By Mistake

Chapter 2 - Colleagues.

Cassie Huwit

It begins the same as it ends.

My alarm blared through the covers of my bed that I was curled into. I slam down, reaching for my alarm to stop, only to take three attempts before finding the button for snooze.

My bed to warm too leave yet the thought of being late for my first day pulled me out just in time. Kitchen to bathroom to bedroom and back; in an hours time I was ready for work.

Morning traffic congested the roads like a sore throat. Men in ironed suits and woman in neat skirts all rushed to the overbearing office building that caged everyone in just outside my apartment.

A sign spinner, pushing elbows in peoples faces, got one sharp blow to the concrete like he didn't matter, I often feel in a big city like this that unless you are rich and famous, no one cares for you, you are looked over and pushed aside. Feeling terribly sorry for the man, I rushed over to help him by picking up his sign.

A big arrow with large font that says 'Erik's Toy Store' donned the cardboard sign, the poor man is dressed in a worn out teddy bear costume with bear ears glued to a headband. "Thanks"

He whispered it so quietly I could barely hear it above the honking and hollering from the cars to the left of me.

"No problem, have a nice day sir" Silence smiles faded as we went our separate ways.

The rest of the walk to Palmer's wasn't long being that it was almost 9am people begin to disappear into stores and offices, clearing up the streets.

I went through the back entrance to the store like Vanessa had shown me, she was in the office on the phone; spinning in the padded chair. Vanessa looked up and waved at me with a deep smile, the day feels like it'll be a good one.

I set my bag in my locker, just a hairbrush, touch up make-up, wallet, keys and my phone - nothing special. I can see Luke and Michael pulling boxes off the back of a large truck, and who I presume to be Winston working the forklift next to Luke.

Luke waved at me and I returned the gestured; smiling.

A loud bang makes me jump from my worn out sneakers.

A tall man slammed the lockers just a few feet away from me.

Sharp sleek dark brown hair neatly combed that falls gracefully across his left cheekbone, deep brown eyes with a stare that didn't meet mine. He is much taller than the lockers, wearing the Palmer's uniform of cargo pants and a tight black tee that clings to him in all the right places. His biceps seep from under his short sleeve, veins and tattoos make different shapes and colors across his olive skin.

No wedding ring.

His belt has wrinkles marring the surface. His shoes are dress shoes and shined, way too shiny to be working with dusty boxes. The reflective of the harsh fluorescent lights shimmer off his sliver necklace and the sound of them hitting against itself when he walks.

The insanely attractive man walks my way and slams right into my left shoulder. Damn near pushes me to the ground. Asshole.

He walks by me like I'm nothing, not even human. Dickface.

He just walks over to a stack of boxes, cuts open the tape with his retractable box cutters, and starts organizing the contents inside to where they go in the store.

Well I guess that's Sam, can't wait to work alongside him. Not.

I moved to help the boys open pallets of boxes that are all taped together and start doing what Sam is, organizing the contents to be put on trolleys to stack the shelves inside the store. After Winston helps us get all six of the pallets of the truck, Sam and I moved onto our second pallet and the boys began dragging the trolley of boxes through the doors, going their different ways around the store.