Under the Mistletoe

Office Madness

The next morning, I woke up and dressed in formal black fitted dress pants and a crisp white button-up short-sleeve shirt. After pulling my hair into a messy bun, I applied just enough makeup to look presentable. As I stared at my glum reflection in the mirror, a wave of dread washed over me. I really didn’t want to go to the office today. My mood was already on edge, and the thought of facing Adaline only made it worse. Maybe she had matured in her new role, but I seriously doubted it.

Climbing into my car, I drove into the heart of the city, where the skyline was dotted with gleaming glass towers. As I approached Holms Enterprise, the imposing structure loomed ahead, its sleek façade reflecting the morning sun. The lobby buzzed with employees, their voices a blend of business chatter and laughter, the energy palpable. I took a deep breath, trying to muster some enthusiasm as I navigated through the crowd.

The elevator ride to the 28th floor felt like an eternity. I watched the digital display tick upward, each number bringing me closer to my destination—and to Adaline. When the doors finally opened, I stepped into a world of polished marble and glass, the atmosphere charged with urgency. I made my way down the corridor, catching snippets of conversations and the rapid click of keyboards as people busily went about their day.

Finally, I arrived at Adaline's office. The door was slightly ajar, and I could hear her voice inside, sharp and commanding. I knocked lightly, steeling myself for whatever was to come.

“Come in!” Adaline called, her tone dripping with saccharine sweetness.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Adaline looked up from her desk, a smirk playing on her lips as her gaze slid over me. “Well, if it isn’t the black sheep of the family,” she teased, her voice laced with mockery. “What brings you to my kingdom today? Hoping to steal some of Dad’s spotlight? Sorry, but I think I’ve got that covered.”

I gritted my teeth but nodded, forcing a smile. “I’m here to see how I can help.”

Her smirk widened, and she slid a massive stack of paperwork across her desk, the papers spilling over the edges. “This is all the financial data and orders that need your expert touch. Cut out what isn’t necessary. I trust you’ll manage, right? After all, you wouldn’t want to let Dad down. He’d hate to see his favourite daughter—me—doing all the heavy lifting.”

I felt my stomach drop. “Adaline, this is a lot of—”

“Also,” she interrupted, leaning back in her chair with an air of superiority, “I need you to bring me a coffee. Black, no sugar. And keep an ear out for my calls—update me on any meetings that are scheduled. You know how busy I am with all my important responsibilities.”

I blinked, taken aback by her casual dismissal. “Right. Of course.”

“Good,” she said, waving her hand dismissively as if shooing me away. “Now get to work. I don’t have all day, and I’d hate for you to fall behind while I’m busy being the favourite.”

As I turned to leave, I could feel her eyes on my back, a mixture of amusement and condescension. I sighed, clutching the stack of papers tightly. Today was going to be a test of my patience, and I was already feeling the strain. I made my way to an empty desk nearby, a sleek black surface cluttered with stray papers and a small potted plant. I took a deep breath and began to sift through the mountain of paperwork Adaline had dumped on me. As I organized the files, I quickly identified urgent meetings that should have been scheduled months ago and made a note of all the unnecessary expenses that needed to be cut.

Just as I was getting into a rhythm, a shrill voice pierced the office chatter. “May! Where’s my coffee?” Adaline screeched from her office, the tone both demanding and carefree.

“Right away!” I called back, trying to mask the annoyance bubbling inside me. I made my way to the break room, where another male employee was stirring his coffee. He was cute in a boy-next-door sort of way, with tousled brown hair and warm hazel eyes that crinkled when he smiled at me. “Hi! I haven’t seen you around— you must be May. The sister,” he said softly.

I gave a tight-lipped smile. “Half-sister, yes,” I replied, trying to sound as friendly as I could muster.

“I’m Ryan. I’m in the finance department, but if you have any technical difficulties, I’m your IT guy,” he said, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks as he spoke.

Raising an eyebrow, I asked, “You’re good with that type of thing?”

“Yeah, I majored in IT,” he admitted, taking a slow sip of his coffee, the blush still lighting up his face.

“Then why are you in finance?” I inquired, puzzled. It made no sense to hire outside talent when we had capable people like him right here.

He shrugged, looking slightly sheepish. “That’s just how it is around here. Confusing, right? There’s a rumour that if you’re not pretty enough, you get stuck with the office jobs—hidden away from the Queen Adaline’s eyes.”

My frown deepened as anger surged within me. Wasting resources like usual. Not while I was here. “What about the hiring process? Who does that?” I probed further.

Ryan frowned, his expression shifting to one of contemplation. “I think the former CEO, Mr. Holms himself handled it. But Adaline rearranges things as she sees fit.”

I nodded, absorbing his words. Thanking him for the insight, I turned to head back toward Adaline’s office. As I walked through the bustling workspace, I took notice of the people around me. The employees behind the scenes were more average-looking, dressed in practical attire, and focused on their work. Yet, as I approached Adaline’s office, I noticed a stark contrast. The atmosphere shifted; the people here were more model-like—fit, polished, and good-looking, as if they were selected for their appearance rather than their skills.

Shaking my head slightly, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of frustration and determination. This was not how a successful business should operate. I was going to change that. I headed back toward Adaline’s office, my resolve hardening. I wouldn’t let this culture continue unchecked, not on my watch.

When I returned to Adaline’s office, I found her lounging back in her chair, painting her toenails a bright, garish pink. Adaline barely glanced up as I entered. “About time, May,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I ordered that coffee ages ago. I have important things to do—like making my toes look fabulous.”

My jaw tightened, but I forced a smile. “Here you go, Adaline. Black, no sugar, just like you like it.”

“Finally! Now, if only you could be as efficient with my paperwork,” Adaline remarked, waving her hand dismissively at the stack of files still waiting on her desk. “You know, if you’d just focus on being a better assistant, maybe I wouldn’t have to do everything myself.”

“I've barely been here an hour. And why are skilled people like Ryan in finance and not IT?,” I ask, my patience wearing thin. “And maybe if you scheduled meetings and cut unnecessary expenses, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Adaline shot me a sharp look, her expression hardening. “That’s not really your place to say, is it? Just stick to what you’ve been hired for. Getting my coffee, booking meeting, doing my paperwork and answering my calls.”

I turned on my heel, my heart racing with frustration. As I walked back to my desk, I felt the heat of anger rising in my cheeks. The thought of Adaline painting her toenails while I worked my fingers to the bone was infuriating.

Once I sat down, I forced myself to channel that anger into productivity. I pulled up spreadsheets on my computer and began to analyze the expenses in detail. With each line item, I mentally cataloged every unnecessary expenditure—luxury office supplies, excessive travel budgets, and extravagant client dinners. I was determined to make an impact, to prove that my degree was worth something in this suffocating environment.

“Okay, May,” I muttered to herself, “time to show them what you’re made of.” With renewed focus, I dove into the work, ready to turn my frustration into action.