Making an extra effort with my hand, as I wasn't allowed to grasp things with anything but the tips of my thumb, index, middle, and ring finger, I twisted the knob and opened the door to a long corridor.
My immediate instinct was to lean my head forward and peek at both sides of the corridor, keeping my body relatively hidden from the outside, but not only would I have been forced to get out there regardless of what I saw, but I would be potentially ruining my chances for Victoria's mercy by breaking with the absurd, brainless, mannequin-like pose I was expected to show at all times.
I went out the door and noticed a couple of women talking next to a water dispenser. I turned left as soon as I noticed them switching their attention from their conversation to me, and hoped that I would find an elevator in that direction.
Their giggling behind me echoed as I walked. I continued with my awkward, dainty steps until I turned right at the corner to find, much to my dismay, a few more doors on the sides that ended on a window; I had gone straight into a dead-end.
I moved towards the window, partially in vain hopes that one of the identical doors was the entrance to a staircase, but mostly just to savor a few seconds of solitude.
In the end of the short passage, I caught my reflection on the window. I looked absolutely pathetic, just like the doctor wanted.
There was nothing to do but turn around and go back to the corridor I had just been through. The two women in their office clothing immediately doubled over laughing, most likely after predicting accurately that I had no idea where I was even going.
I awkwardly walked towards them, while making sure not to let the humiliation of their laughter alter my slow and ridiculous steps.
"Hey bitch!" One woman said as she pulled out her phone, "Find anything interesting over there?"
I felt another drop travel the path from my eye and across my fake smile as I stared at the phone's camera in repressed horror.
"Oh, no miss. I was simply going to the lobby to deliver this document but got confused! I'm really stupid, you see..."
I remembered my instructions and made sure to debase myself at every opportunity. It had the desired effect of both girls continuing to laugh at me, not that I desired any of this at all.
"Would you be so kind as to direct me towards the lobby, please?" I asked as the laughs died down.
"I have a better idea." The girl without the phone said, "How about I give you a good bitch-slap, and you go fuck off and be a living joke elsewhere, huh?"
I swallowed in an effort to keep myself from sobbing with this seemingly endless cruelty.
"Great idea, miss! Allow me to get closer so that you can slap me to your heart's cont-"
SLAP!
My view was hurled 90 degrees to my right as my body stumbled and nearly fell from the following disorientation. The ringing in my ears slowly faded to be replaced by the cruel laughter of the two women. I made an effort to regain my absurd pose.
"Wow, miss. You're so strong! You sure know how to put a waste of space like me in his-HNNNGHHH!"
I was startled by a sharp sting on my behind accompanied by another loud slap.
"Fuck off, bitch boy! You get on my nerves and I'll make sure that little erection is the last one you have this entire year."
They clearly knew the ins and outs of my predicament.
"Of course, miss! I'm sorry for bothering you." I said as I nearly forgot not to rush out of there, "Have a nice morning!" I finished as I finally walked away from them, the camera still turned towards me, no doubt.
As I turned the corner, I noticed a fortunately empty corridor with an unfortunate lack of elevators and stairs. By this point, I knew that it was a bad idea to speak with anyone unless necessary; I would have to find my way on my own.
I sped up my pace slightly. I knew that breaking the code I was given was a sure way to worsen my already deplorable situation, but at the same time, not getting things done quickly would ruin me as well. As long as this didn't turn into a slippery slope of breaking the code to get things done quicker, I would be fine.
As I turned yet another random corner, I found that, in front of me, were another three office workers talking in front of the elevator. I walked towards the elevator until a thought crossed my mind: Can I even use the elevator?
In the instructions, it said to "always presume that women find you disgusting." And, presuming that, women wouldn't want to be in an elevator with me.
"Microattendant!" One of the women called from the other side of the corridor.
"Yes, miss?" I said, hurriedly swaying my butt to approach them.
I noticed myself feeling happy when they smirked and snorted at my embarrassing movements. There was no doubt in my mind that it was because I sought to lessen my punishment, but the gradual shift in my behavior towards this bizarre masochism was not lost on me. It was terrifying.
"Our desks are right here in this cubicle. We're gonna want three coffees. One with generous skimmed milk, one with a bit of whole milk, and one black. Got it?"
"Shit!" my mind hurried to etch the order onto itself. "Ok... simple: lots of skimmed, a bit of whole, nothing. Easy." I thought.
"Of course, miss! Gladly!"
I knew that I was not going to find both the way to the lobby and a random coffee station in time without directions; I had to ask and had to do it right this time.
"Unfortunately, I'm not only pathetic as a man, I'm also really stupid! So I can't find my way through this building. Would it be too much of a bother to direct me to the coffee station?"
I felt as if my insides were twisted by this weird relief and joy I felt that clashed with my humiliation as the attractive women laughed at me.
"Oh wow!" One continued, "Today's pet is not too bad."
"Thank you, miss!" I answered, crushed by the sincerity that was forming in my voice, "Today's microattendance services are courtesy of Dr. Victoria Frost! I hope they continue to be satisfactory."
"Sure, sure. Go back the way you were going, make a right and at the very end you should see the stairs. The break room is on the floor above us, you'll see it."
I relished in the information that I so desperately needed.
"Thank you very much, miss! I'll be right back with your coffee."
"Anna Blackwood." She said as I was about to turn around.
"And this is Isabella Sinclair and Veronica Patel. Refer to us properly from now on."
I made a physical effort to keep my dumb, happy expression while I heard yet more information to memorize.
"Of course, Miss Blackwood. Apologies if I didn't seem subservient enough before. Is there anything else I could help you with?"
"No sweetheart. Go make yourself useful."
They immediately turned around to continue talking, and I decided not to waste time either.
I would get their coffee first, as it was closer and I didn't want to seem ungrateful by going all the way to the lobby before bringing the coffee.
I went up the stairs, keeping my weird etiquette even there, and managed to get to the break room without any encounters. Evidently, most people were working at the moment.
Making the coffee wasn't complicated; same coffee maker as the one at home.
Since there was no one there, I opened the fridge to get the milk without feeling like I was breaking any rules.
The three cups were ready and on a tray. I placed it on my left palm while holding onto the form with my right and went back to the floor below.
Breathe in, breathe out. I knocked on the door.
"Come in!"
"Excuse me, ladies. I bring you your coffee."
With the door fully opened, I could look in to see the three women working at their separate desks. I approached each one of them and asked which one was theirs. Their responses were quick, uninterested. The switch between cruelty and detachment was surprising, but it seemed to make sense: sometimes I'm useful, others, entertaining: the extent of my worth to these women.
"Thank you so much for ordering me around, ladies. Would you like me to come back in a while so I can be of use?"
