You make it to work

The doors of the restaurant unleashed a rush of warm air. You strode inside nodding curtly as staff gestured and waved. Mark, helping a small table near the door, caught you entering, he extricated himself from the table and began to walk towards you. Alright first challenge, lets do this. Mark had seemed like an alright guy the few times you met him. Of Jane’s coworkers he kept it professional and really just wanted to do his best in the role. He was built well, a slim swimmers frame on a reasonable 6’. He had a bit of a coke problem but in the restaurant industry it was more of the norm than the exception.

“Your late mate,” Mark started to match your stride.

“I’m aware, how’s it going?” You knew Jane was a very “positive” boss who tried to retain a good relationship with all her employees.

“Fine, Walter is bitching about there not being enough prepped lobsters, classic Walter, and Rob has stayed sober, so for the most part smooth. Karen was crying when she got in today but that’s pretty standard Karen,” Mark adjusted some napkins on a table as they walked. They finally reached the door to Jane office. Rob was the bartender. Jovial guy who cared about the gym about as much as Jane. He was pretty heavily into steroids and the results showed. He was a bit of the carouser, known to get too drunk or too touchy with the local girls. He kept his party rock lifestyle out of work, but he had showed up relatively disheveled on multiple occasions. Walter was the chef, it was a chain restaurant with a set menu. Not a lot of creativity to explore. Too bad Walter thought he was the a fucking Michelin star. He tried to run the kitchen like a gulag much to the ire of the other line cooks. Jane constantly had to reject his requests to “experiment.” Finally, Karen, you had met Karen on multiple occasions, but you’d heard hundreds of stories about her, supposedly she tried to keep it together at work but outside the office she was a notorious slut. She openly joked that it was because of her deep-seated daddy issues and had tried to fuck most of the guys in the restaurant at one point or another. She had bragged about being in a gangbang to one of the other girls then came crying to Jane when the rest of the restaurant obviously found out.

“I’m going to check out some worksheets for corporate then I’ll come talk to you guys on the floor,” you tried to be cordial, making your voice as chipper as possible. You didn’t know how Jane always seemed so upbeat, especially in this chaos.

“No problem mate, I’ll make sure we don’t get backed up. Oh by the way, you remember your favorite pal Benny from HQ is coming by?” Mark chuckled as he said the last part, he had already half turned back towards the restaurant, observing a nearby table that needed a water refill. It was lucky he wasn’t looking, the moment he mentioned HQ your face went ash white. Corporate was coming today. Of course, they’d be showing up on the one day you had to be there. Maybe you could hide, no stupid plan. What did they need, files, spreadsheets? Wait, what was the joke you were missing. Why was Benny “your pal” beyond just a boss is coming har har type of statement. Maybe you were reading into it.

“Yes, remind me, what’s his deal?” your words **** Mark to turn back around. He looked at you confused, most likely expecting you to be more on the ball.

“I think he just wants the monthly report…you know the one we worked on yesterday,” you stared at him, your brain obviously not clicking into comprehension like he’d expect. He furred his eye brows but then shrugged.

“I left the final version on your desk, you owe me, I tried to call you last night about it, but you were off the grid. You alright mate, you seem kinda spacey?” he moved forward to touch your arm.

“Ya I’m fine, just tired,” you pushed the door open and moved further into your office, out of his reach. He paused then shrugged.

“Alright well everything is in the report, I’m sure he just wants to follow you around again like at the holiday party, you know just smell your hair or something creepy,” he gave a pantomimed the gesture, scrunching his nose and pretending to breath in deeply. Ugh that was just what you needed, you hit your gross dude quota for one day.