Chapter 2 - New Beginnings

Well, my first night at my new house was out of the way and I was feeling much more confident about my decision. Today it seemed a little more appealing that I was starting a new life. I mean, I could become who ever I wanted. No one knew me here, and I would be able to make a whole new life for myself. Of course I'd never really change who I was, but I could become anything.

The alarm clock buzzed in my ear and I knew that it was time to wake up. Today would be the first day of my new job. I guess you could say I was a little more than excited. Come on, it's my one way ticket to getting to the top. I could feel my skin nearly bouncing off of my bones that is how excited I was. I was determined that I was going to make it all the way to the top. I was going to work extremely hard, show all kinds of initiative and make sure that my boss knew I meant business.

I was lost in the ideas that were running through my head when I heard the beeping outside of my door. Alarmed, I spun around to look at my clock. Yupp, it was 12:00 PM. So that must be how you got around in this town...people picked you up. I actually had to force myself to walk, so that I didn't look stupid skipping to the car that was going to take me to my job. I got into the back seat and shut the door behind me.

"The uniform you're going to have to wear is on the seat next to you, make sure you put that on when you get inside the building. We are pretty strict about our code." The lady that was driving the car spoke to me before she pulled away, staying outside my house only long enough for me to put my seat belt on. I turned my head to the side to look at what she had been talking about as she pulled away. Folded neatly on the seat next to me was a striped polo shirt, and a pair of grey slacks. I lifted an eyebrow as I looked at them, a little confused as to the strange clothes that I had to wear at a job in an office.

Before I knew it, the car was slowing down and coming to a stop. When I looked out the window, I was astounded. When I called about the job I saw in the paper I thought I was going to work in a small office. I mean, I got the job so fast that there was no way it could have been something like this. Looming in front of me was a massive building. There had to be at least 30 stories to this building. Large glass doors looked very inviting, but also very professional. Oh gosh, this was going to be more than I bargained for.

"Here you are, you better go get changed and get to work. Mr. Striker doesn't like it when someone is late." The lady in front of me spoke again, her voice very monotone. I simply nodded my head before I opened the car door and got out.

My first day at work was very interesting to say the least. When I first got there, I was greeted by the secretary who asked my name and then directed me to the bathroom so that I could change. The clothes were very stiff, but they were cool enough where I wouldn't have to worry about sweating all day long. I was assigned the post of the coffee girl, which explained the strange clothes I had to wear.

It looked like it was going to be easy enough to learn here. Being the coffee girl as I delivered to the different offices I was able to pick up a little of what they were doing. Filing away money, making sure nothing was ending up in the wrong place. Some were getting a hold of new branches and businesses to enlist. This job looked fantastic.

As I was sitting down getting ready for a lunch break, a man in a pinstripe suit came walking toward me. The way that he was walking said that he was important, but I couldn't get past that terrible suit. He walked up to the bench I was sitting at and sat next to me. In the same motion that he used to sit down, he leaned a hand over his knee.

"Hello, I'm Rafael Striker the department head of this division. I wanted to extend a personal welcome to our team. It seems as though you are already making good progress, that is good."

With a small smile I extended my hand and shook his. He had very strong hands and a very firm shake. Yeah, he meant business. "Thanks Mr. Striker, I really appreciate it."

With a nod of his head he left me at that, and I continued on with my work day.

Finally it was six o'clock and I was able to leave the office. I was feeling a little overwhelmed by all of the information that was hanging around in that large building. There was so much to learn. I was going to have to go right home and start learning the basics. I had just stepped outside of the double doors when my phone began to vibrate in my pocket. I dug my phone out of my pocket to find a strange number. Shrugging my shoulders I pressed the button and placed the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" I called through the speaker.

"Hello, yes, Harmony Smith." The voice on the other end was very familiar. A deep masculine voice that was very firm. "I am very pleased with your performance today, but there are a few things I would like to go over with you. Please meet me in Sundance park at eight am, sharp."

I was a little dumbfounded at first, but managed to answer. "Yes Mr. Striker, I'll see you there."

After I hung up the phone I got in the car that I had ridden in this morning and went home.

I made it home in one piece, physically that is. Mentally I was extremely confused. I had gotten this job so easily, could it really be taken away from me like that? I was extremely scared that my boss, Mr. Striker was going to fire me. I was only a coffee girl, could I really have been that bad at it? I don't remember messing up too much.

Beside myself with worry the first place I went when I got home was my grandmother's little garden. Her grave was laid in the garden with the plants that were just barely growing, as if my grandma was being channeled through them. Not caring if my neighbors were watching or listening, I began to pour my worries out the plants in front of me. There was no way I was going to be able to go through with all of this by myself. If they only way I could feel at peace was by talking to my grandma's plants, then that was what I was going to do.

I must have talked for hours because by the time I was done the sun was way behind the hills and I was so exhausted I could barely stand up. With a little bit lighter heart I went to bed, knowing I would have to get up early the next morning.

My buzzer went off early the next morning, and I busted everything I had to get ready. I showered faster than I had ever showered before. I spent more time on my hair than I ever remember doing, and made sure that all of my clothes were wrinkle free. There was no way that I was going to be fired due to appearances.

Finally it was time and I set off to meet my boss at the Sundance Park. He was already there waiting for me, sitting on a bench in the middle of the park. With a sigh I tried to swallow past the lump that had already formed in my throat and I approached him. With all of the professionalism I could muster, I stuck my hand out and nodded my head. "Morning Mr. Striker."

He took my hand in another one of his firm shakes, but at the corners of his mouth his lips were quivering into a little smile. "Morning Harmony, and please just call me Rafael. Mr. Striker makes me seem like such a mean man." He laughed softly. "Alright, I just wanted to tell you that I was really impressed with your performance. I saw how you were taking notes in the other offices as you brought them coffee and I've never seen anyone do something like that before. I'm promoting you and giving you your own desk."

What? He was giving me a raise?! I was so excited I didn't even have time to contain it. A smile broke out across my face and I grasped his arms. "Oh, really?! Thank you so much sir, thank you so much!"

He laughed again, with more heart this time and nodded. "You're welcome Harmony, now just know that I am expecting you to work as hard as possible-"

"Oh, I will sir, you don't have to worry about anything!" I couldn't help but cut him off.

He smiled as he ran a hand through his deep black hair. "I believe you, I believe you. And to celebrate your new promotion, I'd like to extend an invitation for you to come out to Waylon's Haunt, the bar down the street from here. They are having an open stage night, it should be fun."

Wait...what?! My mind was just set on fire again. Was my boss inviting me out to a bar? This was just strange. I didn't know how to respond. Wasn't doing anything with your boss after hours completely against company policy? "Uhm, yeah...I might." Was all that I could muster to answer with.

At that time, his phone gave off a strange ring, and he seemed to frown at it. "Well, looks like it's time to go into work." He sighed as he silenced his phone. Then he looked up at me. "You got a ride? The carpool won't come out here."

I had never thought about that. I shook my head, "No, I guess I don't."

He smiled and pointed over to the parallel parking spots. A very slick looking black car was the only one parked. "You can ride with me."

Nothing could be more strange than riding in the same car as your boss. The radio was not turned on and the ride was very quiet. The only thing to break to the silence was that every so often Rafael would turn and point out a building that was either a trust of our company, or a special building to the town. Apparently he had lived here his entire life.

 

I must have lied, because I felt even more uncomfortable when the car was parked in the company parking lot and we got out. The two of us, Rafael and I walked up and into the business building together. Yeah we were at least an arms length apart, but there was no denying that static in the air around us as we walked through those doors, Rafael went first and I followed right after. Instantly I could hear buzzing around the office as I headed into my new desk, both thankful and a little skeptic about this new position. I kept my head low and hoped he wouldn't come visit me. Right now, I just wanted him to stay as far away as possible, and to finish this work day so that I could go home.