At Your Service

Chapter 5

When the day was finally over and I managed to finish everything off before being the last person in this bloody building, I packed everything up and made my way to the shelter I was staying at. I've been there for quite some time already and I was surprised people still had the patience and respect to let me stay there. I figured I was overstaying my welcome and I was counting the days to be thrown out, but that hadn't happened yet and I was quite thankful. The pay from my dreadful job was great, but not enough to manage to rent out a flat for more than a month.

Anyways, when I got inside, I received polite smiles and waves from a couple of teens and volunteers I've seen around and actually talked to. I liked to keep myself quite distant and reserved, but when I was bound to see these people for a while, being polite wasn't the worst thing to do.

When I got to my room, I dropped my messenger bag on the floor and untucked Beth's shirt and dropped my exhausted body on top of my bed. Dealing with Mr. Styles was incredibly tiring and a nap before dinner sounded exactly like heaven. Well, that was until I heard a familiar knock on my door, followed by someone walking in.

"Louis?" Beth, I guessed without picking my head up from the pillow, "Are you asleep?"

"Wish I was," I grumbled, which earnt a soft chuckle to leave from Beth's lips as she sat down on my bed, next to my torso. I grumbled and opened my eyes with as much effort as I could and glanced at her, "Can I help you?"

"I didn't mean to interrupt your sleep," She apologized with a smile, "I just wanted to check up on you. You've been checking in a little later than usual and it's important that we check up on our teens to know how they're doing. So, how's work?"

"If I didn't need the money so desperately, I'd already quit," I muttered, "But, like, a thousand times. God, I wish I could just...put fucking Mr. Styles in his place! He's just so demanding and picky with his coffee! He's lucky I haven't spit in it yet."

"Oh, Lou," She cooed, "I'm sure he's not that bad. You're just not used to high maintenance in the workplace."

"High maintenance or not, he's still an arse and I hate him," I crossed my arms and pouted, "I can't wait for the weekend just to not see him. It makes weekends so much better, honestly!"

Beth laughed and petted my thigh, "Things will work out, Louis. They always do."

I rolled my eyes and let my head fall back against the pillow. I didn't think things would get any better any time soon, or ever at all.

---

The following morning, for some reason, work was a little different today and when I say a little, I mean a lot.

From the second I walked into the building, I noticed a weird aura surrounding it. I felt like people were dressed even better and had more of a pep in their step. Everyone seemed too happy and energetic for eight in the morning, but I shrugged it off. Probably some office gossip was flying around and I didn't have the time nor energy to waste on something as insignificant as that.

Anyways, with a piping hot black coffee on one hand and an equally as hot Yorkshire tea on the other, I walked past the weirdly happy co-workers and slipped into Mr. Styles' office. As usual, he was seated in his very expensive looking chair and had on his regular frown on his face while he had his eyes fixed on his large Apple computer. I doubt he noticed me even walk in, so I coughed awkwardly to make myself known. His cold eyes turned to me and I felt a shiver run through my spine. No matter how much I hated him, he was still very intimidating.

"Good morning, Mr. Styles," I said, while pulling on a fake smile, "I brought you your coffee and schedule for the day."

"Put the coffee on my table," He sternly ordered, "And don't bother, I've already asked Cassandra to send me my schedule. I expect you here in my office in exactly and hour. You're to accompany me in the next meeting I have and take down notes, can you manage?"