Vice

11: Crystal

Only when the Vicecorp car is safely back in its parking space inside the parking garage does Natara finally relax. She slumps into the leather driver's seat, leaning her head and shoulders back and closing her eyes as her heartbeat settles in her chest.

I did it, she thinks. I actually drove an expensive company vehicle around town with no issues or accidents. Of course, I'll have to go pick it back up when it's done later but...well, I don't want to think about what might go wrong then.

She holds herself with a straight posture as she walks back into Vicecorp and navigates her way back to her office. With her shoulders back and pride in her chest, she checks Jaquie's list for her next task: Grab some files from the different office departments and deliver them to Mr. Vice's office. 

That sounds simple enough, Natara thinks, as she rises from her desk and makes her way around the building.

She keeps the list of departments tightly clutched in her hands as she approaches the elevator. Thank goodness there are navigation signs around the building listing what departments are on which floors, or else Natara would be hopelessly lost. Once she reaches the right floor for each department it's just a matter of meandering around until she finds the right place and right person to speak to.

Most of the people Natara collects paperwork from don't even glance at her. She was actually kind of hoping that she could use this task as a way to warm up a little socially and possibly even make a friend or two in the company. But Natara is too shy to push anyone into more conversation than they want to have with her (and these people don't seem interested, anyway), so she continues her business without any interaction.

When she reaches Jace's department - near the end of her list - she at least hopes she'll get to chat with him a little more. Even though she wants to avoid him, she doesn't really want to avoid him. She spies him busy at work behind a computer and nervously approaches. He runs his fingers across his short brown hair, as if he's thinking deeply about whatever he's working on.

"Hey, Jace. I'm here to get a file for Mr. Vice. I was hoping you could point me in the right direction." Natara hushes her voice, trying her best not to startle him. Despite how busy Jace seems, he takes the time to look at Natara and give her a boyishly cute smile. She can't help it; her face flushes.

Across the room, a woman with angled brown eyes watches Jace and Natara. She wears a tight green dress that displays way more than Natara would feel comfortable showing, especially at a workplace. 

"Well, miss secretary, that is the right direction." Jace points to the woman and Natara flushes, heading toward her. 

"Hi, I'm Natara. Jace told me I need to collect a file from you for Mr. Vice..." Natara's words trail off when she realizes that the woman is glaring at her. The woman bends over to grab something from her desk, showing off a lot more than Natara wishes to see, and Natara awkwardly averts her eyes.

"How do you know Jace?" The woman asks as she rises back up, file in hand. Natara looks at the name tag on her desk. Crystal.

"He came to my office and showed me how to use the coffeemaker," Natara replies honestly. Crystal seems to mull this over for a few seconds before she waves Natara away.