LUXURE

3. STRESSED AND DEPRESSED

The next morning was rough. I had to work at 8am as usual and I had only just gotten in sometime around 2 or 3am. Needless to say, I was exhausted when I was woken up by my alarm clock. The morning continued like normal. I woke up Jordie, packed his bag, and we all sat down for a quick breakfast that mom made. We walked to school and I waved him off when he saw his friends all huddled together outside the building.  I grabbed a coffee before I made my way into work, purely because it was essential in order for me to get through the day. The day continued like normal. I answered phones, greeted clients, and filed complaints and or comments from said clients. I was writing down information from calls when I heard footsteps stomping down the hall at a fast pace.

"Scarlett, be a doll and file the paperwork on my desk in alphabetical order, thanks." Mr. McConnor said. He did a double take at me, scanned me up and down. "Jesus, Scarlett. I need you professional, we've talked about this. Don't do it again. And for Christ's sake, this isn't a nunnery, you can unbutton a couple buttons." He pointed at me and scoffed before he quickly walked out of the building without waiting for my response. "Fuck you too Mr. McConnor." I mumbled. Using sex appeal to appeal to rich old men at work? That's just not my thing. I kept my blouse buttoned up all the way. I pulled out my compact mirror from my bag and glanced at my reflection. I forgot to do my hair. I rolled my eyes. What a drama Queen, I looked fine.

"Scarlett, can you help me with organizing some files later as well? Thanks." Said Carmin, another travel agent. Again, asking and leaving without even an answer from me. I let out a huff of annoyance. I still had a lot of work of my own to do but I had to push my tasks aside and help the big boss. I just really dislike being treated like a secretary when that task wasn't in the job description.

I walked to Mr. McConnor's office and looked at the massive stack of paperwork strewn across his desk. I sighed as I sat down and got to work putting the papers in the file cabinet in alphabetical order.

After a few hours of running back and forth from front desk tasks and filling paperwork, it was finally 5pm and time for me to leave.  I didn't quite finish with Mr. McConnor's paperwork and I wasn't able to get a chance to help Carmin, but I was off at 5 and I more than wanted to go home.

As I grabbed my bag from under my desk and headed towards the glass doors leading out of the building, I heard fast footsteps behind me.

"Scarlett! Wait up!" I turned around and saw Carmin, the middle-aged woman wearing a bright purple pant suit that did not fit her, running up behind me.  Who let her wear that out of the house? She looks like Barney but make it business.

"Are you leaving?" She questioned with a straight face and judging eyes.

"Uhh.. Yeah. It's 5 and I've got to get home." I said as I turned and nodded my head towards the glass doors.

"Oh, actually, can you stay around? I really need those papers filed for tomorrow." She said. Dang it. Carmin worked closely with Mr. McConnor and saying no to her is almost as bad as saying no to my boss. She could say one thing and I'd be fired in an instant. Her power over me was the reason behind my decision.

"Um, yeah. Show me what you need." I said giving in and putting my head down in defeat.

"Thanks, you're the best. I've got a dinner party to get to." She said as she pulled her bag up on her shoulder. "It's all on my desk and I left a note with explanations." She finished as she hurried out of the building leaving me as one of the last people still remaining in the building.

I let my bag drop off my shoulder and put it back on my chair before I let out a long breath.

A few hours later, I was finally done with filing the paperwork she needed. She wanted it all in alphabetical and chronological with copies made of each one. I felt like I could rip every single piece of paper that I so much as looked at today by the end of it.