Preparing for the party

Friday – November 14, 2025, Local Supermarket, 4:30 p.m.

With the weekend approaching, Josh and Linda decided to kick off preparations for the office party during their together afternoon, turning what could have been a quiet evening into a productive outing. The idea had taken root quickly after Linda's suggestion—Josh hoped inviting his colleagues to his parents' house (with their permission, of course) would break the ice and help him fit in at work. They drove to a nearby supermarket, pushing a cart through the aisles, chatting animatedly about the event planned for the following Saturday, November 22. "We'll need snacks, drinks, some decorations—nothing too fancy, but enough to make it fun," Josh said, tossing bags of chips and pretzels into the cart. Linda nodded enthusiastically, her beautiful face lighting up as she added bottles of soda, beer, and wine, envisioning a casual gathering that could turn things around for him. "This is going to be great; **** always loosens people up," she replied, squeezing his hand.

As they shopped, Josh vented about work, his frustration bubbling up as usual. "Trent was at it again today—during the morning meeting, he shot down my proposal for streamlining the inventory system, calling it 'amateur hour' in front of everyone. He's such an arrogant prick, always acting like his ideas are gold while tearing down mine." Linda listened, her empathy turning to quiet anger; she already hated Trent, even though she'd never met him—this thin, ugly scarecrow of a man who tormented her sweet boyfriend daily. How dare he make Josh's life hell? she thought, her naive protectiveness flaring. By the time they checked out with bags full of party essentials—dips, cheeses, plastic cups, and even some string lights for ambiance—they headed back to Josh's parents' house, where they unpacked and shared a simple dinner, the party planning injecting some optimism into his mood despite the Trent complaints.

Saturday – November 15, 2025, Party Supply Store, 11:00 a.m.

Their separate routines aligned for a morning errand on this weekend day, with Linda meeting Josh at a local party supply store to pick up more items. The shop was bustling with holiday prep, and they browsed aisles of balloons, banners, and themed decorations, opting for neutral "team-building" vibes like generic streamers and disposable tablecloths. "I invited about 10 people from the office, including the boss—fingers crossed they show," Josh said, adding napkins and a playlist speaker to their haul. Linda helped select fun elements, like a piñata for laughs and some board games to encourage mingling, her slim figure drawing a few admiring glances from other shoppers.

Over coffee afterward at a nearby café, Josh shared another Trent anecdote, his voice laced with irritation. "Yesterday, after the meeting, Trent cornered me by the water cooler and 'jokingly' said I should stick to fetching coffee since that's all I'm good for. He's 30 but acts like a petty teenager—thin as a rail, with that receding dark hair making him look like a balding vulture. Everyone laughs at his 'jokes,' but it's just bullying." Linda's hatred deepened; This guy's a monster—ugly inside and out, torturing Josh for no reason, she fumed internally, hugging him reassuringly. The shopping trip ended with them parting ways for family obligations, but the party buzz kept their texts lively into the evening.

Sunday – November 16, 2025, Josh's Parents' House, 2:00 p.m.

A together afternoon brought them back to Josh's for more prep—cleaning the living room and setting up a makeshift bar area with the drinks they'd bought. They rearranged furniture for better flow, testing the speaker with upbeat playlists, laughing as they danced awkwardly to a test song. "This could really work—maybe it'll humanize me to them," Josh mused, stacking cups. Linda agreed, adding ice buckets and snack bowls, her mind occasionally drifting to her secret guilt with Rob but pushing it aside to focus on supporting him.

During a break on the couch, Josh opened up again about Trent. "He pulled another stunt today—assigned me his overdue report to fix, then bragged to the team about how he's 'delegating like a boss.' His arrogance is endless; picture this lanky, scarecrow build with an ugly, pinched face—beady eyes always scanning for weakness. I hate how he isolates me, making sure no one includes me in lunch plans." Linda's disdain grew; she'd never met Trent, but the stories painted him as a vile, obnoxious bully, and she found herself resenting him deeply for hurting Josh. They wrapped up the prep with a cozy movie night, the party anticipation building.

Monday – November 17, 2025, Office Supply Store, 5:00 p.m.

After work, during a quick together errand, they stopped at an office supply store for printable invitations and name tags—Josh's idea to make the party feel more organized and welcoming. Linda browsed with him, picking out fun fonts and cardstock, while he grabbed extra pens and a whiteboard for games. "Sent out the digital invites today; a few RSVPs already," he updated her excitedly.

Back in the car, Josh shared yet another Trent tale. "Trent mocked my lunch today—said my sandwich looked like 'sad newbie food' and laughed with the others. He's so rough around the edges, always shoving his way into conversations with that smug attitude, his thinning hair slicked back like he's fooling anyone about going bald." Linda's hatred solidified; What a jerk—Josh doesn't deserve this from such an ugly, arrogant scarecrow, she thought, her protective instincts kicking in as they drove home.

Tuesday – November 18, 2025, Grocery Store Run, 4:00 p.m.

A separate day turned joint with a last-minute grocery top-up—more snacks and fresh veggies for dips. They wandered the produce section, Linda suggesting healthy options to balance the junk food, while Josh added mixers for cocktails. The cart filled quickly, their conversation light but inevitably circling back to work.

As they loaded bags into the car, Josh vented: "Trent 'borrowed' my stapler today and didn't return it, then denied it when I asked—classic gaslighting. He's got this weaselly vibe, thin and unappealing, with an attitude that screams insecurity hidden behind arrogance." Linda nodded, her unseen hatred boiling; she'd built a vivid, loathsome image of Trent in her mind, despising how he targeted Josh.

Wednesday – November 19, 2025, Josh's Office, 12:30 p.m.

The specific incident Josh described later that evening during their together time at his parents' house hit harder than usual. While prepping final touches—printing invitations and testing recipes—they sat down for dinner, and he recounted the day's drama with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "I was at my desk, scrolling through the pictures you sent me last week—you know, those cute selfies from school. They always cheer me up. But then Trent sneaks up behind me, looming over my shoulder like the creepy scarecrow he is, and starts leering at the screen. 'Damn, that bitch looks fine—bet she's a wild one in bed,' he says, all mean and rough, his ugly face twisting into this sleazy grin. He kept going, saying weird things like, 'I'd tap that ass in a heartbeat—does she know you're such a loser? Probably slumming it with you.' It was so invasive and gross; he laughed like it was a joke, but it felt threatening. The whole office heard, and no one said anything—just awkward silence. His thinning dark hair was all greasy, and his thin frame made him look even more pathetic, but that arrogance... God, I hate him." Linda's blood boiled; she already hated Trent deeply, but this personal slight—insulting her directly through Josh—made her seethe. How dare that obnoxious, ugly bastard talk about me like that? she thought, hugging Josh tightly, the party now carrying an undercurrent of tension as they finalized plans, her protective fury adding a new layer to the upcoming event.