Day 1
Changed By You
He knocked at the slightly opened door, out of urbanity, before entering the office.
“You’re a thirty seconds late. You know how he feels about being late. You didn’t attend the orientation, huh.” Was not even looking at him, busy going through the file she was reading.
“It is still 11 AM, Jessica.” He placed the folder on her table.
“Yeah, and 30 se…,” noticing what he was wearing, “...conds. You went here, looking like that. You entered the building, wearing that outfit. People see you enter the building looking like that.”
“Yes.” He dusted off his hoodie and jeans. “I look okay.”
“That is the problem. You look okay.” Standing up, “Follow me.” “Where are we going?” They headed towards the elevators. A female employee passed by their direction. “This day is getting better and better,” grabbing the employee by the hood of her jacket, almost making the female employee lose her balance.
“What now, Jessica? I don’t have time for this, you know. Did you forgot about the meeting?” Amber pulled the sleeves of her hoodie up and steps away from Jessica, making Jessica let go. She was wearing jeans and skate shoes like Henry.
“Oh, we have time.” Jessica dialed their boss’s number. “Hello. I am with Amber and Henry.” “What the hell is going on?” Amber shouted. The three entered the elevator. “Are you going to say something to me? You look like you wanted to. What is it?” Amber started talking to the man they were with. “Amber, shut up. I am on the phone.” "Amber, shut up. No, I will not. And what’s so funny?”
“Wait a sec. You, shut up.” Jessica pointed at a corner. “You, just stand there. Don’t laugh, don’t smirk, don't do whatever you were doing earlier so she will shut up.” pointing to another corner. “We are all grown-ups here, for goodness sake. Act like one.” “Be sure to be back here by two. That gives you three hours. That is enough time for you.” Jessica listened to Heechul. “Not a second late.” She guaranteed, “Bye.”
“I was half a minute late.”
“Amber meet Henry. Henry, this is Amber.” “Hi.” He extended his hand for a handshake. “Amber, be nice.” Jessica reminded Amber of proper etiquette. Amber shook Henry’s hand, “Hi.” She turned her head to Jessica, smiling at her. “See how nice I am.” “Why is it hard for you to be nice?” “Because it is tiring to pretend to be nice to other people.”
The elevator doors opened, Jessica exited first, then Amber and lastly Henry. They walked towards the main doors of the building. One of the security opening the doors for them. A car already parked outside, waiting for them. Henry opened the car door for Jessica and Amber, smiling at the ladies as they entered the car. And seeing that smile of his irritated Amber again. She wasn’t even trying to hide it from anyone. Him being around her annoyed her, couldn’t forget that he smirked back at the elevator and sneaked glances at her. Jessica thought Amber’s short temper was never been this amusing to witness. Amber’s temper was way too short for Henry however she didn’t usually pay that much attention to anyone before. What changed Amber’s mind?
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Amber and Henry couldn’t look more less interested on what they were doing there.
“Josephine.” Krystal greeted. “ you.” Amber greeted back. “You act tough and your name is Josephine.” “Yeah.” “Okay, Jo--Amber.” “If I ever hear you call me any other name besides Amber, I-- nah, I won’t tell you. It will be a surprise.”
Krystal walked towards to a certain section, grabbed clothes she liked for Henry to wear and pointed to one of the dressing rooms. “Oh my God. She likes him.” Krystal whispered to Jessica and then handed over the clothes to Henry.
Jessica looked at Amber. “And for you,” She went to a different section. “Hmm.” Amber decided to seat down at one of the long cushioned chairs since she was sure Jessica wouldn’t let her leave anytime soon. “If you gonna force me to wear a dress, I will punch your ‘Thank you, Doctor’ face. You are not fooling anyone with that face of yours.” Amber carefully watched the clothes Jessica was holding.
Jessica smiled as she turned around, holding what she wanted Amber to wear. She waited for Amber to get them from her, arm stretched out, showing them to Amber but Amber just looked at her. “Amber.” “Yes?”
“Do I look okay now?” Henry went out his dressing room. “I am the one who selected those clothes so you don’t just look okay. You look great.” Krystal replied.
Jessica placed the outfit on Amber’s lap. Amber ended up staring at Henry and Jessica noticed what Amber was doing, “Looks like you’re loving the view way too much.”
“What are you talking about?” Amber walked towards the second dressing room. Henry grinned, able to hear Amber and Jessica’s conversation, knowing what Amber did.
Krystal let Henry choose the shoes he wanted to wear. Henry noticed the brands of clothes and footwear. “These don’t come cheap. I could buy a shirt, but that’s it.” He removed his dirty sneakers.
“Heechul wants his employees to have that certain look to match the name and reputation of the company.” Jessica saw the shoes Henry was trying on. “Krystal let you choose among all of these pairs of shoes, and you chose those.” Krystal gave him the right pair, and new pair of socks, since his socks didn’t actually match and had holes on them.
“If we don’t look great, people won’t take us seriously. Is that what you are trying to say?” Henry hoped he understood what Jessica was trying to let him understand. “Please do not go to work tomorrow looking like you are still in college, late for a class or an exam. And don’t you ever say that you don’t have the money.”
Krystal was again choosing clothes for Henry.
“I can spend my money the way I want to. I earned it. I worked hard for it.” Henry stood in front of the mirror, just in time, Amber was getting out of the dressing room.
“We are great at what we do. That is why people take us seriously. That is why the company is successful.” Amber pointed out, listening all this time on Jessica and Henry's conversation. “Not because of the clothes we are.” “The way we look is one of the reasons. We dress like we know what we are doing.” “Well, that is not the main reason. Being great at what we do is. Why not only focus on that?”
He looked at her from head to toe, her reflection, while he folded his sleeves, standing in front of the mirror. He was definitely enjoying his day wherever they were. Krystal saw what Henry was doing. “You are checking her out.” “I am fixing my sleeves.” Henry showed them to Krystal. “And checking her out.” Krystal was sure.
“Don’t deny it.” Amber told Henry. “Yeah, like the fact that you were not enjoying the view.” Henry replied. “I wasn't checking you out. I am not blind so I obviously I could see you." “You could have just looked at something or someone else but you chose to look at Henry,” Jessica placed a pair of shoes near Amber’s feet. “I am not talking to you, Jessica.”
“And stop staring at my . I already know it’s perfect.” She picked up the other shoe. With her back facing Henry, Krystal and Jessica, she smiled.
“So I am expecting for you to dress better next time when you go the office. I even pick out three more outfits for you so you no excuse of not having any good clothes to wear” Jessica handed them over to Amber.
“Yeah, because he wants his employees to have that certain look to match the name and reputation of the company.” Amber repeated what she heard Jessica telling Henry. “That is not what he wants. That is what you want, Jessica.”
“I had to convince him.” “Convincing him for you to get paid just to go shopping,” Amber teased. “We are great in what we do. We should look great too. Just by looking at us, our clients will know that made the right decision.”
“Whoever faces the clients should only be the ones who dress up whatever we are wearing now. I don’t talk to the clients that’s why I wear shirts, hoodies, jeans, and rubber shoes.”
“Me too.” Henry then showed Jessica the way he tied his necktie, smiling. “Tada!” He tied it like the way shoelaces were tied. Amber laughed since Jessica didn’t find what Henry just did funny. Henry started fixing his necktie, scared of Jessica.
“If we have the same job then why did I just met you? You seem like you are not a new employee.”
“He was originally from our office in China working for Mi and Victoria. Now, you two will be working together. Isn't that great? First day working together.
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