Office Playpen

Chapter 24

So much for a small break, I thought.

Walking to the main lobby, where the front desk is located, as I hold my cup of coffee as I reach her, my heels clicking loudly out of annoyance from what had happened a few minutes ago.

Ruby is currently on the phone as she spots me walking towards me, before I can stand there and wait for her to tell me who's here, she signals her head towards the waiting area centered behind the desk, the row of chairs almost empty except for a couple of them, occupied by Daphne and Akako.

A smile naturally appears on my face as I spot them, it feels like it's been years since I last saw them, and that was before Chopard was working here, so I would say probably weeks.

Tuning out Ruby as she continues to talk on the phone, I go over to them as they both look up and spot me, smiling at me as well. They get up from their seats, meeting me in the middle as we briefly hug, carefully not to spill my coffee all over the place.

Parting, Akako stated, "We just thought to stop by and check up on you, I mean–" dragging it on, letting Daphne speak.

"Well, you haven't been answering and we just want to make sure you're okay" Daphne reassured, smiling softly.

I scoff playfully as I look around and realize this is not the place to be having a conversation with your friends, especially since everyone has eyes and ears, and they would want to talk about everything.

Learning that just now in the break room.

"We probably should talk in my office" I suggested, slightly turning my body towards the direction of the elevator.

They nodded as I turned fully and led the way towards the top floor. In the elevator, we don't talk or look at each other, I guess we are that type of friend group to be engulfed in the silence and we don't think it's awkward or weird.

We reached my office as I held the door open for them, letting them go inside first as they are treated as guests in a house.

Offering them seats to sit down in, opposite of my desk, the three of us sat down as Daphne and Akako made themselves comfortable, no doubt that they've been in here before, even if I don't recall it.

Setting my coffee down onto my desk, my mind having no doubt that I'm not going to drink it, considering what I witness whilst wanting to get it.

A waste, I thought, just like those rats.

Daphne sits as she crosses her legs, her hands resting in my lap as compared to Akako, who is also crossing her legs but crossing her arms. Their resting positions.

I start to say, "My apologies for the lack of responses, I just been...um", I left off, struggling to get out the words for some reason.

Daphne chimes in, saving me from my supposed brain freeze, "We only want to make sure you're not dead Hailey" She states as she laughs.

Akako laughs briefly as she covers her mouth, whilst I snicker shortly under my breath, a recurring joke in the group.

I know it's a weird joke between friends but I guess we developed it somehow and ran with it, after all these years. A little joke to make sure each of us are doing well because unlike our social life, our work life loves to take up as much time away from us and sometimes we can't respond to each other.

We've all done it one to many times so this is the standard, which I can't complain about, being an adult compared to a teenager is certainly a major difference in time.

I settled down my snickering as I explain the lack of responses, clearing my throat, "I had to take a sudden trip for a business meeting in New York"

Akako raised her eyebrows as she nodded her head in impressed, "Wow" she said.