Not That Simple

That Girl

Chandlers POV

Carelessly glancing around the same 4 walls of my office for the sixth time today. It's just the same as it was 7 years ago when I became the manager, shelves and filing cabinets lining the walls, my desk to the back of the room, paperwork, and files pile on the side of my desk.

I have so much work to do but yet I have nothing. Everyone thinks that I love this job more than life because I'm the boss, it's not exactly the case.

My train of thoughts break when my office door opens, out of habit I sit up straighter and look as if I've just come away from my keyboard for a split second.

"Mr Bing have you just given that Geller girl and her friend a week off?" Course. It's Caitlin, a worker in Ms Geller and Ms Green's square. I can't help but notice the absurd way she is angling her body, she's a tall girl with long blonde hair, wearing her work skirt and blouse unbuttoned unreasonably low. Leaning against the door frame, her back is arched out, I'm more than certain she believes it will somehow get me to look at her differently but it only makes me look at how unnatural it looks.

"Ah yes, they have worked exceptionally hard throughout the years they've been here, it's about time I rewarded them. Maybe if you worked that hard you'd get a reward." I hint for her to get back to work, only getting a furrowed brow of confusion in response.

Smiling sweetly, she looks me up and down, "Well you look great today Mr Bing, I'll go now" internally rolling my eyes I force a smile.
"You too" Couldn't have lied more. "Bye Caitlin" with that she leaves, sighing I lift my legs up and angle them away from my computer on my desk, relaxing back into my chair.

I knew me doing that would cause some sort of disrupt, oh well.
I don't half mean it when I say that Ms Geller deserves a break, more so after this year, yet I don't know why this year.

It started in January, before Christmas she was always smiling, laughing and joking with the people around her, pretty much just Rachel Green, but she was unmistakably happy. January 10th came around and I couldn't wait to get back to work after what was evidently one of my hardest Christmas' to get through. Anyways, I greeted everyone seeing they had a pretty good refreshing break, it came round to Mr Geller and Green, Ms Green happily shook my hand offering a polite smile, whereas Ms Geller well she shook my hand and gave a small smile, though kept surprisingly quiet.

It was the same till around April/May time, she hardly spoke anymore only to her bestfriend, everyday she'd come to work, make a coffee, take her seat and become engrossed in her screen. Only ever leaving for the bathroom or any meetings we had that day.

My employees have a week of for Easter in which I will thankful give, after Christmas work gets really really busy, I still come to the office everyday to get through anything unfinished.
Everyone came back to work, once again I do my round of greeting them and hoping they are all well, I approached Ms Geller first holding out my hand, It seemed I must've moved at a quick pace because as I move my hand and walk she winces and steps away. Her body trembling slightly, Rachel rests a hand on her shoulder which she gladly accepts, I was a little more than confused but stayed quiet and moved on to Ms Green. She again shook my hand and smiled this time apologetically, I shook my head and nodded.

Then we get here September, until today I had only ever walked past Ms Geller through the corridor or spoken in meeting other than that, nothing.

I rarely leave the office if I can help it though, it's not always nice to find every woman employee in the block oggling at you everywhere you go.
I guess because I grin and bare it people believe I enjoy the attention and think I'm some sort of hot-shot. I'm don't though. If anything I hate the attention, I've never settled properly with a woman because I never found the one, so with women pushing themselves on me from all directions, if anything I hate it.

Checking the time I realise I've spent almost 2 hours sat here thinking, it's now 5:40 I need to be home by six so I can call my Mom before I go out again.

My mom used to live close to me, she moved when my dad passed away a little bit out of the city  so it'd be quieter for her, but she hates not seeing me every day. So she started the routine of calling me every other day at 6pm and whilst I sound like a little child, I'm glad she does, that 15 minute takes me away from reality for a while, it helps me remember what matters in life.

Switching off my computer I stand push my chair under my desk and grab my blazer jacket, tugging it onto my shoulders. In one hand I grab my briefcase and with the other grab my phone. Some people actually put it in their bag, I never do, it'd just be my luck for someone to run past and grab my bag then I've lost everything so.

Opening my office door, I hear shouts down the hall, quickly I lock my office and head towards the noise.
"WHY WERE YOU GOING THROUGH MY PHONE!" I hear before everything comes into view, Ms Geller standing beside Caitlin and Ashleigh's desks, with her arm outstretched pointing to both girls.

"What's going on here?" I ask making my way over, Ms Geller turns to me fury written all over her face, jaw clenched, eyes fiery.
"I forgot my phone earlier, I came back to get it and find them looking through everything!" With every word there's a crack, I hear her anger slow twisting into an emotional wreck, "they've been through all my private messages" she finishes with glassy eyes.

Quickly I turn to Ashleigh and Caitlin, who are half smiling, half in shock. "Why? Why would you do that to her?" I ask sternly, I'm furious with them too, god knows how Ms Geller feels.

"Well, she got a break, we wanted to know why" What!? I don't get these people sometimes, did I not just tell one of them an hour ago?

"I told you why" I snarl, grabbing the phone from their grasp, my demeanour changes as I turn back to Ms Geller, "I'm so sorry, they will be punished for this" I confirm, she stays quiet her eyes still full of hurt.

"We thought there was something going on between you two" Ashleigh admits guiltily.

I swivel back to them, "what difference would it have made to you if there was or wasn't something! My business, Miss Geller business, everybody else's business, is not yours. I told you why I awarded Miss Geller the time off now get back to work, you will be working your shifts along with Miss Gellers and Miss Greens between you both for the next two week." They huff, their faces resembling two little spoilt teens not getting what they want. "Miss Geller,make both your holidays 2 weeks long"

She shakes her head ready to reject my offer, "Do it" I insist, she just nods stepping away from her desk finally looking down at her phone.

Before I go after her I glance back ensuring Caitlin and Ashleigh are back to work, they are.
"Ms Geller" I call following her towards the lift, despite her attempts to hide it I can hear her sniffles and see her quickly whip away her tears.

"Yeah?" She croaks, facing me for the 4th time today, my breath catches in my throat, her eyes are red and puffy, but I don't think I've looked at anyone so beautiful.
No Chandler shut up!

"I will make sure they regret doing that, Im so sorry, if I had seen you know I would've taken the phone away and sorted it. I hope you're okay." The lift door opens, an older woman with a trolley decked out with coffee and refreshments wheels past us. Once she's out of the way we step inside and I push the button for the ground floor.

"I know you would've, I'm okay, I just had a lot of personal information that they read. I've had a tough year, I just can't wait for it to be over with if I'm honest." Her eyes fix on her shoes but at least she's talking, I think to myself.

"Well you deserve this time off, so make use of it, do the things you really enjoy, it will do you good. I have been the same. Just know you can talk to me if you need anything, more so if the work is adding to your stress, I know there's a lot" mentally kicking myself, I stop my rambling, cutting my sentence if bluntly.

Chuckling quietly Ms Geller nods a small smile creeping into her features "Thank you Mr Bing." The lift jolts to a stop, giving me one last smile Ms Geller walks in the opposite direction to my car. Climbing into the drivers seat I shut the door ending yet another day of whatever today was.

Wonder what the next few days will be, it sure as hell won't be as good as today was.