Subtle Endearment

1. A Bad Start

Kira

Walking down the busy street I clutch my purse looking through the passing window glass. My braids are tied into a neat bun atop my head but it feels like it'll topple over any moment now. It doesn't help that it's nearly ninety degrees outside.

This job better be worth it. With all the time and stress I went through to get this job I better have my own office and a bonus.

Today will be my first day working at FixedTech Co., the number one tech company in the United States. Not only did they provide many health benefits but they also provided affordable housing for all their employees, something I need more than ever right now.

With my brother, Malik in boarding school and my parent's overdue hospital fees piling up this job was a much needed opportunity. The car accident that my parents were in a month ago had left them both in critical condition for several hours before they were finally discovered nearly an hour later. The pilling hospital bills had not been friendly nor had the staff. Even as I grieved for the loss of my parents the hospital bills trickled in tauntingly amounting to numbers I'd only ever seen in movies.

During the stress of planning my parent's funeral I was forced to quit school and prepare for job interviews. Since the situation was so unexpected, nothing had been put in place to help us out financially. My parents always looked to the future, even so they couldn't have foreseen their deaths.

Returning my concentration on the path ahead of me I advance towards FixedTech, which is right around the corner according to Google Maps. As I walk I flatten my pencil skirt with one hand and check my phone.

"Turn left on Blue Street," The GPS states.

It isn't until after the cup of coffee collides with my white blouse that I hear the wretched voice of my assailant yelling "watch out."

I pull at my was-white blouse that's now drenched with warm coffee. "What did you think that warning was going to do after the fact." I question heated by the stranger who'd ruined my first impression at my job. Surely I would've found a way to do so myself but this man had certainly made sure of it.

"I'm sorry, let me help you," he says picking up my cracked phone. His hair is messy as if he hasn't properly brushed it in days and he wears a red tank top and shorts with flip flops. He pushes back his thick rimmed glasses neatly on his nose as he hands me my phone.

Must be nice to not have to work on this dreadful Monday.

"I'll have to deal with this later, right now I need to get to work." I say pushing past the man leaving him dazed. "Thanks for the coffee bath," I say shaking my cracked phone above my head as I walk away.

As I round the corner I see the company building which sits at at least fifty stories tall. It's hard to miss with the white words sprawled across the front: 'FixedTech.' All the buildings around it seem like ants in comparison even in one of the busiest cities.

Several other employees walk through the door, some give a small "good morning" while others nod in acknowledgment. A woman in a black fitted business dress smiles at me as she greets me with a nod. Her eyes linger a bit too long at my stained shirt.

I cross my arms in a attempt to cover my exposed body. I had forgotten that in addition to my shirt being white it also came across as see through with the added coffee. A large sign in the corner of the lobby indicates that the restrooms are near and I follow it to the women's restroom. At the mirror, I see that my shirt is in fact see through and my black bra is clearly showing through.