Teller doesn't waste any time

"Oh, I wasn't expecting to see such a beautiful face this early in the morning," he replied, as he stood by his desk, in the middle of adjusting his tie.

This time the panic really hits your stomach. Your stomach gives a lurch, bringing acid up to your mouth. With your lips tightly closed in a smile of panic, you swallow it back down, clearing your mouth but leaving you with a burning throat.

You hope he hasn't noticed this, if he noticed the gulp, hey may have misinterpreted it. "I'm Raymond Teller, but everyone calls me Ray. I'd have remembered such a lovely face so I assume you're new?"

You nod.

"And your name is?"

"Jane," you blurt out, with everything going on with your throat and your nerves, the reply comes out as high pitched. This isn't helped when you realise this is the first time you've actively supported the lie.

"Jane, that's a lovely name. What bring a beautiful woman like you working here?"

"Well, it's complicated," you just about squeeze out.

"Ah, I understand."

There's a moment of silence, the two of you standing there, and you realise you still have to step towards him and give him the documents. Once delivered, you'd have no reason to stay.

You take an unsteady step forward, then another. Ray holds eye contact, you look down and put the documents onto the desk. Before you can look up again, you feel a hand on your shoulder. You give an involuntary start.

"It's okay, we don't bite. You're just a bit nervous about first day at work right? Whole new environment? Not sure about anything?"

You nod a bit more enthusiastically then you probably should, he is right after all.

"Here, have a seat, you could do with a rest." He gently pushes down on your shoulder, and with the exhaustion and tensions about everything, you go along with it and collapse into a comfortable chair. You realise it's isn't the strongest position to be in, but you'll take any rest you can.

"I remember my first day working here, I wasn't as stunning as you, but I had my own challenges. But you don't want to hear about that, you want to hear about something that can help you in the here and now, and think I have just the thing for that..."

He opens a cabinet, takes out a decanter filled with a golden liquid along with two small glasses. He sets them on the desk. You stare wide eyed.

"You seem like a girl who could use a drink!"