Page 2 of FWB
Tiegan
T oday is the first day of my new life. My Big Girl Life, if you will.
No more working back-breaking jobs that will get me nowhere.
I’m officially a desk job girl now. It’s just computers and cushy office chairs from here on out.
Okay, so I’m in the mail room, but still.
It’s better than where I came from. Every opportunity is a stepping stone to something better.
“God, I’m so fucking nervous,” I say to my best friend via FaceTime as I park my car in the building’s garage.
“I know, but you are going to kick so much ass! And then we’re going out to celebrate tonight.
” Even through the phone, Kiersten’s amber skin is kissed by the sun.
It’s such a stunning pairing with her fiery red hair that she got from her very Irish mother’s side of the family.
“And if today happens to suck, we’ll still be drowning our sorrows in queso and margaritas! ”
“You know I’m more of a Miami Vice kinda girl.”
“Whatever. As long as there’s alcohol.”
I take my phone out of its dashboard holder and make my way out of my black Honda CR-V. “Yes, I definitely see a drink or two in my near future. I’m about to walk in, though, so I’ll text you later and let you know how it’s going.”
“Okay! Good luck! Love you.”
“Love you too,” I say as I end the call.
Tucking my phone into my bag adorned with cats and various enamel pins showcasing my eclectic hobbies and interests, I walk to the garage elevators, and press the button to take me to the lobby of the high-rise building I’m to call my work home for the foreseeable future.
I stare at my reflection in the elevator doors as I make my way to the lobby floor, adjusting the skirt of my black-and-white polka-dot dress, admiring the latest tattoo on my leg—a raccoon wizard—and check for lipstick stains in my teeth.
You can do this, Tiegan. It’s just a job.
The elevator doors slide open to the lobby’s atrium.
I step out onto the marble floors and take a moment to absorb it all.
In front of me, potted trees taller than I am surround various couches in rich red hues and their throw pillows placed just so amongst them.
Comfortable-looking chairs fill the spaces in between, with glass coffee tables in the middle of each of the six seating sections throughout the lobby.
A few building tenants are sitting around, having private conversations.
Others are by themselves, checking their phones.
I make my way across the lobby, my black heels clicking in time with my heartbeat, until I reach the security check-in. I clear my throat as I approach. “Hello. I’m Tiegan Schulz. I’m supposed to be starting at Kroger and Associates today.”
The burly security guard looks up from his half-eaten doughnut and stares at me for a minute before wiping crumbs from his Burt Reynolds mustache and pointing to his left. “Kroger is floors twelve through fourteen. Orientation is on thirteen.”
“Got it. Thanks.” I make my way to the elevators that will take me to the upper floors. Mr. Security Guard goes back to finishing his doughnut in two big bites.
As I’m waiting for the elevator, the most gorgeous man I have ever seen in my life comes up and waits next to me.
He’s not gorgeous in the conventional way, more of an attainable way.
He obviously doesn’t have a six-pack and he’s under six feet tall.
But it’s the way he carries himself that makes him heart-stopping.
You can tell he has this confidence about him but completely ignores it.
He must be in his late thirties because I can see a little gray peeking out against his dark, shaggy hair and well-kept beard.
And his eyes! They are like the richest pools of chocolate that I just want to swim in.
He smiles at me as we pile into the elevator.
“What floor?” he asks, his finger hovering over the buttons.
“Thirteen. Thanks,” I reply, trying to hide the blush creeping up my cheeks.
“Oh, working at Kroger, huh? Are you new? You must be headed to orientation.”
“Yeah, I am, actually. Do you work there as well?”
“I do. I’m an AV engineer.” He holds out his hand. “I’m Kenny.”
I take his firm grip in mine. “Tiegan.”
“Well, Tiegan. Twelve is my stop, but good luck on your first day. Welcome to Kroger. I’m sure we’ll run into each other eventually,” Kenny says as the elevator stops on his floor.
“Sounds good. Thanks again.”
And just like that, he’s gone and I’m left wondering what it would be like to kiss those lips that just left me well wishes. Snap out of it, Tiegan! It’s your first day. Calm your tits.
When the elevator opens to the thirteenth floor, I step out into yet another waiting area. I see double doors on either end of the room and go for the ones to my right. I push the button for the intercom, and a woman’s voice answers, “Kroger and Associates.”
“Um, hi. I’m Tiegan Schultz. I’m here for orientation.”
The next thing I know, the door buzzes and I swing it open.
I’m greeted by a petite blonde woman who reminds me a bit of Kristin Chenoweth.
She extends her hand to me, flashing the massive pear-shaped diamond ring on her finger.
“I’m Paula Creed, but everyone just calls me Ms. Paula.
I’m the receptionist. Can I get you anything? Water?”
I take Ms. Paula’s dainty hand in mine. “Nice to meet you, and no, thanks. I’m fine.”
“Alright, well you’re a bit early for orientation, but there’s one other person already in the boardroom. So just go on in and make yourself comfortable,” she says in her lilting southern drawl.
I thank her again and make my way to the boardroom. Upon entering, I see a tall, muscular man standing at the windows admiring the view. Man, what are they putting in the water at this place?
He hears me enter and turns, flashing me a megawatt smile. It’s blinding against his dark skin. “Hey! I’m Jerome! Are you new too?” he asks as he makes his way over to me, hand extended for a shake.
I receive his strong grip in mine. “Yeah, I am. I’m Tiegan. Is today also your first day?”
“Yeah.” Then stage whispers, “I’m nervous as hell though, but don’t tell anyone.”
I can immediately tell that Jerome and I are going to become fast friends. “Your secret is safe with me,” I say as I give him my first genuine smile of the day. “What are you doing for the company?”
“I’m a service desk technician. I will fix your computer when you fry it.”
“Wow. That’s impressive. I figured you’d be a lawyer or something.”
“Yeah, I get that a lot. But I’m good at what I do and I enjoy it, so I don’t care what people may think. What about you? What will you be doing?”
I blush, embarrassed by my minuscule job when compared to his. “Mailroom and document processing.”
If Jerome thinks less of my entry-level position, he doesn’t show it. “Hell, yeah! I have a feeling I’ll be sending out lots of equipment here, so we’ll get to know each other real fast!”
More people start coming in, so we take our seats around the boardroom table.
Once everyone is seated, a monster of a man comes in and stands at the front of the room.
He is easily the tallest person I have ever seen, towering above all of us sitting.
He has to be a former basketball player.
His dark skin is a contrast to the all-beige outfit he wears.
He plasters on a smile I can tell is fake from a mile away.
“Hello, everyone, and welcome to Kroger and Associates. I’m Larold Hartman, but you can call me Larry. ”
Everyone gives their murmured hellos.
“I am the Senior Operations Manager here at Kroger, and I will be the one to lead your orientation today.”
As Larry drones on for over an hour about how great it is to work for the company and what we can expect from working here, I get the distinct feeling that he is not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Anytime one of the new employees asks even a slightly difficult question, Larry will deflect or say, “You know, I’ll have to get back to you on that.
” There is something about him I don’t like that I can’t quite put my finger on yet.
Once Larry finishes going on about the basics of Kroger and Associates, he introduces his wife, Patricia Hartman, who is apparently head of HR for the firm.
Great. So if I have a problem with Mr. Potato Head Larry, I’m basically shit out of luck because his wife won’t do anything about him.
Let’s just hope I can stay on his good side since it sounds like my department falls under his jurisdiction.
Patricia Hartman enters the room and the temperature drops a few degrees.
She is like an Ice Queen despite being dressed in head-to-toe black.
It’s her violet eyes—a stark contrast to her ebony skin.
Colored contacts? They had to be. She’s tall, but not as tall as her husband.
She plasters on a similarly fake smile and welcomes everyone to the company.
“Welcome to Kroger! We’re so happy to have you all here. I believe you met my husband, Larry.” She gestures to the mountain of a man that towers over even her. “He should have gone over the basics of the company and what to expect. I’m here to tell you the do’s and don’ts here at Kroger.”
For the next thirty minutes, Patricia goes over basic HR policies that the company expects us to uphold. Nothing I haven’t heard before.
Finally, it’s time to go to our individual stations and meet our direct supervisors.
Before leaving, Jerome pulls me aside. “Hey, do you have plans for lunch yet?”
“No, I haven’t even thought about lunch,” I say as my tummy simultaneously lets out a low rumble. We both look down at my stomach.
He chuckles. “Since neither of us knows anyone else yet, would you be down to grab a bite with me?”
“Sure! I’d like that.”
“Awesome. Meet in the lobby at noon?”
“Sounds like a plan!”
We wave goodbye to each other and head our separate ways. I’m staying on the thirteenth floor as Jerome heads to the elevators to go to floor twelve. As he leaves, I can’t help but think I made a friend.
I make my way down the long hallway toward the mail room, where I see my new boss sitting at his workstation.
Robert Gooseman is not much taller than I am, and wearing a T-shirt tucked into his khaki pants and a sweater over top.
It’s May, but he’s dressed like he’s ready for late autumn.
His glasses slide down the bridge of his nose as he stands to greet me.
“Tiegan, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Robert, but you can call me Rob. We met during your virtual interview.”
“Yes, it’s nice to officially meet you in person.” I shake his hand.
“Well, let’s start off with a tour of the floors you’ll be working on, shall we?
“Sure. Sounds great.”
He shows me around the office we’re standing in, which is where our workstations are located.
He goes over the basics of the massive copy machines and printers I’ll be working with, as well as where to process incoming and outgoing mail.
Once he’s shown me everything in the mail room, he escorts me out the door and into the hallway where we come across the finance department.
He introduces me to a few people, including the Chief Financial Officer of the firm and a couple of girls around my age who work in Collections.
Once we finish touring the thirteenth floor, Rob takes me up to the fourteenth floor to briefly view where most of the attorneys work. He introduces me to one of the newest partners, Jonathan.
“I hope you like Kroger. Welcome to the team,” Jonathan says as we part.
“Thank you. I have a feeling I will.”
Rob and I make our way to visit the final floor. As the elevator doors open to the twelfth floor, Rob is making small talk. I’m not paying attention to where I’m going as I exit, and BAM! I run straight into someone. And not just any someone. Oh no. It’s the hot guy from the elevator earlier—Kenny.