VEYOR'S COMPANY
"Good morning, everyone. I am Sheila Connell, the Human Resource Manager of this company. I'm in charge of hiring workers and the CEO handles dismissal." She began. "This is your orientation. I'll be showing you around the company, mostly just important areas." She paused in front of a large office with tinted glass.
"And this," she continued, "is the CEO'S office, Mr. Kaelen Veyor. He isn't at work most times, and doesn't have particular days he comes in. That's to tell us that he can come in any day. Any little mistake while at work can lead to you getting dismissed. So try your best to be perfect whenever he's around. He has no personal assistant yet, because according to him, he doesn't need one. He calls anyone for assistance anytime he wants it. So get yourself prepared mentally, emotionally, and physically. Wait, did I also forget intellectually? You will be given office guides and manuals. Please," her voice sounding more serious than before. "Go through it, incase you're selected by the CEO to be his assistant for the day. Okay, moving forward, I'll be showing you all your desks, on each desk is a list of work you have to get done today. Any question?" Sheila asked with a broad smile on her lips.
"Yes, when do we get paid and what's the estimated amount of time to work?" Someone in the crowd asked.
"That's beautiful. You get paid at the end of each week. Each hour you work, you get paid 100 dollars, in a day you're expected to work for at least 10 hours. You're not obliged to work for those hours, it's a thing of choice. No one leaves before 2 in the afternoon. You're only allowed to use your mobile phone by 11 in the morning, anyone caught using their mobile phones before or after that time will be dismissed immediately. Breakfast is by 7 in the morning and lunch is by 12 in the afternoon. Like I said before, you can work for 6 hours, or more but you're not allowed to compare your wages with someone working ten hours. Work starts exactly 8 in the morning, try not to come after 8. A minute past 8 is considered late and you will be dismissed immediately." She paused for a minute, "I almost forgot, you would be signalled when the CEO is around...."
"Why?" Someone asked, cutting sheila's words.
"That signal is for everyone to keep shut, suspend whatever you're doing and stand as a sign of respect to the CEO." She answered calmly, paused for few seconds and looked at everyone. "That's it, people. You can return to your desks now." She said, and everyone left for their desks.
This is really a strict organisation, though the pay worth it. Isla thought to herself.
Two hours into work, a bell was rung, giving everyone a signal of the CEO's arrival. Through the elevator door came a tall man, easily over six feet, with broad shoulders that made his tailored suit sit perfectly against his frame. Not bulky. Not overly muscular. Just solid. Built like someone who worked out without needing to show it off.
"Mall guy?" Isla whispered underneath her breath.
Mall guy is my boss? She thought within herself. Should I be excited or ashamed? Do I go introduce myself? probably he would recognize me. Immediately, she walked towards him and infront of everyone she stretched out her hand for a handshake, "Hi, mall guy. It's me." She blurted out, while Kaelen ignored her handshake and stared deeply into her, like he could see her thoughts.
"At the mall," she continued. "We bumped into each other leading to my groceries being scattered on the floor, then you helped me pick them up and apologized." Isla said while Kaelen looked at her with confusion written on his face.
"I'm sorry, sir." Sheila apologized and dragged Isla from there. "Do you wanna get yourself fired?" She asked. "You dare not speak to the CEO in such manner and in such close proximity." Sheila spoke angrily.
"My apologies, Ma. I mistook him someone else." Isla apologized and sheila left her immediately.
Isla's Apartment
Isla didn't speak the entire ride home.
The moment she stepped into the apartment, she dropped her bag by the door and leaned against it like she'd just escaped something dangerous.
"I quit," she announced dramatically.
Tahlia looked up from where she was seated. "You just started today."
"And I ended today," Isla groaned, pacing the living room.
"What happened at work Issy?"
"I humiliated myself, Liah."
Tahlia straightened. "How bad?"
I walked up to the CEO," Isla said slowly, like she couldn't believe the words herself. "In front of everyone, and called him 'Mall Guy.'"
Tahlia blinked.
"You what?"
"I said, 'Hi mall guy. It's me.'" She buried her face in her hands. "In front of the entire staff."
There was a dangerous pause, then Tahlia burst out laughing.
"This is not funny!" Isla snapped, though her cheeks were burning again just remembering it.
Tahlia pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh again.
"Did he recognize you?"
"No! He just stared at me. Like I was insane. Like he had never seen me before in his life. He looked confused, completely confused." She wrapped her arms around herself.
"I explained everything. The groceries. The apology. Everything."
"And?"
"And he just stared at me. Calm. Blank. Unbothered."
"Okay," Tahlia said, wiping her eyes. "Listen. If he didn't recognize you, then this is just random workplace awkwardness. It happens."
"Not like that."
"You didn't insult him. You didn't spill coffee on him. You didn't faint."
Isla exhaled slowly and sank onto the couch.
"I probably look insane. First day at work and I'm already the weird girl."
"You're not weird," Tahlia said gently. "You made a mistake. That's all."
"But What if he thinks I'm unprofessional?"
"If he didn't recognize you, then it's just a misunderstanding."
Isla stared at the floor, slowly nodding her head.
I must have mistaken him for the mall guy.
Later that night, Isla lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
She could still see his reaction, still feel that stare. Confused, not angry. Just watching.
And somehow, that unsettled her more than being dismissed ever could.