The Office

After rummaging through the filing cabinet for some time, she picked up a couple of loose-leaf papers that had been scattered below the thicker files. Smeared with dust and slightly wrinkled, she gradually realized that she had discovered exactly what she had been hunting for. Abruptly, she pressed the hold button again.

“Yes, sir, I’ve found your chart and we do have your name on record. I apologize for the inconvenience; it had been lost under some of our heavier cases. Unfortunately five discrepancies have been noted on your file- two on page 164 and three more between pages 324 and 325. As of last month, your file has officially been stamped ‘Friend Zone.’”

She licked her lips in weary anticipation. “Sir, sir, we apologize for the late notice, our communication systems may not have been working on that particular day. Occasionally, we allow Best Friends Remodeling to update our wiring, and this may have been one of those times. We are, however willing to give you complete compensation…”

She flicked her wrist slightly to the left so that the phone drifted from her ear and hung lazily in the air. She sighed. It must be Monday, she thought. The hours she had left in the day were beginning to drag.

“No, sir, coming to the office is not an option. Big Brother Security has been our 24-hour safety provider for the past three years, and they do not entertain conflict. You may, however, re-file in six months and receive a follow-up appointment. For the time being, sir, I’m sorry to tell you that the Heart’s Offices will be closing until further notice. Thank you, have a good day.”

While the ring of the freshly hung up phone was still heard in the air, she slipped off her patent heels and swiveled in her chair, watching her stocking-covered feet turn in low circles. If only all the calls were that easy.