Monday morning traffic was gridlocked. By the time Esther finally stepped through the glass doors of Cole Enterprises, her watch showed she was already fifteen minutes late.
She hurried to her desk, breathless, and set her bag down as quietly as she could but she had already drawn attention.
Margaret, a senior administrator who had never hidden her dislike for Esther, looked up from her screen with a sharp, knowing smile.
“Running late already are we?
And nice of you to finally join us,” she said, loud enough for the whole floor to hear.
“Some of us believe in showing up on time. Unless you’ve already learned that being late is just another way to get noticed?”
Esther’s face warmed, but she kept her voice steady. “There was a major accident on the bridge. I apologise for the delay.”
