Nala's POV:
Here I was on a Monday evening sitting in a mess office takeout in my desk paperwork everywhere and computer screens flashing with various tabs, half of them showing progress reports I hadn't even had time to read. It felt like one of those days where the pile just kept growing no matter how much I tried to tackle it.
I pushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear, finally giving in and picking up the takeout container. It wasn't exactly gourmet, but it would have to do. A little Chinese food was better than nothing after a day of back-to-back meetings, angry emails, and barely any time to breathe.
Now that we got the new system back up and running, paperwork just flooded in my office and unread emails filled my inbox.
The screen in front of me buzzed with an incoming message—another request for an update from the higher-ups. I sighed and rubbed my eyes, mentally counting the hours left until I could finally go home.
"Another day, another crisis," I muttered under my breath, almost wishing I could just shut it all off for an hour or two.
The phone rang, cutting through my thoughts. I didn't even need to look at the caller ID to know it was Sean. He had a knack for finding moments when I was just starting to lose my grip. I sighed, picking up the receiver.
"Quinn," I said, trying to sound professional despite the exhaustion in my voice.
"Don't tell me you're still at the office." His voice came the moment I picked up the phone, and there was a slight hint of concern in it.
"Where else am I supposed to be, in bed sleeping?"
He chuckled softly, but there was a tinge of worry in his voice when he responded. "You know, sleep sounds pretty good right about now."
I rolled my eyes, though I knew he couldn't see it. "I'm fine, Sean. Just a little piled under with work, as usual. You know how it goes."
"I know," he said, a sigh of his own slipping through. "But I swear, you're going to burn yourself out if you keep going at this pace. You need to take a break sometime. Let me take you out for dinner or something. A little breather."
The suggestion hung in the air for a moment, tempting and yet just out of reach. I could feel the pull of exhaustion in my bones, but there was still so much to do, so many loose ends to tie up before I could even consider stepping away.
"Let's do that tomorrow once I get everything done."
"Tomorrow, huh?" Sean replied, his tone skeptical but laced with amusement. "You sure you're not just kicking the can down the road?"
"I'm serious," I said, leaning back in my chair and rubbing my temples. "Once I clear this mess, I can actually enjoy a meal without thinking about deadlines or progress reports. Tomorrow works."
"Alright," he said after a pause, his voice softer. "But only if you promise me you won't stay in that office until sunrise. Deal?"
"Deal," I replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips despite my exhaustion.
"Good. I'll hold you to it. And hey, don't forget, you've got people who can help lighten the load. You don't have to carry it all by yourself, Nala."
His words lingered, warm and steady, like a reminder I didn't know I needed. "I know," I said quietly. "Thanks, Sean."
"Anytime. Now get back to work, but not too much. I'll see you tomorrow."
After hanging up, I sat there for a moment, the silence of the office settling around me again. His words echoed in my mind, urging me to pace myself, to let go of the idea that everything depended solely on me.
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Asani:
A week into working at Tech Innovators, things were going great. I wasn't just some errand runner fetching coffee for senior workers or doing menial tasks that anyone could do. I was actually assigned projects that challenged me, tasks that matched my skills and made me feel like I was genuinely contributing.
The environment was fast-paced but encouraging. Sean, my team lead, had warmed up to me since my first day. He even joked about how quickly I was picking things up, calling me "the rookie with potential." Miss Quinn, though still as sharp and commanding as ever, had also shown subtle signs of approval—not that she'd ever outright say it, of course.
It felt good to be recognized, even if in small ways. I thrived in this kind of environment, where my hard work paid off and my skills were valued. The initial nerves I'd had were slowly fading away, replaced by a sense of purpose.
Even the other new hires had started to look to me for help now and then. It was strange, in a good way, to think that I'd only been here a week and already felt like part of the team.
Of course, it wasn't all perfect. There were late nights, tight deadlines, and moments of doubt when something didn't go right. But that was the job, and honestly, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
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"I'm going to grab some coffee. Would you guys want something?" I asked my fellow new hires, standing up and stretching after spending too much time hunched over my desk.
Maya looked up from her screen with a small smile. "Oh, yes, please! Just a regular black coffee for me."
"Make that two," chimed in Ethan, not even glancing away from his monitor. "And thanks, Asani. You're a lifesaver."
"No problem," I replied, grabbing my wallet and phone.
As I made my way to the the cafe nearby by the company I couldn't help but notice how much the office had started to feel familiar. The low hum of conversation, the clicking of keyboards, and the faint scent of coffee brewing had become part of my daily routine.
When I entered the café, the familiar chime of the doorbell announced my arrival. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pastries filled the air, a welcome contrast to the sterile hum of the office.
To my surprise, Ms. Quinn was standing at the counter, her polished demeanor still intact despite the casual environment. She handed over her card to the barista, her tone as sharp and efficient as always.
"Yes, just the usual," she said, her gaze briefly scanning the menu board before returning to her phone.
For a moment, I debated whether to approach her or just quietly place my order once she was done. I hadn't really had a chance to interact with her outside of the office, and I wasn't sure how she'd feel about casual chitchat during her coffee run.
Before I could decide, she glanced over her shoulder and noticed me. Her eyebrows raised slightly in recognition. "New hire," she said, her voice tinged with mild surprise. "What's your name again?"
Before I could decide, she glanced over her shoulder and noticed me. Her eyebrows raised slightly in recognition. "New hire," she said, her voice tinged with mild surprise. "What's your name again?"
"Asani," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual. "From the programming team."
"Right, Asani." She gave a slight nod, her expression softening just a fraction. "Sorry about that, getting old really quick aren't I."
"What are you getting, I'll pay for your as my sorry."
"What are you getting? I'll pay for yours as my sorry," she said, her tone light but carrying a hint of genuine apology.
I blinked in surprise, not expecting the gesture. "Oh, no, that's really not necessary," I said quickly, holding up a hand.
"Consider it a welcome-to-the-team gesture," she insisted, her eyes meeting mine with a raised eyebrow, daring me to argue further.
"Well, if you insist," I said, smiling a little. "Just a latte, then."
She turned back to the cashier, adding my order to hers without hesitation. "One latte for Asani, please."
As the cashier rang everything up, I glanced at her. "Thanks, Miss Quinn. That's really nice of you."
"Don't get used to it," she replied, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I'm not running a charity here."
I chuckled at her dry humor, relaxing a bit. "Noted. Still, thanks. I appreciate it."
She grabbed her drink as it was handed over and turned back to me. "Enjoy your coffee, Asani. And keep up the good work. I'm watching."
With that, she strode out of the café, her presence lingering even after she left. I shook my head slightly, smiling to myself as I grabbed my drink. Maybe she wasn't as intimidating as she seemed—or at least, not all the time.
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"One black coffee for you, and one for you too Ethan." I said placing the cups of coffee infront of Maya and Ethan.
"Thanks, Asani," Ethan replied, taking his cup with a grateful nod. "You're a lifesaver. I seriously can't get through the afternoon without this stuff."
"Don't mention it," I said, sitting down with my own latte. "Figured we could all use a little boost after that last assignment."
Maya, another one of the new hires, took a sip of her coffee and sighed contentedly. "Honestly, I didn't think this place would be so fast-paced right off the bat. I thought we'd spend the first few weeks shadowing people, not jumping straight into projects."
"Yeah, but it's kind of nice, isn't it?" I said, leaning back in my chair. "It feels like they actually trust us to contribute."
Ethan nodded. "True, but man, I wouldn't mind a little more hand-holding every now and then. I feel like I'm just winging it half the time."
"You're not the only one," Maya added with a small laugh. "But hey, at least we've got each other to lean on."
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"I'm home!" I announced as I walked through the door, kicking off my shoes and shrugging off my jacket. The familiar warmth of the house greeted me, along with the faint sound of the TV coming from the living room.
"About time," Zara called out from the couch, her legs draped over the armrest as she flipped through channels. "You're later than usual."
"I had a lot of work to do today, and I had dinner with my colleagues." I said, setting my bag down by the door. "Did you guys eat?"
Zaina appeared from the kitchen, holding a bowl of cereal. "We made Kabsa" I chuckled, shaking my head.
"Did you make it right?"
Zaina raised an eyebrow, feigning offense as she leaned against the kitchen doorway. "Excuse me? Of course, we made it right. Do you think I'd mess up Kabsa?"
Zara chimed in from the couch, smirking. "She means I made it right. Zaina just stirred the pot a couple of times."
"Hey!" Zaina protested, narrowing her eyes at her sister. "I did more than that! I chopped the onions and added the spices."
I laughed, shaking my head as I made my way to the kitchen. "Alright, alright, I believe you. I just hope it tastes as good as it smells in here."
Zaina crossed her arms, tilting her chin up confidently. "Try it and see for yourself. There's some left in the pot."
I grabbed a plate and spooned some of the Kabsa onto it, taking a seat at the table. The first bite confirmed it—flavors rich and perfectly balanced, the way it should be.
"Okay, I admit it," I said, looking at both of them. "You guys did a great job."
Zaina grinned triumphantly while Zara shrugged, pretending to brush off the compliment. "We've had a good teacher."
"Oh, so now I get some credit?" I teased, raising an eyebrow.
Zara rolled her eyes. "Don't push it."
The three of us laughed, the lighthearted banter filling the house. It was moments like these—sharing meals, teasing each other—that reminded me how lucky I was to have them around.
TBC