"Good afternoon, and thank you for calling Arrow Entertainment. You're speaking with Dean. How can I help you?"
Dean grimaced slightly as the person on the other end of the phone snapped at how about the hold time. He pulled his headset away from his ear and rolled his eyes at Jo, who was sitting beside him. She grinned as she gave him a thumbs up, and went back to typing.
"I understand, sir. I apologise for the lengthy wait time. How can I he- " Dean abruptly stopped speaking as the person on the other end cut him off. Jo caught his eye and held up her little white board, Sounds delightful written on it.
Dean hastily scribbled on his own board, holding it up in response. Tell me about it.
"Again, I apologise, sir." Dean shut his eyes and began to count slowly to ten in his head. "If I can just get your account number, I'll be able to get you back up and going as soon as possible." He glanced at his watch. 16.30. Only 4 hours into a 9 hour shift. Brilliant. It was going to be one of those days. It was coming up to Christmas. Everyone was working as many hours as the company offered in the hopes of trying to make a little bit extra before the holidays. Of course, the weather was playing havoc with the television signal, and irate customers were calling up and screaming at them as to why they weren't able to watch the game or whatever crap was on right now. It was Dean's 7th day in row being in work. He began to wonder if coming in on his day off for overtime was the best idea he ever had.
"I can see now, sir, that the reason that you have no service is that your account is in arrears." Jo winced at Dean and made a sympathetic face as the shouts from the irate customer could be heard from where she was sitting. Dean put his head in his hands and noticed that Jo was holding up her little board again. Coffee after this?
Good God, yes. "Absolutely sir. I will tell my bosses that the entire company is out to get you personally. Of course. Have a nice day." Dean hung up, quickly changed his profile before another call came through, and threw his head set onto the desk.
"I don't know how much more of this I can take today, Jo. It's like every bastard in the country is ringing into complain today." Dean said, frowning.
"I know, but hey, it's time for coffee now. Then its back here for a couple of hours and then we're done. You in tomorrow?" Jo had stood up, stretching.
"Unfortunately. I need the cash." Dean followed Jo out to the break room, where she pulled two cups out of the dishwasher. After giving them a cursory sniff, and found it satisfactory, she quickly poured two cups of awful coffee for them.
"My condolences." She said as she sat down beside Dean, and handed him a bar of chocolate.
"Sugar high will keep you going for a little while longer."
"Thanks, Jo."
They sat in comfortable silence for a couple of minutes before Jo asked "How's Sam?"
"He's good. He's got some interview tomorrow for law school. He wants to keep going to Stanford. He likes it there." Dean said, smiling.
"Good. I'm happy for him." Jo replied, taking another gulp of tepid coffee. "You hear about the newbies?"
"Newbies?"
"Oh yeah, after Charlie left and Adam didn't come back, the powers that be decided that we needed some new blood on the team. They should be finished training at the end of the week."
"How come I didn't know that?" Dean was frowning.
"Probably because our Fearless Leader hasn't announced it yet. I only know because I bumped into one of them on the way back from the bathroom and he didn't know where the spare headsets were." Jo settled back into her chair, cupping her hands around her cup, and inhaling the coffee smell.
"Fearless Leader indeed."
It was no secret that Dean and Jo's team didn't get on with their manager. A tall man with dark hair by the name of Michael oversaw them, and tried to operate the team with military precision. He operated on a strict "need to know" basis, and therefore kept the entire team in the dark until he saw fit to announce any news at all. Dean found it best to stay out of his way. Keep his head down and avoid Michael, as Michael had a tendency to ask Dean to all sorts of extra work, and would keep prodding until Dean eventually said yes.
Michael suddenly breezed through the break room, and upon seeing Dean and Jo, stopped short. He stood in front of them, and whilst he didn't say anything, he tapped his watch and widened his eyes. And just like that he was gone again.
"Fine, fine. I guess break's over anyway." Dean grumbled, forcing himself to stand up, and move back towards his desk.
"Cheer up, Winchester. It's not going to be that bad." Jo clapped him on the back.
"Oh yeah, for you maybe! You get to answer email queries for the next hour, whilst I have to deal with angry dicks." Dean scowled.
"Luck of the draw, my dear, luck of the draw." Jo smiled sweetly up at Dean.
"If you weren't so cute, I'd kick your butt." said Dean, softening.
"Oh, please. I'd like to see you try." Jo flashed Dean a grin, and walking a little ahead of him, wiggled her ass exaggeratedly.
Dean chuckled, eased himself back into his desk chair, and he adjusted his headset. The little beep in his ear announced that it was show time.
"Good afternoon, and thank you for calling Arrow Entertainment. You're speaking with Dean. How can I help you?"
It was going to be a long day.