ALLEGIANCE

Chapter 18: Just One Week

Deborah remained behind the steering wheel for a moment, looking up at the glass façade that reflected the rising sun.

Three days earlier, Angela Brooks from Human Resources had called with the news.

"We'd be delighted to offer you the position of Community Outreach Coordinator."

Deborah had accepted with genuine excitement, promising herself and Margaret that it would only be temporary. The hospital applications remained her priority. The foundation would simply give her valuable experience until nursing began.

She stepped from the car, smoothed the front of her navy blouse, and walked toward the entrance.

An employee balanced a tray of steaming coffees toward the elevators. Another hurried past with a stack of presentation folders tucked beneath one arm. The receptionist looked up and smiled.

"Good morning, Miss Carter."

"Good morning."

"First day?"

"I hope I don't look too obvious."

"You look like everyone did on their first day."

That earned a small laugh. Angela Brooks appeared moments later.

"There you are." She extended a welcoming hand.

"Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

Angela clipped a security badge to Deborah's blazer before leading her through a maze of bright corridors.

"Your badge opens every door with a blue scanner," she said, pausing while Deborah tested it against a glass door. A soft beep sounded, and the lock released.

In a small office, Angela waited as Deborah typed a temporary password into her computer, then handed her a thick employee handbook.

"Emergency exits are marked in green," Angela continued, pointing toward a map mounted on the wall. "Fire drills happen once every quarter. You'll receive an email beforehand."

They barely reached the next department before another hand was extended.

"Welcome aboard."

"Good to have you here."

"I'm Rachel."

"Tom."

"Luis."

Deborah smiled, shook each hand, and repeated every name aloud, hoping it would stay with her.

By the time the clock above reception crept toward noon, the employee handbook had grown heavier beneath her arm, her visitor's smile had settled into tired cheeks, and the names she'd rehearsed all morning had begun slipping through her memory, one after another.

Her workspace overlooked the southern edge of the city, where ribbons of traffic threaded between rows of glass towers and distant palm trees swayed gently in the afternoon breeze.

The office itself was modest but thoughtfully arranged, a light oak desk sat neatly beneath the window with a slim computer monitor centered beside a leather notebook and a cup of freshly sharpened pencils.

A narrow bookshelf stood against the wall, its empty shelves waiting to collect reports, binders, and perhaps, in time, a few personal treasures. Soft sunlight spilled across the polished wooden floor, warming the room with a quiet calm that contrasted with the bustling streets below.

On the windowsill rested a healthy peace lily, its glossy green leaves arching around delicate white blooms, accompanied by a handwritten card that read, Welcome to the Cross Foundation, Deborah. We're glad you're here.

Later that afternoon, Michael Harris stopped beside her desk.

"Settling in?"

"I'm trying."

"You'll be fine."

He placed a thin folder on her desk. "Our outreach volunteers for East Los Angeles."

Deborah opened iit, flipping through the pages. "There are more than I expected."

"One hundred and twelve, you'll learn their names eventually."

"I hope so."

Michael gave a low whistle. "By Friday you'll probably know who drinks coffee, who prefers tea, and who forgets every meeting unless someone reminds them twice."

"I've only been here four hours." Deborah closed the file and carefully placed it in the corner of her desk.

"You'll see.".

On the executive floor, Julian stood near the window of his office. Claire, his executive assistant, sat across from him. A leather notebook rested on her lap.

"You wanted to see me?"

Julian closed the folder in front of him lacing his fingers together gently "I've been reviewing your personnel file."

Claire shifted a little in her seat "I hope that's a good thing."

"It is."

"You haven't taken more than three consecutive vacation days in almost two years."

"I've been busy."

"So have I."

"You've earned a proper break."

Claire tugged an imaginary strand of hair behind her ears. She rested her fingertips lightly on the table. "I wasn't planning to take one."

"I know."

"This isn't because of my work, is it?"

"No."

"You've been exceptional." She released a heavy breath she hadn't known she had been holding since she stepped in the office

"I appreciate that."

Julian looked at the folder next to him, pointing towards it "Human Resources tells me you've accumulated enough leave for nearly a month."

"I suppose I have."

"I'd like you to use it."

"Now?"

"If possible."

"The outreach expansion is beginning."

"Which is exactly why I'd prefer you return rested."

Claire considered the suggestion. She had postponed vacations before, missed out on family gatherings, cancelled travel plans and perhaps he was right.

"My sister has been asking me to visit Seattle."

"There you are."

"I could leave at the end of the week."

"Excellent." Julian leaned backwards, a faint smirk appeared on the corner of his lips

"We'll manage."

"I'll organize everything before I go."

"I expected nothing less."

As she stood to leave, she paused at the door. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For noticing I needed a break before I did."

"Hmm, you've earned it."

The door clicked softly behind her. He picked up his pen and quietly crossed through Claire's name beside the following Monday's schedule. Then, beneath it, he wrote another.

"Carter".

Outside his office, the foundation continued its ordinary business, unaware that another carefully positioned move had just been made.

On Friday afternoon, Michael Harris paused beside her desk with an approving smile.

"I've been looking for the revised volunteer roster."

Deborah handed him a neatly tabbed binder.

"I color-coded the districts."

Michael flipped through the pages. "Who asked you to do this?"

"No one."

"You did it anyway?"

"It made more sense."

He looked over the binder again, each section was clearly labeled. Emergency contacts appeared at the front, schedules had been cross-checked to avoid overlapping assignments, even last-minute substitutions had been highlighted.

Michael let out a quiet whistle. "This would've taken me half a day."

"It only took an hour."

He rubbed the back of his head and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm almost offended."

"I didn't mean—"

"I know."

He closed the binder. "Good work."

As he walked away, he made a mental note to mention it during the next department meeting.

The following Monday morning, Deborah had barely settled at her desk when the telephone rang.

"Community Outreach."

"Good morning, Deborah."

She recognized Angela Brooks's voice immediately.

"Good morning."

"Could you come to the executive floor for a moment?"

"Did I do something wrong?" Deborah whispered into the receiver

"Not at all."

"I'll be right there."

The executive floor felt noticeably quieter than the rest of the building. The carpet softened every footstep. Glass offices overlooked the city below. Artwork replaced bulletin boards.

"Thank you for coming." Angela straightened the lapels of her tailored jacket.

"Of course."

She led Deborah toward Julian's office. The door stood slightly open. Julian looked up from his desk as they entered.

"There you are."

"You wanted to see me?"

"I did."

Angela closed the door quietly behind them, her silhouette heals clicking against the floors. Julian motioned toward the chair opposite his desk.

"Please."

Deborah eased herself on the morghany seat, obliviously smoothening her suit and looking instinctively smoothing the crease in her sleeve. Julian bent his head,

"You aren't in trouble."

"I wasn't sure."

"If you were, I'd probably offer coffee first."

Angela handed Julian a folder before excusing herself. Once they were alone, Julian folded his hands.

"My executive assistant, Claire, will begin her vacation this Friday."

"Oh."

"She's postponed it several times."

"I hope she enjoys it."

"So do I."

"I have a favor to ask." He pressed his lips together before altering another word

"It would only be for one week, Claire has prepared detailed notes before leaving."

He slid a neatly organized binder across the desk.

"I need someone dependable to help coordinate my schedule, meetings, and correspondence while she's away."

"Me?"

"Yes."

"I'm not an executive assistant."

"No."

He leaned back slightly. "You're organized."

She glanced at the binder. "There are people here with much more experience."

"There are." He didn't argue.

"They also have responsibilities that can't easily be reassigned, "Your department speaks highly of you."

"They do?"

His tone remained calm. "Would you help me for one week?"

Deborah looked down at the binder, one week and Claire would return, then everything would go back to normal. She looked up.

"Okay."

A small smile crossed Julian's face. "One week."