Sweet and Innocent

As minutes pass employees flood in the building, I felt as if my feet were going to fall off soon if I didn't sit down. I still had plenty of cupcakes to get rid of, and I was shocked that most of his employees weren't here yet. 

I groan as I reach down taking one of my heels off and setting my foot onto the hard, cold floor beneath me. Besides the coldness, all I felt was sweet relief as the pain finally began to ease up, but my relief wouldn't last long. 

"Ms. Taylor." Flynn's voice booms behind me, but I freeze and just stare ahead of me. "Put your shoe back on, do you have no self respect? Disgusting." He scoffs before walking around to the front of the table and begins to eye the boxes of cupcakes. 

"Everyone that has came through got one. They all said the were satisfied as well." I quickly say thinking that was the problem. He shakes his head as he looks up and stares straight through me. 

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember telling you that you could move my table from the waiting room over here, you better hope you didn't scratch the floors. I like to keep my business in tip top shape Ms. Taylor. I just had these floors waxed, but I am almost positive that someone like you couldn't tell. Next time consult me before doing something stupid." He says as he walks towards the waiting area. 

I watch as he inspects the floor closely. My heart was beating in my throat and for the first time I felt real fear. "If I did scratch the floor I can surely pay for it." I whisper as he bends over and squints his eyes. 

"Consider yourself lucky." He says as he leans up and makes his way back over to me. "It is almost 10. The big group will be making their way in soon, prepare yourself. You'll be wishing to be back at the cafe after they are done." He turns and begins back down the hall. 

"Mr. Anderson!" I call out, "Can I at least have a chair? My feet are really sore, and maybe even a spare jacket or blanket. I'm afraid I left mine at home." I explain my eyes full of hope. 

"This isn't a spa. You are working. You will be fine, good workers don't complain." I felt as if my throat would close up on me, my eyes began to burn and become watery. I almost had all I could take, I couldn't even find it in me to argue back. 

"Yes sir." I whisper as I turn around. It stays quick for a moment so I look over my shoulder to find him gone. He really had no heart. How was he even human? 

The elevator dings and five people walk out, I quickly grab their attention by waving at them. "Good morning." The cheerfulness I had earlier quickly disappeared. "You can grab any cupcake you would like. Have a nice day." I force a smile trying not to seem uninterested, even though I was."

They take their cupcakes and leave. I shift from foot to foot trying to ease the pain that was slowly building up into the back of my legs making them tingle. Suddenly I felt something press against the back of my leg. 

I turn around and look down. One of the men from earlier had brought me a chair, I smile as I sit down. "Thank you so much." I say as I shake his hand. 

"It isn't a problem. No need to thank me. I figured you were tired, I know heels are very hard to stand in. I'm Jeremy." He says after we let go of our hands. I take in his features, he was very adorable. Couldn't be older than 27. 

"Angelica. My friends call me Angel." I smile, "I am guessing your wife complains about heels." I laugh trying to make small conversation, and maybe even trying to find out if he was available. 

He laughs loudly before shaking his head and fixing his curly, blonde hair. "No, no. No wife. I grew up with a bunch of sisters." He says. "I would like to say I know women very well. Also you can wear this." He says taking his jacket off and wrapping it around my shoulder. 

"Thank you. It is a bit chilly, I forgot my coat at home." I shake my head as I look away suddenly nervous, "I will give it back before I leave. Where is your office?" I ask. 

"It next to Flynn's." I widen my eyes, I was surprise he wasn't calling him by Mr. Anderson. "You okay? You look like you saw a ghost." He says leaning down slightly looking me in the face. 

"I am just not used to people calling their bosses by their actually name and not something formal." I explain making him smile, his small dimple pops up on his cheek making my heart flutter. 

"Oh, Flynn isn't like how other companies are. He lets us all be on first name bases. We are all like family. He is one hell of a guy." I couldn't believe my ears, no way this Flynn was the same one I knew. 

I hear footsteps coming down the hall. I turn around further in my chair and see Flynn making his was towards us. But, his face wasn't scratched up in disgust like it was every other time I saw him. This time he was smiling. 

"Jeremy." He says as he shakes his hand and pats his back, "I have some papers on my desk can you program them into the system for me? Thanks." Flynn says. Jeremy nods his head waving goodbye to me before going back down the hallway. Once he was out of sight Flynn turns towards me. 

"I would appreciate it if you didn't distract my employees. They have very important jobs here, and without them you wouldn't have a job yourself." He glares down at me, "You can keep the chair, and jacket but next time don't cause a disturbance." 

"Next time?" I ask as I grip the back of the chair, "What do you mean next time? I can't do this again until Mary is back from her vacation. I am in charge of the cafe while she is gone. I am assistant manager, I have employees I need to take care of as well." 

"I am sure you'll figure something out. I will nee you back her Friday and Saturday. Maybe even the following Monday. There will also be meetings that you need to attend since you will be working the New Year's Eve party here. You will not miss a meeting. Do you understand?" He says leaning down closer. "I said do you understand." 

"Yes sir." I say through gritted teeth just as the elevator dings, a crowd of people walks out and immediately towards the table. All of them grabbing a cupcake, many doing it without looking as the text on their phones or greet Flynn. 

I felt invisible. I was like a fly on a wall to these people, to Flynn as well. 

As the minutes pass in a blur the boxes eventually end up empty. Flynn walks around and stares into them before smiling and knocking a box into the floor. 

"Well damn. Sorry. Clean these up, then take that chair back where it came from." He says as he watches me stand up and begin to stack the boxes and using my hands to smash them down smaller. "And give me that jacket I will return it. I don't want you speaking to Jeremy again or your job will be mine." 

I slide the jacket off my shoulders and place it into his hand. I pick up the crumbled boxes and walk over to the trash sitting in the corner but he grabs me yanking me back. 

"Not that trash can. The one outside behind the building , that's where you throw you trash away. Good day to you. See you Friday." He leaves in long strides eating the hallway up in distance and disappearing in seconds. 

I sigh heavily as I walk to the elevator. I use my elbow to press the button and wait for the doors to open before walking inside. I set the boxes on the ground, pressing the button to the lobby. As the doors close I relax my head back against the elevator walls. 

The ride down was quick, as the dinging brings me back to reality I pick up the boxes and exit through the opened doors. Once outside I look around, I really didn't want to walk all the way to the back to throw away boxes. 

"Ma'am? I can get that for you. I am heading back there anyway." I turn and notice an old man, his hair as white as snow along with his beard. I smile politely and start to decline. "Don't say no because I am old. I am in good health. I assure you." He laughs as he takes the boxes from me. "You have a great rest of your day." 

I watch as he walks away, finally something to cheer me up from my rough morning. I turn and walk as fast as my legs would let me. Once inside I kick off the heels, I now regret not breaking them in, but the lesson was learned.