I Have Been Chosen

Oliver 9

Monday 19th January

The first day at the new job. Oliver has had a handful of jobs before, only staying at most two years before he moved on to the next. He considered them all stepping stones to something greater; what he was aiming for, he did not know himself, but it was always apparent in the company if he could not reach higher because the position above would be taken for a long time. Oliver would accumulate more skills and responsibilities to add to his CV before finding another job with higher pay and a better role. This new job was essentially the same job he had before, though with just a pretentious title, and he was in charge of more people. With his new job at this company, he would eventually be leading a team of five. Currently, there were only three, but the company was soon expanding and was still in the hiring process to fill those roles.

First impressions were everything, as was appearance. You could be the best worker in the world in your field, but if you are not dressed in a certain way, or exude confidence, then no one would respect your abilities.

Oliver looked through his wardrobe the night before, taking careful consideration. He was at first drawn to the button-up shirts his ex Arden had chosen for him; they were bolder colours, some patterned, as apparently, such flashy clothes exuded confidence and tells everyone who is in charge instead of the muted colours Oliver typically wore. Either that or Arden suggested a patterned tie or a blazer and trousers that were not black.

It was strange. Of course, Oliver normally overthought things like this, but his hesitation wasn't about what outfit would be the best, no instead, it was more... he was struggling to gather enough courage to wear those bright shirts and ties. Oliver had kept clothes other exes either gifted him or suggested he buy and wore them still without any problems, so he assumed that the problem wasn't because Arden bought these clothes.

No longer with Arden, had Oliver devolved back to his previous self? The one who could not wear anything too bright? Too scared and uncomfortable to attract too much attention? Had all his confidence gone along with Arden?

No.

He wouldn't let that happen.

Whilst before, Oliver would never consider wearing anything like this, Arden was right. It did give him a sense of confidence and control, a feeling that a plain blazer and shirt could never muster.

They're just clothes...

And yet they somehow changed everything.

He eventually settled on a matching light blueish-grey blazer, trousers, and waistcoat combo. It was subtle, but it had enough of a swirling pattern not to be plain; then, he matched it with a dark blue button-up and black tie.

Oliver looked himself in the mirror one more time, nodding in approval that he represented someone in charge, before leaving his apartment and heading towards the nearby bus stop.

Ah, the bus...

Oliver's last job was within walking distance, so he could avoid the horrors of public transport, but he would now have to endure this ordeal every day. Unfortunately, Cody started work a lot earlier, so he could not get a lift to work too, but a lift back was better than taking the bus twice in one day.

When the right number bus arrived, Oliver found a seat by himself and sucked on a mint while listening to some music Kara had recommended to him, a playlist of confidence-boosting songs for his first day at the new job. The closer the bus drove to the city centre, the fuller the bus became, and Oliver's fear of having someone sit next to him became a reality. Fortunately, this time, it was occupied by an elderly woman who barely spoke, only asking Oliver which stop she had to get off. Oliver rang the bell for her and helped her stand up again, rushing out of the bus when he realised that she had left her scarf, handing it to her before returning to the bus again, finding that his seat had been stolen.