Nala:
"How did you like the food?" Sean asked as we walked out some fancy restaurant I have never been too, "it was fine, but I wanted to get wasted not have some fancy dinner." I replied.
"Seriously, don't you get tired of drinking?" He raised his eyebrow, "never, I have to much stress so I need to release it all by getting wasted." I replied.
"Don't you think is about time you find yourself a partner," he said as he opened the passenger door for me. "I mean think about it, if you have a partner they could ease your stress and you can stop your excessive drinking habit." He stated closing the door as I entered the car.
"Please, having a boyfriend will just make shit worse for me." I replied.
My.
Sean walked around the car and slid into the driver's seat, giving me a sideways glance as he started the engine. "You say that like every relationship is doomed to fail," he said, a teasing edge in his voice.
I crossed my arms and stared out the window, the city lights blurring as we merged into traffic. "I'm not saying that. I'm just saying I don't have time for the drama. Work is already enough stress as it is."
"Not all relationships are about drama, Nala." Sean's tone softened, his usual teasing replaced with something more serious. "Some people actually bring peace, you know? Balance. Maybe that's exactly what you need."
I snorted, shaking my head. "Right, because I'm sure Mr. Perfect is just waiting around the corner for me to show up with all my baggage."
Sean chuckled, but there was a knowing look in his eyes. "You never know. Maybe he's closer than you think."
I turned to look at him, narrowing my eyes. "Don't start playing matchmaker with me, Sean. I mean it."
He held up one hand in mock surrender while keeping the other on the wheel. "Hey, I'm just saying. You deserve to be happy, Nala. And maybe, just maybe, you don't have to do it all alone."
His words lingered in the air as we drove in silence for a moment, the hum of the car filling the void. I hated to admit it, but a small part of me wondered if he was right.
"Let's just focus on surviving work for now," I finally said, breaking the silence.
Sean smirked, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. "Fair enough. But don't think I'm giving up on this conversation."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "You're relentless, you know that?"
"It's part of my charm."
—————————
The next morning I pulled up into the company's parking lot already dreading the day, "did I even have a proper sleep last night?" I asked myself as I grabbed my bag locked my car and headed out the parking lot. Hopefully none of the higher ups try me today, cause I will totally lose it.
The morning air was crisp, but it did little to wake me up as I trudged toward the building. My thoughts were scattered, replaying snippets of the restless night I'd had—tossing and turning, my brain refusing to shut off.
Stepping into the lobby, I was greeted by the usual buzz of activity: colleagues chatting by the coffee machine, the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor, and the faint hum of the elevators in motion.
I headed straight to the elevator not wanting to have any morning interaction, my Brian hadn't woken up yet so I needed at least 20 minutes to myself.
As I reached the elevator it was about to close but I caught it in time, "good morning Ms. Quinn." A familiar voice said.
I looked up to see it was the new hire, 'what was his name again?'
"Good morning Asani." I slightly smiled entering the elevator.
As I stepped into the elevator, I felt Asani's presence next to me—a mix of eagerness and nervous energy that seemed typical of new hires. I stole a glance at him, and he was standing upright, his bag slung over his shoulder, looking every bit as ready for the day as I was not.
"Rough morning?" he asked after a moment of silence, his tone polite but genuinely curious.
I sighed, leaning against the elevator wall. "You could say that. Mondays always have a way of setting the tone for the week."
He chuckled softly, nodding. "Yeah, I get that. I think I'm still trying to find my rhythm here."
"Give it time," I replied, my tone softening slightly. "Tech Innovators isn't the easiest place to settle into, but once you do, it's worth it."
He seemed to take that in, nodding thoughtfully. "Thanks, Ms. Quinn. That's good to know."
For a moment, the elevator was quiet, save for the soft hum of its ascent. Despite my exhaustion, I found myself appreciating his presence. He wasn't overbearing like some people could be—just a simple, grounded conversation.
As the elevator dinged and came to a stop at his floor, he gave me a small smile. "Hope your day gets better."
"Thanks, Asani," I said, the corners of my lips twitching into a brief smile.
The doors closed, leaving me alone with my thoughts. For the first time that morning, I didn't feel quite as weighed down.
Once I reached my floor I quickly rushed to my office to settle in and have my 20 minutes meditation session, cause trust I'll be needing it if I want to stay grounded today.
Once I reached my floor, I didn't waste any time weaving through the early-morning hustle of my coworkers. My office door was a welcome sight, a small sanctuary away from the chaos. I stepped inside, shut the door firmly behind me, and let out a deep breath.
Setting my bag down, I moved to my desk and turned on the small white noise machine I kept tucked in the corner. The soothing sound of waves filled the room, instantly calming my frayed nerves. I sank into my chair, closed my eyes, and focused on my breathing.
Inhale. Hold. Exhale.
The tension in my shoulders slowly eased as I sank deeper into the quiet. These 20 minutes were sacred—a non-negotiable part of my day. Without them, I'd probably snap at the first email that landed in my inbox.
A soft knock on the door broke the silence, and my eyes fluttered open. I glanced at the clock—17 minutes. Close enough.
"Come in," I called out, straightening in my seat.
The door opened to reveal Sean, holding two steaming cups of coffee. "Thought you could use a boost," he said, stepping inside.
"Always," I replied, reaching for the cup. "You're a lifesaver."
He smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "Rough start already?"
"Let's just say I'm bracing myself," I said, taking a sip of the coffee. The rich aroma and warmth were like a hug for my soul.
"Don't let them get to you," Sean said with a wink. "Remember, you run this place—they just don't know it yet."
I chuckled despite myself. "Thanks for the pep talk, Sean. Now get out of here before I assign you more work."
"Fair enough," he said, grinning as he left.
—————————
Asani:
During lunch break, I joined Maya, Ethan, and a couple of the other new hires in the company cafeteria. It was my first time eating there since I usually preferred heading out for some fresh air, but today I figured it wouldn't hurt to stick around and socialize a bit.
The cafeteria was buzzing with activity, the hum of conversation blending with the clatter of trays and utensils. We grabbed our food—sandwiches and some surprisingly decent pasta—and found a table near the windows.
"Did you guys see Ms. Quinn and team leader Sean head out to dinner together last Friday?" Maya asked keeping her voice down
The cafeteria was buzzing with activity, the hum of conversation blending with the clatter of trays and utensils. We grabbed our food—sandwiches and some surprisingly decent pasta—and found a table near the windows.
"Did you guys see Ms. Quinn and Team Leader Sean head out to dinner together last Friday?" Maya asked, keeping her voice low but her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Ethan nearly choked on his drink, coughing as he tried to regain composure. "What? Are you serious?"
"Totally serious," Maya said, leaning in like she was sharing a secret. "I saw them leaving together around six. She even smiled, and you know how rare that is."
"That's not exactly groundbreaking news," I said, taking a sip of my drink. "Maybe it was just a work dinner."
"Work dinner, my foot," Maya shot back, grinning. "I'm just saying, they looked… cozy."
"Define 'cozy,'" Ethan challenged, raising an eyebrow.
Maya shrugged. "Close enough that people might start talking."
"People like you," I muttered with a smirk, earning a laugh from the table.
"Well, can you blame me? It's not every day the ice queen herself goes out for dinner with someone. Sean must be special."
I didn't say anything, but my mind wandered to the way Miss Quinn had interacted with Sean, the casual banter and ease between them. I hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now I wondered if there was something more beneath the surface.
"Alright, enough gossip," I finally said, trying to steer the conversation back to something less speculative. "Let's talk about something that actually affects us, like how we're all drowning in emails."
The table broke into laughter, and the conversation shifted, but Maya's words lingered in the back of my mind. Whether it was gossip or truth, one thing was certain: Miss Quinn wasn't as unreadable as I'd first thought.
——————
Later that evening, before I could finally wrap up my work and clock out, I was handed a stack of documents that needed to be delivered to Miss Quinn's office. I sighed inwardly, glancing at the clock. It was already past six, and I was ready to call it a day, but duty called.
I grabbed the folder and made my way down the hall. The office floor was quieter than usual, most employees having already left for the day. The faint hum of the air conditioning and the soft click of my shoes against the tiles were the only sounds accompanying me.
Reaching Miss Quinn's office, I was about to knock until I heard her talking to someone. "
"I'm not saying you're wrong, Sean, but this isn't just about meeting deadlines anymore," Miss Quinn's voice carried through the door, sharp yet tinged with frustration.
"I get it," Sean replied, his tone softer but no less serious. "But you can't keep pushing yourself like this. It's not sustainable."
There was a pause, followed by the sound of papers shuffling. "I don't have a choice," Miss Quinn said, her voice quieter now. "If this project fails, it's on me. I can't afford to let that happen."
"You're not doing this alone," Sean said firmly. "We're a team, remember? Let me take some of this off your plate."
Miss Quinn let out a tired sigh, and for a moment, there was only silence. "I appreciate it, Sean. I really do. But you know how it is. It's my name on the line."
Feeling like I'd eavesdropped more than I should, I knocked lightly on the door to announce my presence. The voices inside immediately stopped.
"Come in," Miss Quinn called, her tone shifting back to her usual professional demeanor.
I stepped inside, clutching the folder. Sean was leaning against her desk, his arms crossed, while Miss Quinn sat behind it, looking as composed as ever despite the tension I'd overheard.
"These are the documents you needed," I said, keeping my tone neutral as I set them on her desk.
"Thank you, Asani," she said with a nod, her expression unreadable.
Sean offered me a polite smile before glancing back at Miss Quinn. "I'll let you finish up here. Think about what I said, okay?"
She nodded silently, and Sean gave me a quick nod of acknowledgment as he exited the room.
As I turned to leave, Miss Quinn spoke again, her voice softer this time. "Asani, thank you for bringing these over. Have a good evening."
"You too, Miss Quinn," I replied, stepping out into the now-empty hallway.
TBC