GREEN STATUS

THE FIRST TASK

Elma didn’t sleep much that night.

Every time she closed her eyes she saw Catherine’s face, Joseph’s lie, and that sticky note on her desk. Welcome to hell.

She was here though. Inside Hayes Corp. And she wasn’t leaving until she cleared her name.

At exactly 8:58 AM she was at desk 47. The flickering light was still flickering. Linda gave her a nod as she passed with a cup of coffee.

Don’t let them see you sweat, Linda said quietly. That’s rule number one.

Rule number two came ten minutes later.

Elma, Catherine’s voice cut across the floor. My office. Now.

Elma stood up and walked over. Linda didn’t even look up this time. Everyone was watching though.

Catherine’s office was cold. No small talk. She tossed a thick folder onto her desk and pointed at it.

These are client files from last quarter. They need to be sorted, scanned, and logged into the system by end of day. If one page is missing or misfiled, you’re gone. Understood?

Elma picked up the folder. It was heavy. Hundreds of pages.

Understood.

Catherine leaned back in her chair. Oh, and Okonkwo? No help. No excuses. If you can’t handle it, say so now.

Elma didn’t answer. She just turned and walked out.

Back at desk 47 she opened the folder. Receipts, contracts, emails. All mixed up, no order, some pages upside down. This wasn’t a task. It was a setup.

Linda leaned over. That’s Catherine’s way. She gives new people impossible work and waits for them to quit.

Elma started sorting. Fast. Methodical.

At lunch, she didn’t go to the cafeteria. She ate at her desk and kept working.

By 3 PM her hands cramped. By 4 PM her eyes burned.

At 5:55 PM she dropped the last file into the scanner and hit submit.

Done, she said quietly, more to herself than anyone else.

She walked back to Catherine’s office and set the folder on her desk. All files sorted, scanned, and logged. Check the system.

Catherine looked up, surprised. That was fast.

Elma met her eyes. I don’t quit.

Catherine’s jaw tightened. We’ll see about that. Get out.

Elma left without a word.

On her way back to desk 47, she passed Nathan in the hallway. He stopped her.

You okay? he asked. You look exhausted.

I’m fine, Elma said. Just working.

Nathan studied her for a second. Catherine gave you the client files, didn’t she?

Elma nodded.

That was a test, he said. And you passed.

Elma almost laughed. Didn’t feel like passing.

It never does, Nathan said. Be careful, Elma. Catherine doesn’t forget.

He walked away, leaving her standing in the hallway with her heart pounding for a different reason.

Back at her desk, Linda was waiting.

You actually did it, Linda whispered. Nobody finishes that in one day.

Elma just shrugged. I had to.

Linda shook her head. You’ve got guts, kid. But guts get you noticed. And around here, being noticed isn’t always safe.

As if on cue, Elma’s computer pinged. A new email. No subject. No sender.

Meet me at the parking garage. Level B2. 9 PM. Come alone.

Elma stared at the screen.

Her first day wasn’t over yet.