Margaret - Chapter 3

After some smaller details were admitted, the meeting was over, and everyone ran back to their desks to plan out their next steps. I was able to sneak out to get to work beforehand, knowing that I had an idea to work with before the news, I basically have an advantage! A smirk crossed my face as I began to click away at my keyboard. Letting my fingers move without a second for thought. “I’ve got this in the bag, just you watch!” I said to myself, gleefully continuing with my work. Who’d have thought a typical, trivial meeting would bring such a joyous opportunity? I can’t let it slip! My eye caught a glance at my phone, which sat in the corner. A small buzz caught my attention as a worthless notification came in. I wasn’t the type to check my phone for messages while at work, but I didn’t mind since the mood was so exuberant. What harm can checking my phone do in such a moment?

I reached over to see a message chime.

“New Message! Unknown sender…?”

—

An unknown sender? Spam messages are commonplace these days, but for me to be receiving them…

I pressed on the message, and the app opened up a green message. The white words sprawled along my screen. I adjusted my glasses to read it clearly.

“Hey, it’s your grandmother. I don’t know how to work these things. Phones are confusing. How’s your job? It’s good, right? Do your best. Love Grandma.”

Bewilderment filled my face; I ended up peering closely at my screen. It was one thing to receive a message; it was another to receive it from my grandmother. I’d expect her to try to mail me a letter before getting a phone to message me. She was always a hands-on person. I let out a small sigh, seeing as I couldn’t ignore her surprising text.

Another chime came from the phone.

“You can always come home if things aren’t working out.”

I felt my hand tighten around my phone; it was an unconscious movement. After giving myself a moment, I leaned back in my seat before typing back a response. I owe her that much.

“I’m doing well, Grandma, working harder every day!”

A chime followed quickly.

“I know you’re prone to overworking yourself. Take a break when you need it. You’re always welcome back.”

“I’m fine, Grandma.”

“Okay. Let me know if there’s anything we can do.”

“Okay, Grandma.”

*Click*

I dropped the phone back on the desk, realizing how tiring the conversation had made me. I care about my grandparents, but I can’t have them worrying so much about me. I’m an adult, I can handle myself. My goal of moving up in this company is finally within grasp. I don’t need their constant involvement to get in the way.

I slouched in my chair for a moment and let out a deep, exasperated sigh. I didn’t need any more distractions to get in the way of my goal at hand. I haven’t even gotten the chance to start my project. I need to focus, no more distractions!

“Hey there, your name’s Margaret, right?” a voice called out to her from behind. A younger-looking woman, with the various smells mentioned before, appeared suddenly behind my chair. Her eyes were bright, and her skin looked as if she’d brighten up any room she walked into. Her sleek black hair fell to her shoulders with a prominent beauty mark under her left eye. “Heya, my name’s Delilah. I missed out on the meeting. I was wondering if you could fill me in on the details?” Her eyes looked over me as if I were the only person in the room. The shock of being talked to directly by someone who looked like this startled me, to say the least.

“Uh, have we—met?”

“Nah, we haven’t spoken much, but I’d like to! You seem pretty capable.”

“C-capable? Oh, surely you jest.”

“I mean, looking at what’s on your screen, you seem very…dedicated.”

Glancing over to my screen once more, walls of text had surfaced over my screen, filled with an assortment of ideas. Embarrassed, I moved my seat back to my desk, covering my screen with my back. “Ah! Yes, I’d say, this is very important to me. I want to give this competition my best!” A wry smile left my face, filled with embarrassment; I couldn’t look at her. Social interaction within the job is hard when no one talks to you! Her eyes lowered as she peered into what seemed to be the depths of my soul before she turned away.

“I see, I thought your ideas seemed very interesting…the higher-ups would surely be interested in such work. I think I have a pretty good eye for who sticks out. And you’re sticking out like a sore thumb with these ideas.” She pursed her lips against her fingers, as she made a kissing sound, mimicking a chef. “It’s magnificent, as they’d say,” she said, letting out a small giggle. Words like these only left me in a bigger state of confusion. I couldn’t put together why someone as bright and charming as her would take the time to notice my work. Even my bosses couldn’t take a moment to check on any designs or paperwork I sent them. This girl, who’s been here for so little time, taking the time on me felt like a dream.

“W-well, we could discuss the competition…I have some free time.”

‘Really? You mean it?”

“Yeah… I wouldn’t mind.”

“Great, let me put my number in your phone.”

“Huh, why…?”

“So, we can chat outside of work, of course. I wanna know all the deets.”

“Ah, okay.”

She grabbed my phone without a moment’s notice, quickly typing her contact information in before I could say a word. I know how to use my phone just fine but seeing the speed at which she entered her contact made me feel like my grandma. She handed the phone back, then waved to me and walked away. I raised my hand to wave back, but before I knew it, she’d disappeared amongst the chaos that was this workplace.

Well, that was something. I don’t think I’ve had someone hold a conversation with me since my school days. Is this what youth feels like? No, I’m definitely exaggerating. Right, I’ve got to get back to work; there’s no time to get held up with small talk. Maybe we could chat about the project sometime? The interaction boggled within my head for the rest of the workday. Seamlessly playing within my brain with each sentence formed through my projects. I didn’t know such a small conversation could have this effect. Was I really that much of a loner? I’d come to accept it, but this was unprecedented. The time passed by so quickly while I was stuck in my head; I didn’t realize that the majority of coworkers had already gone home for the day. A chime sounded from my phone once more.

“Delilah”

What could she want? I don’t see her around, so maybe she headed home…? I clicked the notification and watched the wall of text appear. I was stunned to see the number of messages that have come in.

“Heya Margie, wanna chat about the project?”

“I have some different ideas!”

“Do you wanna meet up sometime?”

“We could go to this cute cafe!”

Uh, okay. That’s a lot even for me. Let me try to—

“Oh, you’re still in the office! I’ll see you outside ^^”

HUH? The sudden knowledge of my location being typed out in real time, I glanced to the doorway where a waiting, shadowed figure was outside of the faded glass. I don’t know how to handle such assertive people; she’s flipping my normal schedule with her antics. Though it’s quite nice to talk to someone other than my grandparents for once…