The Lobby Girl

Keith was kind enough to show me around the floor and politely introduced me to some of our coworkers. Most of them were females, and it was apparent that they didn’t like me because of what happened in the lobby earlier. Some tried to ask me about how the new president knew me, but all I could give them was empty answers. I don’t even dare to say that I knew him since that would just make things difficult for me.

I let out a heavy sigh.

Keith must have noticed my dismay as we suddenly stopped midway down the hallway. He pats my shoulder, "Don’t mind them! Everyone’s just curious about your relationship with the new president. And if you don’t mind me asking, may I ask what is... your relationship with the new

president?"

"You’re also curious?"

"Who wouldn’t be?" He clicks his tongue in excitement. "The scene in the lobby was filled with tension! Everyone wondered why the head of the Hughes group knew a new face like you! especially why you were rejecting the new president’s orders without fear."

"I was shocked! okay? Everyone was looking our way, so I couldn’t help but cover my face in embarrassment! I’m sure he mistook me for someone he knew. I’m very sure!"

"Really?"

We continued our walk as he led me to the Creative Team’s room. It was a single room filled with tablets and computers, and a huge window overlooking the citypresident?"

"You’re also curious?"

"Who wouldn’t be?" He clicks his tongue in excitement. "The scene in the lobby was filled with tension! Everyone wondered why the head of the Hughes group knew a new face like you! especially why you were rejecting the new president’s orders without fear."

"I was shocked! okay? Everyone was looking our way, so I couldn’t help but cover my face in embarrassment! I’m sure he mistook me for someone he knew. I’m very sure!"

"Really?"

We continued our walk as he led me to the Creative Team’s room. It was a single room filled with tablets and computers, and a huge window overlooking the city

below us. If I wasn’t mistaken, there were a total of four people in the room, including Keith. The other three were so busy on their computers that they didn’t even notice us enter the door.

Keith clapped his hand loud enough that it caught everyone’s attention. "I brought the new hire today! Let's welcome her to the Creative Team, everyone."

"The lobby girl!"

I took a look at the direction of the voice and quickly noticed a woman in her forties looking my way. She had her brown hair tied, brown eyes, and wore glasses. She stares at me with such shock that all I could do was lower my head.

"Good Morning, my name is Abby."

"How do you know the president-" Before she could even finish her sentence, Keith

suddenly covered her mouth with all his might. It caught me off guard. She tried fighting Keith off, but Keith was determined to shut her off.

"Mmmmh!"

Oh my God, what is Keith doing to her?!

"I’m sorry about that. Lisa tends to get over excited by rumors. But she means no harm. She’s your senior; she’s also a graphic designer like you. Since you’d be working together for some time, I hope you could tolerate her behavior-" Before he could finish his statement, this time, Lisa jabbed him using her elbow so hard that he almost spit out his gut.

My jaw drops at the scene in front of me. What is happening? Why are they fighting?

Lisa blows a piece of hair dangling in front of her and says, "Lousy kid, how dare you

subdue your older sister like that?"

They’re siblings.

My mouth opens in disbelief.

Keith groans, holding his abdomen. “I told you to take it easy! You’ll scare her off!"

"Shut up! I’m the head of the Creative Team. How dare you tell me what to do?"

They were pretty much in such a heated argument that I stood dumbfounded. Besides them, there were two others who were watching the scene unfold with me. Yet unlike me, they looked like they were already used to seeing the siblings fight. They were both looking at me, so I took the initiative to introduce myself.

"Hey there, I’m Abby."

"Hello Abby! I’m Mara, and this is Clint. We’re also web designers like Keith. On

behalf of them, I apologize if things are too noisy in our team. I’m sure you’ll get used to it one day." She smiles.

I nodded.

Mara was about my height, had brown eyes, and had short blonde hair. She was the kind of lady you’d see in an office. On the other hand, Clint looked absolutely like an overtime kind of guy since his eyebags were kind of drooping and he wore this comfortable jacket and jeans that reached up to his ankle. He looks uninterested in everything and, well, exhausted.

Mara points at the empty desk in the corner of the room. "That’s your desk. By the way, didn’t you bring your stuff?"

My eyes widened in shock. Right! Why are my hands empty?! I can’t believe I forgot my things in Emily’s car because of excitement!

I bowed in embarrassment, "I’m sorry! I’ll be back! I forgot my stuff in my friend’s car! I’ll be really quick!"

"It’s fine, it’s fine! Take your time! It’s not like these siblings would stop fighting soon." She chuckles.

Then, i sprinted out.

On my way down, I tried to call Emily’s phone countless of times, but it looked like she was on another call. I had no other choice but to go to her floor and ask around. I ignored the gazes of everyone and eventually saw Emily at the center of the room. She was talking to someone on the phone, so I had to walk up to her without attracting too much attention.

"Emily!" I whispered, tapping on her shoulder as I arrived at her desk. "Let me borrow your car keys!"

She suddenly slams the phone down so hard that it almost made me jump. But she didn’t stop there. She even let out a growl my way and glared at me in annoyance.

"Bitch, how dare you run away from me? Now you ask for my keys?"

I interlinked my fingers and pleaded, "I’m sorry okay! but this is really urgent! It’s my first day and I forgot to take my things with me! I think I left them on the backseat of your car!"

"Before that, at least tell me what your relationship is with that hottie!"

"Hottie?"

"Our new boss!"

I can’t believe her. She doesn’t remember Raphael? I clearly remember seeing her looking our way that night. Was she so drunk?

She crosses her arms, "Now, don’t even try to lie to me; I’ll know when you do! So you better speak up, or else!"

I groaned, on the verge of crying. "I don’t have time for this… Please just hand me the keys!

"Then make time! I’m going to die of curiosity!"

By the looks of it, Emily wasn’t the only one who was on the verge of dying because of curiosity. It took me a while before I noticed that the HR department suddenly became quiet because they were all trying to listen to our conversation. Because of that, I had to drag Emily’s ass out of the room so I could talk privately with her.

We went to the parking lot, and that’s where I said it.

"Remember the night of your birthday? The sexy back-man you hooked me up with?"

"Yeah? Though it’s kind of blurry since I was already tipsy-WAIT! That man, don’t tell me!"

I nod. "Yes…It's him."