Sleepless

It was almost 3 o’clock when Nora said standing over Penelope’s shoulder, "HEY! DO WANNA GRAB LUNCH WITH ME?”

"Oh, God." Penelope put a hand on her heart. "Why are you shouting, Nora?" She rolled her eyes and looked at her.

“You were so invested in your work. I asked you calmly for the first two times.”

“Okay, okay.” She shook her head.

"Yeah. Whatever. Do you wanna eat?" She put her hand on her side and pouted.

"What time is it?" Penelope looked at the time. The clock struck 2:45. "Fine, fine. Let's go." She stretched her arms over her head.

"Do you have to look at the clock to know about lunchtime?" She said as she entered the lift. "Where are we going?"

"Cafeteria. You are going to love that little cheese monster." She smacked her lips. "Alright," said Penelope and walked behind her. Nora asked for two burritos and paid for them.

“How much for that?”

“I got that.” She dragged a chair.

"So?" she put her phone on the table and asked, "Where you from?"

"Washington. Just moved here a week ago."

"Right, right, right." She paused for a moment "Are you single?"

She nodded.

"By choice?" She asked casually

"Huh?" She made a confused face.

"I mean... Are you single because you are that type of feminist who thinks that men are trash and are not up to your standards to be called boyfriends/husbands? Or like… you just didn’t happen to like anyone?" She said monotonously.

"What? Why would you say something like that?"

"Just asking." Nora shrugged her shoulders. "Right. I just didn’t find anyone yet." Penelope looked at her with a don't know what to say expression on her face.

The lady on the counter shouted her name. She stood up and brought their meal. As they started eating their food somebody asked, “Hey can we sit here?” She looked up to find Jessica and Eric standing behind her.

“Sure.” She smiled.

Penelope helped Jessica to sit down. She thanked her and opened a box in front of her. It had grilled cheese chicken sandwiches. Eric got himself a soda can and a plate of pasta.

“You got this from home?” She took a bite of her burrito and asked Jessica. She nodded. “My husband made this for me.”

“Wow.”

“When is this munchkin due?”

“In four months.” Nora and Eric both said in unison.

“Okay…?” Penelope said and then they all ate their food in silence.

*

"So, you wanna hang out sometime?" Penelope asked after she packed her bag. It was almost time to go home. Nora looked up and raised her eyebrows. "You talking to me?" She pointed a finger towards herself.

"Yeah?" She said, her eyebrows furrowed. "Whoosh. Yeah, gurl. I'd love to hang out with you!" She said and put her arms in the air. They both exchanged phone numbers and went home afterward.

The daylight had started to fade away from the sky but when you're living in New York City, life on the Earth never gets dark. The roads were covered with people and cars. There was merely space to walk on the footpaths. People were rushing towards their destinations, rubbing shoulders, focused on the screens of their phones, talking loudly to each other, entering the restaurants, walking with friends, enjoying their lives.

She was tired when she entered her apartment. She hanged the keys on the wall and turned on the AC. She tossed her shoes on the side, placed her laptop and bag on the floor, and laid down on the couch. She let out an exaggerated sigh and shut her eyes for a minute. She was lying there calmly when her cellphone buzzed.

She ignored it. The phone buzzed again. Her shoulder dropped and she rubbed her temple. She let out a sigh and sat on the couch. She took out her phone from her bag. It was an email from work. She rolled her eyes but slid her finger on the screen anyways.

"Whaaaatt?" She sat straight, "What the fuck is wrong with these people and their stupid reports. I was reading them the whole day.” She loudly said and threw her phone on the couch. “How come she read all of it and had already marked my mistakes. And now she wants me to correct it. Great! Just Super Fucking Great! Ah! I don't like this life. Who gives so much work to a trainee?" She put a cushion on her face and let out a muffled scream. She sighed again and plugged in her phone and laptop. She took out some baggy clothes and went inside the bathroom to take a tension-releasing shower.

By the time she came out and made dinner, she had received a text message from Nora.

"Sup girl?"

"Eating dinner. Have work to do later."

"Boys? :p"

She rolled her eyes and chuckled.

"Office work."

"Welcome to the HELLL XD"

"I don't like it much here. :/"

"It's only been a day. They are just a bit harsh at the start. Everything will be fine once you’d leave the training session. You go, gurl!! XP"

"See you @ work."

She smiled and put her phone aside. After finishing the food, she left the plate on the island and wiped her mouth. She sat on the couch with her laptop and started doing work.

*

2 weeks later

August 16, Friday

Her arm was numb from sleeping in a terrible position. She tried to move and opened her eyes. She had her phone under her leg. She checked the time and sighed. She stretched her arms and let out an exaggerated sigh. "Why the hell I passed out here? Again!" She said scratching her head and then sighed again.

After taking a quick shower and eating breakfast she got ready. She packed all the required things and locked her apartment. As she was coming downstairs, she saw Hailey standing in the hallway.

"Hey, Penny dear," Hailey said, “I got you some…” She stopped midway through her sentence. Her expressions changed from cheerful to concerned in seconds. "You look so... tired." She put her hand on her shoulder. "Yeah... It was a tough week." She yawned.

"Ah, I see. Good luck for the day." She smiled and handed her a box. “Here, I made you some cookies.”

“Aw, thank you so much, love.” She took the box and put it in her bag and gave her a light hug. “You’re the best!” She said as she hopped down the stairs.

*

It was almost 9 when she reached the office. After turning on her computer she e-mailed the file she was working on last night and started writing the report. She was sleep-deprived and yawning. She put her head on her desk and closed her eyes for a moment when Damen walked towards her desk.

"Excuse me?” He cleared his throat. “I’m just resting my eyes for a moment, Eric.” She said with closed eyes. “If I am not disturbing you, this is not the right place to sleep." He said and raised his eyebrow. He was dressed in a deep blue dress shirt and grey dress pants. His hair combed back perfectly. He was holding a cup in his hand, steam coming out of it.

Penelope raised her head a little and squinted at him. It was not Eric. She had never seen this man around. "And who are you to tell me this?"

"You don't know me?" He said with a smug expression. She looked around; Eric was deeply submerged in his work with his headphones on. Nora and Jessica weren’t in their seats. She rolled her eyes and laid back in her seat with her arms crossed over her torso. “Listen, mister. Whomever you are! I have been working here for two weeks now and I haven’t seen you around ever. So, I won’t be taking orders from you!” She said and gave her head a little jerk.

Damen looked amused. He came forward and sat on the chair in front of her.

"Dame!! When did you get back?" Nora emerged from the break room and walked towards them.

"Last night." He simply said.

She looked at Damen then at Penelope and then again at Damen. "What's happening here?" She asked.

"You should ask her." He folded his arms over his chest.

"ME?" Penelope's voice raised. "You are the one who started being bossy around?" She rolled her eyes.

"Well... I AM the boss." He smirked.

Fuck!

Penelope sat straight. She stumbled. "I-I…" She stuttered. "I didn't know." She said and then stood up trying to clear the mess at her table.

‘Stupid, stupid stupid!’ She muttered to herself.

"Of course, you didn't." He said and looked at her, dead in the eye. She began to pick up the papers scattered over her desk. He moved forward and put his coffee on her desk "For an employee, who has just started working here should not be sleeping at this hour in the office. I think you are not getting enough work to do. Is it?" He pointed towards the big wall clock and said in a firm tone. He stood straight.

I am getting a hell of work. Crap face. She thought to herself.

"I... I am sorry, Sir. Won't happen again." She controlled the urge to punch him in the face. Who the hell think you are to say things to me like that? Idiot.

"Okay. Stop now, everybody." Nora hushed them both, she narrowed her eyes and hit his arm. Penelope was standing there trying to figure things out. "Penny, he is just trying to tease you." She rolled her eyes and sat on her chair.

Penelope forced a smile. Damen didn't show any expressions. "This is Penelope," Nora said and sat on her chair. "She joined last week."

"I know."

"Of course, you do." Nora put her hands in the air. “Now off you go.” She rolled her eyes at him.

"Why are you still standing?" He asked with a hint of a smile on his face. "Uh---" Penelope looked around and sat on her chair. She turned her chair around started working on her report.

What an idiot! She thought to herself.

"Dinner after work? It's been so long since we have met outside the office. What do you say?" He asked Nora.

"No disagreement there. Penny should come too. We had some plans tonight. I don’t want to cancel that." Nora didn't shift her gaze from her computer. "What? Me? Why?" She said abruptly.

"Yes, well… I don't see any problem there. Only, if you can stay awake till then." He looked at her. Her cheeks turned red.

"Yes, Penny you should come. Damen will be paying." She said and gave her the brightest smile. "What? When did I say this?" Damen said. "You got some problem with that?" Nora looked at him.  "Of course not. Just let me know when you're free. See you around." He waved at her.

"I think you need that more than I do." He looked at Penelope and then pointed towards the coffee he had placed on her desk. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and she looked away. Damen smiled lightly and walked towards his cabin.

"Do you think I should tag along? I mean... you know? It’s okay we can shift our plans to some other day." She said after she saw Damen closing the door of his cabin.

"Yes, you should tag along," Nora stated. Penelope pressed her lips into a thin line. "That's how you make new friends, sweetie. And sometimes... more than that. We can change your relationship status also." She gave her a mischievous grin and winked.

"Oh, shut up!" She said with a bright red face and focused her attention on work. "It is what it is." Nora sang and then put her headphones on.

***