The Unexpected Mate

"I've told you so many times already! How many times do you want me to repeat the same damn thing?!" The Director's loud voice echoed across the entire floor. Outside the cabin, employees flinched and collectively buried their heads within their small cubicles like desks as if they were afraid that they would be the next one in his cabin. A certain director, who liked to overwork his employees like livestock, threw the file at Elinor's face and shouted at her to do it again. He was loud enough for all of his colleagues to hear. Elinor picked up the file and silently left the cabin like a model employee. Her head hung down in shame and fingers clenched around the file said two completely different stories. She felt humiliation and anger simultaneously. He didn't even try to keep his voice down, Elinor thought, gritting her teeth. And she had done this report over and over again but it failed to satisfy his unreasonable demands! What was she supposed to do in the face of such an employer?! The director might not know this, but Elinor was twenty-four this year and had developed issues due to his tyrannical ways, countless overtimes and short deadlines. The employees who worked day and night and shared food in the little cafeteria were well aware of the little volcano that could burst anytime. The office was their home and cafeteria chairs were their dining table. They often bonded over their hate for capitalism and their boss. Everyone basically knew each other and what their personality was like. It wasn't difficult to understand a person like Elinor. All her emotions were written on her face. Sometimes, they even find fun in others' misery. They knew about Elinor's anger issues very well and sometimes even gambled over it, trying to figure out how long she could hold onto that anger. And Elinor disappointed them each time. Every time they made a bet about her anger erupting, a large number of employees would lose money and later complain. Why does Elinor carry on with her work with head hung low and murderous eyes downcast, you may ask? The colleagues were curious as well! One brave man, who was also her neighbour in the line of cubicles, slid his chair closer and nudged a half-eaten packet of biscuits towards her as a peace offering. Elinor raised an eyebrow with fiery eyes. She looked disgusted, but took the packet nonetheless. After she ate a few biscuits, the employee cleared his throat and started the conversation that was three years overdue. "Elinor, out of all thirty-three employees on this floor, you are the most qualified to get a better job at a much better company. Why do you suffer like this every day? Just get a better paying job," the employee said with a taste of praise hidden in his words. Elinor looked up while chewing and gulped down the contents of her mouth before answering, "You think I wouldn't leave this shit hole if I could? This is what happens when you sign an employment contract without reading its terms and conditions." The only thing that was stopping her from throwing a well-written resignation in that demon Director's face was her long-term contract. Five years. It had been signed for five years. Every time Elinor recalled that day when she swallowed her pride and threw away her overqualified degree aside to work there, tears would form in her eyes. The employee next to her nodded with sympathy and went back to work. Elinor sighed and turned back to her own computer screen. She never expected anything more from her colleagues, not even a single word of comfort. All of them were sailing in the same boat and fighting the same problems to make ends meet. In the big city, job possibilities were endless and the lavish night life was worth seeing. But only the upper class or the lower class had the chance to experience the wonders of the big city in their own way. 9 to 5 was the only truth for middle-class office workers. Elinor had moved to Seattle with hopes of working for a large company and buying a home. She had the right qualifications and a good overall personality. She had even landed an interview at an MNC. But things didn't turn out the way she imagined. A promising graduate was forced to give up the job and was scammed into five years of labour at a mediocre company with a minimum wage. If it wasn't already obvious, Elinor hadn't been satisfied with her life. A 9 to 5 job, which often ended in overtime until late evening and an untimely dinner with her cat. Elinor's life started and ended there. She couldn't remember even the slightest change happening for the past three years. The computer screen showed the digital format of the same document that was thrown at her face earlier. She finished off the last biscuit and started making the needed adjustments. Her dark blue dress was old-it was brought last year with the year-end bonus which was given a year late. Yes, the company had the audacity to hang them over a year-end bonus as well. A pair of rimless glasses hung at the bridge of her nose. If it wasn't for the glasses, she would have gone blind by now. Her complexion was sickly compared to the other citizens in Seattle due to the lack of sun exposure. Her hair was mostly made into a low bun at work, so nobody really knew the actual length of it. Other than that, the only notable feature of Elinor would be her vibrant dark blue eyes. Blue eyes that carried unconcealed anger at the slightest of inconvenience. It made the guys and girls stay away. At first it bothered Elinor, because she didn't want to work without making friends. But as time passed, she realised how important her privacy was. She started using her eyes as a weapon to keep them outside her personal space. The pair of eyes were a lethal weapon. When it showed emotions, it was hard to survive the hit. It took her an entire day to adjust the so-called minor adjustments. The entire document was changed from north to south. Elinor printed the document on their age-old printer. She had to clench her toes together in order to fight the urge to kick the stupid old machine. Those six papers took ages to print. She placed them in the file and did a quick check through the details and knocked on the Director's cabin for the second time in the day. The Director approved the document and gave her another file to check. Elinor's shoulders hurt from how hard she wanted to lift the paper and hit his head. She nodded and left the cabin. It was six in the evening and no one had left. The time of work was till five, but who would dare to leave without finishing their work? That's how Elinor's days were. Boring, uneventful, mundane, all kinds of adjectives that completely justified her frustration towards life. As a twenty-four year old, Elinor had nothing to feel excited about. The only thing she looked forward to every day, was going back home to cuddle her moody cat. Elinor yawned behind her hand and started downloading the document on her computer. Her phone, which was on silent mode, vibrated on the desk. She checked the notification and picked it up. It was her college friends group that somehow survived the trials of time and separation. They were still interested in each other's lives as they were in each other's assignments. Gia : Guys! Guess wat!? Leon : What hoe ;) Freedom fighter Ross : @Leon why is he still here? Anyone kill him out. Freedom fighter Ross : Kick* Leon : Why you gotta be so rude? ~ Elinor physically cringed at their chat. She didn't have the time to witness their banter. She was about to place the phone back when Gia came alive in the group chat. Gia : My company has given me a bonus as a hard-working employee! Let me treat you all to a weekend getaway! Who wants to join me for a camp in the woods?! Elinor's heart dropped in her stomach. There were so many things she felt envious of. A bonus for working hard? Elinor never experienced that. A weekend getaway? Elinor did not know what it meant. Her weekends were spent at home, cuddling the cat who acted like her boss and catching up on a show she started watching the weekend before. Leo : Will you pay for it? I haven't received my salary yet ^_^ Freedom fighter Ross : Are you willing to spend your bonus on a camp? You should save it .... Gia : Typing..... Gia : Just say yes or no! Gia : Replying to @Leo , yes! It's on me! Leo : I'M IN ＼(^o^)／ Freedom fighter Ross : If you are sure.... Sounds good. Gia : What about Elinor? Leo : Oh, she must be at work now. Overtime.... Elinor felt an arrow shoot straight into her heart. Her friends knew her schedule very well. It was kind of depressing. Elinor : I will see... Gia : You need a break girl! Babe, you've been working for so long! You never join us for vacations! Aren't you tired of living like this?! I'll pay for the camp, just get your ass over. I'll even get you an extra blanket... Just come. Please! Elinor licked her lips. It sounds tempting. How could she refuse a weekend plan that was already paid for? She never joined them for vacations because her mortgage on the house was yet to be paid. It would take a long time with her current salary and every penny was precious. But Gia was paying... Elinor : Fine. When is it? I'll make arrangements on my side. Gia : Yay! This weekend! I'll pick everyone from their home on Friday evening! Get a few pairs of comfortable clothes and be ready! Woohoo! Leo : Yaasss!! Finally, the group will be together again! Lowkey emotional... Freedom fighter Ross : That's nice. It's been a long time since we went to someone together. Elinor placed her phone face down on the desk and slumped on the chair.