The doors slid shut behind him with a soft ding, slowly making their ascent.
Andy stood on the left side of the elevator, his hands clapping together around him as he stood at attention.
Ashley, on the other hand, was more relaxed, her posture composed, with one hand on her tablet and the other on the railing.
She hummed to the tune thburst outted in the elevatowhichhis annoyed Andy to the point that his eyes started twitching.
"So..." Ashley spoke, her voice sweet and smooth like vanilla. "How was your first day and night at the office?" She asked him, barely turning to look at him.
Andy flinched slightly at her question.
"Oh... It's been great. Just busy.... very busy." He told her, tone shifting to a bit more defensive.
Ashley noticed the change but didn't acknowledge it. "Oh that's good to know, I'm glad you're settling in." She muttered.
"Yeah.. I was just surprised when I heard supervisors don't get to leave until all their work is done.." Andy muttered before he could strip himself, an old habit.
Ashley didn't answer.
The ascent was slow and awkward, Andy would glance at Ashley from time to time, admiring her beauty that seemed so near but so out of his league.
Ashley turned slowly to look at him, "Yes that is the policy of the company actually, we don't like leaving business unattended here."
She paused briefly before continuing, "In fact I thought you were still sleeping so I was coming to get you." She told him, tone soft and calm.
Andy's heart almost sank to his stomach.
"Coming to get me...." the words repeated through his mind over and over again.
What if she found Rumi standing close to me?
Would she fire me for that?
What are the things she told me??
The thoughts danced around his mind for a few seconds, etching his face with fear and confusion for a few seconds.
But those few seconds of weakness were all Ashley needed as she glanced in his direction, a smile spreading across her face.
But vanishing in an instant.
She took a few steps towards Andy, closing the distance between them.
She leaned in just enough to let her perfume register towards him.
"What's wrong, you seem to be a bit tense, why? " she asked, her smile now mocking Andy.
Andy soon started feeling the room shrink and close up, "Oh well umm....you see...." he couldn't form a cohesive sentence.
"Relax Mr Matthews, I'm just curious... besides if you did something, Jade and I would be the first people to know about it."
She told him, chuckling slightly at her own joke.
Andy felt his soul temporarily leave him, and Ashley's words didn't make it any better.
Ashley stepped back a little, giving him some breathing room, she finally looked at him properly, her eyes giving him a quick once-over.
"I like your baggy pants, for some reason they suit you but adjust your tie, there are people up there who take this job very seriously."
She told him.
Andy simply nodded once, his hands reaching for his dangling tie.
The doors slid open, revealing the large conference room, Andy was in awe as he saw multiple people in impressive suits.
"These are some of the other supervisors that work in the company, most are higher than you, some are your juniors by role."
Ashley tells him, walking ahead of him. Andy's gaze wandered around the room, his hands still trying to adjust his tie.
Then he hit something hard, and he nearly fell over.
"Watch your step kid!" A deep voice echoed through the now quiet and watchful room.
Andy looked up as his gaze locked onto a large man, certainly 6 feet, broad-shoulders, with sharp eyes that assessed Andy the way one might inspect an incomplete report.
He looked to be in his mid-thirties, suit immaculate, tie perfectly aligned.
"Sorry man. Didn't see you there." The words left Andy's mouth before he could think.
The whole room watched in silence.
"What's your name kid?" The man asked him.
"Andy Matthews," Andy replied, his voice cracking a bit.
The man's gaze never left Andy, he stepped forward with both arms outstretched as he reached for Andy's tie.
"You know I've seen hundreds of rookies like you, all of them so bright and happy when they arrive here."
"But within a week they start to change. That radiant smile vanishes, the only thing left is that cold stare." The man tells Andy as he continues fixing his tie.
"They all think about their players, every last one of them until they realise that they're just pawns in a larger game of chess really. "
He gestures to everyone in the room, and he lets go of Andy's tie as it sits dead centre.
But before he could even mutter a thank you, a sharp sting spread across his face. Andy nearly falls to the ground, but manages to steady himself.
He slowly turns his gaze towards the man, his eyes filling with unshed tears.
The man placed both his hands on Andy's shoulders, grip slightly firm.
"And when I look at you Matthews, all I see is a pawn who thinks he can swim with the players, please don't embarrass yourself." He tells Andy.
Ashley comes out of the office with Jade, and she schemes the situation and immediately identifies the cause.
"Ken.... leave the rookie alone and prepare for the briefing. I'm sure you have better things to do."
Ashley told him, her tone shifting from sweet to slightly angry.
Ken turned and raised his hands in defeat. "Whatever you say boss, whatever you say." He muttered as he walked away.
Andy stood there for a few seconds, he watched as Ken left, smiling and laughing with the other higher-ups.
Jade placed her hand on his shoulder, "Mr Matthews, the meeting starts in 5 minutes. Please compose yourself." She told him.
But Andy had barely heard any of that, his breathing was laboured from anger.
Soon blood trickled down his nose and onto his shirt. He didn't care one bit, cause for the very first time in his life.
Andy had truly hated something with his very soul.