The Dream

Arrangement

-Zain Danial-

I started my morning with a workout session. Last night Carla showed me that she actually did have a gym room and I was sure to take advantage of it this morning. My body didn't feel right not doing anything at all, lazy days were uncomfortable but the equipment here would be more than perfect at keeping me in shape. 

After showering and getting ready for work I walked out and towards the kitchen to see Carla. She was wearing mostly black and white but accessories of gold that seemed to grin at me, telling me that the person wearing them was important. In any case, while I was staring at her I realised that she was getting ready to leave even though we still had an hour and a half to kill before work started. 

"Carla?" I called out which made her turn to me. It was then that I had also realised that it was the first time I called her by her first name out loud. It felt nice and warmed me internally.

"Good morning Zain," she replied, she didn't seem to notice. I wonder if she noticed anything about me at all. She was always unaffected, always composed and direct. She knew everything and was almost...inhuman. But it was the inhumanity that interested me so much, that makes me respect her, makes me want to get to know her more. 

I was quick to shake myself out of my thoughts, noticing her waiting for why I stopped her. "You're heading out already?" 

She gives me a grin, "Yep," that was all there was to it but what else could I have expected? She was the company leader with God knows how many responsibilities on her shoulders. "That reminds me," she carried on and grabbed something from a drawer close to her and threw something in my direction. 

I caught it with ease and looked to find a key. "I figured you'd need one," she said, "I'll see you in the office." 

"Wait," I said, swinging my blazer around my shoulder. "I'll drive you," 

"But you haven't had anything to eat yet," I found it cute that she was concerned. 

"I'll buy us something on the way," I answered and walked us both out of the door. She was hesitant though so I put a gentle hand on her lower back and guided us towards my car. 

She continued to argue against my idea, "You don't need to buy me anything," 

I chuckled and opened the door for her, "let me be the chivalrous man the 1900s would have been proud of. Besides, you do a lot for me, this is insignificant in comparison," she got into my car with a grateful smile which made me grin back at her before walking over to my side of the car. Something about doing this for her had me excited and although I made an effort not to let her see it, on the inside I was ecstatic. 

We ended up getting coffee and croissants, sitting in a cafe talking about things that didn't matter, how bright the sky was, how beautiful the lights were, how intricate the building designs are. "I don't know if you noticed but our company building has a special shape to it too," She told me as we were walking out. 

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

She chuckled a little before telling me, "Well, you would need to stand quite the bit back but it's supposed to be in a shape of an energy drink can." 

"No the fuck it's not," I let out, genuinely shocked and she laughed back at me. The laugh that makes my heart beat that little bit harder. 

"It is! I swear. I designed it myself." 

And sure enough, when we drove to the building I realised it really was in the shape of an energy drink can. I also saw that on the ceiling there was an exit that I hadn't noticed within the building before but noted to look into.