The 18th Floor

Chapter Eighteen

The next few weeks pass by in a blur of a cold, December rush. As the days get shorter, I find myself staying later and later each night with Lucien in an effort to have all work done and wrapped up by the end of the year. With the management above Lucien pressing him for year-end reports, the whole team has been feeling the pressure to tie up loose ends and produce whatever is needed.

In two days' time, we have our work Christmas party. Every single person in the whole building will be downstairs in the largest meeting room we have. Simon told me they usually have food and drinks, and it's a way for people who don't work together to socialise, but apparently everyone sticks to their department, tries to get as drunk as they can on the company's bill and then leaves after the food runs out.

Lucien said it was a lame excuse of a party on the company's behalf as well as a cheap cop out, which is why Lucien has organised our own private marketing team one, with Simon of course, for the following Friday. After that, the office is closed until the start of January giving me just over two weeks off.

Other than those two initials 'sick days', I haven't taken off any time since starting and although I've been caught up in the adrenaline of the new environment, I've started to feel myself longing for and needing that small respite.

I've bought a new dress for the corporate party since Abbi told me that everyone tries to dress up a bit, but I'm still unsure as to whether it is appropriate or not. With a large dip down the back and the front mirroring it, it probably shows more than what I bargained for but I haven't felt drawn to anything else.

I passed my 3 month probation last week, not that I was worried as it was Lucien assessing me, but it feels good to know that my place is finally secure and I have been able to ease into the work life.

"There's not much to say Cyrene. You fit right in, you've shown your capabilities and willingness to learn. I can firmly say that you're not allowed to leave the team", Lucien had joked laughing lightly, but it felt like there was an underlying meaning to his last sentence. I would be lying if I said his praises didn't fill me with joy within, only to be further congratulated by the rest of the team. It definitely makes it easier to get in every morning when I know I have a good bunch of people to spend the day with.

As I go into work this morning, the lift is full even after I exit. The renovations for the 22nd floor, which we should be moving into in January are nearly completed, meaning that I have shared the lift with a few builders each morning for the past couple of weeks. I've started to recognise some of them and they always make sure to give me a smile or say good morning when we're in there together.

I pass by our office to see that Lucien hasn't come in yet and keep going down further to check if Abbi has arrived. Abbi shares an office with Reid, and like Lucien, Reid also tends to come in late.

"Morning Abbi", I say as I wheel into their room.

"Good morning, Cyrene, how are you today?" she asks. Her motherly tendencies run deeply in Abbi. From the way that she talks to the way she acts, you can tell she's a good mother. The lack of a maternal figure in my life growing up makes me want to hug and embrace her every time I see her.

"I'm good, actually I need to show you the dress I bought for the Christmas party."

"Ahhh yes, let me see", Abbi replies with excitement.

It's nice, having another woman in the office. Even if Abbi is in her early 40s with 2 children, we converse as if we're still schoolgirls in the back of the classroom, regularly gossiping at lunch. I pull out my phone and I swipe her through the photos on my phone of me trying on the dress.