When you come into work the next day, there's a new guy at reception. He's got absolutely luxurious hair, all soft and smooth and wavy. He smiles at you, and you feel a fluttering when he throws in a wink. You bite your lip and can't keep the dazed grin from your face, all the way up to the top floor.
"What's got you so happy?" Olaf asks when he sees you, and you shrug. You're not gonna tell him that a smile made your day, and like always, he doesn't push.
Elsa isn't there for lunch today, and you're equal parts happy and sad. Happy because you don't know how you survived the first day of poor conversation, let alone another, and sad because you want another chance anyway. You find out from her personal assistant that she's gone until the end of the week on a conference, and then is taking a few days personal leave. You thank her, and leave.
The next couple of days are so boring, you don't even know what to do with yourself. There's no more filing to be done because it's being outsourced to another company – or, maybe it's one of Elsa's offspring businesses. Either way, you don't have to do it anymore. You fight down the fear that builds in your chest because… if there's nothing for you to do, why are you still here? Every email you get sits in your inbox for a good twenty minutes before you can build up the strength to open it. You knew the job couldn't last long, but this still hurts.
But, no sacking, or outsourcing, or downsizing ever comes. You don't want to rock the boat at all, but you've only been here like, three months. You use your computer to browse other jobs, and you prepare an email that you'll send if and when they finally cut you loose.
The day before Elsa's due to return, you finish late. There's a few factors – like the overtime pay that will help when you inevitably find yourself unemployed again, and the fact that the lift broke down and, while it didn't take long to fix, there is still an awful smell – but really, you just don't wanna go home. You remember Elsa's offer for lunch, and with a sinking heart, guess that she's probably going to break it over lunch. A nice lunch with a glass of wine that will probably ruin every other nice lunches with wine you'll ever have again.
It's past six when you decide to pack up and leave. Everyone else clocks off at five, so at lease there'll be no crowds. Hopefully, the bus will be empty, too. You're almost to the lift when you hear something. Or feel it, you aren't sure. It's the vibrations of a raised voice, and, curious, you turn to follow it.
Olaf is sitting at his desk, head in his hands. He must have his phone on speaker, because it's either that or he's talking to himself. He doesn't notice you come in, and you sit there awkwardly as he keeps talking.
"I'll do my best," he says, and you recognise the voice on the other end of the line as Elsa's.
"Thank you, Olaf," she says, before ending the call. He huffs, but doesn't look up until you clear your throat.
"Everything okay, Olaf?" you ask softly. He jumps at your voice, and gives a wry smile.
"Not really," he says, shrugging. "We've just hit a snag. I'm sure it'll all work out, though."
You nod contemplatively. "Anything I can do to help?"
At that, his smile turns a little more sincere. "It's not even that terrible," he begins. "Elsa's PA forgot about the change in schedule that meant Elsa would have to catch a later flight. Now she's stuck at an airport in the middle of the night, and everywhere else seems full. She's going to be stuck until at least tomorrow afternoon."
You frown at the news. "Why didn't her PA book another flight?" you ask. Olaf shrugs.
"I don't know, but there's nothing we can do about it now. The best we could do is try to find her a place to stay for the night."
You frown at that thought. Elsa's been away from home for a week already, and it's not fair that she has to stay that way because of a mistake someone else made.
"You said there were no flights for here, right?" you ask, and he nods. "Well, what if we don't bring her here?" Olaf looks at you blankly, and you sigh. "What airport does she normally use? Corona? What if we found her a flight to- well, Weselton is only a couple of hours drive away. What if she could catch a flight there, and someone picks her up? Or even South Isles isn't too much further. It may take a little longer, but it's better than being stuck somewhere else all night."
Olaf looks at you, eyes wide and face blank. Without shifting his gaze, he picks up the phone and presses a button.
"Yes?" Elsa picks up on the second ring, and Olaf still hasn't looked away.
"Hey, Els," he says. "We may have an idea…"