Please be warned this is a slow burn story. I had a lot of fun with these characters and have plans for more. Feel free to let me know in the comments if its something you'd like to read! Enjoy!
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Sitting at my desk I had the perfect view of the office. I could see everyone who entered and exited the room but more importantly, I had privacy. Quite often I could sit there streaming the latest shows or wasting hours on the feed of social media.The desk had its advantages but it did mean I was often left out of group discussions and only told about meetings and conferences at the very last minute.
"What are you doing here?" barked my boss. "You're meant to be at the LCA convention!" My boss, Michelle, is an angry little woman. She didn't speak to people but snapped at them. After working for her for several years I was convinced she simply did not have the capacity for compassion.
"What LCA convention?" I replied. As soon as the words left my mouth I knew I made a mistake and began to tense.
"Are you kidding me? The LCA convention! The one hosted by ISO! The only thing that we have been talking about for the past 5 weeks? It starts tomorrow and lasts all weekend" Michelle growled. She began to clench her knuckles and I could visibly see them turning white.
"Oh yeah that one" I started, desperately trying to remember what she was going on about. "I have a client call later this afternoon and it needs to be done from the office. I'll make my way to the hotel after that, working on the train of course". This was partly true, I did have a meeting with a client but I hadn't packed and wasn't remotely prepared. Did she say the whole weekend?
"Well you'll have to travel down after the call then. I'll be making sure that your signed in while travelling. Just because you're on the train doesn't mean you can slack off. Any more slip ups from you and you'll lose your bonus" snarled Michelle before turning and walking away.
"Great, not only do I have to sacrifice my Friday but a whole weekend as well because of a stupid conference. And all by myself", I thought. The previous event occurred almost two years ago. I dared to tell a joke to a potential client which had not been approved by Michelle anand since then she had been watching me like a hawk, desperately waiting for me to make another mistake.
The day continued to drag on. I often caught myself staring out the window in a day dream trance. After my sixth snap back to reality, I remembered I needed to book my train and hotel tickets. The only problem being I had no idea where I was meant to go. I sent an email to HR in the faint hope they would be helpful. To my surprise, everything was already booked. Apparently they were made aware of this event months before me.
Finally it reached 5 and my colleagues began to pack their bags and leave. I started to do the same when the dreaded video call tone began to ring. "Oh fuck off" I mouthed before slumping back into my chair. The client meeting was always booked for 5 as the company were based in the US. Although they were all a friendly bunch, at the end of a long day, I just wanted to get on my train and nap.
The meeting finally finished a little after 6pm. I logged off the computer and stuffed it into my bag. The office was empty. Even the cleaners had left. I sat at my desk a little longer, head in hands. I thought about my life choices and how institutionalised I had become. I slowly stood up and stretched. I felt a distinct pop as each of my spine realigned after a long day of slouching. I threw my bag over my shoulder and shuffled toward the door.
As I left the building, the cool evening air hit my face and filled my lungs. It was refreshing. I continued back to my house to pack before making the journey to the station.
I unlocked the door and entered my apartment. I chucked some shirts and underwear into a sports bag. I threw in a pair of grey checked trousers and a jacket along with some other items. I then slid my laptop, charger and some notepads in the bag before leaving for the door again. I closed the door behind me and started headed to the station.
The train carriage was quiet. There were only a handful of people travelling and everyone was well spread out. As I looked out the window I began to day dream again. I opened my laptop and logged in to the system. I could see everyone else was offline except Michelle. "It's almost 7, everyone else is offline, why do I still need to be working. It's not fair" I thought.
I tapped away for half an hour or so, fixing some spreadsheets and formatting reports before the train's wi-fi stopped working and my concentration flatlined. I began to daydream, thinking about what my colleagues would be doing tomorrow while I'm stuck making pleasantries with busy bodies.
My mind bounced around until a lady got on the train. She smiled at me as she walked passed. I smiled back and then began to think how long it had been since I had been with a girl.
I was in my mid 20's, and yet to find a passion I could call my own. I followed various sports, loved all the Hollywood blockbusters and occasionally hit the gym for a workout session. I hadn't been in a relationship since university and even then it only lasted several weeks. I couldn't remember the last time I'd even been with a girl.
Luckily, before I could sink further into my depressing thoughts, the train pulled into my station. I got up and hoped off. Thanks to a map app on my phone I knew the hotel was only a 5 minute walk away.
I left the station and slowly trudged down the street. It was almost 11pm now. My legs were heavy and I let out a yawn. "I can't wait to collapse into bed" I thought.
"In 200m you have reached your destination" my phone alarmed.
"Great" I thought. I made my way down the street. It was a nice area, I could see the sign for the hotel ahead. Opposite it was a pub and a takeaway shop. Before I reached the hotel I passed a bar. The lights were off but I could make out a small dance floor.
There was no one at the front desk. I started to play with the bell, making up songs in my head. After what seemed about half an hour later, an elderly lady emerged from her office. "What" she grunted.
"Yeah, hi to you too" I quipped, to tired to even attempt to be nice. "I've got a room booked for a few days and want to check in please".
The lady scowled. "You want to check in? Now? It's almost midnight." she started.
"Yes I know, it's late but I'm here now so can you just get my key please" I replied, a little annoyed at her rudeness. The lady turned around and picked up the only key left on the rack. It was labelled 204.
"There. Now keep the noise down. It's almost midnight and our guests are trying to sleep" she said while slamming the key onto the desk.
I took the key and made my way to the room. The corridors were warm. Too warm. I could feel a sweat starting to form. Fortunately the room was only half way down the corridor.
As I walked down the corridor I could hear a raised voice. The voice got louder as I approached my door. I couldn't make out the words but I could tell the voice was angry. I put the key in the lock and paused. The voice sounded like it was coming from my room. Surely not. Surely it's just an echo from a room further down. I turned the key and pushed the door open.
To my surprise the lights were already on. The TV was playing and there was a bag on the floor but the biggest surprise was that someone was sitting on my bed.
"What the fuck are you doing?!" a female voice exclaimed. She looked terrified and she had a right to be. She hung up the phone and pulled the bed sheets to cover herself.
"Wait, what" I stuttered. "Why are you in my room?"
"Why are you in my room? Get out?!" the voice screamed.
Stunned, I looked around the room and then at the woman. She looked strangely familiar. "Zara? Is that you?" I asked.
"Wait, Dean?! What the fuck are you doing here?" Zara replied. Her panic seemed to be replaced by a sense of relief as a complete stranger hadn't barged in but she was still in shock.
I took a deep breath before explaining what had just happened. We concluded that there must have been some kind of mix up.
"I'll go back to reception and ask for another room. Hopefully that old lady will still be there" I started. "I am really sorry for barging in on you". Zara smiled and said If anything I'd saved her. I could tell by her tone that she was indeed angry with someone and most likely arguing with them. I left the room and went back to reception and again waited to be seen.
Zara and I had joined the company together as part of a graduate scheme and as a result we got on very well. She was only a year older than me. She had long ginger hair, big green eyes and a few freckles on her nose. She was about 5'3 in height and, although she kept it hidden, gorgeous body.
"Well at least I won't be alone this weekend but I hope things won't be awkward now" I thought as I walked back to reception.
Again I rang the bell and again I waited. The old lady came out with a face like thunder. "What on Earth is wrong with you! What do you want at this ungodly hour?" She hissed and I explained about the room mix-up.
"Well there is nothing I can do! All the rooms are booked because of some conference nonsense so you'll have to stay there won't you". No sooner had she finished the sentence, she walked back to her office. "And if you ring that bell one more time, there will be consequences"
I sighed before once again grabbing my bag and heading for room 204. I knocked on the door this time. After a few seconds I heard the lock turning before the door opened.
"The lovely hag at the front desk said there are no rooms left so can i crash here tonight please" I pleaded. It was almost 1 am now and I just wanted to sleep. Zara opened the door and let me in. She was wearing a baggy t-shirt which covered her torso but barely stretched below her ass. Her pale legs were exposed and my gaze lingered longer than it should have. She jumped back onto the bed. I noticed that she was wearing light pink silky underwear but before I could see more, she covered herself under the sheets.
"Thank you for letting me in," I said. I then explained what the lady at the front desk said and told Zara I'd look for another hotel in the morning. I began to make some room on the floor before looking for some extra sheets.