I've had the idea for this story a long time, I hope you all enjoy! Please let me know if you like it!--
Monica's POV
Clicking the worn out button for the third floor, I lean my exhausted body back against the wall of the elevator.
Yet another Monday morning, same old routine day in day out. Bleeping to let me know I'm where I asked to be, the lift comes to a halt, shifting the pile of folders from my left to my right arm, I secure my bag further on my shoulder and traipse down the aisle to my desk.
Unlike the many other cluttered messes around me, my desk is organised and neat, I set down the folders letting my bag fall off my arm, effortlessly throwing it to the side of my chair. Monday's mean it's a whole lot of new account files, peoples financial problems need fixing, with me being the one who gets through them quickly, I end up with the most complicated.
I work as an accountant for a business called BingsFinance, they specialise in loans and solutions for peoples debt. Just on my level there are 60 workers, 54 of them accountants just like me, 4 of them deputy managers, then there's the main boss and his assistant.
I can't say I hate my job, I'm quite good at it if I'm honest, but it's not a career I've dreamt of from being a little girl. 5 years I've worked here and I've not had a problem, though this past year has been a real struggle.
Lately I've felt like a shadow, nothing keeping me going but my friends. In the end it's a job, it pays the bills.
Tapping in the password for my computer I fan out new files, reading the name it takes me a second for it to sin in. Everything in my body tenses, my stomach lurches a sudden feeling of nausea rushing over me. Michael Turner. The one name haunting my every move, whatever I do he's there in the back of my mind.
Somehow I've been staring at the documents for over 10 minutes, Rachel tugging back to reality sliding a mug of coffee into my hands.
"Morning, sorry I was up late, What time did you leave?" Carefully as to not spill her drink, she sits at the desk beside me.
Me and Rachel have been best friends since college, she came to work here a couple of months after me, I showed her the ropes and thankfully the boss agreed to letting us work closely together. I'm glad I have her, out of all the office snobs, she's the only one I speak to, I don't think they have anything against me, I just never speak to them. I can't be bothered with the bitchy attitudes I stumble across walking through this place, simple arguments about who got to knock on the boss' door next.
This place is set out in rows and columns of desks, but, it's a square. Basically every 2 desks in a row, and two in a column, four in total, are fitted closer together with a walkway down the middle. Me and Rachel work beside each other then Ashleigh and Caitlin in front. We don't talk to them much, they are polite when we do though.
I shake my head to get rid of the daze, "Morning, I was up early, couldn't sleep. I got here maybe an hour ago, just sat down stairs reading one of those gossip magazines" I glance up, finding her eyeing me sceptically.
"What's bothering you?" I knew she'd work out there was something wrong. I can tell with her, generally I always try my best to hide my emotion, especially through the past year. Though Rachel and my other bestfriend Phoebe knew something was up, I had to give in.
Instead of saying it, I hand over the document, watching her read It for a second before she sits up straighter clearing her throat. "You don't have anything to do with it Monica, take it to the boss, just tell him you can't deal with this client for personal reasons." tossing it back onto my desk I sigh rubbing m face with the backs of my hands.
"He'll probably make me do it anyways" I mumble eyeing the main office door.
Every woman on this floor had a thing for Mr Bing, though I never understood why. His hair was held in an annoying, spiky, messy look, he always dressed in a grey suit, undoubtedly smart but yet I still don't know what it is with him.
"Mon you've never not done work, a one off isn't a big deal. At least you'd be able to get a good look at him" She winks, I shake my head, making a noise of disgust.
"Hmm, yeah. What is it with him that you really like?" Rachel snaps her head back, looking incredulously at me. I keep my face set and she waits a second to see if I break.
I don't, "W-what!? Have you not seen him? His hair, I don't know it just makes him look sooo handsome, his body, oof, I wouldn't mind him taking me on a date sometime, his eyes, god his eyes don't even get me started. His-"
Oh god. I've started something now that'll she'll never let go. I quietly chuckle raising from my seat, she's still talking. Grasping the paper tight between my fingers, I slowly start towards the oak door keeping the barrier between me and the boss.
Just as I raise my hand to knock, the door swings open away from me, Mr Bings face centimetres from mine, as he steps uncomfortably close to me. Quickly I step back letting him come down from the shock of meeting me like this.
Stepping back, he holds open the door letting me into his office. "Miss Geller how can I help you?" He asks politely taking the seat behind his computer. I'm more than surprised to find his office, clean tidy and organised with coloured binders with tags. It's something I would've done with an office of my own.
"I-I" I generally am never at a loss for words, yet now I can't get anything out, clearing my throat I try again. "I was wondering if this client could go to somebody else?" Mumbling, I angle the folder towards him until he takes it from my fingers.
Looking a little confused for a second and eyeing the name he weighs up his options.
" I don't see why not. Can I ask what the reason is?" Lifting his head back up to me, he's got a look of almost sympathy, I don't question it though.
"Personal reasons, and I already have a lot of work so I just need a little less." he nods understandably and I offer a smile in thanks.
Opening a drawer he slides the papers in and closes it again, "Okay, let me know if you need anything else. I'd also like to say, thank you for all the hard work you put into this business, I really appreciate it. You're an amazing worker." His words are soft enough to send my cheeks a faint pink, I duck my head to hide it in embarrassment.
"Thank you Mr. Bing" With a last smile, I turn and leave the office. I have no idea why I got so nervous, as I walk back my desk I'm shot looks from all directions, god I only went to had back a file, I didn't kiss him. What is everyone's problem?
"Okay now?" Rachel asks when I return to my seat and start to click away on my keyboard once again.
I nod and smile, "Yeah he said it was no problem." Rachel grins in a 'I told you so' way I choose to ignore it and get lost in my screen.
2 pm sounds through the building, allowing a half an hour lunch break, however our boss decides he wants a meet with some of his employees.
Saving all the numbers I've ordered into a database, I close down the windows and glance at Rachel, she's just as agitated at not been able to eat out of the way of this building. Although I bet she's secretly excited for this, a meeting often just means, every worker their oggles at Mr Bing whilst me and maybe 2 or 3 others actually listen to what's happening. Rachel's split in between, she takes note of what he says but her eyes never shift from him through the whole thing.
Slowly we head to the conference room in a single file, I get a glimpse of Mr Bing at the top end of the long table. Satisfying my overly neat and organised ways, he always sets out name labels for the seats so there's no arguing, I scan the table for a second first fining Rachels name then beside it mine. She grins over at me, I look further along to find I am right next to the boss.
Great.
As If I haven't already had the dirty looks off my colleagues, with a huff I push my way past a dopey worker called Jess, she never seems to know where she is or what she's doing. Getting closer to my chair I avoid looking up especially at the man sat beside me, Rachel sits beside me her hand reaching over and gently squeezing my shoulder.
I think she knows somethings up with me being so quiet. I sound like I'm constantly complaining, honestly I'm bored of myself too. I haven't always been like this, it took one man, one mistake, to turn my world upside down.
Confidence, self-love, love life, everything thrown out of the window.
"Miss geller?" I'm shook from my thoughts at Mr.Bings increase in volume.
As if I was paying attention I nod and turn to him. "Yes?"
"Do you agree that we should use the online program to help clients?" He questions.
I gulp and look elsewhere just for a second, "Well I think it would really save people time, we wouldn't have to struggle booking appointments and swapping them. We just need to think about those who may not be able to access the internet"
He nods and so does everyone else "very good point thank you"
I smile. "Right Miss Geller Miss Green, could you stay behind for a second the rest of you can get back to work, the new program will be introduced in the next couple of weeks"
Me and Rachel stay put, confused, but we stay. The rest file back out mumbling to each other probably another dig at us.
"Miss geller, would you mind making the drinks? I've got to go and fetch something to you both, Miss Green help her?" Without another word said he also leaves the office, I glance at Rachel. I must be pulling the funniest face ever because as soon as the door slams shut she bursts out laughing.
"What!" I exclaim deliriously.
"He was staring at you through all of that meeting and you were staring back. Way to make it obvious mon" she giggles, I blush a deeper shade of red.
"No you're lying!" I shake my head shoving the chair back and standing up. I love my bestfriend, I just wish she'd drop it. "Just give it up. I'll never be with anyone again" that I couldn't help saying, it just came out.
"Mon..." a hand rests on my shoulder. My head bows tears burning my eyes. "I'm sorry. Don't say that though. Not every guy is like him. In fact hardly none of the guys are." Trying to reassure me I want to believe her, it's a struggle.
Setting three cups under the machines I click all three to be coffee. Wishing it would just hurry up I lean forward over the counter closing my eyes tight
"It's not that easy Rach" my voice cracks Rachel's face dropping. I'm not going to break down again, I don't want to break down again.
Before I know it I'm turned around my bestfriends arms wrapped around my shoulders tightly, she gets it so I don't use my little energy to explain myself further. I pull away just in time when I hear the room door open again, hoping all signs of crying have disappeared I remove the cups of coffee from the machine, add milk and sugar to both mine and Rachels, two sugars to Mr Bings and leave it black.
Once we are situated back in our seats, Mr Bing clears his throat handing us both a piece of paper set out in the same way. My eyes scan through the writing, Rachel gasps beside me and I feel eyes burning into the top of my head. Reaching the last few lines tiny bursts of relief spread through my veins. I can finally calm my life down.
The boss has rewarded me and Rachel a week off work because of all the hard work we've done, also because in all the time we've worked we've never missed anything or gotten behind somehow.
It's almost as if he knew what I needed because after all the shit I've been through this year, I need a break.
"Thank you sir" Rachel smiles at Mr Bing before standing and moving towards the door waiting back for me. I stand too ready to walk away.
"Thank you Sir" I repeat Rachels word feeling stupid. Before I can walk past him he holds up a hand for me to wait, I stop abruptly, Rachel shoots him a questionable look waiting for his explanation.
"Miss Green can you give us a minute?" Glancing up at me then at Rachel he gets to his feet shifting awkwardly, I send a small nod in the direction of the doorway eyeing the awkward man in front of me.
The door closes and his head slowly lifts back up, "Um Miss Geller, I just wanted to say I hope this break helps you out." My Boss is talking as If he knows what's gone of this year or that he has some kind of idea, no one would have told him because there's only Rachel that would ever speak to him.
My eyes narrow in uncertainty, "What do you mean?" I decide to ask.
"Um-er- well I just noticed this year you've been really distant and not really yourself. It just seemed like you've been dealing with a lot, you and your friend really deserve the time off. I just hope it'll help in whatever way." His nervous shuffling makes me smirk, though he's my boss and I'm supposed to approach this in a formal manner, but what he's just explained is really sweet and I'm not going to lie it makes me happy.
"Oh, yeah I've had some stuff. Um - Thankyou I really do appreciate it." I respond a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. With that he offers a small smile and nods in reply. I take it as my que to leave, on the other side of the door awaits Rachel, spotting my pleased look, she beams probably glad to see my smiling again.
"C'mon lets go" We walk down the aisle to our desks, quickly log off our computers, stuff any remaining paper into the drawers and grab our bags. Caitlin and Ashleigh lookback at us confused
"Where are you going?" Ashleigh sneers menacingly, in her mind anyways.
"Mr. Bing said we can have the week off, see you next week" I speak sweetly, god if I was spoken to that way, I would kick the person. Ah well, Rachel laughs as we head towards the lift, I came here so down and now I'm leaving much happier. What a good day it's been so far.