office crisis

Chapter 1

Toni's POV

"It's time that you let go TT. She graduated, you won't see her around anymore." Jughead was lecturing me about my undying obsessive love towards Cheryl Blossom, who did not once look at me. And why would she? She's four years older than me and I'm probably just a stupid brat in her eyes, if she even acknowledges my existence.

I tried everything, I sabotaged myself by trying to confess my love for her multiple times, and failed, I tried talking to her which obviously did not work, and I even threw myself at her a few times when she was drunk.

My biggest achievement was getting a sloppy kiss from drunk Cheryl before she passed out on the bed at the party, and she didn't even remember me or the kiss afterwards.

It's been humiliating experience, and it seemed like I really had to let go of her and stop embarrassing myself.

"Thanks for talking to me Jug. I guess it's time that I move on. She was never interested in me to begin with, she doesn't even know my name."
"You're a beautiful person, it's just that you're too young for her, for God's sake she's eighteen now. Forget it TT. You deserve a beautiful type of love, and it seems you've not getting it from her."

________________________________
Fast forward to Toni being eighteen.

"Hey Jug!" I hugged him as we sat down to get drinks.
"TT."
"I got accepted for a job."
"That over-summer thing you talked about?"
"Yeah. I applied and I got accepted. I don't really have do to anything, and it's good money."
"I'm glad. Hopefully you won't get bored."
"I guess I won't. It's only during the summer, and all I have to do is pretend to be an assistant to a boss at telecommunication company."
"Like a right-hand sort of thing?"
"Yeah, I guess so. I'll get paid a good amount of money. It's a cool opportunity."
"You never told me why do you need money? I mean you never bad financial problems, your parents are practically rich."
"I'm tired of spending time at home and having to explain myself to my parents. It's annoying. They're always asking me what do I need the money for, and I don't feel like explaining myself."
"You've always been so fierce..."

________________________________

It's my first day at work and I'm meeting some of the coworkers as the secretary Alex is explaining what kind of obligations I will have.
"Long story short, all you have to do is oblige to what Miss Blossom asks you to do."
My heart skipped a beat.
"Sorry, can you repeat that?"
"All you have to-"
"No, what's her full name?"
"Oh. Cheryl Blossom."
"Why are you talking about me? Wait whose child is that?"
There she was. Pointing at me with the same ice cold expression that I'm so familiar with. I got paralyzed from the waist down and just blinked a few times. Alright Toni contain yourself. Stop looking so weird. Stop. Stop.
"Oh, she's your new assistant boss."
"Woah. I thought she was someone's child. She looks young."
"I explained everything to her. Do you want me to show her the room or do you want to do it Miss Blossom?"
"You do it. I gotta go meet Veronica for a sec."
Veronica fucking Lodge. Her best friend from high school.

Alex pulled me forwards and I found myself in the very big, dark room with a few sofas and two desks with high-quality technology.

Alex finally left the room and I let myself fall onto the sofa and feel my legs and hands tremble. I can't fucking believe it. Cheryl fucking Blossom. She's my fucking boss. I could hardly hold my phone as I felt the heat overwhelming me. I saw hundreds of texts and missed calls from Jughead. I dialed him and waited for about ten seconds.

"Jughead."
"I fucking know. My sister told me. I tried calling you but you didn't-"
"Jughead I'm loosing my fucking mind. I'm fucking shaking."
"Oh my god Toni. Please just grab a glass of water and calm yourself down. I was so shocked."
"What do I do now?!"
"Just act normal!
"How do I fucking act normal?! My biggest fucking crush is my fucking boss! And everyone told me she is a bitch!"
"Just be natural and try not to embarrass yourself. Meet me at my house tonight alright?"
"I hear someone coming! I gotta go."

I quickly hung up and straightened myself as the glass of water was trembling in my hand. Great. I fucking spilled water all over me and the couch.

Cheryl stormed into the room and sat in front of the computer not even looking at me. Some things never change.

"Sorry I had to leave for a bit to lend my friend a car to drive her sister somewhere."

Cate Lodge. I know Veronica's sister. We used to fight over Cheryl for a long time. I got an ick just thinking about it.

As I finally calmed down, at least a little bit, I came to my senses and realized that the room reeked of nicotine and alcohol. I felt like I was going to throw up if I don't open the window.

"May I open the window please? I just need some air." I shyly asked, repeatedly humiliating myself because my voice kept cracking.
"Suit yourself." She coldly answered. I slowly stood up and approached a window behind her. She was acting like I wasn't even in the room.

"Umm...Is there anything that I should do?" I was feeling anxious because we just sat in silence, and I felt stupid to play with my phone while in the office.

"What do you mean?" She answered after some time.
"Well, I'm not particularly doing anything."
"Just sit still for now."

Will she finally look at me?! I can't believe it. She didn't even recognize me! Am I someone's child? What the fuck. I felt horrible. As I was passing by her, I smelled her perfume. She smells just like she did before. And her legs were still toned. She was wearing a shirt and a short skirt, along with high heels. It was like I was in high school all over again.

After about an hour, I let myself play with my phone, and by playing with my phone I mean texting Jughead the whole time, Cheryl suddenly turned the TV on. She was watching Shark Tank. She lit a cigarette and as wind hit her face, she suddenly called my name.

"Antoinette, right?" She spoke, never looking at me.
"Umm, yeah, or Toni."
"Whatever, can you go grab a bottle of wine?"
It felt so irritating. She doesn't want to look at me, and the employees were right about her being bitchy. Which is not new to me, whole school hated her.
"Sure." I whispered.
"I didn't catch that." She loudly said.
"Sure." I said a little louder.

I got out of the office and asked the employees where the wine is.
"Can someone hand me a bottle of wine?"
"She's drinking again." A cute girl said and made the whole room moan and protest.
"Here." She handed me the bottle.
"I advise you to just keep quiet and do as she says if you don't want to get her mad." She whispered.

I smiled softly at her and made my way over to Cheryl.
As I walked in I saw that she was sitting on the sofa that I previously sat on. And more concerning, I saw my phone under her thighs. How did she not notice it?

"Here."
"Grab two glasses from the counter."
"Two?"
"You want some or no?" Will this fucking girl ever look at me?!
"Oh, I'm not twenty one yet."
Finally, she looked at me. But I wish she didn't. She studied me carefully before shaking her head in disapproval.

I started shaking again. Somehow I behaved like a normal person would, and grabbed a glass.

As she poured herself a glass, she looked irritated.
"Don't stand above my head, it's creepy. Sit." She ordered. I slowly obliged and sat next to her.
"I'm sorry but can I just please take my phone?"
She looked down and saw that she was sitting on my phone.
"Suit yourself." What kind of an answer is that?

I carefully grabbed my phone, making sure not to touch her bare thighs. I sat uncomfortably for about an hour, before I saw it was around the end of the shift.

"Umm, it's the end of the shift."
"Yeah." She said while inhaling a cigarette.
"Well...may I leave?"
"Just turn my computer off on your way out."
"Umm, I don't want to accidentally turn some of the tabs off."
"You don't know how to turn the computer off?" She spat angrily.
"I do I just-"
"Just close the window and leave. It's fine."
She was visibly irritated.

I closed the window and made my way to the door.
"Bye Miss Blossom."

I exhaled hard as I got out of the room.

What a fucking day.