The cafeteria smelled of roasted chicken, brewed coffee, and something fried that lingered too heavily in the air. I held my tray carefully, weaving through clusters of employees balancing their own lunches. Chairs scraped against the tiled floor. Cutlery clinked against plates. Conversations rose and fell like waves crashing and retreating. It felt too loud and too unfamiliar, and I had to remind myself that this was only my first full day here.
I found an empty table tucked near the corner, far enough to give me a little quiet but close enough that I wouldn't look like I was avoiding everyone. Setting my tray down, I exhaled. My meal looked simple: a portion of rice, some grilled vegetables, and a piece of chicken. My appetite hadn't caught up with the day, but skipping lunch would only make the hours ahead worse.
As I picked up my fork, I let my eyes wander. The cafeteria was buzzing with life.
"…the quarterly results shocked everyone…" one man's voice carried as he leaned too close over his friend's table.
"…she's meeting the head of HR after this…" a woman whispered quickly, covering her mouth as if her words were precious.
"…coffee machine broke again, I'm not surviving the afternoon…" another muttered while juggling a paper cup.
The voices blurred, blending into the rhythm of background chatter. It gave me a strange comfort, like being swallowed into a space where everyone belonged. Everyone but me.
I poked at the vegetables, realizing how little I wanted to eat. My thoughts drifted back to the morning, to the long meeting, to Mr. Damian's composure as he listened to the executives, his voice calm but sharp. Standing beside him made me feel both important and invisible. I hadn't expected him to ask me for clarifications twice, or the way his eyes shifted to me briefly, checking if I was still following along. That small detail replayed in my mind more than it should have.
A shadow moved across my table, pulling me back. I looked up.
Cory.
He wasn't supposed to look so casual in a suit, but somehow he did. His tie loosened slightly, the top button of his shirt undone, as if the strictness of the office barely touched him. He carried a tray with nothing more than a sandwich and sparkling water.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked, though he was already sliding into the chair opposite me. His tone was light, but his eyes—blue and sharp—watched me closely.
I hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Of course."
He placed his tray down, leaning an elbow on the table. "So, Elena. First day still treating you well? Or is the building already eating you alive?"
I blinked at the phrasing, a small laugh escaping me. "It's… a lot to take in. The place is huge. I still feel like I'll get lost if I take a wrong turn."
"You will," he said easily, smiling. "I've been here for years and I still find new hallways. Sometimes I think Damian has architects redesign parts of the building just to keep us on edge."
His joke made me laugh more than it should have. "Well, at least I won't be the only one wandering aimlessly."
Across the cafeteria, a group erupted into laughter. The sound carried, mixing with the clatter of dishes being stacked. Someone behind me dropped a fork, metal ringing sharply before it disappeared back into the noise.
Cory leaned back in his chair, studying me. "So… Damian. How's he been with you so far? Brutal? Distant?"
I shifted uncomfortably, pushing my food around with the fork. "Professional. He's been clear with what he expects. Direct."
"That's a nice way of saying intense," Cory teased. "Don't worry, that's how he always is. He'll push, but he doesn't waste people's time. If you're at his side, he trusts you more than most."
That last part caught me off guard. "Trusts me? It's my first day."
He shrugged, biting into his sandwich. "You don't know Damian the way I do. He doesn't let people close unless he sees something in them. If you're there, you've already passed some unspoken test."
I didn't know what to say to that. Heat crept into my cheeks, and I quickly focused on the rice instead.
The cafeteria doors slid open with a low whoosh, letting in a burst of colder hallway air. More employees entered, their voices adding to the swell. Somewhere near the counter, someone was complaining loudly.
"…they raised the price again…"
"…third time this month…"
Cory took a sip of his water, watching me as if he was cataloging every flicker of expression. "Don't look so overwhelmed. The noise, the stares, the constant rush. You'll get used to it."
"Do you think so?" I asked, my voice smaller than I intended.
"I know so," he replied. Then, softer, "You'll find your place here faster than you think."
For a moment, the air between us settled. My nerves loosened slightly, though I wasn't sure if it was because of his words or the way he said them.
A group passed by our table, trays clattering. One man's laughter cut across the room, followed by someone shushing him halfheartedly.
I finally tasted the chicken. It was warm, seasoned lightly, not as bland as I expected. Eating gave me something to do, a shield against the weight of Cory's gaze.
"So," he said after a pause, "where were you before this? What pulled you into Damian's orbit?"
I hesitated. Talking about my past felt raw, but he asked it casually, as if he wasn't digging for anything deeper. "I… worked a smaller job before. Nothing close to this scale. This feels like another world."
"It is another world," Cory said matter-of-factly. "And once you're in, you don't walk away unchanged."
I wasn't sure if he meant it as encouragement or warning.
The intercom above crackled faintly before announcing the next hour. People began standing, clearing their trays, returning to work. The cafeteria thinned gradually, though the noise lingered like an echo.
I glanced at Cory. He was still watching me, still relaxed, as if time bent differently for him.
"You should eat more," he said lightly, nodding at my barely touched food. "Damian doesn't go easy on anyone. You'll need the energy."
"I'll keep that in mind," I said, managing a small smile.
He stood, picking up his tray. "Good. Then I'll see you around, Elena."
I watched him walk away, his presence leaving a strange quiet at my table even though the cafeteria was still alive with chatter.
I forced myself to finish another bite of chicken before pushing the tray aside. My break was almost over. Standing, I joined the stream of employees heading back toward the elevators. The hum of voices followed, carrying pieces of conversations I wasn't part of.
"…deadline's impossible…"
"…meeting pushed back again…"
"…he asked her directly in front of everyone…"
I pressed the elevator button. The chime sounded, doors sliding open, the crowd moving inside. My reflection caught briefly on the silver walls before it disappeared into motion.
My first day wasn't over yet.