Chapter 4 New Horizons

Two weeks had come and gone since Sophia had last heard from her boss, Derek. She had been eagerly anticipating his response, but with each passing day, her hope dwindled. She had invested so much of herself into her work, hoping for recognition and appreciation from her superior, but it seemed as though he had forgotten about her. She felt insignificant and used, wondering if she was just another nameless employee to Derek. Nancy's words echoed in her mind, and she began to question if she had become too attached to her boss.

The daily routine of Benjamin walking into the office without sparing her a glance only added to her disappointment and frustration. But just as she was lost in her thoughts and feeling alone, the phone rang.

"Hello Sophia , Mr Hayes would like to see you right away", A feminine voice instructed her tone, eloquent.

"Okay, I'll be on my way", she responded.

"Not at his penthouse, at his office. I'm sure you know his office. It's on the floor before the penthouse", the voice explained..

"Okay, thanks", Sophia responded.

Hope quickly lit up in her stomach. Immediately, she took the elevator to Derek's office. She walked to the office and couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen. There was an electric tension in the air, and Sophia was acutely aware of every small sound and movement around her.

The atmosphere was different this time - the tension even more palpable, the anticipation almost suffocating. She couldn't help but wonder what Benjamin had in store for her, and her nerves threatened to get the best of her.

She closed the door behind her, locking it with a soft click. She turned to face him, his expression unreadable as he sat on his chair, looking every bit the intimidating man he was. He leaned his chin on his knuckles and stared at her intently.

"Sophia ," he began, his voice low and serious, "I spoke with HR. They were impressed with your work and your background. They're offering you a temporary position in the IT department, starting next week." He explained going straight to the point.

Sophia's breath hitched. "Temporary?"

"Yes," he confirmed. "It's a probationary period. If you prove yourself, the position could become permanent, and you will also be given an apartment close to the office."

" An apartment? Wow!. I really appreciate this opportunity," she replied, her voice firm. "I won't let you down."

Benjamin offered a nod, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I believe you, Sophia . Now," he continued, his voice returning to its usual businesslike tone," my assistant will help you go over the specifics of your new role."

Days moved rapidly into weeks, a whirlwind of activity for Sophia . The IT department embraced her with open arms, impressed by her sharp mind and eagerness to learn. Gone were the days of forced smiles and longing gazes at the elevator. Sophia now held her head high, her steps purposeful as she navigated the labyrinthine corridors of the IT department.

However, her newfound work life came at a cost. Lunch breaks spent strategizing complex algorithms with her new team, evening drinks with colleagues celebrating a successful system upgrade meant late nights catching up on missed paperwork, leaving barely enough time for a quick gisting with Nancy before collapsing into bed.

One Friday evening, as Sophia emerged from the office building, her eyes burning from staring at computer screens, a text from Nancy popped up. It was a simple message: "Drinks tonight?".

Sophia 's heart sank. This was the third attempt Nancy had made this week, and each time, work had gotten in the way. A wave of guilt washed over her. They hadn't had a proper chat in weeks. Back in the days of daydreaming at the reception desk, they were inseparable, sharing whispered secrets and dreams over stolen coffee breaks. Now, a chasm seemed to have opened between them.

She typed a quick response, her fingers heavy with guilt. "So sorry, Nancy! Got swamped again. Promise to make it up to you next week?"

The reply came almost instantly: "No worries. Just feels like we haven't talked in forever. You okay?"

Sophia's thumb hovered over the keyboard. How could she explain the whirlwind of excitement and exhaustion that was her new life? It felt trivial next to the mundane details of Nancy's days as a receptionist.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she finally typed, a hollow ring to the words. "Just busy. Catch you next week, okay?"

With a sigh, she pocketed her phone.

The weekend crawled by. Sophia tried to relax, but her mind kept replaying Nancy's text. Finally, on Sunday evening, she decided to take the initiative. She called Nancy, bracing herself for a potentially strained conversation.

"Hey, stranger!" Nancy's voice came through the phone, a tinge of disappointment in its cheerful tone.

"Hey, Nance. Sorry about bailing again this week," Sophia apologized sincerely.

"No worries," Nancy said, but Sophia could sense the forced lightness in her voice. "So, what have you been up to, Miss IT Specialist?"

Sophia hesitated. How much can i reveal without sounding like I'm bragging?, She said to herself. "It's been crazy busy," she admitted. "Learning new systems, dealing with tech glitches... it's challenging, but also kind of exciting."

"Sounds...techy," Nancy replied, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "So, no more time for your down-to-earth friend who still works as a receptionist?"

Sophia winced. Nancy always had a way of calling her out. "Of course not! It's just... things are different now."

There was a long silence at the other end of the line. "Different," Nancy finally repeated. "How different?"

Sophia poured her heart out, explaining the demands of her new role, the thrill of the challenges, and the long hours that followed.

"Wow, Sophia ," Nancy said, her voice flat. "That sounds... intense. But hey, at least you're not stuck behind a reception desk anymore, right?"

The undercurrent of bitterness in Nancy's voice stung. "It's not about that," Sophia protested. "I'm happy I got this opportunity, but I miss us hanging out. I miss hearing about your day."

"Yeah, well, things here are pretty much the same," Nancy replied. "Same old, same old. Guess you wouldn't understand anymore, with your fancy new tech friends."

Sophia 's heart ached. This wasn't the conversation she'd envisioned. "Nancy, that's not fair," she responded gently. "I care about you, and I want to hear about your day. How about next weekend, we do something fun? Just the two of us?"

Another pause hung heavy in the air. Finally, Nancy sighed. "Look, Sophia , I'm happy for you, really. But... maybe we're just growing apart. You're off in this whole new world, and I'm stuck here, attending to the needs of guests," Nancy finished, her voice laced with a hint of self-deprecation that tugged at Sophia's heartstrings.

"It's not about that," Sophia countered, her voice firm but laced with understanding. "We can make time for each other. We just need to be more intentional about it."

Silence stretched on the phone line, then a sniffle broke the tension.

"Sorry," Nancy mumbled, her voice thick with emotion. "This is all just a bit overwhelming, you know? You're like this... shooting star, suddenly soaring high, and I'm just... me."

Sophia felt a pang of sympathy for her friend. The transition from being on equal footing to suddenly having such a disparity in their professional lives was bound to be difficult.

"Hey," Sophia said softly, "you're amazing, Nancy. Don't ever forget that. You're strong, funny, and you have the biggest heart of anyone I know. This promotion doesn't change that."

A choked laugh escaped Nancy's lips. "Thanks, Sophia. I needed to hear that."

"So," Sophia continued, trying to lighten the mood, "how about a challenge? We both make a conscious effort this week. You tell me all about the latest gist and rumors moving around , and I'll regale you with tales of firewalls and data migration."

A hesitant chuckle came from the other end. "You're on. But don't blame me if my stories aren't as thrilling as yours."

"Deal," Sophia confirmed, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "And next weekend, we're ditching the phones and going out for a real night. Just the two of us, catching up like the good old days."

"Sounds perfect," Nancy agreed, her voice tinged with a newfound optimism.