ONE NIGHT TOO LATE

CHEERFUL

Anne’s POV

The next morning, I woke up before my alarm.

Not because I couldn’t sleep ,no, I’d actually slept like a baby for the first time in what felt like years .But because I was buzzing with anticipation. The sunlight hadn’t even spilled fully into my bedroom yet, and still, I was already thinking about work. My work. My dream work.

It still felt surreal. For years, mornings had been something I endured , that grating alarm, dragging myself from bed, slipping into clothes that already smelled like resignation, trudging to jobs that drained me and paid just enough to keep me hovering at “barely okay.” But now… now I had a reason to get dressed with a smile.

I padded into the bathroom, humming to myself as I washed my face. My reflection looked different, though I couldn’t quite say why. Maybe it was the way my shoulders didn’t slump as much. Maybe it was the faint spark in my eyes. Or maybe it was because deep down, I felt that something in my life had finally shifted.

I chose my outfit carefully, a soft cream blouse that felt like butter against my skin, paired with tailored navy trousers that cinched perfectly at the waist. Simple, clean lines, nothing over-the-top. I gathered my hair into a sleek bun, the kind that meant business, and applied just enough makeup to make me look like the version of myself that had it all together. A sweep of mascara, a hint of blush, a nude lipstick.

When the Uber arrived, the driver was cheerful, the type who actually wanted to make conversation, which really matched my energy today.. Normally I would’ve smiled politely and retreated into my own head, but today, I found myself chatting back. We talked about the weather, about how the city seemed to move faster on Mondays. I even laughed at one of his dad jokes which, if I’m honest, was not funny, but I was in that rare mood where everything felt lighter.

By the time we pulled up in front of the Clark’s Conglomerate building, my heart gave a little leap. The place looked like the kind of office building you see in movies , glass walls that caught the light just right, the name in sleek silver letters above the entrance, a revolving door that made every person stepping through look important.

Inside, the air was cool and faintly scented with sandalwood and fresh lilies. The lobby’s polished floors reflected the morning sun pouring in through the massive glass facade. People moved with purpose, not the frantic kind of rushing I was used to seeing in corporate environments, but a steady, confident flow.

At the reception desk, Serena ,the bubbly brunette I’d met yesterday was already smiling at me. Her eyeliner was flawless, wings sharp enough to cut paper.

“Morning, Anne! First coffee’s on me today,” she said, sliding a paper cup toward me with a flourish.

I grinned and took it, inhaling the caramel aroma. “Careful, I might hold you to that every day.”

Her laugh was like little silver bells, light and contagious. “Deal but only if you keep that energy. You’re making this lobby look way too cheerful.”

Upstairs, the open floor plan was alive but calm. No loud phones ringing, no panicked yelling from corner offices. Just the soft click of keyboards, low hums of conversation, and bursts of laughter now and then from the corner where a group of desks were clustered.

I was introduced to my desk neighbors who are Carla and Victor who I met yesterday, they were already bickering about an upcoming office trivia night. Carla was in her early forties, with short curly hair and a warm, motherly energy. Her desk was a miniature garden, covered in succulents and framed photos of her two daughters. Victor was in his early thirties, with rolled-up sleeves and a way of talking about financial spreadsheets like they were the plot twists in a blockbuster movie.

“You’ll see,” Victor said, adjusting his glasses with mock seriousness. “Trivia night is brutal. Friendships are tested, allegiances are broken, alliances are formed. Carla here? She plays dirty.”

Carla rolled her eyes. “Don’t listen to him, Anne. He’s just mad because I always win.”

By mid-morning, I was knee-deep in financial reports, and to my surprise… I was enjoying it. The numbers weren’t just numbers — they told stories. They revealed where the company was thriving, where it was bleeding, and where it had room to grow. Each report was like a puzzle, and I’d always loved puzzles.

When I hit a snag with one of the internal software programs, Carla scooted her chair over and patiently walked me through the shortcut keys. “Don’t worry,” she said with a smile. “By Friday, you’ll be teaching me new tricks.”

Lunch was nothing like the lonely, rushed meals I’d had at previous jobs. Carla and Victor pulled me along to join their little group, which included two others from the marketing department, Kayla and Raymond. The mezzanine café had floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. The menu was ridiculous sushi, gourmet sandwiches, fresh pasta, even matcha lattes.

As we ate, the group shared inside jokes about past office parties, bad karaoke nights, and the infamous “cake incident” of 2022, which apparently involved an exploding chocolate fountain. I found myself laughing until my cheeks hurt.

By the afternoon, I’d fallen into the rhythm of the day so naturally that I almost forgot it was only my second day. The work flowed, the people were kind, and my boss ,that boss had only passed me in the hallway once and I did not have the chance to see his face but his aura. OMG !!! .He’d given me a polite nod, no lingering, no awkward tension. Just work.

Then, right before I was about to shut down my laptop for the day, an email from HR pinged into my inbox:

Subject: Official Vehicle Assignment – Clark’s Conglomerate

Dear Anne,

Please be informed that your company vehicle will be ready for pick-up next week.

Regards,

HR Department

I stared at the screen, my fingers frozen above the keyboard. An official car. Me. The same girl who used to walk home in the rain because she couldn’t afford a taxi.

I leaned back in my chair and let out a slow, disbelieving laugh.

Carla looked over. “Good news?”

“You could say that,” I said, shutting my laptop.

As I packed my bag, she called out, “Drinks after work on Friday. You’re coming, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I replied, and for once, I truly meant it.

The elevator ride down didn’t feel like I was descending it felt like I was simply moving forward. My life was smoothing out in ways I hadn’t even dared to dream.

And for the first time in a very, very long time… I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be