[ MP ] Erik Satie - Gymnopedie No . 1

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 I was just about to swipe the punch clock, when I noticed her. 
 
 “ Hi… Uh… Max? Nice to meet you! I ’ m new here, ” Jenny said. 
 
 “ Hi Jenny! That ’ s right, I ’ m Max. Welcome to the company, ” I replied. 
 
 I worked in the accounting department. 
 
 Jenny was a cashier. 
 
 Since the day we met, we hardly saw each other. 
 
 After all, she worked in the front, and I was hidden, in the offices. But she occasionally visited my office. 
 
 It always made my day. Working in accounting meant you worked alone. However it didn ’ t mean you were always alone. There were always people coming and going, people who always had problems only I can fix. 
 
 But Jenny was different. 
 
 After a few months, she started visiting my office. 
 
 “ Good afternoon Max! ” Jenny said. “ Don ’ t give me that look. I hardly visit you for work. ” She gasped. “ But don ’ t tell our superiors about that! ” 
 
 I couldn ’ t help myself. I beamed and she reciprocated the response with a warm smile. “ Oh, hi Jenny! C-Can I ask you something? ” I shifted nervously in my chair. 
 
 “ Sure Max, you can ask me anything. ” 
 
 “ Good. Now, listen. I… uh… It ’ s almost lunch time. Can we… go get something to eat? Together? ” I was unforgivingly sheepish, I hoped she couldn ’ t detect it. 
 
 “ Max, ” Jenny said. She sounded like she was about to put down a stray. 
 
 I looked away. I failed. But she did something unexpected. 
 
 She put a hand on my arm, my chest tightened immediately. “ Of course I would. Hey, you alright? You look like you ’ re about to break down. ” 
 
 My face flushed. “ I ’ m good. Don ’ t be silly. I ’ ll finish this one task. Then we can get going. ” 
 
 “ Sounds like a plan! ” Jenny smiled once more. “ I ’ ll wait by the store entrance. I ’ ll give you… Ten minutes! Got it? ” 
 
 Jenny surprised me. She was always polite, at least to me. So when she started demanding things from me, in my office, I couldn ’ t help but cringe. I hated myself. It was like she was just another person that needed something from me. That interrupted my work, to get their work done. 
 
 I closed my eyes and concentrated. I thought about the punch clock, then about the store entrance. Then I saw her. Waiting for me. I opened my eyes and quickly got to work, to bang out a few payments here and there. 
 
 I finally clocked out and made my way to the store entrance. I saw Jenny by the doors. She was on her phone, probably replying to an email, or browsing Reddit. I was about to greet her, when I noticed someone behind her. Actually there was a whole group of people behind her. 
 
 “ Hi Max! I asked several of my friends to come with us, I hope that ’ s okay. ” Jenny smiled, a sinister aura emanated from her core. 
 
 I was honestly caught off guard. “ Of course! ” I lied. “ The more the merrier. Isn ’ t that right? ” 
 
 “ That ’ s right! But! I ’ ll sit beside you at the restaurant, okay! ” Jenny demanded. 
 
 Hope is a funny thing. It creeps up behind something unpleasant, and when it does, it ’ s like a ray of sunshine breaking through gray storm clouds. 
 
 “ Fine by me, let ’ s go! ”
