16

CHAPTER 16
Rachel woke up early the next day, her mind already focused on the tasks she needed to accomplish at work.
Rachel arrived at the bus stop, her coat pulled tightly around her to ward off the early morning chill. She checked the schedule posted at the stop, confirming that the bus would arrive in a few minutes. She looked around and saw a few other people waiting at the stop, huddled together for warmth.
As she waited, she took in her surroundings. The bus stop was located on a quiet street, with a few small shops and buildings nearby. The buildings were tall and imposing, casting long shadows across the street.
Just as she was about to check the schedule again, she heard the low rumble of an approaching bus. She looked up and saw the bus rounding the corner, its headlights illuminating the street as it made its way towards the stop.
As the bus came to a stop, Rachel stepped forward and climbed aboard. She inserted her fare into the machine and took a seat near the back of the bus. She noticed that the bus was relatively empty, with only a few other passengers scattered throughout the vehicle.
The bus was a standard city bus, with rows of seats running down either side. The seats were made of a worn and faded fabric, and the windows were streaked with grime. The overhead lights cast a pale glow throughout the interior, providing just enough light to read or work on a laptop. The bus had a sign board inside with the destination and the route number.
Rachel settled into her seat and watched as the bus pulled away from the stop and began making its way through the city. She took in the sights and sounds of the city as the bus made its way towards her destination.
As she entered the office, she noticed the calm demeanor of her coworkers. Everyone seemed to be going about their day with a sense of purpose and efficiency.
Rachel settled into her work, but her mind was constantly drawn back to the previous day’s encounter with her arrogant boss. She couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease, and she wondered if he would be just as civil today.
“Good morning, Rachel,” her boss said as he walked by her desk.
“Good morning, sir,” Rachel replied, trying to keep her tone neutral.
To her surprise, her boss was actually civil with her, and even went as far as to say “Nice outfit, Rachel. It suits you.”
Rachel tried her best to not let it affect her, but she could not help the way his approval made her feel.
Rachel’s boss walked into the office dressed in an outfit that could only be described as ridiculous. He had on a bright purple suit that looked like it was several sizes too big for him, and the pants were held up by suspenders adorned with cartoon characters.
He had on a matching tie that was pulled up to his chin, and a pair of oversized sunglasses perched on his nose. His shoes were shiny and pointy, and they seemed to be at least 2 sizes too small for him, causing him to walk with a peculiar gait.
As he walked through the office, he greeted everyone with a big smile, but Rachel noticed the snickers and muffled laughter that followed in his wake. She felta little embarrassed for him, and she couldn’t understand why he would choose to dress like that for a day at the office.
As she ate, she overheard snippets of conversation from the other tables around her. Some people were discussing work-related topics, while others were catching up on the latest gossip.
She tried to focus on her work and not pay attention to him, but she stole a glance or two in his direction, trying to understand how someone could take themselves so seriously while dressed like that.
As she sat down to eat lunch in the cafeteria, she found it hard to keep a decent conversation with her colleague William.
“Hey Rachel, how’s it going?” William asked, ambling towards her hurriedly with a plate of food on one hand.
“It’s going well, thanks,” Rachel replied, glancing up to see his imposing structure sit beside her.
“You seem a bit preoccupied today, is everything okay?” William asked with a hint of concern.
“I’m fine, just a lot on my mind,” Rachel replied with a forced smile.
“Well, you know me, always here to lend an ear,” William said with a smile.
Rachel smiled back and nodded, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort.
“So, anything new or exciting happening in your life?” William asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
“Not really,” Rachel replied, trying to keep her tone light and casual.
“Really? Because it seems like something is on your mind, or maybe someone,” William said with a sly grin.
Rachel could feel her cheeks turning red as she tried to play it off with a laugh. “No, no one in particular,” she said.
“Alright, if you say so,” William said with a chuckle. “But if you ever need to talk, just let me know.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Rachel said, relieved to have the conversation end. She finished her meal quickly and left the cafeteria, eager to get back to work and put the whole uncomfortable conversation behind her.
Rachel left the cafeteria and made her way back to her desk, determined to push these thoughts out of her mind and focus on getting the job done. She sat down and began to work, her mind laser-focused on her tasks at hand. She wouldn’t let her boss or anyone else get in the way of her doing her job to the best of her ability.
As she worked, the day passed by quickly and before she knew it, it was time to leave. She gathered her things and made her way home, her mind already turning towards the tasks she needed to accomplish tomorrow