Chapter 2 WORK BEGINS

Edmund allowed Sally to leave before he spoke his mind to his grandmother. " Grandma why? I do not want her working here."

" Care to tell me why, my boy? She is qualified," Grandma responded.

"She is so annoying, clumsy, and she is a trouble maker," Edmund responded.

" You speak like you know her. How long have you guys been seeing each other? Is there more to this story I do not know about Edmund?" Grandma smiled.

" Do not tease me, grandmother. She is nothing," Edmund replied.

***

Sally went home to her two-bedroom apartment she shared with her friend Becky. She stormed into the apartment with some drinks and pizza.

Becky was home, and Sally was delighted. " Guess who's got a job!"

Becky screamed, "I knew you could do it, girl. You always had it in you."

"You are right, but it was a close shave," Sally said. Then, she told Becky all that transpired.

Becky burst out laughing.

"It was not funny when it all played out. Do not make fun of me," Sally protested.

" Do not blame me. You spilled coffee on the boss of a perfect white group of companies by mistake, and he was your interviewer! Girl, even if you got this job, I think you have bad days ahead. Do not say I did not warn you. Brace up, honey. Now give me a slice of pizza and let us celebrate."

Sally took the pizza and drinks and entered the other room. "Sometimes I wonder if you are my friend."

"Come on," Becky said. "Give me some pizza." Becky followed Sally into the room.

***

The next day, Sally wore a pink dress to work with a pair of white kitten heels. She hoped for the best, and wished that what Becky had told her would not manifest.

She met the secretary and was told her office was the one close to where the boss stayed. Her office was so close to Edmund's office that he could slide in whenever he wanted. She bit her lower lip. She wondered what could be more horrible than this.

She went into her office and quickly arranged her things. She put a picture of herself and her mother, a water bottle, and some other personal items on her table.

The phone on her office table rang. She picked it up. It was Edmund's steely voice. "Sally, I want you in my office now!"

Sally bit her lower lip and rose to her feet. She entered Edmund's office and saw him wearing a sky-blue shirt and a black tie. He had rolled up his sleeves, and his eyes were on the screen of his computer. "Take those files and go work on them," he said without indicating which pile of files he spoke of. There were several piles of files on his table.

Sally was wondering which pile of files to pick up when he muttered, "You always act like you are deaf. Why do you not do what you are told? Get your useless self from my office?"

"I was wondering which pile of files I should pick up sir," Sally explained.

He sighed impatiently. "The one at the right."

Sally moved to the right side of Edmund's large table, noticing that there were three piles of files there. She reached out to pick the first.

"No!" he shouted. "Can you not do anything right? You are such a pain."

Sally swallowed, but she knew she would have to do this. "Do you have a shelf, boss?"

"Stupid question," he replied. "Does my office look as impoverished as yours?"

Sally smiled, taking note of the shelves placed in the perfect spots within his large office. "Indeed, your office is furnished nicely and richly. It is definitely not like mine. However, I guess you do not know how to use your resources properly. Because your table resembles the impoverished office of a worker who does not have shelves to keep his files. I am so confused about what is what already, just by looking at your office table."

Edmund fumed, Sally continued. "Boss, please let me know whenever you want to properly arrange your office. I am here to help you manage your resources. After all, I studied this in school. So, sir, which pile of files exactly am I taking?" her voice was slow and deliberate, but her tone of voice was strangely pleasant. She even had a smile plastered on her face.

Edmund hated her smile. Without a word, he pointed the files he wanted her to pick up. She picked them up and left.

Edmund was boiling with rage, he hated being corrected. He was too proud to accept it. He prided himself as one of the best, he was definitely going to avenge this insult.

***

Outside the office, Sally almost felt like slapping herself. She hurried into her office with the files and gently slapped her lips. "Oh! I have done it again! I can't just keep this mouth shut. Why? I just got this job after searching for a long time, and I really want to keep this it." She frowned and got to work immediately.

At lunch time, she set the work aside, and went to the cafeteria. She ordered a light meal, and moved to an empty table to eat. She did not know anyone yet, and she had not made any new friends. She was hopeful she would make new friends in a few days. She noticed some ladies at a distance were staring harshly at her, and she wondered why.

A shy young man in glasses walked up to her, a plate of food in his hands. "Hey, mind if I sit here?"

Sally smiled, "Sure."

He sat and noticed that she was looking at the ladies who were staring harshly at her and gossiping.

The man smiled, "My name is Derick. I work in the finance department. Do not mind them, they are staring and gossiping because they are jealous of you."

"Jealous?" Sally asked.

"Yeah, you came in, and the first thing you get is an office next to the boss, given to you specially by his grandmother. That office was meant for the deputy managing director, and we have not had one since the great argument in this company."

"I see. I want to hear it. Tell me all about it." Sally was really enjoying the gossip. And, as Derek told her everything, her delight knew no bounds. She had finally made her first friend in the Perfect White group of companies.

***

After lunch, Sally headed back to her office. She hummed a song as she opened the door. She almost fell over when she saw her boss, Edmund, seated in her seat.

He noticed her surprise and chuckled. "You did take a while," he said. "Is this how competently you do your job?"