Trapped In Silk

Office Duty

"I'm leaving Andrew!"
"Bye" I hear a huge crash from inside and reopen the door.
"Andrew?"
"Bye Shelby" I close the door again and start to walk to my car. I set up my route to the new office and sigh as I scroll through my phone. I check Andrew's Instagram followers and see that he's been following and liking pictures of new girls. I put my head on the steering wheel and begin to cry.

I've known for a while he's been cheating on me but my parents speak so highly of him for giving me the opportunity to work for his uncle's business that I don't want to call things off. I don't know where I'd be without his support, even if he is with other girls.

I arrive at the office and freshen up before I get out my car. I walk across the parking lot looking at my phone when a car nearly runs me over, I look into the car barely seeing a woman who has a very pissed off expression on her face. "Watch where you're going!" I step back and she sticks her finger up, driving by.

I walk into the entrance and I'm greeted by a very friendly face. "Martha?!"
"Shelby!"
"What are you doing here?"
"I work here. Why are you here?"
"I work here now"
"You're in the area?"
"I moved over recently with Andrew" She hugs me and smiles.
"You're still with him?"
"4 years and still going strong" I put on a fake smile hoping she doesn't see through it.
"Maybe he'll propose soon"
"I hope so!" We laugh and she hands me an apple as my stomach makes a noise.
"You sound like you need something to eat"
"Skipped breakfast"
"A big day like this? I thought Andrew would of made you something" I awkwardly smile taking the apple. "I'll see you around"
"See you..."

I walk up to the desk and I'm greeted by a bubbly young woman with brown hair, green eyes and glasses. "Welcome to Powers & Co, what can I do for you today?"
"I'm Shelby Goodkind"
"Oh! Miss Goodkind, we've been expecting you. Mr Powers should be in his office" She looks behind me as a woman in a bright pink suit speeds into the building. "Fatin! Fatin? Can you take Miss Goodkind to Mr Powers office?"
"Absolutely, I'm on my way there now"
"Just follow Fatin she'll take you there. Good luck!"
"Thank you, bye"

I follow Fatin as she speeds around the building, chugging what's in her cup. "It's Shelby right?"
"Right"
"I'm Fatin. My friends call me Fatin, my family call me Fatin, my coworkers call me Fatin and you can call me Fatin" I chuckle and she looks back smiling.
"For someone who's just come into work, you seem to have so much energy"
"You'll get used to the early days and long hours. Coffee is the trick or vodka but don't tell anyone I told you that. So what's your position here?"
"Uh-"
"The new manager for the new fashion branch I want to expand into" We turn around and see Mr Powers walking towards us with a briefcase.
"Fashion? Fashion is my middle name"
"I can imagine Fatin so you'll be helping Shelby get settled in and showing her around. First though can you also fetch me a coffee please? Oh and call Freya, tell her I can't make this afternoon"
"Right away"
"Come on Shelby, I'll take you to your office. Third floor and one of the best views"

I follow him into the elevator and we stand in silence as it slowly moves up. "Did you find a parking space okay?"
"Yeah, it was a little busy and I nearly got ran over but I managed"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine don't worry"
"I'll have a parking space set out for you by tomorrow, I've been busy scheduling a meeting with the leading department which you'll be attending as your first big meeting"
"What makes you think I'd be good in fashion?"
"I've heard about you and your pageants, you designed most of your dresses yourself. Your father speaks highly of you and so does my nephew"

I sigh quietly remembering that I'm working for Andrew's family and mumble under my breath "I bet he does" I look down notice that his uncle doesn't have a wedding ring, yet Andrew mentioned Powers is married to his aunt"
"I lost it"
"What?" I snap out of my daydream as the elevator pings and the doors open.
"My ring"
"Oh"
"My wife wasn't happy about it but what can you do other than look for it or replace it" I agree and we continue to walk through what seems to be a newly refurbished section of the building. There's bright colors everywhere and it was an open floor plan with computers at each desk with a separate room for my person office and a large space with yoga balls and beanbags. "I tried to make it more colorful and openly spaced than the other sectors to inspire ideas. You'll hopefully have fashion designers and celebrities coming through to look at what goes on behind the scenes."
"What is my role here?"
"You just have sit and look pretty" I frown and start to speak when he laughs. "I'm joking, lighten up. You'll be in charge of it all. Organizing meetings, setting up plans with designers, bossing people around. You'll be running it like it's your own business; just in my building, with my employees. You're the boss, do what you want here as long as you report back and make our company look good. I know you'll bring a great light to the team, Fatin will be joining you and your assistant for the first few months to help you get settled"

We walk into my office and he sits on the couch. "So what do you think?"
"It's amazin' but I've never ran a business before? How do-"
"You've got this. Anything you need I'll be here to help. Fatin can teach you the ropes, it'll be easy to pick up once you get going" He gets up and walks to the door. "I'll send up your PA when they arrive, get comfy and I'll email you a few things to get started on"
"Thank you Mr Powers"
"Call me Presley" I nod and he leaves, leaving me to a view of the city.

I eat my apple watching the cars go by when I get a knock at the door. "Hello?" I turn around and it's the woman from the car. "It's you"
"It's you"
"Fuck sake"
"How friendly. Who are you?"
"I'm your new assistant"
"Runnin' over your new boss before you even get a chance to say hello" She sits on the couch and sips her drink.
"Texan and funny. So what's the plan here?"
"What's your name?"
"They didn't tell you my name?" She laughs and I just stare at her unamused. "Toni"
"Are you lyin'?"
"Why would I lie?"
"Why wouldn't you"
"Look Princess, I'm someone you boss around; you get to tell me what to do and I don't like being told what to do so make the most of it. I don't know what privileges you got from daddy to get here but you seem less interested in being here than I do" I stare at her shocked at what she said but think about how right she is.

Fatin walks in, looks between us both and laughs. "Either you love each other or hate each other. The tension in this room right now is heateddd..." I turn on my computer and get a bunch of emails come through. "Toni right?"
"Yeah"
"What's your story?"
"I'm not here to get to know either of you on a personal level. Goodkind orders me around like a lapdog and then I get to go home at the end of the day" I look up at Fatin and she's in shock.
"Toni, I need you to go fetch the things I'm sending to the printer" She stands up and chuckles to herself, leaving the room.
"Like I said, lapdog"

Fatin sits down at my desk and sighs. "What a piece of work"
"I'm sure she just needs time"
"Or sex"
"Fatin!"
"I'm just saying, all the anger and that build up? She can't be getting anything. Maybe she's single"
"We don't know anythin' about her"
"And I don't know anything about you so tell me everything. Are you seeing someone?"
"Yes"
"Name?"
"Andrew"
We spend what seems like such a long time talking about our lives and Toni just sits outside at a desk away from us, giving us the cold shoulder.

Fatin finally leaves to go back to Mr Powers and Toni joins me, sitting back on the couch. "You don't seem like the type to sit in an office all day"
"And you don't seem like the type to care about what I do all day"
"Toni Shalifoe, 23 years of age, born and raised in Minnesota, moved here for college, dropped out because it was too much, I live and work with my best friend Martha and-"
"You work with Martha?"
"Yeah Marty and-"
"Martha Blackburn?"
"Did I stutter? How do you know Marty?"
"We spent like 4 summers together back in high school when we went to-"
"Summer camp"
"1 month of camping for 4 years"
"She's never mentioned you"
"She's never mentioned you..." We just stare at each other and then her phone begins to ring.

"Hello? - Yes - Where? - I'm on my way, thank you" I watch as she packs her things up. "I have to go"
"Where are you goin'?"
"I'm leaving"
"You can't just leave without a reason"
"Fire me then"
"I can't-" She slams the door behind her and sprints off. I sit back in my chair and sigh. Rubbing my hands on my face, I hear a ping from my computer; It's more scheduled meetings and events put into my calendar by Powers. "Ugh" I slam my head on the desk and close my eyes.