Behind His Office Door

Operation Get A Job

New York was a city that never seemed to rest — cars honking, people rushing past each other with coffee in their hands. It was loud, crowded, and alive in every possible way, and a very beautiful city too.

By the time I stepped outside, the city was already alive—horns blaring, shoes clicking, steam hissing from vents. The air smelled like rain mixed with roasted coffee, and I felt wildly out of place carrying my worn leather bag and trying not to look lost.

Walking through the bustling streets of New York—I saw the first cafe I had noted down the day before that I would apply to.

Before walking in, I looked up to the sky— with a heart full of hope and fear praying to god that at least there would be a vacant position.

I pushed the door open, the small bell above it chiming louder than it should've. My palms were sweaty and the paper with my name on it had soft creases from how tightly I had been holding it. I forced a smile at the girl behind the counter and she looked at me weirdly already sensing my nervousness.

“Hi, I'm Stacy. What can I help you with?” she said with an encouraging voice. I cleared my throat and answered with as much confidence as I could summon up “Hi good day, I'm Tiana and I was wondering if there's any vacant role for a waiter, I could apply for”

“Oh sure, can I have your application letter to give to the manager to review?” Stacy said. I quickly handed it out to her. “You can have a seat while you wait, " and she walked into an office which had a signboard written ‘Manager’ at the top of the door.

Twenty minutes had passed. Twenty minutes of me waiting and hoping that there would be a free space for me. The lady at the counter, Stacy, finally came out of the office she had previously entered. I stood up—trying to look as confident as possible and walked back to the counter.

“Unfortunately there's no vacant space for a waitress available at the moment,” she said, handing back my letter to me with a straight face. I nodded and walked out of the cafe.

Standing outside the cafe, I tried to be as positive as possible and decided to try the two other cafes I had taken note of the night before.

After two hours of struggling to get to the subway and waiting for the managers to get back to me if there's any vacancy, nothing was available. It felt like the universe was giving up on me. My legs were hurting, I was so hungry and I was drained out.

I finally decided to just get on a train and go back to Grace’s apartment. Climbing onto the second floor of the apartment which was Grace’s floor, I glanced at my phone and saw that the time was 5:23pm meaning Grace was already back.

I got to the door, bringing out the spare key she had given me yesterday, and opened the door. The warm, savory, cheesy smell of home-made chicken lasagna hit me so hard.

“Oh my god!” I screamed, “What!” Grace shouted back running into the parlor where I was. She looks so scared and terrified. I burst out into laughter and that made her more angry.

“Tiana you better have a reason for scaring me like that,” Grace said annoyingly. “Okay, I'm sorry. The smell of the lasagna just made me feel better after being rejected from three cafes today” I said tiredly.

“Aww, my girl, come here” she held out her arms pulling me into a hug. My eyes stung as tears began to form but I held them back.

“Okay okay, that's enough. I'm hungry and from the smell I know this lasagna is going to be delicious” I said pushing her away in a dismissive but friendly way. “Yes, it’s really delicious,” she said laughing at my gesture.

We both walked into the kitchen and then she served me a plate.

“Mhm! This is so nice!” I said while swallowing another mouthful of the lasagna she had cooked. “I know I'm the best cook,” Grace said teasingly. “You wish. Remember that time in high school when you joined that cooking contest and your dish was literally the worst thing the judges tasted” I said and we both burst into laughter. “Yes, I remember! The lady judge didn’t even hide the fact that the food was so horrible” Grace added. “Peak times,” I said giggling.

We were finally done eating and Grace was at the sink washing the dishes while I was clearing up the table. After cleaning up, we decided to watch a movie.

“Which reminds me, the company a few blocks down from where I work — Harrison Enterprises—has a vacant space for a new secretary. My friend, Erin the current assistant to the boss told me the last girl quit because she couldn't handle the CEO.” Grace announced.

I raised a brow. “Couldn't handle him how?”

Grace smirked. Gabriel Harrison. Twenty-eight, CEO, ridiculously rich, hates smiling. But hot. Like very hot.”

I groaned. “Grace.”

She laughed. “What? I'm serious. The man could walk into a room and everyone would just… go silent. You'd be perfect for the job, though. You're calm, smart, you don't take nonsense—”

“I also have zero experience,” I cut her short in her thoughts.

“Who cares? You've survived worse… literally.”

That made me smile, but quietly. She was right. I had survived worse.

That night I couldn't sleep. The city outside my window was alive — cars honking, lights flashing, people laughing even past midnight. It was loud and beautiful and nothing like home.

I thought about my mom. About how she might be sitting in the same kitchen right now, pretending nothing happened. I missed her so much, that woman has been through hell yet she kept pushing. She made sure he never once laid a finger on me. The thought of her still being in that house made my chest ache.

While in my thoughts my phone buzzed.

Grace: I told my friend about you. She said Bring your résumé tomorrow morning. Don’t panic, Ti. You've got this.

I stared at the message for a long time. Tomorrow I'd walk into some building, apply for a job I know nothing about, and be interviewed by a man who doesn't know the girl sitting in front of him has so many scars she’ll never talk about. Maybe that was a good thing.

I walked to the windows and looked out. The city lights blinked back at me like stars that refused to sleep. For the first time, I let myself imagine what freedom might actually look like.

I didn't know it then, but somewhere across this city — maybe in one of those glowing skyscrapers — Gabriel Harrison was getting ready for work too. And soon our worlds would crash into each other in ways neither of us could have prepared for.

This night was just the beginning