Would you like Dessert?

⇠One Hell of a Prize⇢

The cool September air swirled around me as I ran into the enormous building in front of me, hugging my jacket closer to my body. I rushed toward the elevator, pressing the button on the panel. The soft elevator music played above me, a few minutes before I reached my floor. I rushed out of the elevator, through the glass double doors. "Simon? What are you doing here so early?" Rebbeca quizzed, her long brown curls bouncing slightly.

"I have to finish my quarterly report," I replied, rushing past her.

"Simon," Rebecca called, grabbing my shoulder. "You have all a month to finish that, you have plenty of time." She added, wrapping her arm around my shoulder.

"It's never too early to finish, that way I can get to work on my other reports. I don't want to get lazy." I argued, fiddling with my shirt.

"You're not going to get lazy Simon, you're the hardest working person I know." Rebecca giggled, following me to my desk.

"Just because you're my best friend doesn't mean you can stalk me." I joked.

"It's my job as your best friend," Rebecca replied.

As I walked to my desk, I noticed a white envelope sitting on my keyboard. Tilting my head to the side, I tore open the envelope, two tickets fell onto my lap. Scooping up the tickets, I read them. 'Year-long cruise' I stared up at the other. "You're sending me where?" I stammered.

"A cruise! Everyone knows you deserve it. You've been working yourself to death, Simon. It's time you took care of yourself." Rebecca replied.

"But I do! Who's going take care of Butch!?" I shouted.

Rebecca put her hands on her hips, narrowing her blue eyes. "If you noticed, there were two tickets. I paid for the pet fee." She stated.

"I can't let you pay for that, I'll pay you back I promise," I argued.

"You don't need to Simon, I am calling this a well-deserved vacation. You have hours upon hours of sick days to make up." She said.

"Butch has never been on the ocean," I muttered.

"Exactly, This will be a great experience for both of you." The older woman chirped.

"Feels more like a punishment to me," I muttered, earning a playful punch in the arm.

"Shut up, promise me you'll try and enjoy it. You never know, you might meet that special someone." She winked, rubbing my shoulders gently.

I groaned, flopping back into my chair nearly toppling over, "Fine." I sighed.

"Thank you, now I want you to take the rest of the day off to prepare. Be at the pier by six o clock!" She instructed walking into her office.

Grabbing my messenger bag beside me, I spun out of my chair and headed out of the building. Inhaling then exhaling softly, I looked back at the building before entering my car and started driving home. My mind was going a mile a minute, a year-long cruise. How could Rebecca think I would want to go on a cruise, let alone a year-long one? She knew how much work I had to catch up on. I tightened my grip around the steering wheel, then exhaled deeply, maybe that was the point of sending me.

I lost track of how long I have been working for Rebecca. If I had remembered correctly tomorrow would be eight years. Maybe a cruise wouldn't be too bad, like she said I could finally relax, and it would be rude to not go after Rebecca paid for everything. As she said previously, maybe I'd meet that special someone, I blushed at the thought giggling to myself as I pulled into the driveway. Once home, I jumped right into my nightly routine, feeding Butch, packing, brushing my teeth, and typing up a few reports, before finally settling down into bed.