One Time Thing [Wattys 2021 Shortlist] ✔️

Chapter 13: Wrong choices

MIA

Another set of papers smashed the table in front of Mia, the impact lifting other carefully arranged papers. A wave of frustration washed over Mia as she lifted her gaze which collided with her constantly frowning boss, Mathilda.

"These notices need to be filled in and carried to the post office. Do that." Mathilda said, her squinting blue eyes seeming smaller due to the tight bun her brown hair was tied in. It pulled her face up weirdly. Mathilda's face was plain, almost boring to look at.

"You said I could go to the courtroom with you today." Mia took the papers, trying to loosely count how much work they contained.

"You had too much work to do, I took someone else." Mathilda turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Mia sighing alone.

The office was buzzing with people, all running around with their hands full of papers and nervous frowns on their faces. The entire vibe of the office was more hectic than the real world. Everyone here was working on hyper mode.

"You realise you're the only one doing this much paperwork?" Dave peaked over to Mia's desk, his blueish eyes scanning the pile of papers. Contrasting all the people in suits, Dave was wearing a green t-shirt and brown khakis. Everyone in the office hated him because his father owned the company. If only Mia's father wanted to help her during her law career. But no, he decided to build her character.

"Mathilda hates me." Mia arranged the papers in front of her by dividing them into those that she went through and those that still waited for their time to shine.

"Probably. But Mathilda hates everyone." Dave shrugged. Carefree was the word to describe him, his wealth and reputation allowed him to do whatever he wanted in life. Some despised that, but Mia liked him. Because of all the people in the office, he was the only one that didn't see her as competition.

"I'm never going to see the courtroom." Mia mumbled.

"I really don't understand why you hadn't asked your father to get you a job. You'd be in the courtroom without any paperwork to finish first." Dave took a sip of his coffee and shot a meaningful glance at Mia.

"Why I hadn't asked? He's the one that didn't want that, told me I should fend for myself. Now I have a boss that hates me because of my name." Mia leaned back into the chair, wondering why she even got herself in a situation like this.

"In that case, your father is a wise man. And I told you, you shouldn't worry about Mathilda. First, you get to be hated by her and in a couple of years, you get to be her. That is what everyone here wants anyway. Their name on a building." Dave grabbed a pack of cigarettes from his bag and waved to Mia, leaving her alone in the cubicle.

Mia proceeded to fill in the notices, already able to do it without thinking. Her mind wandered off to why she even chose this profession. Because her father told her she couldn't do it. Just like he told her she should stick to ballet.

Maybe he was right, after all. She didn't think she was incompetent, but competence wasn't the only thing one needed to succeed. Something was in the general will to do it. Desire, passion. Mia lacked those.

But after all the time she spent studying, after all the sleepless nights, she wasn't willing to give up on it either. And she understood the logical fallacy behind it very well.

Just like she understood the logical fallacy of feeling guilty over what was happening to her friend Samantha. Here she was, thinking she should leave her wonderful boyfriend, while Sam was most likely being cheated on while she took care of the two-year-old child.

Mia knew there was nothing she should feel about. But heart knew little of reason.

"Am I paying you to day-dream?" A stern voice interrupted Mia's thoughts, making her flinch and lift her head.

"No, sorry." Mia returned to her notices quickly, hoping her boss would go away, but Mathilda lingered, her hands crossed on her chest.

"Is it physically hurting you to be here?" She raised her voice, attracting the attention of almost everyone in the office. Mia's stomach twisted suddenly, as she realised, she was about to be scolded in front of everyone.

"Excuse me?"

"Is it physically hurting you to be here? That's what your pained expression is telling me." Mathilda tapped with her foot on the floor, which made her seem like a cartoon villain.

"No." Mia answered, knowing there was absolutely nothing else she could say. If she retaliated now, Mathilda would be even more pissed. A boss could scream at an employee in front of everyone. The other way around, not so much.

"I wonder what everyone else thinks of our Mia here slacking off while others are working. Do you think you should get special treatment? Do you think you're good enough for special treatment?" Mathilda glared at Mia, her hands on her hips now, her red fingernails almost poking through the fabric of her black suit.

"Uh... what?" Mia asked, her heart pounding in her chest.

"For two months you've been coming here and doing absolutely nothing, wasting my time and disrespecting your co-workers and you have the nerve to pretend you don't know what I'm talking about?" Mathilda's pupils dilated and her nostrils flared, she looked like she might explode.

Mia gritted her teeth, feeling a small burst of anger starting somewhere in her muscles and her nerve-endings.

"I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. For two months I've been doing everything that was required of me. I don't understand the need to shame me in front of the entire office for an unknown reason. Now, please, if that's all, I'd like to get back to my work." Mia said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. Despite her obvious mood swings, Mathilda was an intimidating person and a good lawyer and Mia did not want to start a fight with her.

Realising what she was doing, Mathilda's eyes widened a bit as she looked around.

"Spoiled brat." She murmured for no one but Mia to hear, turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Mia completely stunned.

That last remark, though, made Mia realise who was behind this, so she promptly texted her father. Immediately, her phone rang and she excused herself to the bathroom. Was there anything else Mathilda could say to her, anyway?

"Hi, dad." Mia answered.

"Oh, hello, sweetie!" A melodious baritone went through the line. "Mathilda's been nagging, ha? No wonder, since I defeated her in court last Friday! Ha! That woman does not know when she's swimming with sharks." He laughed through the line and Mia sighed.

"I get that you didn't want to find me a job, but you don't need to get me fired." Mia murmured.

"Oh, don't worry about that! The only one that can get you fired is you." Mia could almost see his smart wink in her head. "I'll see you soon, right, sweetie?"

"Yes, dad. I'll visit soon." Mia said and her dad hung up immediately.

She lingered in the bathroom for a while, staring at her own expression under the neon lights. The illumination made the circles under her eyes seem darker than they truly were. It was almost 4pm, she had an hour to finish the notices and then she was out of here.

Mathilda's remarks didn't bother her so much, neither did the fact she screamed at Mia in front of everyone in the office. What bothered her was the fact that it didn't bother her. She thought she would at least care if she faced the possibility of being fired.

And right now, most of all, she needed to be able to talk about it. Without judgement, or wise advice, or pity. She needed someone to shut up and listen and understand. Reluctantly, she pulled out her phone and typed in a text.

I just realised I wasted my youth on something I don't give a shit about and I need a drink.