My Co-Worker is an Elf Girl?! (#thewattys2024)

Chapter 12 - It's Like the First Day of School All Over Again

LUXURY APARTMENT ROOM - EARLY MORNING

Samara lays awake in her bed. She is staring very intently at the screen.

It reads 6:59 AM.

...

Then 7:00 AM.

Her phone alarm rings for a split second. Sam immediately swipes to dismiss it, then bolts upright.

LUXURY APARTMENT LOBBY - EARLY MORNING

Samara struts with the confident strides of a woman on a mission. On her way out, she walks by the FRONT DESK SECURITY PERSON.

FRONT DESK SECURITY PERSON: "Good morning Miss Samara! Why so early?"

SAMARA: "First day at work! No more sleeping in until noon!"

FRONT DESK SECURITY PERSON: "You've got some more mail, by the way!"

The Front Desk Security Person hands Samara a manilla envelope that looks identical to the one she received yesterday. This one has regular stamps on it instead of a shipping label.

SAMARA: "Huh?"

Samara opens the envelope.  Her eyes shoot wide open.

SAMARA: "What the fuck is happening?!!"

HOKIN MEDIA HR OFFICE - MORNING

Sam slams the newly opened manilla envelope onto the desk of an HR RECRUITER. This Recruiter is different from the first one she met.

SAMARA: "What's the meaning of this?!"

The HR Recruiter picks up the letter inside and reads it.

HR RECRUITER: "It seems that you were rejected for a role at this company. We normally deal with a ton of talented applicants such as yourself, so please don't take it pers-"

SAMARA: "Objection."

Samara slams the first manilla envelope down onto the table. The HR Recruiter gives it a look.

HR RECRUITER: "Hm? This one says you were, in fact, accepted. That's weird! I wonder why that is."

Samara doesn't look pleased by the Recruiter's response.

SAMARA: "So I'm both rejected and accepted simultaneously?"

HR RECRUITER: "Let me look into your application notes."

The HR Recruiter logs onto their laptop. They take a minute to read Samara's file.

HR RECRUITER: "Applicant accepted. But the changelog said you were previously rejected. I've never seen anything like this in my time here..."

SAMARA: "Is there a reason I was rejected the first time around?"

HR RECRUITER: "It says 'unsatisfactory skills test results' as the reason."

This note knocks the wind out of Samara.

SAMARA: "Huh? I thought I aced that test!"