Diana

"So how was it?"

Were the first words that came from behind me right after I passed Megan's table.

I slowly turned to look at her, her cheeks pink. I think it had something to do with being in complete bliss - a warm glow as the romantics called it.

"How about something in between the lines of It's a good thing nothing happened to you or we were so worried when you didn't call us, Megan?" I slowly opened the lid of the coffee cup she handed me while I passed her working station.

She waved a dismissive hand and slightly shook her head. "You look alive and well. You'll be scowling if you weren't."

I grimaced as I continued walking inside my office, Megan on my heels with my schedule. "Scowling?" I smirked. "That's new. What happened to frowning?" I asked as we both sat down.

"Diana, you do frowning every morning. Scowling would be directed to someone else. That someone would have been me if last night didn't end well." She opened her notepad and was about to speak when I stopped her.

"Why is it that you were gone by the time Wil arrived?" Her eyes quickly met mine. "And why are you glowing?" I squinted my eyes as I leaned towards her from across my table. "It happens weekly. Usually before the weekend. Don't tell me it was that expensive beauty product you got on your wedding. I had allergies. "

Her cheeks burned to a deeper color as she laughed. "Being married has its benefits even after thirty, you know."

I rolled my eyes and pointed at her notepad. "I may be single but I do know about the birds and the bees, Meg. Now," I took a slow sip of my coffee as she reported the calls made, the meetings for the day, and the reports to be submitted within the week. Since she magically made it possible for me to escape our boss yesterday, there was nothing much to do. Come to think of it, Megan was reciting the schedule from PM to AM.

I put down my cup and waited as she her gaze stopped at the top part of the paper.

"Well?" I encouraged her.

"The new girl -"

I slapped a hand on my forehead.

Of course. I was asked to give a tour the girl around the office. Benedict got too comfortable with letting me handle his ladylove that he overstepped the imaginary boundaries of the widely-spoken break up. Sometimes I just want to punch his handsome face.

"Jane Doe right?"

"It's Jenny," a clear voice from the door answered.

And there she was. Jan – Jenny Doe all prepped up for war. Unlike yesterday, she seemed to gain more confidence.

And new clothes for the matter.

Megan looked uneasy as she placed her things on her lap. Taking pity on her, I let her leave the office and asked the newcomer to occupy the seat.

"I thought superiors should be examples. With all due respect ma'am, I've been waiting for an hour," she continued. I was tempted to pat her head. She was really trying to act tough on me. She may have had a little pep talk with herself before coming here.

Ignoring her snide remark, I tapped my fingernails on my desk. "You'll start like the interns since technically, you are." I stood up and made my way to the door. I didn't even bother turning back to see if she was following me or not.

"Just minor tasks for now. Manning the machines. That includes the photocopying machines, fax," I turned to her just to emphasize my words ",coffee."

Giving a slight nod to the other employees that we passed, I explained what she would be doing during her... stay.

"I'm not sure what arrangement you and Mr Walsh made but someone will monitor your performance and will move you to more complex jobs when they see fit." I was slightly surprised that she wasn't cowering yet. The girl's got guts to actually survive my tone of voice. The others were wearing a starkly look by the end of this so- called introduction.

"You wouldn't, would you?" she said this as if she was so sure. The people near us quickly turned their attention to our little, yet highly unnecessary confrontation. At some point, I was sure this would happen. But Jenny here though that we might as well get it over with.

I lifted my chin and met her challenging eyes. "Excuse me?"

She laughed bitterly before shaking her head. "You don't like me. That's why you wanted me to start at the very bottom."

The people were starting to whisper now. Without a word, I looked at them. That got them moving to continue whatever it was that they were doing before.

"No." Looking her in the eye, I replied, "You're starting from the bottom because that's where everyone earning more than the night guards, started. You can't just barge in and assume that I wouldn't treat you fairly."

That got her to shut up. She was losing color but I was too mad to be considerate. "Miss Doe, I admire your wit, but smarting your superior on your first day isn't something that you should do. I'm sure Benedict already told you that. And if he hasn't," I caught her eye and smiled "well now you do."

She lowered her head. "Yes ma'am."

I frowned. Why wasn't she answering back? Why wasn't she giving me that defiant look she wore when she stepped inside my office? Why am I supposed to feel like I'm the bad guy?

"Well," I cleared my throat and turned my back on her, "do your best."

By the time I sat down on my own working table, our little act soon forgotten, I received a call from Benedict telling me that he wanted to talk.

It was almost quitting time when he barged in my office. He didn't even bother buttoning his shirt all the way. He was probably calling it a day when this important matter came up.

"What did you do to her?" he asked. His tone of voice was accusing, and the way he looked at me wasn't helping either.

I sighed as I stared at my computer screen. "I didn't do anything unnecessary." I turned to him and gestured for him to sit down. After a moment of silence, and him not doing what I asked, I shrugged. "You told me to show her the ropes. We're starting on the basics."

He ran his fingers through his hair and gave out an audible sigh. "She looked upset and she wouldn't talk to me. She wouldn't even let me touch her."

I raised an eyebrow. I was trying to be tough. But the undeniable pain that was squeezing my chest wasn't something I could hide for much longer. "Do I look like a therapist to you?"

He raised his eyes to meet mine and regarded me for a second. Then he took out his phone and his expression immediately brightened.

He didn't even look at me when he turned towards the door to leave.

"Well that just made my evening," I spoke to myself. I took a shaky breathe.

I should've just gone along with those two this morning. Maybe that would've been less stressful. And here I thought dealing would two adults would be easier than arguing with a seven-year old.

She was a smart kid. Probably got it from her mother. William, or so I assume his nickname stood for, seemed to be a simple man. The kind who was satisfied with serving food on the table. He reminded me of my grandpa.

Simple men were always the hardest to understand for me. They always said what was on their mind and I was never sure if they were kidding or not.

Or maybe it was because I was surrounded by complicated people my whole life. Once I turned thirteen, my mother took me away from my grandparents to live in the city. It was difficult to say goodbye to the figures that I grew up with knowing when my parents decided that they couldn't bear to be with each other anymore.

It was more annoying than comforting when people came over at my mother's house. They kept on repeating that it must be difficult for me. I never understood this. If it was better off for my parents to be separated, than I just assumed that that was probably the best. After all, during that age, I believed that adults always knew what they were doing.

Now that I was an adult myself, I wasn't sure anymore. I tried being a dreamer. I auditioned to be an actress during my teen years. I failed on that.

I tried being an optimist. It didn't suit me. I tried being a pessimist. Met a man who was so happy and who I later found out was a stoner. Well that didn't work out for me either. Then I became a realist. Found a decent job far from memorizing scripts, met Benedict, got engaged, then BAAAAM!

Make me a painting and exhibit it as a perfect example of an ideally confused adult.

I decided that it was time to call it quits and go home.

When I was opening my door, I looked at the empty hallway. Everybody else was locked up in their own little worlds. That movie with the ice queen was starting to tempt me into turning around now.

I smiled when I remembered the unlikely pair I met this morning. They were both witty, I could give 'em that.

It was comforting to know that I presented myself as something made of steel. That means I viewed myself as someone tough and practically invincible.

'Fire, Tory. Steel bends when it's too hot.'

I paused from taking off my blouse when his voice popped up in my mind. I sat down at the edge of my bed and recalled my reply.

'Well just so you know, I'm not hot. You hear me? I'm not hot, so joke's on you.'

That's what I said. That's what a woman who has her shit together said.

I grabbed a pillow and buried my face in it before I let out a scream. After a few more, I threw the pillow on the floor and took a shower.

I was drying my hair when I heard some urgent knocking on my door. When I opened it, I found my neighbour staring at me with concern. He kept looking over my shoulder until I asked him what was wrong.

"I heard muffled screams. Are you alright?"

My eyes widened and I quickly gave him a quick smile and an excuse that I hit my toe on a table. That seemed to calm him.

I thanked him and closed my door.

That was not cool, Diana. Not cool at all.

I picked up my hair dryer and started fixing my hair.

Steel bends when it's too hot.

Okay so maybe I wasn't made of steel. Remembering how William smiled at me then, I felt my grip on the hair dryer tighten. Maybe we'll never meet again, but when we do, I'll make sure I'm prepared.

"Wait 'til I find a better comeback, William. Just you wait."