The Crescent Headquarters,
Ontario,
Canada,
8:35 pm.
"We can't afford dissatisfaction at a time like this.", Danielle says, scrolling down her tablet.
She sighs, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyebrows stay furrowed in concentration until she nods and hands the tablet to me.
Danielle is someone who concentrates, regardless of the situation. Be it serving coleslaw at a family event or signing a million-dollar contract.
After a bit of examining I finally say,
"Everything else is fine except the colour. I think it looks a bit dull. Also, the plus-size section should be on the banner as well. Anne, please speak with Cara about model selection later in the day.", I say, referring to the smartly dressed intern while she nods in agreement.
"If that's all, I'm sure we can call it a day.", Danielle says, getting up, making a screeching sound with her metal chair.
"Who was taking minutes for the meeting?", I ask, scanning the huge board room. Alyssa raises her hand and I nod to signify that I've acknowledged that.
I stand up and so does everyone else. A symphony of screeching sounds echo throughout the room and I wince in pain.
Danielle and I head back to our office and I make a mental note to switch those cursed chairs for plastic ones. We had gotten them because they looked better and went with the general atmosphere of the room. We hadn't considered the way it would affect our everyday lives.
To be more specific, mine. The horrid symphony didn't seem to be affecting anyone else.
"Haaah! Can I sleep forever?", Danielle sighs, throwing herself on the long green couch beside the wall while proceeding to remove her heels.
"There's a simpler term for that but I don't think you'll like it as much", I laugh, sitting on my desk and looking out the huge window.
"At this point, anything will work. As long as I get more than 24 hours of shuteye. Even if I am buried six feet under", she says, gesturing for the small grey blanket on the coffee table in front of her.
I roll my eyes and walk over to get it.
I use the cloth to cover her and she whispers a "thank you" and transcends into another world.
Light snores fill the room soon and I put off the center lights and shut the blinds. I turn on my laptop which stands as the only source of light in the large office.
Twenty minutes into searching the depths of Home Depot, my phone rings, and the words "little brother" appear on the screen as the phone vibrates.
I smile and answer the call.
"Cubby!", Emmett yells through the phone and I laugh at the funny nickname.
"You're twenty-six years old! Don't you think it's time you start calling me my actual name?"
"Nope. We said I'd stop calling you that when you get married which probably means I'll have it written on your tombstone as well"
