A couple of days later, after having not had much communication, you decided to call up your friend and see if he wanted to hang. Halloween was coming up and although the school was having it's annual dance (and Chris and Danny were trying to convince you to go), you and Randall had usually spent in in the past pigging out and watching movies. He'd said last week he was up for it, but he'd been so busy as of late with work that you thought you'd best mention it to him again. This time in person.
Not getting any reply, you left him a message and about a half hour later you received a text back. Randall presumably having too much on his plate right now to talk.
Randall: Sorry, dude. Swamped here. Halloween plan sounds good. I really need a chance to chill. How about U swing by mine tomorrow after school and we'll iron out the details.
You: OK. Cool. Will do.
Happy with this then, the following afternoon - after having done your best to dodge any and all mention of the dance from your friends - you hopped on a bus and headed across town. Before you'd even gotten onto the second bus however, Randall gave you a call.
"Hey. Just on my way over to yours now. What's up?" you asked him, on answering the phone.
"I'm really sorry, Tim, but we had this whole big screw up today with one of the posters we'd sent out to the printers. Some ass hat forget to use a spell check," he told you, sounding slightly frustrated. "Anyway, I'm kind of stuck in the office trying to sort it all out. Won't be able to make it back to mine until at least after seven..."
Crap! The one day you actually get a chance to see him and this happens.
"I'm meant to be back home for six..." you told him. Your parents having arranged a family night out this evening.
Fortunately he had another suggestion, telling you then that if you wanted to, you could probably swing by the office instead of heading straight back home. "I can probably spare about twenty minutes or so for 'lunch'. Seeing how I haven't actually had a chance to get any yet. And it would save you a wasted journey."
"Yeah. Sure. Could do. I think I remember where it is. My mom used to pick Auntie Joan up after work from there every so often when I was in the car."
"Cool. See you in a little while then," he said. Adding, "Just ask for me at the front desk... Well, you know, ask for your Auntie."
Telling him you got it, having had enough practice at this by now to know what he was talking about, you hung up the phone and made a sharp U-turn. Heading in the opposite direction from the bus stop, down the street towards what was now Randall's office. It not being all that far away, from what you remembered.
Less than fifteen minutes of walking later and you located the correct building. It was a rather tall, imposing structure made of steel and glass, with about fifteen floors. As you recalled, your Auntie Joan had worked on the tenth, so heading in through the revolving doors, you got in the elevator and made your way up. Though you'd been outside, and even in the lobby before, you'd never actually set foot in her office - your Auntie Joan's job having always been something of a mystery to you. It would be interesting then to see not only where she worked, but also see your best friend in that environment now too. It still being pretty surreal every time he mentioned work and all the things he had to do there. You were still half expecting him to be making most of it up, and for his 'office' to be little more than a handful of people sitting behind desks looking slightly bored...
This wasn't the case at all in fact, as stepping out of the elevator into an extremely large and trendy looking office space, you saw people rushing around all over. Having no doubt what so ever now that Randall was telling the truth.
Jesus. I can't believe he actually works here, you thought to yourself as you stood there, being slightly in awe. It just not seeming right some how. This was a proper workplace for proper people ...Not Randall!
"Hello, can I help you?" an attractive blond woman asked from behind a large reception desk.
"Uh, yuh-yeah... I'm here to see Ra... uh, Joan Burton," you told her, almost slipping up on the name. Rather ironically so. "I'm her nephew."
"Ah, okay. I think she's expecting you," the woman smiled, reaching then for her phone. "One moment please."
Hitting a button, you listened in as the receptionist said, "Hi, Ms. Burton. Your nephew is here to see you." Finding it rather amusing that Randall was now getting called "Ms." all of a sudden.
As well as this, it also illustrated the position of power he now had. Not being referred to simply as 'Joan' as you might have expected. But instead as 'Ms. Burton' - just like one of year teachers.
Finishing this brief little exchange, she put the phone down and said, "You can go right on in." Noticing your momentary confusion as to just where exactly "in" was and helpfully pointing it out. "It's the big office at the end and to the left."
Following her finger, you soon realized where exactly she was meaning. Spotting it there at the very far end of the floor. The walls of which were partially made of glass, allowing you to see a tiny figure sitting behind a desk inside. This presumably being Randall. You were once again rather surprised and impressed that your Auntie's own office was quite that large, having been well aware that she was an executive of sorts, but still... not quite expecting this.
Thanking the receptionist, you then made your way past all the various little cubicles between, where everyone seemed hard at work, catching sight of Randall's face staring rather intently at some papers or something on his desk. Dressed ain some sort of frilly red blouse that displayed just a smidgen of his epic cleavage.
Spotting you approaching, he immediately flashed you a grin and got up from behind his desk, opening the door to welcome you in.
"Hey, Tim. Come on in," he smiled. Avoiding his usual use of the word 'dude' - seeing as you were in company.
"Hey, Auntie Joan," you replied (having got vaguely used to this now), as you appraised what else he was wearing - a tight black pencil skirt that stopped short, just below his breasts, and a pair of black stiletto heels. Randall, despite all of his complaining, still choosing to wear those things.
Once inside his office, out of ear shot from everyone else outside, Randall's 'Auntie Joan' charade dropped almost instantly, as he collapsed back down onto his chair and told you to take a seat.
"So what do you think? Pretty swish, huh?"
"Yeah. It's certainly something," you told him, taking a few moments to gaze around the rather large room. The view behind him of the city below being particular impressive.
"The perks of being a big cheese around here," he smiled, leaning back and spinning on his chair. "I get this sweet deal, and I also get to boss pretty much everyone else around. Even got my own personal assistant to fetch and carry for me if I want. ...Speaking of which, you hungry? Might as well get something to eat while you're here."
"Uh, no. I'm cool thanks," you replied. Saving yourself for the restaurant, tonight. Watching then, with great interest as he picked up his phone and hit a button.
"Stephanie, you couldn't run down to Zafferano's and get me the usual could you?" he asked, throwing you a playful little wink. Showing off somewhat at the fact that he could now do this.
"Holy shit. No wonder you were always trying to get me to do everything for you back at home," you said, after he'd hung up the phone. Recalling the foot rub and the beer and soda's you were always getting for him. As well as how he'd tried to guilt trip you into doing stuff for him when he was hungover. "Must be nice being so important."
It clearly was. Randall sitting there looking rather smug from behind his large office desk, with it's swanky apple computer and engraved desk plaque with your Auntie's name on it.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool," he agreed, leaning back again on his chair. "When the work isn't a total bitch that is..."
Knowing nothing about advertising and not really caring to either, but being well aware of how busy everyone looked outside, you instead moved the conversation on to the reason you were actually here. Reminding him then, "Well, all the more reason to be looking forward to movie night on Thursday then."
"Oh, yeah... Shit. I was gonna talk to you about that..."
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