Jessica looked at the clock for the third time in twenty minutes. "Damn the last hour always drags by," she muttered under her breath. Jessica worked for a small town bank as the chief loan officer; there was bank holiday Friday so she was off for three days and that always made the clock move slower. She had no plans for the weekend but to do one of her favorite things: play video games with her friends. Though she was only 25 years old she still enjoyed gaming with her friends.
As the last hour of the work day ticked away, she moved around her office putting away paperwork. Her office was a 10x10 office with brown carpet and a window facing Main Street. Inside her office was nothing major, a small conference table, three small brown clothed chairs that matched the carpet were at the conference table, her modest cherry wood desk, two red clothed chairs that faced the desk normally, some pictures of her and her friends; Jessica was not married and had no family other than her parents and they lived two states away.
Jessica thought to herself about her life and where she was at. She was 5'8" and 125 pounds, shoulder length blond hair, and her chest was a modest B cup. As she looked around the bank, making sure that everything was in order to close for the long weekend, she went to each of the other loan officers and told them they could call it a day. She was the youngest Chief Loan Officer in her banks history, and she was completely proud of that. She had started with the bank at only 22, had put in hard work and now held a very important position.
As she locked the office's up for the weekend she told the tellers good bye and hugged her best friend Andy. Andy was the head teller and was more like a brother to her.
"See you tonight for drinks?" Andy asked as they hugged.
"Of course, same place and same booth as always." She replied. She and Andy always meet on the last working day for drinks at the small bar in town to laugh about all the things that went on in the week at the bank.
"Remember that my gaming friend, Hikari, will be joining us tonight. I can't wait to meet her for the first time instead of just over our games."
"I look forward to meeting her as well; you have talked so much about her I feel I already know her some."
As she made her way to the door she passed the bank manager's office, James Knight, and noticed the door was open. James was a great manager, even though she was a little jealous of him. When the position came open Jessica had put in for the position and was the only one from the branch to do so. However, the district manager brought in James. To his credit he was better qualified, he had managed a bank, served as a chief loan officer, head teller, and had also been on the governor's treasury committee. "Man to have been on the governor's team must be great," Jessica thought to herself.
"Hey Mr. Knight, I am heading out for the night." Jessica stated.
"Jessica, how many times have I told you that it is just James? You know I am laid back like that."
"Sorry James I was raised to respect my superior's, it's a sign of respect."
"It's ok Jess; I respect you a lot for it. You got plans this weekend?"
"Same as always, meeting Andy for our normal drinks before the weekend, may catch the local baseball game, and may play my video games. Other than that nothing big for the weekend, yeah I know I live some amazing great life."
James couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "I fill you there my friend. I going to my son's baseball game Saturday, and may do some yard work Friday, so yeah my life ranks right up there with yours."
"James your life is so far from mine. I mean look at you, you have a family, you have worked in many places, and you have worked for the governor....."
"That's not all it's cracked up to be." James interrupted. "I won't lie to you Jess, the six months or so was great. All the perks that came with the job all the power, man it was great. I had everything I wanted all I had to do was ask."
"What happened James to wreck it all?"
James paused for a moment, wiped his eyes and said very softly, "I hit rock bottom, though I had everything and could do it all, I nearly lost my wife and kids. After eight months at the job my wife wanted a divorce and full custody of the kids. At that moment I said I am done. Two months later I stepped down and was hired here, and I have never been happier."
"Wow James, that is, unbelievable. I would have never guessed that you were so unhappy. In the press conference's that you were part of you seemed so professional and that nothing was bothering you."
"it was it was killing me. Jess, enjoy what you got and while you got it ok. You seem happy here, never let a job change you like it did me it could cost you all that you have."
"Sure thing James, have a great weekend. What time does your son play Saturday. If you don't mind I might show up to the game. I love baseball."
"Really, that would mean a lot to me Jess. He plays at Two O'clock on field 4. Enjoy your weekend."
"You to boss." Jessica said with a giggle.
"Hey..... and you enjoy yours like you have no more."
Jessica smiled and nodded to Andy as she left the bank. She stopped only for a few moments to take in how clear the sky was and to look around her small town. Maybe this was all she need. She made her way to the car the words of her manager still fresh in her mind.
Andy was finishing his check off list for the night. All the other tellers were gone for the weekend. As he swept behind the five teller's booth and the two drive thru teller's spots, he couldn't help but felling watched. He turned quickly know that all the tellers was gone, and jumped when he saw James. Andy stumbled backwards and almost fell over. James let out a laugh.
"Sorry Andy didn't , mean to scare you. I need to talk to you before you leave today, okay?"
"It's ok James I was just lost in thought vacuuming. Let me finish up here and I will be right in."
"Thanks Andy no rush on your closing check list just before you leave."
Andy nodded his head and went back to finishing of the closing check list lost deep in thought. "I wonder what's up, where did I mess up." Andy thought over and over again as he finished vacuuming and made sure all the computers were off. He turned off Sarah's computer, "man she always forgets," he thought. Then he thought it was odd that she was in a hurry to get out today, but then dismissed it as she was wanting to get started on the long weekend.
Andy made his way to James's office and knocked on the open wood door. "You wanted to see me James?"
"Yes Andy please come in." James stated as he turned back to Andy to get a file from his bookcase.
Andy walked in to the large office. Being the bank manager he had the largest office. His office was 15x20, the only office to have red carpet, an oak desk, two navy blue clothed chairs that face the desk, several book cases lined with notebooks, and tons of pictures of his family and others of him in his past jobs. Even with all the items in his office it seemed much larger.
As Andy took a seat, he was extremely scared. No matter what, every time Andy came in he was nervous. Even though James was just a bank branch manager, when you were called in to his office you had the feeling you were called to the president's office. James just carried himself that way. When you looked at him you did nothing but say Sir to him, but James was a gentleman, he would give you the shirt off his back.
"Andy the reason I asked you in here today," he gulped, "is about Sarah."