Executive Sweet (A Sample)

***

The elevator door opened on the top floor and Kay stepped out. She took a moment to appreciate where she was. It's not often that you get to visit the executive floor-she might as well enjoy the view.

Kay had expected it to be all chrome and glass, the usual modern office theme, but the decor was nothing of the kind. Instead, the executive floor continued the style of the first floor, but was much more stately. The walls were dark wood, even more lavishly carved than the lobby. The floors were carpeted with deep pile, and the ceilings were sky high. A few works of art adorned the walls and she spent a bit of time admiring them. One painting showed a prince holding a skull, and she almost laughed when she got the joke. Hamlet, holding Yorick's skull. She was glad to see that the Yorick Corporation had a sense of humor.

By comparison to the lobby below, the executive floor was quiet. Too quiet. None of that bustle of busyness; the floor seemed nearly empty. A small desk sat on the left and a waiting area filled the right side. An older woman, the only person in sight, sat at the desk typing at her computer. Why am I here? This isn't right. The warning bells kept up their steady ding, ding, ding.

Kay walked carefully to the desk, as if she wasn't supposed to make any noise. The sign said "Doris Chandler" and the woman sitting there had a pretty face but an old-fashioned hairdo. Kay stood a few feet away and waited for Doris to finish typing.

After a few seconds, Doris looked up, saw Kay, and gasped. Her face brightened and she put a hand to her chest, as if to contain her joy. "Oh my god! Please tell me your name is Kay."

Ding, ding, ding. Kay wasn't just any visitor to the executive floor; they were eagerly awaiting her. "Why, yes, I'm Kay. Kay Samson. I was told to . . ." But before she could even finish her sentence, Doris leapt from the chair and ran around her desk with open arms to give Kay a big hug. Clang, clang, clang. "Welcome, Kay. I'm so happy to meet you! I'm Doris."

This was too strange. "I . . . Wait, are you sure you have the right person, Doris? This is just my first day of work. Aren't I supposed to go to new-employee orientation?"

Doris stood there and looked Kay up and down. "No, you're definitely the right person. We redirected your orientation so that you would come here first. Dan Avery, our CEO, wants to talk to you before you start work. Come right this way." Doris walked to the big double doors near her desk.