Thread: I Simply Cannot Lose this Job! [T-Howell/Ronny]

Angela sat down where Mr. King indicated after setting the neat pile of files on the corner of his desk. He wore a charming smile easy, relaxed. Angela was nothing if not trusting, but a less trusting person might of described his general expression as disarming, meant to relax his prey before the pounce. And relax it did, Angela thought it must have been against the rules of being a secretary to be so at ease with you boss. Wasn't the stressed, over worked, abused woman working for a tyrannical boss the norm in romantic comedies? She had to remind herself that this was real life, not a movie. Her smile faltered slightly, though, as he began to talk of 'whether their relationship would work out'. What were these new guidelines? Something out of the ordinary? Was this going to be the catch of this new, sweet opportunity she'd been given. She was just supposed to do anything he told her, without question. Was that all? Angela was pretty sure that was the standard employer-employee relationship, but the added no matter how strange it may seem Mr. King tacked onto the end gave it an odd twist. Angela wanted to ask her boss what he meant by that, but in almost the same breath, he answered her unspoken question. Angela was no stranger to the idea of 'casual Fridays', but this first request seemed a bit outlandish! Wear anything she wanted? She looked down at her current outfit true, it wasn't exactly comfortable, but wasn't that the point? Style trumps comfort in the business world, or at least she'd been told in college. If she just came to work in sweats or, God forbid, her underwear! That would be downright ridiculous! But then again...he had just told her, follow my every command, no matter how strange. And, if she thought long and hard over it, was it really that strange? To want your employees to be comfortable, so they would do their best work? A bit of her smile returned to her face as she talked her thoughts down from their initial panic at the suggestion. No, it wasn't so strange, Mr. King just so happened to be one excellent boss! U-um, alright, whatever you say, sir! she said standing and nodding. If he wanted her to dress down, then she would dress down, she supposed. The rest of the day she spent thinking and rethinking the exchange, though, unable to get the weird vibe out of her head. It was just her nerves, she told herself, but still. As she made her way home that night, she barely saw the people bustling down the sidewalk around her. Okay, comfy, comfy, what do I have that's comfy, she mumbled to herself as she stood in front of her closet back at home. She immediately disregarded the skirts and tights, too itchy, and the button-up shirts always irritated her neck. Most of her sweaters were pretty comfy, but too warm for the office, and her slacks dug into her sides too harshly. Maybe I'm over thinking this, she thought, looking in her dresser drawers for a suitable pair of pajama sweats. But that wasn't any better the two pairs of sweats she owned were too threadbare and full of holes to be seen in. tossing cloths onto the floor around her, she tried to find something, anything, that wouldn't itch, pinch or squeeze, and was still decent to wear in public, but to no avail. Her 'relaxing' clothes were all too gross to show up to work in. Angela finally reached her underwear drawer, the last untouched drawer, but shook her head. No, definitely not, she laughed, shaking her head. My undies are comfy, sure, but no way am I going out naked to work! Flopping back onto her bed, she sighed and looked at the clothes scattered around her. Maybe I'll just find some slacks that don't pinch TOO much, and that cowl neck sweater. That's comfier than my outfit today, at least. Picking out her loosest pair of slacks and hanging her sweater up to de-wrinkle, Angela roamed the house in a pair of threadbare PJ pants as she fretted the night away, in anticipation for the next day's work. --- She felt sort of weird, walking into work that morning in anything less than business formal. But there she was, black slacks and baggy sweater. She had slipped on a pair of flats before she left, and had tied her hair up into a ponytail. No reason to do your hair if you're wearing casual clothing, she thought, as she sat down at her desk. She just hoped what she was wearing was comfy enough for Mr. King.