Let's Make Up

Security

Molly woke very early to her landlord barging through the door to the converted garage she'd been staying in. She had told the short tan woman that she'd only be there a couple weeks, until she found a job and could live else where, but it had taken more than the 14 day time limit that had been promised.

"I have renters coming. You have to go." barked the land lady.

"You already found renters? I only just start the job today, I won't be able to afford a place somewhere." Molly tried to explain.

"That-," She paused dramatically while talking with her hands, "-Is not my problem. You said two weeks, NOT two months."

Not only was she short, angry, dark and leathery-- like the sun had stolen away any of her youth; she also had a thick slavic sounding accent that made her seem even scarier.

"Alright!" Molly put her hands up. "Alright, I'll be out and it'll be ready well before the afternoon. Thank you for giving me extra time and for sharing some hot meals with me."

The lady's face softened only slightly.

"You are such a pretty girl, you should be looking for a husband instead of a job. I will pray for you." Before she left, she turned and reminded her, yet again, that all her belongings needed to be gone and that the garage was to be left in the same shape it had been in to start with.

It didn't take a lot of time to gather anything because Molly hadn't taken much from her previous life with her, just a large duffle bag and a suitcase. She needed to tidy up quickly, grab her personal items and beauty supplies from the bathroom, and head to what was going to be her first day at the new job.

It didn't take long before she reached the office building. Maybe a little too quick, she worried, while still hoping that being early would set a good impression and show she took the work opportunity seriously. The foyer was small and had a sort-of kiosk set up where a man stood opposite a wall showing the businesses and floor plan.

"You lost miss? Never seen you here before." Said the man.

"It's my first day actually. I took a job in HR and I'm going through training with Mr. Acker today." Molly replied.

They chatted a short while, introducing themselves, and she learned that he, Fred, worked under contract as security for the building. She asked if she could leave her big bags there at the desk with him to watch until the end of the day, and though he usually would've hated to have an extra duty or responsibility loaded onto his schedule, he was a bit taken with Molly and agreed.

Despite his tough outer appearance, Fred was a pleasant guy. He even offered to show her around the building and told her what floor to get to.

"We don't see too many unusual people around here, you got a city feel to you." He explained to her.

"Well, I hope that's a compliment. I'll see you at the end of the day, Fred!"

"You bet, Miss. Green. You have a good day, now." He beamed.

The receptionist at the actual office space could have used some of Fred's hospitality and manners.

"Can I help you?" She said shortly to Molly while barely looking up at her. The girl was rather non-descript and simple with a pale round face and straight limp hair. She looked young, but wore an old style of clothing that hung off her awkwardly as if she'd been dressed in an older and bigger sibling's hand-me-downs. She tried to sound professional but there was just something a little off putting about her.

"Yeah! My name is Molly Green, I'm here to see Mr. Acker." Said Molly, trying to produce some emotion from the girl.

"Sorry, I think you've got the wrong place, I don't know that name." She replied flatly.

A little taken aback and confused, Molly insisted she was in the correct place.

"No, I'm sure this is right. Mr. Acker works in HR. John Acker."

"Sorry lady, but I don't know who you're talking about, and if you don't leave, I'm calling security."

Molly calmly sat on one of the nearby waiting chairs in the entrance, folded her hands in her lap, and told her to go ahead. So, the receptionist called security in a huff and, soon, the bulky silhouette of Fred in his hat and bomber jacket could be seen outside the frosted glass door to the office. When he came in, he asked the front desk girl, whom he called Megan, who the 'issue' person was. Fred's jaw nearly dropped when he saw Megan point to Molly and said, "Hey, Miss. Green, ain't you just lookin' for John?"

"I am, sir." Replied Molly.

He seemed a bit annoyed, bounced on his feet a bit, and furrowed his brows. "Were you giving Megan trouble about it?"

Megan cut in, "She was. She demanded to see some person that I already tried telling her doesn't work here."

"Ah, she's just here to see John, you know John from HR." He lowered his voice and leaned himself close to the desk, "You know, creepy John, the tall quiet guy."

Realization set into Megan's dull face as she gave what looked more like a grimace, than a smile, towards Molly.

"Sorry, I'm kinda new here and don't know last names yet." A poor excuse from the woman who was hell-bent on getting someone thrown out because she heard an unfamiliar name, thought Molly. "And John is just so... quiet... that I forgot he worked here. Didn't mean to over react."

Molly didn't say anything as Fred waved to them and went on his way. Megan circled around her desk to lead Molly past the desks and cubicles, a break room, and the bathrooms, to the back of the office space where there were more filing cabinets than anything else. There, in a corner, sat John Acker drinking a coffee and eating a breakfast sandwich while reading a book. He was always the first person to arrive at the office.

"Good morning." He looked up and greeted her with a low voice as Megan left without a word. "You're early."

"Good morning, you're here early as well." Molly replied matching his eye contact. "Is there a staff coffee pot?"

"There is. Grab a cup and we'll start going over everything at 9:00."