Meryl arrived at Coy after dropping Michelle off at school. It was her first day at work, and she wanted to make a good impression. She checked her wristwatch and took the elevator to the third floor. When she got off, she headed towards the office block, where she saw a young woman with shoulder-length red hair, probably in her early twenties.

"Good day," Meryl said, and the woman turned to face her. She smiled and said, "Good day to you, too. Can I help you with something?"

"I'm a new employee," Meryl said nervously. She could tell the woman was not pleased with her tardiness.

"And what time do you think it is appropriate to arrive at the office?" the woman questioned. "This is not a place for jokes. This is an office, and if you're late again, you'll be fired."

Meryl's heart sank. She felt like a fool for being late on her first day. She nodded and hung her head in shame.

The woman turned to the other employees. "And it's not just her if any of you tries to play games with me, you'll be shown the door. Do I make myself clear?" she barked. There was a murmur of assent from the assembled workers.

Meryl felt like she wanted to sink into the floor. She'd made a terrible first impression, and now she had to work with this woman who seemed to hate her. She took a deep breath and tried to focus on the task at hand. It was going to be a long day.

The woman left, and the other employees went back to their work.

Meryl made her way to her desk, where her name was printed in bold letters. She sat down in the chair behind it and took a deep breath. Just then, a man with blonde hair approached her.

"Don't worry about her," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "She's always like that."

"What a jerk," Meryl mumbled under her breath.

The man smiled. "It's okay. I know she can be a bit... difficult. I'm Iris Caesar, by the way. Pleased to meet you."

"Meryl Channell,"

"Would you like me to show you around?" he asked.

"That would be great, thank you," Meryl replied, grateful for the offer.

He led her around the office, pointing out the various departments and introducing her to some of the other employees. He was friendly and easy to talk to, and Meryl found herself relaxing in his presence.

Iris paused for a moment, then asked, "Is this your first time working here?"

Meryl nodded slowly. "Yes, it is," she said.

Cassie had been her best friend since high school. They'd been through so much together - the good times and the bad. And when Meryl became pregnant with Michelle, Cassie had been there for her every step of the way. She'd helped with doctor's appointments, baby showers, and even babysat when Meryl needed a break.

But as Michelle grew older, Meryl started to feel like she was a burden on Cassie. Cassie had her own life, her own family and responsibilities. So, when Meryl saw the job posting, she knew it was time to take that next step.

"Glad to have you here," Iris said with a smile as he continued to show her around.

"How long have you been working here?" Meryl found herself asking.

"I've been here for about a year now," he replied. "It's been a great experience so far. Everyone here is so friendly and supportive. I think you'll really enjoy it here."

Meryl nodded. "I'm glad to hear that," she said. "It's nice to know that this is a supportive environment. It can be scary starting a new job."

********

"Tyrson stood at the window, jerking the curtains open with a sudden movement. He turned, ready to leave the room, when Julia burst through the door.

She was the only person who could enter his office without knocking, as she was the daughter of his father's best friend.

"What are you trying to prove, Tyrson?" she asked. "We already have enough employees. Why did you order Luna to give those thugs a job?"

Tyrson sighed and sat back down in his chair. "
"Julia, you will never understand the way I do things," Tyrson said, raising his voice. "There is always a reason for my actions."

"If I don't understand your reasons, who will?" she asked, keeping her voice level.

"There is someone who does understand," Tyrson replied, more calmly now. "But it seems she doesn't anymore."

Julia shook her head. "Fine, then. It's up to you," she said, then turned and left, closing the door behind her.

*******

Iris led Meryl to a door with a shiny brass knob. In bold letters, the sign read "CEO Office."

"And this is the CEO's office," Iris said, with a hint of pride in his voice. Meryl nodded, taking in her surroundings.

"I'll give you one piece of advice," Iris said, his tone turning serious. "Stay away from him as much as possible."

Meryl couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Is he really that bad?" she asked, a bit too loudly. She covered her mouth, realizing she'd been too loud.

Iris couldn't help but chuckle at Meryl's actions. "You're a feisty one, aren't you?" he said. "Did you forget we're in front of the CEO's office?"

Meryl smiled innocently. Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither of them could look away. Finally, Iris cleared his throat and looked away, his face flushed.

"You're cute"

Meryl could feel her own cheeks burning as well. She turned her attention to the CEO's door, willing herself to calm down. Just then, she heard the sound of a phone ringing. Iris fumbled for his phone,

Meryl stood there, taking in the surroundings. She couldn't help but feel drawn to the door, as if she needed to see what was on the other side.

Without thinking, she twisted the knob and pushed the door open. To her surprise, the office was even more impressive than she had imagined. It was spacious and luxurious, with a large desk, comfortable furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a stunning view of the city skyline.

She walked further into the room, unable to tear her eyes away from the impressive space. She had never seen an office like this before.

The room's most striking feature was a mahogany desk, nestled in a small alcove. On top of it sat a full set of stationery, along with a sleek laptop.

"Who are you?" a deep voice demanded from behind her. Meryl froze, it was the CEO himself.

The man's voice was stern and demanding. "What on earth are you doing in my office?" he asked. Tyrson's voice was deep and husky, with a slight southern accent.

Meryl's heart was pounding in her chest. She didn't dare turn around, fearing what she might see when she faced him. But at the same time, she was curious. Something about his voice sounded familiar, but she couldn't place it.

She stood frozen, not knowing what to do. What was she supposed to say? She knew she was in trouble, but she didn't want to make the situation worse.

Meryl's heart raced as the footsteps grew louder, and she could feel the man getting closer. She tried to steel herself, hoping he wouldn't notice how nervous she was.

Just then, the door burst open. Meryl froze, but it wasn't the man who had been following her. It was Iris, her coworker.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt," he said. "I think she must have gotten lost. I'll take her back to her office." He took Meryl's hand and led her out of the room. They hurried down the hallway, Meryl's heart still pounding.

Meryl exhaled the breath she had been holding, and her body relaxed. She hadn't realized how tense she had been.

"That was close," she said, still a little breathless.

"You're telling me," Iris replied. "I can't believe you actually went into his office after I told you not to. You're crazy, you know that?"

"I guess so," Meryl said, laughing a little. "At least we're both still in one piece."

"That's the important thing," Iris said. "Now, let's get back to work.

                
                                    ***
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