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How exciting! Wisper was thrilled at the turn of events as she packed up the last of what she needed from her desk, practically beaming- on the inside of course, she was nothing if not professional, "Bye everyone, it was nice working with you all," She bobbed her head in a nod to the girls, passing pleasantries as she lifted the final box into her arms and started her exit, some of the more friendlier women waving her off with smiles while others give her the side eye as she passed- not that she minded, she wasnt liked by all and she didnt like everyone herself.
"Aw, good luck sweet," One of the elder ladies stood from her desk and gave her a hug she couldn't return, "You'll do well," She assured as she rubbed the younger woman's arm.
"Oh, I hope so," Wisper uttered, she was nervous on top of happy but she had to admit that it was nice to finally feel like she was getting somewhere.
"Of course you will!" The silvery haired woman pressed, giving her shoulder a warm pat and gently nudging her on her way.
"Thank you, Wend," She smiled, looking back to her as she walked slowly.
"Don't be a stranger!" Wendy called with a point as she stepped into the lift, the short elf on duty peering up at her and having to move before he was stepped on.
"I won't!" She called back before giving a small jump and awkward sounding 'oop' as her leg nudged something, "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she then apologised at the creature she'd failed to see.
"Well, if you looked where you were walking," The elf grumbled and Wisper bit her tongue, she couldn't argue when she was at fault and the ride up to her new station was uncomfortable because of it, but that didn't stop her from feeling happy.
Lux Thornheart, a dragon of a woman you'd never hope to meet, she was one of those snappy bosses who was one rank above Graves and oddly threatened by his climbing success, so she was sure to stick her nose in when ever she could and his first day sorting his new station was when she decided to descend on him. She was a striking older woman, tall and slender with an uncanny ability so saunter across any terrain in heels. Her lips were thin and usually pursed, helping to accentuate her already powerful cheekbones, blonde hair was clipped into a razor sharp bob and steel grey eyes narrowed and predatory, she was breath taking in either one of two ways- you could see and appreciate her beauty and power, or you where utterly scared shitless by the suffocating air of intimidation that came with her daggered eye contact. "Getting settled Graves?" She spoke in a way that showed his presence irritated her, but covertly so she couldn't be penalised for it.
"I am," He confirmed, looking to her with a passive face, completely unaffected by her tone or intimidating aura, "Nice you see you're here to help," he added to which her face soured a little, a slim brow flicking up on her forehead as she chose to ignore that comment, instead looking to the desk she stopped by and spying the bag nestled on the seat and coat draped over the back of it.
"I see you found yourself a secretary then," She stated, her face uninterested as she judged both quality and no doubt low price of the new secretary's belongings.
"About that," His brows raised as he fully intended to continue, but the clattering sound of someone dropping a box and the flap of free papers caused them both to look over.
'Today is a good day!' Wisper thought with a smile on her face as she stepped out of the lift, she felt successful already and it was like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, she felt light and giddy as if youth had suddenly returned to her and nothing could ruin it for her!
"Oh, do you need help?" She questioned as she crouched down, putting her own box down and helping to scoop up the papers the other man was scrambling to get together.
"Thank you," He breathed hurriedly as he shoved them back into their box and she grabbed hers again, both of them standing up together and passing one another a smile before she turned towards her new desk and froze at the sight of the two people staring at her, but it was Thornheart she looked to in an instant, both their eye's locking- Lux's sharp and killer like a predator and Wisper's wide and frightful like the prey.
"What is she doing here?" The elder woman barked, breaking her glare on the younger woman to lock eye's with Graves, but still keeping a long, taloned finger pointed towards the new secretary.
Wisper recoiled a bit, looked between her and Graves with wide asking eyes- Am I in trouble? Are you in trouble?- she was completely lost and utterly terrified, the last she'd met that horrible woman she was ashamed to admit that she made her cry.
With an air of calm and seeming to be completely unaffected by the ferocious woman before him Graves motioned her into his office with out a word, passed the rest of the office a look to continue with their work before lastly giving Wisper a reassuring look as he raised his hand as if to motion her to stop, then slowly lowing his hand, giving the signal for her to calm, before heading into his office and closing the door.
"What did you do?" The man she'd just helped murmured to her while she shook her head.
"I've just walked in?" she gave him a lost look before creeping towards her desk carefully- perhaps the day wasn't so good?
"What is this about?" He spoke the question with double meaning, his piercing eyes locked onto the older woman in wait for her answer, not that she would have a good one to give.
"You were supposed to go get a secretary," She huffed in annoyance, folding her arms across her slim torso and half turning from him, seeming quite guarded in her actions.
"And I did that," Graves studied her carefully, countering his body language to seem very open and approachable, his tone clam unlike her edgy irritation, "No one specified who I could and couldn't choose," He gave a shrug, seeming nonchalant when actually he was carefully turning the tone of the conversation so it openly seemed to them both that she was the one making a fuss out of nothing, leading her down a path that could end with her either backing down, or telling the truth on the matter.
"Of all the letter stampers down there you come back with that one," She sparred with him, she wasn't backing down and so changed tactics, hoping to poke a few hold in his ego by questioning his judgement.
"Yes, now imagine my surprise to find her still here, when you told me she'd gone home to finish her training," Graves counted wonderfully, overly playing at being nice as he watched her jaw tense and eyes widen the slightest- She'd forgotten she told him that little lie, he summed as one corner of his lips turned up at his advantage.
"She had a choice," She spat out, her head giving a shake and shoulders lifting in a shrug as if the matter was nothing to do with her, trying at an air of indifference, but he saw through her.
"What happened?" He spoke firmly, chin lifting slightly and gaze remaining fixed as he watched the higher rank whittle down her options to get out of the situation she found herself in, he could tell she expected her authority to just be accepted and Wisper be sent back with out a second thought.
"That's above your pay grade, Graves," She snorted, lifting her nose in the air as if it bettered her authority as she stepped towards him, "I am still your superior, you best remember that, now put her back where you found her unless you want that new title taken away from you," Her words picked up confidence and caused a frown to crease at his brows lightly.
"You have no say in demoting me," he stated with a shake of his head, that decision came from above her.
"We'll see about that," She grinned, feeling she now had the upper hand as she sauntered towards the door but he stepped there first, clamping his hand around the door handle and forcing her to look at him in alarm.
With a tight jaw and stern eyes, he trapped her into eye contact and stared her down, "If you dare threaten my job again," He began in a low tone, "I'll start digging and I will find every dirty little secret you are trying to hide," his deep voice was an eerie calm, "Now, I suggest you take what ever problem you have with you, and never bring it back to my office again," With that he opened the door for her and allowed her to retreat, watching her carefully as she bit her tongue well and thundered out of sight.
Wisper froze as the frightful woman stormed past her, keeping her head down and avoiding eye contact so as not to raise any more of her fury, it wasn't until she could no longer hear the angry clack of Lux's heels did she look up and turn to peer at her new boss.
Again Graves wordlessly waved for another to step into his office, but this time it was her and she gulped down her fear- in trouble already.
"Take a seat," He motioned to the empty chair, pulling it out for her and allowing her to take a seat, but he didn't go around the desk and take his, instead he perched on the corner of the desk and fixed his eyes on her. "You've met Lux Thornheart before," he spoke it as a statement, no question in his voice and she nodded to confirm that she had, "What happened?"
"After my training went south she said I could have a desk job or no job at all," Wisper knotted her fingers together as she spoke, "She just doesn't like me."
"Why?" He frowned, he'd thought her training was going quite well, of all the recruits he'd been paired up with in the past she was one of the more memorable ones.
"To be honest, Sir," She started, brows raised and knotted slightly in a readied wince, "I've never really asked why, and I never will ask," she shook her head, looking a little lost for a moment before she continued, "I-I think she just hates my face?" She offered with a shrug, showing how at a loss she was to why the older woman disliked her so, part of her had always wanted to send a letter to her father saying about her, considering he and Thornheart were friends, she was awfully unforgiving to Wisper.
"Have you done anything to her in the past?" Graves tried to offer her answers in hopes of perhaps jogging a memory.
"No!" Her brows crashed down in outrage, she wasn't a confrontational person and there was no way she would go out looking for a fight with her superiors.
"Did you give her reason to demote you?" He tried again, studying her facial expressions carefully.
"No," She shook her head, "It was when I got taken off training with you after that whole," She waved her hand around as she tried to find her wording, "You know?"
"Dragon thing?" He offered with a raise of his brows and she cringed but nodded.
"Yeah, the dragon thing," She repeated quietly, "She said as a favour to my father I could take a job in admin or go home with out a job," she shrugged.
With a deep breath Graves lifted a hand to run through his hair, "That doesn't make sense," He murmured, there was a reason Lux didn't like Wisper, he'd even go as far to say hate, but the woman before him had nothing but truth on her face and yet Thornheart looked like she wanted to strangle her on sight.
"Does this mean I have to go back to admin?" She raised her brows and braced herself for the dreaded answer.
"No, don't worry about that, and don't worry about her," he waved the matter away and she physically relaxed.
"I'll try," She nodded, "But she scares the life out of me," Wisper lifted a hand to place against her chest and breathed out a shaky breath, causing the corners of his lips to turn up slightly in amusement, he liked the honesty.
"You've faced a real dragon and you couldn't handle that?" He questioned her in amusement, pointing off to where the woman in question had stomped away.
"It was a baby and with all due respect, That," she pointed off in the same direction as him, "Is something else!" her face showed her exact emotions as she spoke, the fear, confusion, and frustration.
"Well, I'll be the only one dealing with Thornheart anyway," He stated, crossing his arms over his chest while she bobbed her head in a nod, relief washing over her features, "You just best prepare your self for all the files that are going to be thrown at you."
"Files I can handle," She held her hands up with a look of confidence, a small smile gracing her lips- it was filing, she'd done it for three years, so how hard could it be on a different department?
He regarded her a moment, breathing out a deep breath before he spoke, "Go on," He nodded her off towards the door, "Get to it then," He gave as a soft order, watching as she stood obediently.
"Yes, Sir," She replied calmly, as she gave a nod.
"Ah- no more of that," He held his hand out, pausing her exit as she looked back to him in confusion.
Wisper's eyes darted about quickly as if she'd missed something before she decided to ask, "Of what?"
"Sir," He clarified, he wasn't too used to constantly being addressed as such and he wasn't sure if he wanted to get used to it, it made him feel old and desk bound for some odd reason.
With a nod of understanding and her mouth forming an 'O' she then re-thought how to address him, "Mister Graves?" She offered, brows raised and hopeful, watching as he'd stood from the desk and started to move around it, only to shoot her a frown over his shoulder the moment she said it.
"No," He stated blankly, that sounded older and more desk bound than 'Sir'.
"Then how am I supposed to address you?" Wisper looked genuinely concerned, unable to leave the office until she had this matter clarified so she didn't do or say the wrong thing, waiting expectantly as he took a seat at his desk and picked up a quill.
"My name will be fine," He murmured, seeming disinterested in the matter now, instead he looked through the papers on his desk and left Wisper to mull over the request, her head giving a nod as if she would do as asked. 'There's no way I'm doing that,' She thought, head still bobbing in a nod.
"Of course, Sir," She agreed with a smile before quickly scampering from the office before anything could be said otherwise, happily ignoring the way his hand thumped to the desk as he paused his writing, unknowing as he looked after her retreating form with a light frown- Had he just made a mistake in picking her?
