The sun barely kissed the skyline when I stood before the gleaming glass doors of Skype for the second time but now as an official employee.
A tiny flutter of nerves stirred inside me excitement, fear, hope ;all fighting for space in my chest.
This was it.
The beginning of something new.
As I stepped inside, the polished floors reflected the pristine walls around me, and everything smelled faintly of fresh linen and expensive coffee. People bustled past, dressed in sleek professional outfits, their faces focused, determined.
I clutched my file closer to my chest, feeling incredibly small for a moment.
Then a familiar voice pierced through the buzz.
"Selene!"
I turned, relief washing over me like a warm wave.
Laura.
Her golden hair was tied back neatly today, her friendly smile a welcome sight among all the unfamiliar faces.
"You made it!" she grinned, pulling me into a quick side hug.
"I did," I laughed, some of the tightness easing from my shoulders. "Now the real question is… do I know what I'm doing?"
Laura chuckled, linking her arm through mine playfully.
"Well, do you at least know your way around?"
I hesitated, biting my lip. "I could... try?"
The uncertainty in my voice made Laura laugh again, shaking her head affectionately.
"Come on, rookie. I'll walk you."
She led me confidently through the large lobby, past an indoor fountain that looked like something pulled out of a billionaire's backyard. Everywhere I looked, people were busy, tapping away at laptops, hurrying to meetings, exchanging curt nods.
It was like stepping into a whole different world.
One I wasn't sure I belonged to yet.
When we reached the elevators, Laura jabbed the up button, glancing at me over her shoulder.
"Here's a tip," she said, lowering her voice like it was a secret. "When you get in, just input your office number. The elevator will take care of the rest."
My brows lifted. "That's... futuristic."
She grinned. "You'll get used to it. Oh, and before I forget, your office number is the same as your apartment number. They match the workers' rooms and offices so no one gets confused."
The doors slid open with a soft ding, and she gave me a little shove toward the inside.
"You'll be fine, Selene. Welcome to the madness."
I smiled, feeling a little steadier thanks to her. "Thanks, Laura."
She waved cheerfully as the doors closed, her figure growing smaller.
I punched in my office number (457) and the elevator hummed softly as it started moving upward.
When it opened again, I stepped into a quiet, carpeted hallway, the walls lined with sleek black and gold nameplates.
My eyes scanned quickly, heart beating faster until I found it Room 457.
There it was.
My space.
My future.
The door was slightly ajar, and as I pushed it open, I noticed immediately that the office wasn't empty.
Seated casually in the chair opposite mine, sipping on a huge cup of coffee and munching noisily on a burger, was Nelson.
He looked up at the sound of the door and grinned, a smear of ketchup at the corner of his mouth.
"Well, well, if it isn't Miss 'I-don't-know-anyone' back at it," he said with mock surprise, tossing his burger wrapper into the trash with a lazy flick.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Good morning to you too, Nelson."
He leaned back in his chair, balancing it on two legs dangerously, and took a long sip of coffee.
"First day nerves?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Maybe a little," I admitted, setting my bag down on the desk that was clearly mine neat, polished, and waiting.
He grinned, brushing imaginary dust off his black button-up shirt.
"You'll survive. We all do. Eventually."
I rolled my eyes, plopping into my chair and swiveling it a little for good measure.
"And what about you? First day of harassing newcomers?"
He laughed, tossing his coffee cup into the trash without even looking (and somehow making it).
"Harassment is a strong word," he said, feigning innocence. "I prefer to think of it as... welcome entertainment."
I shook my head, smiling despite myself.
There was something about Nelson that was hard to dislike. He had that effortless charm, the kind of guy who could probably talk his way out of a bank robbery without even trying.
He tapped his pen against the desk, eyeing me thoughtfully.
"Alright, Selene," he said, voice a little more serious now. "Ready to delve into the jungle?"
I smirked.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
He gave a mock salute, then grabbed a thick folder from his desk, sliding it across toward me.
"Lesson one: survive your first week without crying."
I picked up the folder, feeling its weight. Inside were documents, training materials, things I would probably have to memorize backwards and forwards.
It was daunting.
Exciting.
Terrifying.
But also for the first time in a long while it felt right.
As Nelson launched into a ridiculous analogy about how working at Skype was like being on a sinking ship but with free snacks, I let myself relax a little.
Maybe... just maybe...
I could belong here.
Maybe I could restructure the ship itself...or worsen it.
And somewhere, tucked away in the back of my mind, the words of that strange encrypted message echoed faintly.
Be careful.