Big Corp Inc. (G/T)

Part 4: A Friend?

Her first day had been strange and difficult, to say the least, but now Candy faced the unexpected challenge of getting home. The office seemed to be mostly empty, although Candy could hear the soft clacking of a computer keyboard from far away. She was determined to find the human elevator, for her own independence and, frankly, her sanity. She didn't want to have to rely on others to get around if she could help it.

The office was so ridiculously spacious, though, that despite her best efforts Candy grew tired. Her feet were hurting from her high heels, which were obviously not designed for walking long distances. Plus, it was getting late in the afternoon and she hadn't eaten anything all day. She wasn't used to meticulously planning her meals since on the small side of the city she could always buy food from a store or restaurant. Here, she didn't have any food options. She probably wouldn't even be able to carry Giant money.

She wasn't feeling well, so she sat down against a cubicle wall to rest her aching feet. She was tempted to take off her shoes and just give up. She needed to get home, but she didn't know where to go, and she was still nervous about talking to Giants, so she was stuck, unable to move forward. Part of her felt like crying. She had finally gotten a job, but she was afraid she was already blowing it, messing everything up like she always did. She didn't know if she'd be able to handle working with Giants, and dealing with a difficult Giant boss who was constantly coming on to her. The obstacles seemed impossible. She sniffled as a solitary tear rolled down her cheek.

A Giant shoe slammed down next to her, startling her and making her cry out. She clamped her hands over her mouth when she realized she had drawn attention to herself. She looked far above her with wide, watery eyes to behold a colossal man staring down at her. He had short dark hair and stormy gray eyes. His prominent nose and lips were outlined with dark stubble that also ran along his chin. He was strongly built, with naturally burly arms and broad shoulders. Candy felt fear rise in her chest as she realized this Giant could easily squish her like a bug.

However, there was no malice in his eyes. "Sorry about that, I didn't know you were there," he apologized in the full, deep voice Candy had learned to expect from Giants, with their prodigious lungs and larynxes. His brows furrowed with concern and his eyes squinted to better make out the tiny human far below on the floor. "Are you... alright?"

Candy quickly wiped her face to get rid of her tears. "I'm fine," she croaked hastily, jumping to her feet. "Just fine!" She tried to briskly walk away but tripped over her unwieldy shoes instead, falling to her hands and knees with a jolt. "Oh!"

She suddenly had a pair of Giant hands gently encircling her, soft and warm. "Let me help you," his voice rumbled, and she found herself rising up high into the air. She grabbed one of his fingers with fear at the dizzying height. She noticed right away, however, how gentle his hands and movements were, compared to the rougher movements of Mr. Hardon. Maybe he really could help her.

"Do... do you know where the human elevator is? Please, I can't find it anywhere," she pleaded.

"Yes, I'll show you," he responded with a soft smile.

Candy was relieved. "Oh, thank you!" The Giant carried her over to the opposite side of the office, which might as well have been on a different planet with how far away it was.

"It's over here," he showed her. "To be honest, I would've never known about it, with how small it is, if not for the fact that my desk is right here." He pointed to a cubicle directly adjacent to the human elevator. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone use it either." He kneeled down to set Candy on the floor. Before he could lower his hand, her stomach audibly grumbled again. She folded her arms over her torso, embarrassed by the complaints of her noisy innards.