Margaret - Chapter 4

After packing my things from my desk and taking a second to breathe in and out. This has been a very overwhelming workday. Maybe this is what I need…yeah, that sounds about right to me. I turned to the doorway with my bag in tow. Delilah seemed to have been waiting outside for me; no reason to keep her waiting for too long. I pressed on the door, letting it swing open outward.

“There you are, slowpoke, how long did ya plan on keeping me waiting?” she beckoned, looking at her again. I didn’t realize how much smaller she was than I was. A smile was planted on her face before she turned her phone towards me. It was filled with advertisements for a new cafe that had recently opened. I didn’t understand why she was so hardheaded about going, but I knew the opportunity to actually hang out with a colleague outside of work was rare for someone like me.

After getting my thoughts together, we went to the cafe she recommended, and we sat in one of the rather decorative corners of the establishment. Delilah offered to grab some drinks for us as I set my belongings next to me on my table. I didn’t know what to get, since I’d never been here before, but she insisted on letting her treat me to her favorite. I wasn’t sure what she’d bring back, so I quietly nodded as I looked over my notes once more from today.

“How did I get myself into this situation? I don’t even like sweets all that much…” I whispered to myself as I shuffled through my notes. I had the concepts down for what I wanted to introduce, though the presentation of said ideas would be an issue. I don’t think I’ve ever spoken in a meeting up to this point. I’d usually just jot down notes I felt were worthwhile, nothing more. The words of the boss played back in my head once more. “So don’t be afraid to partner up!” Would partnering up be beneficial…?

As I loomed in my own thoughts, Delilah returned with what seemed to be two very overly dressed drinks, donned with an orange fizz and a violent amount of whipped cream topping the brim of the glasses. Delilah’s face lit up as she pulled out her phone and took an array of photos. Making sure to capture the natural essence of the abomination sitting in front of us. Her small, curt smile caught me off guard, as she seemed to be fully enjoying herself before glancing up at me.

“What? You’re not gonna take a photo?”

“Is that what we’re supposed to do?”

“I mean, it’s up to you! I like to keep memories like this.”

“Memories, huh?”

Delilah nodded as she placed her lips on the straw in her own cup. The drink slowly lowered as she exclaimed excitedly. “It’s delicious! Go ahead and try yours!”. Her joy was infectious, a lump filled my throat as I gulped, looking at the vast number of calories sitting in front of me. Delilah’s bright eyes shone as a phone was held out in front of her, brimming with anticipation. I followed suit awkwardly, taking a small sip of the drink, trying to keep my face from contorting due to the overwhelming sweetness of the drink. “It’s great…” I mentioned weakly with the best impression of a smile you could get out of me.

“Click!”

The camera’s shutter captured me in my moment of weakness, though Delilah seemed pleased with me indulging her request. “See, we’re making memories! Wasn’t that easy?” She placed her phone down on the table, looking over my set aside notes. Her eyes wandered over the pages for a moment as I recovered from the drink's effect. “So, you seem to have written some more! Let’s chat about this contest!” I nodded as I moved my hand towards the notes, sliding them in front of me. “Let’s discuss.”

After some time, I went over everything about the contest, from the boss's words to the opportunity. Delilah’s eyes focused on me squarely, as she’d finished off her drink quickly after my explanation ended. She’d taken the time to write out her own notes on her phone. “So, that’s the gist of it, huh? That’s a big opportunity! I’ve been wondering, actually, how long have you been working at this job?” Her question hit me with how suddenly her tone switched with each sentence. It felt as if I’d been getting interviewed once again. I cleared my throat as she tapped her finger on her own straw.

“Five years, I’ve interned for two and worked for three.”

“So, you’re a veteran in work standards.”

“I wouldn’t say all that—”

“No, I’m sure you know everything about this company. I’ve noticed the way you looked around, with those uninterested, yet intense eyes.”

Her eyes lowered as her focus seemed to intensify on me. Was she actually watching me that much at the office? What is up with this girl? It’d be best to just answer her directly. “You know how it is, gotta keep eyes out for the competition!” I let out a small laugh as she placed her hands under her chin, tilting her head, hearing my response. “No wonder your ideas are so out there, you’re in this to win. Not to make friends. I can feel it all over you!” she let out a snicker as she continued. “I don’t blame you there, I personally wanna move up too. Why sleep with the fishes when you can be the one putting the hooks in the water, am I right, Margie?”

Her words sat in my mind heavily, weighing down on my brain. Where did this side of Delilah come from? Was her whole nice act a facade? Before I could question her, another sudden response came from her.

“That’s why I want to work with you. I think both of us have goals that align with one another; we don’t plan to kiss Alice’s ass every day for the rest of our lives. So why don’t we leave the competition in the dust with a project that’s sure to rock the higher-ups' socks off?” Her smile and confidence in her words stunned me. It was hard to take my eyes off of her; her explanation was sound. She was correct. I didn’t want to do this forever, she recognized how much I wanted out, and she even took the time to look at me, unlike the others in the office.

I felt my heart begin to pound, each beat growing stronger with anticipation. Her words began to sink deeply into the depths of my mind. She was hungry, just like me. She began to remind me of myself when I started this job. Starving for recognition, the chance to move up. Putting my head down and working to the bone felt like the only option. Waiting five years just for a shot would be cumbersome to most. But this is what I’ve done, and now my chance has arrived…

Would it be better to work with someone like this…?

I snapped back from my thoughts as I met her eyes once more. I then took a sip from the sweet drink once more, willing myself to settle into my answer. Working with others and relying on others isn’t my style, but with someone like this…it just may be possible to make this work. Her outward kindness and willingness to talk seemed plausible. It’d be easier to get people to listen if she were the one talking. Yeah, that sounds very logical.