Chapter 2 — The Office Nuisance

The office nuisance.

That is what they call me and what they talk about every time I pass by. Well, I wasn’t expecting them to be smiling and all, especially when they found out that I got the job without any experience. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t want to be friends with them, or at least in a good relationship with everyone. My co-workers were not the type of people to slack off, and they were very friendly to me when I first got here. I wanted to improve and make sure that I brought justice to the position that was given to me by some miracle.

The first two weeks working behind a computer weren’t really enjoyable. The occasional pain behind my neck and back was unavoidable. My eyes would even start to hurt the longer I stared at the screen. This was bound to make me blind soon, but it did pay the bills.

However, when the third week rolled in, they weren’t as welcoming as they were the first time. Even the lady who hired me, Mrs. Denovan, wouldn’t spare me a single glance whenever we met at the cafeteria. One time I tried to strike up a conversation with her, and she literally ran away as if I was the plague, claiming she was too busy to be conversing.

It annoyed and saddened me.

Any possible friendship fell to the wayside when the truth came out. From the gossip I heard, Mrs. Denovan blabbered about me getting the job due to the CEO. Word travels fast and the next thing I knew, I was deemed a slacker and an ungrateful person to them.

Whispers erupted every time I passed by a cubicle and then I would feel eyes staring at me. One time, I looked up to see who was burning holes behind my back only to see there were at least three of them.

Whenever I asked for any assistance, they would shy away and pretend I wasn’t there. Sometimes, they would even gossip near me, not caring I was right next to them. Every day, I was alone during lunch break. I didn’t want to spend any money, so I brought food from home. Eating at restaurants lost its appeal when I was eating all by myself with no one to talk to.

Nobody wants to have lunch with the office nuisance, that’s for sure.

The gossip was always the same. The strange girl got the job despite not having any experience despite being twenty-six years old. That I stole the job from a worker who could’ve been valuable to their cause and that I obviously bribed the man up top to give me the job.

I don’t even know the man! I haven’t even seen the CEO of this company so how could they say that? Seriously, he shouldn’t have given me the job and I should have walked out as soon as she said I was unfit to work here…

As much as I wanted to thank the man for giving me a chance, the mere mention of him just annoyed me for the same reason. It was unfair to those who worked their way up only to have the job given to someone inadequate.

How did I even land this position? What did the CEO see for him to call and ask his employee to hand the job to me? He doesn’t even know me! Was he under the influence of alcohol at the time? Was it pity?

The more I thought about it, the bigger my headache grew. Deciding to focus on work, I let everything slide and went back to typing.

Beggars shouldn’t be choosers…I should be happy that I got this job, even if others were not.

It was almost lunchtime when I heard it again—my office colleagues whispering. Rolling my eyes at the two females gossiping, I typed out the last paragraph of the document I was assigned to encode. As soon as I was finished, I brought out my packed lunch and nibbled on my sandwich. I didn’t want to waste precious time listening to mean co-workers.

“Do you think she is in a relationship with Mr. Dixon?”

“That girl? Are you even seeing the same thing I’m seeing? There’s no way Mr. Dixon would date that teenager. Just look at her!”

Teenager?

I couldn’t help but frown at the new insult, if it was one. I may be lacking in height, but I certainly don’t lack in other parts. And why would a teenager be working a desk job?

Suddenly, the chicken sandwich and mashed potatoes I made didn’t seem delicious to me anymore as the women whispered away.

Can’t they just shut up for once? Trying so hard for me to hear deliberately…

Probably sensing that it was no use since it didn’t capture my attention like last time, they grew quiet and the whole place was silent once more. I smiled to myself for finally getting peace, but it didn’t last long.

“Miss McKenzie…”

I blinked once, twice, not expecting anyone to say my name. I quickly glanced up to see who it was. Expecting my manager to chew me out for eating here instead of in the cafeteria, the person’s face shocked me. I was rendered speechless and unable to move from my spot.

The same blue eyes that stared at me three weeks ago in the building’s lobby were now focused on me intently. Now that they were up close, they took my breath away.

The man tilted his head a bit, his blond hair shining under the bright fluorescent lights. The small smile on his lips caught me off guard since he appeared to be really stern last time. Seeing his youthful, handsome face up close was refreshing but at the same time, it felt foreign. And those blue eyes of his, they weren’t narrowed nor guarded. No, it looked like they were smiling as well. They felt safe and welcoming, and nothing like the eyes of those who persecuted me. The people who said I was a nuisance now had eyes that were ten thousand times different from his.

I was instantly hooked by the charismatic man in front of me.

Hook, line, and the damn sinker.

“Miss McKenzie?”

Finally, out of my stupor, I gasped and managed to speak without squeaking. “Yes? I-I’m McKenzie. Is there something you want, sir?”

He stood up straighter this time, his smile wider, and showed a lot of promise. “Yes. I do want something from you.”

“S-sorry…but I don’t know your name—”

“My name is Cedric.” He grinned. “I want you to accept my humble request, Miss McKenzie.”

Request?

I wasn’t expecting him to hold out his hand and say the next words that shook not only my world but those around us as well. I must say, it was definitely a surprise.

“Miss McKenzie, do you want to eat lunch together?”