Quota – Tangy – Treat – Teach – Tease
Miles wasn’t going to make the daily quota today, not after the incident with Jan from accounting. It wasn’t her fault of course, she couldn’t have known that management would erase everyone’s memory of the pizza party. Apparently she had used a forbidden word, but the unfortunate part for Miles was that their coworker Scott had promised to give Miles inside info on the Vardent Corp acquisition during the now forgotten party, and the meeting with the Vardent CEO was scheduled for Wednesday; tomorrow.
Scott wasn’t happy either, but was spared the memory wipe on account of having left before Jan said whatever she said. Meeting again was risky, but Scott agreed to one last chance. The advertising department was serving mocktails to celebrate 1st quarter earnings, everyone was invited. The Mango Mule was a bit too tangy for Miles’ taste, but what mattered was they got the info they needed.
The only penalty for not meeting the daily quota was cleaning the break room at the end of the day and Miles liked to stay late anyway. It provided the opportunity to roam the vacant cubicles and open office floor plan. Sometimes there would be a tasty treat left behind in another department’s kitchenette.
When they first started, the six-story building felt massive. Once, on a similar jaunt, in the morning, Miles encountered an administrative aid sitting on the floor facing the sunlit window asleep. None of the desks in the area were occupied, it was quiet, much like this moment.
Now, Miles knew almost every nook and cranny of the place, just not whatever was beyond the red door on the lower level. Miles passed it everyday when they took the tunnels home, and again in the morning when they arrived back for work. It was locked. They checked every workday.
The meeting with the Vardent CEO was a smashing success. Scott’s tip about using golfing metaphors worked perfectly. The department head asked Miles to teach everyone on the team the keys to acquisition, that they’d given a flawless demonstration of verisimilitude and grit. As a reward, Miles got an extra break at the Meditation Center. Miles owed Scott big time.
Following the gentle instructions, Miles closed their eyes and began to tease apart the events of the last few days.
Jan was out sick today, according to her manager. She would usually get coffee with Miles in the mornings.
The voice of the guided meditation came back into focus. Miles inhaled and exhaled.
Jan had such a lovely voice. Miles could hear her now, in the quiet space, the forbidden words she spoke at the pizza party: The Red Door.
The bell chimed. Meditation over.
This is part of a collection of short stories inspired by my guesses on Wordle.
