Elaine“This is it! You can do this, Elaine!” I told myself as the elevator opened to my desired floor. My stomach churned with nerves as I stepped at the Marketing Department flood. I clutched my bag a little tighter, trying to steady my breathing. This was my first day working under Nancy's supervision, and the anticipation was nearly overwhelming. The office was busy with activity. Wolves were talking, keyboards were clicking, and phones were ringing. The space was clean and modern. There were rows of cubicles and meeting rooms with glass walls. Bright posters of successful projects decorated the walls. Large windows let in a lot of natural light, making the office feel open and bright. Groups of employees gathered around tables and coffee stations, discussing some ideas with lively gestures.But as soon as I entered, the energy seemed to shift. Conversations stopped, and curious eyes turned toward me, assessing the new arrival. I felt a ripple of unease pass through the room but
Elaine I looked up to see a woman with short hair and eyeglasses smiling down at me."Thanks," I muttered, grateful for the kindness. She bent down and started helping me pick up the papers. Afterward, she offered her hand for a handshake, wearing her friendliest smile. "I'm Marie."Amidst the swirl of emotions inside me, I managed a small smile as I took her hand. "Elaine.""Nice to meet you, Elaine," Marie said. She handed me the stack of folders and papers she had gathered, and I nodded at her in appreciation.Just then, Nancy peeked through the door, her forehead creased as she said sharply, "Are you two coming, or do we need to start without you? We don’t have all day to wait. We have other important things to do."“Coming, Nancy. Sorry about that,” Marie replied, leading me inside. We hurried into the boardroom, carrying the documents between us. As we took our seats, I felt a little more at ease. Maybe, amidst the hostility, I had found an ally in Marie.As the meeting started
ElaineMy apartment was a mess. Papers, books, and my laptop were scattered across the dining table. It was Sunday, and instead of unwinding and enjoying my day off, I was holed up inside, searching for information about the Elite Five. I was lucky we had a day off yesterday due to scheduled pest control in our building. Adding to the day today, it gave me two days to finish my task.The task Nancy had given me was like finding a needle in a haystack. It proved to be incredibly difficult since only a few in the business world knew about them. It was clear Nancy was serious about making things tough for me. If not, at least she would have given me some references for my research. But instead, she gave nothing but vague instructions. How the hell would I be able to accomplish this with my limited resources?My mind raced with worry as I felt the weight of the stress pressing down on me. Was there really a way for me to complete this task? Everything about the Elite Five was restricted o
ElaineI hurried down the dimly lit corridor, my footsteps echoing on the shiny marble floors. The air carried the scent of fresh coffee and a hint of lemon from the janitor's recent cleaning. Clutching a thin folder tightly against my chest, I made my way to Nancy’s office.Approaching my destination, my heart started racing. I paused, took a deep breath, and tried to calm myself. It wasn’t that I was afraid of her, but I dreaded interacting with Nancy. Whenever she was around, she imposed her authority and intimidated me. It had reached the point where she would humiliate me in front of others. The situation had become so toxic that I tried to avoid her as much as possible. Thankfully, Marie was always there to support me. Despite this, I couldn’t completely avoid Nancy, knowing she was our department head.The office door, made of dark wood, seemed more imposing than usual. Nancy’s nameplate gleamed in the artificial light. I knew what awaited me beyond that door, so I approached w
ElaineWait, what? Me? What the hell is she talking about? I began to panic as all eyes were turned on me. My heart skipped a beat as shock surged inside. I hadn’t been informed about presenting today so I came unprepared. What was this all about?I gripped my folder tightly, trying to hide the tremble in my hands. Judging by the way Nancy smirked, I knew this was something she planned to humiliate me. Perhaps sensing my discomfort, Marie leaned towards me, attempting to intervene. “I think Elaine—”“Let Elaine give the update, Marie. It’s her task isn’t it?” Nancy declared firmly. Her voice left no room for argument, silencing Marie as she sat again. At that point, I knew there was nothing I could do to avoid this. So, I was forced to suck everything up and straightened up. I wouldn’t let her bully me like this without a fight. Gathering my courage, I took my folder and stood up.Desperation clawed at me, my legs feeling unsteady under the weight of everyone’s expectant gazes. I c
ElaineTwo days after that fateful meeting, everything went back to normal. And so, I thought.My workspace was a corner in the open-plan office, surrounded by the gentle hum of the busy office setup. Papers and folders lay scattered across my desk, a vivid testament to the day's overwhelming workload. I was deeply engrossed in updating a crucial report. A soft knock on the divider snapped me out of my concentration, jolting me from my swamp of work. I looked up to see Marie, smiling warmly at me."Elaine?" Marie's voice held a hint of urgency."Hi, Marie. What's up?" I replied, momentarily setting aside my work and adjusting my glasses."I just came out of Nancy’s office. She asked me to instruct you to see her in her office," Marie said. Although her expression remained smiling, I could see the hint of curiosity in her eyes"Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know," I replied. Marie nodded and departed, leaving me to ponder Nancy's sudden request. Since the tense board meeting two day
ElaineI sat in a cozy corner of the bustling coffee shop, nursing my morning coffee. The rich aroma of freshly brewed beans filled the air, but my mind was elsewhere. I had just two days to secure a meeting with Everett Innovations. How the hell would I be able to do that?The thought alone made my temples throb. This Elite Five lived up to its name. Imagine being a discreet group of highly successful companies across different fields of business but still managing to keep a highly secretive profile. I remembered what Trevor had told me: this company only opened its doors to potential partners. They would only reach out if they were interested in partnering with you. If not, you won’t get any information from them. They would contact you to collaborate, not the other way around. Perhaps that was why they hadn’t answered any of our emails or calls. With this reality hovering above me, how would I get them to meet with us at Roma Aesthetics?I sighed and massaged my forehead, trying to
ElaineI followed Leo as he led me down the street. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. I should have been at the office of Everett Innovations, trying to schedule an appointment for Roma Aesthetics. Instead, here I was, trailing after this poor kid. I had offered to walk him home, thinking it wouldn’t take long, but now I was starting to worry. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was making a mistake and poor judgment call. My concern for Leo's safety battled with my worry about the difficult task assigned to me by Nancy.Feeling defeated, I sighed and tried to reassure myself. "Making sure this kid is safe won’t take much time. I can get back to work soon."After a few minutes, we turned a corner. There, I saw a small house made of cardboard, held together with tape and string, next to an old trash bin. It was tiny, with a worn-out blanket for a door and newspapers on the floor. Leo stopped and turned to me with a small smile. "Welcome to my home, Aunt Elaine," he said.My heart