Mor
Prologue Part I: A Usual Day
Today was going to be a normal day at work. I made my usual entrance, placing down my bag at my desk and greeting my colleagues while settling into my seat.
My moment of calm was abruptly terminated when the voice I despised drilled into my ear.
“Good mooooooooorning!” chimed Bella obnoxiously, making sure it was loud enough to summon everyone to attention.
Bella had been the bane of my life these past few months. She was the CEO’s assistant, and absolutely ensured everyone knew about it. She always made it her business to let everyone know she was his hawk, always listening and watching. We worked hours and hours, hardly getting up, while she belittled our efforts with a cruel sarcastic smile.
Looking at the two of us, you might have thought we were similar people. A few years younger than me, Bella was from a wealthy background. She wore an expensive cashmere cardigan, loafers, and a skirt that was a little too revealing – no doubt for the pleasure of our male colleagues.
But Bella’s greatest asset was the glossy shawl of thick brown hair around her shoulders and upper torso. Several times a day, Bella would stand up at her desk, flicking her head suddenly so her sheets of silky brown tresses flew into the air, catching a twinkle of sunlight.
Last Friday, as she left the office, she’d announced unprompted to the men in the office: “Guys I’m getting a haircut this weekend! But just a trim obviously, not a bob – that would be awful!”
I tuned out her nasal jarring voice after the beginning of this anecdote. It was Monday now, and you couldn’t tell she’d had an appointment.
All of a sudden, my manager Helen entered. She whispered to me “Do you have a minute? It’s urgent!” and grabbed me from the main room before I had time to respond.
Helen cleared her throat, transitioning into her highly professional demeanour before speaking.
“The CEO rang me this morning. It’s important. He has a special tasking for you… he’s concerned Bella is making it more difficult for people to do their jobs. Some behaviour could, in our opinions, be perceived as… disruptive. And distracting,” she said.
I listened intently as her orders continued.
By the end of that meeting, I was clear on my directions and knew all had been prepared for the important meeting I had in the afternoon. Now, it was all about waiting.
*****
Prologue Part II: A Summons
I had diligently carried out my duties following my orders from Helen and it was now quarter past two that afternoon. It was time.
Bella and I hated each other, but hid it. We had been friends for a very brief time after she joined the company. But she’d shown her true colours shortly after, circulating an embarrassing picture of me asleep to some of our colleagues. When I confronted her, she had denied everything. In her most condescending voice falsely and performatively tinged with care, she claimed I “really should get help” with my paranoia.
Today was exactly two years after that day. I stepped gingerly towards Bella’s desk. Her ivory face hovered like a stone – cold, cruel and calculating.
“Hi Bella, how’s it going?” I greeted her with a beam that silently shot daggers.
Slowly, her head slid out. With cold irritation, she replied “Yes… what is it, Daphne?”
I swallowed in preparation to cite the CEO’s name (which always worked) and “Hugo’s actually asked me to get you up to speed on something urgent… can we speak?”
Irritated that I had used the magic word, she rolled her eyes and stood up. “If we need to, but I doubt it. Hugo always updates me on what’s going on”, she added, as we shuffled out of the main office.
The plan was in action. I quickly darted in the direction of Meeting Room 5 at the end of the corridor. As Helen had planned meticulously, all the other rooms were occupied. We’d set everything in motion.
When Bella and I reached the door of Meeting Room 5, I heard the ringing tone go off inside the room. Slowly but surely, I ushered her inside.
Seeing it was our CEO Hugo on the call, she answered the call.
Hugo’s voice emerged from the speaker, but this time, he dispensed quickly with his usual niceties.
“Bella. Listen closely – I’ve cleared your schedule for the next 90 minutes. Daphne will take care of everything, but it’s VERY important that you sit still while she’s working and don’t disturb her. Now please take a seat in that chair facing the wall.”
Bella was visibly befuddled, but orders were orders. She took her seat. Hugo’s voice re-appeared.
“Great. Daphne, thanks so much for stepping in today! I just know Bella will be in good hands. Go ahead and open the cupboard – everything you need should be in there! I’ve got to run, but keep the line open. I’ll be listening in today Bella, so if you’re not cooperating I’ll know!” garbled Hugo cheerfully in one breath before his voice disappeared.
I moved behind Bella. “Ummm… okay, so are you going to explain exactly what’s going on here?” she sarcastically sneered, shuffling in her seat.
She then did a double take when she realised her seat almost exactly resembled a barber’s chair. One by one, she surveyed Meeting Room 5.
The entire room had been refitted as a salon. No wonder it had been out of bounds for months.
I could see fear setting into Bella’s eyes and a million nervous questions coming into her mind.
Silence swept over the room while I calmly pulled the cupboard door open to reveal a menagerie of tools. It was time to begin.
