Corporate Punishment

Starting a job

It had been a month since they hired Sam at Wallace & Branson Social Media Consultation, Inc. He had been sure that he had blown the interview, as Macy Wallace looked at her phone more than she looked at him. She would ask him a question about either a social media trend or how he would react in a situation and then wait for him to stop talking before asking the next question. When he got the call a couple of days later, he wondered what made him stand out to the largest social media consultants in the city.

Honestly, Sam still couldn't figure out why he was hired. As the most junior person on the team, they constantly watched him. All of his ideas and posts were heavily edited. He was feeling confined and underappreciated. What he thought was his dream job had him having trouble getting out of bed in the morning and ready to leave for home within an hour of walking into the office.

If it wasn't for the prestige of Wallace & Branson Social Media Consultation, Inc. in the social media industry, Sam would have left for a smaller company where he could have more of an impact. Being one of the few males at a woman owned and operated company had its own perks, as frustrating as they might be. While the company wasn't laid back, there wasn't the toxic masculinity that he was expecting in a high pressure industry.

Tiffany, the receptionist, while a little plain looking, has a smile that still makes his heart stop. At least now he can talk to her, and not feel like he is an idiot.

Sam looked at himself in the mirror. WBSMC's employee handbook stated that the dress code was business. He only owned two suit jackets, both of which he had owned for several years. Luckily, his late father's clothes weren't all thrown away. It had been several years since his father had passed away and his mother was still deep in mourning. He had helped her box up a lot of his father's belongings, including his clothes, but his mother hadn't been able to bring herself to sort through them without breaking down in tears.

As Sam walked into the office, he stopped at Tiffany's desk. "Tiffany? Can I ask you a huge favor?" Tiffany's smile changed slightly. It was like he was getting what everyone who walked through the front doors got. Her eyes lost the sparkle that was normally there. "I- I have been looking at my wardrobe and it needs refreshing. Would you have some time this weekend to go shopping with me?"

"That is not what I was expecting from that lead-in. Most of the time, a guy walks in and asks me for a 'favor'. He is about to ask me out on a date of some sort."

Sam wonders how to not insult her and still stay on her good side. "Oh. I like you. You are friendly and attractive, but I don't know enough about you to know if I would want to date you." Sam bites his lip and looks at the top of the reception desk. "I really would appreciate it. I don't want my mother picking out my clothes anymore." Sam felt his cheeks warm. "I never really shopped for clothes for myself before and I know I don't have a great sense of style. You always look so well put together. I know we don't talk much, but you are the person here that I feel comfortable around."

Tiffany looked at him from top to bottom. She had noticed that his clothes looked outdated and old-fashioned, but had thought that was just his style. She had always wanted a younger brother to dress up. "Let me check my calendar and I'll let you know later today."

"Thank you very much, Tiffany."