to her office, Aiden and Charlotte had taken the other way to their various offices. She'd visit them one day, she concluded, finding her way to her office.

"Miss Smith," She heard someone say. Turning to see Mr. Hayden, she answered, "Mr. Hayden."

"See me before you leave after work," He said, walking to his office. He smiled at her though.

"Okay," She said, although he was out of sight.

She walked to the door of her office, Ava opened her door and walked in, shutting after her.

She spent the rest of the day going through the new staff's guideline dropped at her table.

.

.

Evening:

"Good day," She greeted, walking into the Manager's office. She didn't knock.

"Yes, Miss," Hayden greeted. "How did your first day go?"

"Very well," She answered, a smile on her face. "Thank you."

"Anytime," Mr. Hayden said, shutting down his laptop. "If you ever need anything, let me know."

"Alright," She said. She was standing.

"That would be all," He said, smiling at her.

"Thank you," She said one more time, finding her way out of his office.

"Do well and concentrate," Mr. Hayden said, calling her back. "There's a price for the year's best staff."

"Ohhh!" Ava said, smiling again. "I will, thank you."

She arrived back at her house in less than 45 minutes, throwing her shoes on the floor.

"Gosh!" She cried. How exhausted she was!

She should eat soon, the meal from the restaurant wasn't too filling. She'd get more than today's quantity next time.

She didn't eat much, yeah. And it was on purpose.

She wasn't going to give Aiden and Charlotte the impression that she likes food.

No, she loves food. "Like," wasn't just the right word for her love for food.

She'd get a proper quantity tomorrow at work. She was already in the kitchen.

She opened the medium sized refrigerator in her kitchen, grabbing 2 apples. She had bought them from the store the last time she went out to the market.

She wasn't just going to keep going to the market every time. She now works.

At KROST.

Bek ran into the kitchen. She must have been ignorant of Ava's return.

"Buhhhh!" The cute little dog cried, running to meet her master.

"Hi!" She greeted, ruffling Bek's hairy skin. She must have missed her.

Did she notice Ava wasn't home throughout today? Perhaps, just perhaps.

Ava ruffled the feathers of Bek's ear, throwing a chunk of apple in her mouth. The satisfied pet walked away after munching.

Getting a pet should be her next target. Another pet that could keep Bek company.

She would ask Maya for recommendations. She wouldn't want the same species as Bek.

An American Eskimo, perhaps. That was a perfect idea!

She'd definitely talk to Maya about it.

The only thing she wanted to do so badly was lay on her bed until the next morning. But, no!

She should have her bath before anything else. She could skip her meal for the day. She loves food, yeah.

But, sleep comes first before food for Ava Smith.

She closed the refrigerator door, it had been wide ajar since she took the apples. Guiding her steps to her room, she looked out for Bek.

Bek was laying in a corner of the living room, chewing something. The apple, perhaps.

Sleep was all she needed, and she would get more than she wanted.

She thought of how her day went, walking to her bathroom to have a cold bath.