Chapter 9: The Lost First Round
573 Words
Ash trailed behind her, each step through the Langston Group courtyard feeling heavier than the last. The polished glass façade glimmered in the morning sun, a cruel contrast to the dust and grit clinging to his shirt and trousers.
The secretary, Veronica Henderson led the way with unhurried precision, her heels clicking against the marble tiles like a metronome of control. Every movement of hers seemed choreographed, her hips swaying slightly, her glossy red nails catching the light when she pushed open the door.
Inside, the reception area buzzed with quiet activity. The scent of coffee lingered in the air, mixing with the faint tang of fresh paper. A few employees glanced up as they passed, then quickly looked back down, though Ash caught the flicker of smirks on their faces.
Veronica stopped at the reception desk and slid a stack of files into Ash’s hands. “These need to be taken to the storage room in the basement,” she said sweetly, though her tone carried the weight of command.
Ash shifted uncomfortably under the load. “Uh… I think there’s been a mistake. I’m not part of the office staff. I was hired as a driver.”
Her crimson lips curved into a slow, deliberate smile, not the warm kind, but the kind that promised trouble. “A driver?” she repeated, her voice dripping with mock surprise. “And here I was thinking you were here to… contribute.”
“I am,” Ash said carefully, “but this isn’t...”
She cut him off, her tone sharpening. “Listen, Ash. At Langston Group, everyone starts somewhere. And if you can’t handle a few boxes, how can I possibly trust you with something as important as our vehicles?”
Ash glanced down at the stack of files. They weren’t heavy, but the implication stung. “I just… I don’t want there to be confusion about my role.”
“Oh, there’s no confusion,” Veronica said, leaning closer so that only he could hear. “You drive when I say you drive. Until then, you do what you’re told. Unless, of course, you’d like me to inform Mr. Langston that you’re unwilling to follow instructions.”
The name hung in the air like a threat.
Ash opened his mouth to argue, but she raised a perfectly manicured hand, silencing him. “Careful,” she murmured. “You already made quite an entrance this morning. I’d hate for you to crawl right back out.”
Heat rose in Ash’s cheeks again. He tightened his grip on the files, knowing he couldn’t afford to lose this job, not now, not with bills piling up.
“Good,” Veronica said, her smirk widening. “Now, the basement is three floors down. The elevator’s out of service, so you’ll need to take the stairs. When you’re done, come back for the next task. I have a long list for you today.”
As Ash turned toward the stairwell, he heard the faint sound of laughter from behind the reception desk. He didn’t need to look to know it was aimed at him. The weight of the files seemed to double in his arms as he pushed open the stairwell door, the dim, musty air wrapping around him like a reminder that in this building, and maybe in this city, respect had to be fought for, and he had already lost t
he first round.
- Writer
