Chapter 30

GRACE'S POV 

Just like always, Monday slid in inconspicuously loud. It's that day of the week you dread, but can't help but wait for because only then can you get to the weekend quickly. 

Except, this Monday was exhaustingly slow. Maybe it was because I kept looking at the time and every time I did so, it only moved like two minutes and thirty seconds further. Or perhaps it was because my desk was occupied with piled up files waiting to be sorted out. 

Lana and Victoria were sitting at their different spots in the office, and hadn't said anything to either themselves or us, their coworkers. It was like they'd both agreed to just stay put and quiet. I couldn't go over to Lana either, the expression on her face was very blank. I was worried she'd either ignore me or pretend we didn't talk and I didn't give her great advice. 

Therefore, I resorted to staying in my seat and waiting for a break. It was proving difficult though, seeing as my mind was far far away from work. One of the days in this week was the day I met Michael. The reason I don't particularly remember which day it was is a mystery to me. It was almost like the universe wanted me to work extra hard on the events I was about to create and redo. 

I glanced at the clock again on the wall opposite my spot. It was a quarter to 12. I groaned and lightly kicked the lower end of my table, it didn't do any change to the clock. 

“Gum?” Someone said and I immediately looked up. Julia, my coworker, was offering me a wrap of gum as she actively chewed hers like it offended her. Her desk was opposite mine, the clock hung above her head. 

She had that bored expression on her face, like she'd rather be anywhere than there, but she had to be there because it was necessary. 

If I wanted to use gum to pass the time, I'd use more than one. But she was offering one and I didn't want to have to ask her if she had another one. 

I hesitated for a few seconds before she dipped her hand in her drawer and brought out another one. 

“Two pieces of gum?” She asked, and I immediately reached out and took it from her hand.

“Thank you. One is cool, but two is great.” I told her as I hastily unwrapped the pieces of gum.

She shrugged nonchalantly. “You need it if you want to survive a boring day at work. Especially since we can't drink. What a dumb rule anyway.” 

I snorted, gum in my mouth. “What makes you say that?” I asked, putting the second gum in my mouth, the sweetness instantly filling my tongue as I chewed. I could almost sigh in relief, it was like smoking.

“Well, we're all adults, and should be allowed to drink whenever we want. Penalties should only be put in place for people who got blackout drunk and can't control themselves. I'm not a lightweight, I can handle alcohol. And I'm sure you can ask well.” She explained like she was explaining a world revolutionary project. 

I nodded slowly. “You do know that you don't have to be blackout drunk to mess up work, right? The rule is cool and so it should stay.” 

Julia chuckled lowly. “No, it should go. They shouldn't have to decide how we live our lives. Just set a glass or bottle limit, problem solved.” 

“Bottle limit? You think there are people who can drink a whole bottle of wine and some alcoholic beverage and still be sober? Who do you hang out with? The housewives of Atlanta?” Craig, another coworker, replied from his desk two desks away from Julia. 

Julia scoffs. “My friends have nothing to do with how I see life, I have my own views.” 

“And somehow, your views support drinking during work hours? In the workplace?” Lana asked from her desk, throwing the entire office into silence. 

The silence stretched for a long minute before anyone spoke. 

“Lana? We thought you were giving the entire office the silent treatment.” Julia scoffed loudly. 

Lana rolled her eyes, but said nothing. 

Grey, an intern, chuckled and said, “We know who she's giving the silent treatment for sure. How're you doing, Victoria?” 

I groaned softly and shut my eyes, placing my head in my hand. “This idiot.” I whispered to no one. 

I opened my eyes and looked at Victoria. She had her head cocked to the side, eyes looking straight at Grey, and with a smile on her face. That smile spelled danger. 

“Peachy, Grey.” She replied, still looking at Grey. 

Grey, desperate to win the funniest guy in the office, clapped his shirt fingered hands. “Can I guess why you feel peachy?” 

I glanced at Julia, she looked like she was one second away shutting Grey up with a mouse trap. I hoped Victoria would set him straight, but she indulged him. That was worse. 

“Of course, you can. Tell me why you think I'm peachy this beautiful Monday.” She leaned back into her chair, relaxing fully. 

“My guess is that you feel peachy because you haven't made up with the love of your life, or should I say the love of your work?” He laughed at his own joke, alone. 

Victoria, however, laughed with him. “What a great word play. You hit the bull's eye. What do you think I should do?” She asked, feigning curiosity and anticipation. 

Craig, on the other hand, wasn't feigning the anticipation. I don't know how, but he had popcorn in his drawer and was eating it. Julia gave up trying to signal the idiot to keep quiet and turned back to her computer, typing away like there wasn't about to be a war. I sat still, waiting for whatever was going to happen, chewing Julia's gum like my life depended on it.