One Last Time

Chapter 2

Anna tapped her feet loudly on the tiled floor, her flat hard-soled leather shoes mimicking the sound of a woodpecker on a tree bark. It echoed through the vacant lobby, accompanied by the sound of a ticking clock. It obviously irritated the snobby receptionist who spoke rapidly on the phone, simultaneously taking short notes of whatever the other person was saying in reply. She glared at Anna, mouthing silently for her to stop the annoying sound, her eyes slowly taking Anna in for the hundredth time. She huffed, then focused her attention on the note she was taking. Anna's feet halted its movement, and she smiled apologetically, even though the receptionist had already turned away.

To say she felt uncomfortable and entirely out of place, would be an understatement. amidst a sea full of very busy office workers, she was beyond underdressed in her washed-out jeans and baggy tees, everyone around her was dressed smartly in tailored suits and corporate dresses. She regretted disregarding her first instinct to wear a dress this morning, not that she had many. She had been aiming for a comfortable look, but comfort was very far from her right now.

They stared as they walked by, judging her appearance and thinking low of her. Not that she cared, but it unsettled her. Some even dared to look at her with pity, probably thinking she was a homeless girl who came to beg for alms. She could have bought some of their ideas because even she was not sure what she was doing here, but unfortunately, she had no money to waste on what they thought of her.

It was an open office, you could see all that went on in the first two levels of the building from whichever angle you stood. There was an open ceiling, the top floor was visible from the ground floor, and vice versa. The offices on the top floor were divided with glass walls, and the lobby alongside a few others were the only rooms occupying the ground floor. There was a top-tier, where she assumed the closed offices were. Her eyes roamed freely, admiring the homely interior of the building, something that should have put her at ease. It didn't.

She crossed her legs and folded her arm across her chest, assuming a more relaxed and confident posture. For a minute, she considered forgetting about the whole thing and instead, taking the next bus home to find comfort in a plate of freshly baked doughnuts and a cup of Iced latte. Maybe she could catch some sleep too, she had worked a double shift yesterday, serving table until she could barely feel her feet. She was surviving on three hours of sleep and a cup of coffee, it was going to wear out very soon.

Patience was not one of her many virtues, not that she completely lacked it, but she could only go so far before she lost it. The receptionist who was STILL talking on the phone, completely disregarding her for the past hour,  had stretched whatever little patience she had left to its elastic limits, and it was about to break. She wasn't sure what was still keeping her here, but whatever it was lost its grip on her the minute the receptionist put the call down, only to pick up another. It now seemed like she was intentionally getting busy, to avoid attending to Anna.

Was it that bad? She had enough!

Anna got up to leave, vexation sizzling silently in her chest. Her finger folded into her palms, as she placed her thin slip leather bag over her shoulder. She felt insulted. She could feel the receptionist staring at her as she walked towards the exit. Maybe it was just her paranoia, but she felt like everyone was staring at her, finally grateful that she decided to leave and take her misery with her. She was tempted to turn around and lift her middle finger at them, but she reeled it in, keeping her dignity and pride.

If he had invited her here only to insult her, he might lay well in his bed tonight, knowing that he achieved his aim. She put her hands in her pocket to hide the fact that they were visibly shaking. The littlest things triggered her emotions these days, she was on a cliff edge.