Break Down Your Walls

[10]

~𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘺~

My routine comes back into play Monday morning. I wake up at seven, get into the new outfit that Mr. Holland allowed me to buy with the company card which I am still in shock of, and get ready to go get my boss' everyday coffee.

"One small latte with two pumps of hazel nut syrup, extra foam and no sugar or cream, please." I give the usual order and pay with the company card, fixing my jacket sleeve which had moved farther up my arm.

I take a seat at my usual spot which is at the bar like stools in front of the dark glass windows. "Y/n?" I hear my name called and I to grab the warm cup of coffee.

"Thank you." I reply shortly, heading towards the front door. I can't help but notice someone staring at me through the glass, someone I swear I've seen every morning since I've been here.

When his eyes catch mine, he quickly turns away, a shiver running down my spine.

I shake my head slightly while trying to not think about what just happened and I assume it's just a coincidence and that he must work somewhere near here at the same time as me.

I head in to the lobby and move right to the front desk, holding Mr. Holland's coffee tightly in my hand. "Hey, Elizabeth. Hey, Noelle." I give a warm morning smile to the receptionists which I now call my friends.

"Hey, y/n!" Noelle says enthusiastically, always seeming to have enough energy for the both of us. Elizabeth gives a short and tired hello, obviously not having had a call yet this morning.

"Hang in there! Only five more days until the weekend." I say with a short laugh, signing next to my name to clock in.

"It couldn't come soon enough." She says with her own chuckle and I go to head up to Mr. Holland's office, but not before a familiar figure rushes into the elevator with me.

"Grabbing a snack this early?" I ask Haz, crossing my arms in front of me. Don't worry, the coffee is safe.

"Maybe. Anyway, is that a new outfit?" He asks, nudging me lightly before pressing the button for our level.

"Yeah. Mr. Holland let me use the company card because of one of the policies." I shrug my shoulders, still trying to wrap my head around the situation.

"What company policy?" Haz's right eyebrow raises in confusion and my heart nearly stops.

"Because I haven't received my first paycheck and I was struggling for money for work related things, such as dress code approved clothes, I could use the company card. As Mr. Holland said, if you have a brain, you'd know that."

I explain quickly, sure that Haz must have just forgotten about this policy and he probably used it for Abby when she first started which was about a year ago.

"I've never heard of that policy and I've read the handbook multiple times." He tilts his head slightly.

"Tom told you that?" He asks, placing his hands into his pockets while the elevator door opens. He allows me to exit first like always yet we walk very slowly so that we can continue our short conversation.

"He was in the store my friend and I were in to get this outfit. He was in disguise of course, but I knew it was him as he made it quite obvious and he said I could use the card after having heard me telling Charlie I didn't have enough to pay for it. Are you saying there's no company policy about financial aid to new employees?" I ask, my palms getting sweaty and it isn't just because of the hot coffee cup that it tightly being held by my hands.

"Not anything like that. I've haven't heard of that and new policies usually go through me to Tom. He must've been giving you a favor but didn't want you to know." A smirk spreads on Haz's face and I look down at my hands with widened eyes.

"And Mr. Holland doesn't usually give favors?" I ask hoping for something, though I don't know if I'm hoping for him to say that he does or doesn't.

Do I want special treatment or not? If I am getting special treatment, I'd like to know why.

"Not to people he despises. You aren't a lost cause to him." Haz looks straight at me, his piercing blue eyes seeming to smile. My cheeks grow warm and I quickly look away.

"You can get through to him. I can tell." With that, Haz enters his office, leaving me to enter the office of my new benefactor by myself.

I take a deep breath, my head spinning. Tom Holland giving me a favor? Yeah right! I'm sure there's some explanation. Right?

"Come in, Miss y/l/n." Mr. Holland's voice is harsher than the other times I've heard in the morning and this is the first time he's responded to my knock with my name.

I enter into his large office, putting his coffee on his desk as part of my routine, him resting on one of the couches. He nods his head towards his desk where there is a huge pile of papers. "Put the declined stamp on those." He says shortly, not even looking at me.

"Yes, sir. Thank you again for helping me by allowing me to pay with the company card." I say wondering if he would mention the policy again or if he'll simply dismiss me.

"It was not a favor, Miss y/l/n. I told you it was company policy." He rolls his eyes, looking at me for the first time this morning and I can tell by the look he gives me that he recognizes I am wearing the clothes he technically paid for.

"Is it company policy, sir? I didn't see it in the hand book." I look deeply into his eyes, challenging him for the first time since our very first encounter in the mall.

"Excuse me? It's a new policy. Now go." He waves his hand, clearly flustered. I nod my head and go to leave his office with the pile of papers in my arms.

Once I get into my own office, I grab at my hair and let out an internal scream. Seriously what is going on with Mr. Holland? Company policy? Yeah, sure. My boss just lied to me, which I don't find that surprising, but he also gave me a favor.

Maybe Haz is right.

Maybe I'm not a lost cause in his eyes.
~ ~ ~
A favor? Oop! I wonder what's going on in Mr. Holland's head...oh wait I do haha!

Please continue to vote and comment, I love seeing you guys actively enjoying my story!

I'm giving a short author's note here because I don't really know what to say xD

Have an amazing day/night everyone and thank you all so much for over 400 reads and I'll catch you in the next part <3

~Aidan