Chapter Text
Its not even like she has the hardest job out here.
Megan and Yoonchae deal with annoying customers all the time with never ending phone calls, Lara has to drive a fucking truck to get deliveries, Daniella works her ass off preparing for collaborations.
So, as a receptionist, her job should be the easiest.
But its not.
Presentations arent always scary, Manon considers everyone in the company her family, therefore she has nothing to be nervous about.
“— And thats why i think, we need a third coffee machine.” She finishes off, the right side of her body relaxed but her left side disagrees. Its tense, and the reason for that is sitting on one of the biggest chairs in the room.
Sophia Laforteza.
Their boss.
Others dont notice, even if they do, they ignore it. Or theyre just used to it. Lara claps and leans back on her chair, Daniella agrees out loud and Megan and Yoonchae are looking bored of this meeting.
Sophia has one of her knees curled on the other, her elbow sits on top and is curled to a fist, supporting her chin. She tries not to stare at how her pencil skirt hikes up a little and what the shadow between her legs are hiding.
For a while, she doesnt speak, just stares. Her expression dark.
“Ehem, Miss?” Manon coughs, her voice cracking in the middle as she picks on the skin near her nails nervously.
Suddenly, everyone in the room is looking at Sophia.
Sophia doesnt seem to care, just nods,
“Good job Manon. Meeting over, everyone get back to work.” She finally lowers her gaze and picks up the files on her lap, her red rectangle glasses slide down on her nose and is caught by the tip.
Everyone exists quietly, Yoonchae clings to Megan and complains on how unnecessary their daily meetings are, and Manon cant help but agree.
Theres nothing to talk about. Nothing.
Yesterday, it was Daniella presenting about the over usage of toilet papers. Two days ago, Megan was complaining about the bad wifi connection. Three days ago it was Yoonchae singing because she couldnt find anything to present about.
No one directly speaks to Sophia about it, she just… seems happy. She seems happy when theyre all together, she smiles softly at everyone while listening.
Or maybe no one speaks about it because theyre scared of Sophia. That, is another possibility.
“Manon. Could you wait?”
She stops on her tracks, her right foot taking a step back inside the room. She gulps too loudly than intended.
She doesnt turn around to face her, she cant.
“Yes, Miss Laforteza?”
“Isnt it tiring?” Theres a hint of amusement in her voice that Manon choses to ignore.
“What is, Miss Laforteza?”
She hears it, the amused huff, the slow creaking of the chair and the footsteps.
Shes right behind me, isnt she?
“1, 2, 3 … 13.”
Manon did not want to turn around, but she was confused enough to bear this any longer.
And there it was, Sophia, her boss, holding up 3 fingers in front of her face.
“What?” She says in disbelief.
“13 letters. Must be tiring.” She steps closer, circling around Manon.
Manon doesnt realize shes holding her breath.
Then, a hot breath against her ear, too close.
“Just call me Sophia, okay?”
They stand there for a little too long, then, as if remembering the situation theyre in, Manon nods.
Sophia just chuckles.
And leaves.
And Manon can finally breathe.
This, is why she has the hardest job in the office.
______________
Its been a few days, the incident stays not forgotten, only ignored.
She’s taking notes of who had called her boss that morning, or shes trying to. Its hard to work when youre pretending like you dont know someone is watching.
But that someone is close. So close.
She slowly lifts up her head, and the view is not new.
Sophia, with her elbow resting on the table and her palm tucked under her chin. Watching her.
On her desk.
The thing is, shes shameless about it. She isn’t even trying to hide it. everyone in the office can see them right now, and she doesnt care.
“Mis- Sophia… Can i help?”
Sophia tilts her head, a smirk working its way up her lips.
“Anyone I should call today?” She slurs, not even interested. Manon can tell, because the only thing Sophia is focused on right now is her lips.
She wont fall for her games again. She has a rent to pay.
“Y-Yes. I’ll write down the numbers now— I mean, I was just writing them. Here, but wait. Its not finished. Busy day i guess.—“
“How about yours?”
She shuts herself up, meeting Sophias gaze. She’s pouting, and its so freaking cute.
“My what?”
“Your number.”
She blinks, once, twice. And takes a deep breath.
“Sophia. Look-“
Sophia claps her hands together, smiles widely, “Perfect! I will be waiting in my office.”
And walks away.
Leaving Manon to stare behind her.
“At least close your mouth.” a whisper, annoyed one.
She turns to Megan so fast that her neck cracks, “How long have you been here?” She hisses back, feels her ears burn.
“Long enough. She’s really smooth tho, isnt she?”
Manon can only nod.
“Probably had a lot of relationships… Damn. She has to teach me, I cant get through Yoonchae ever…”
Megan talks, but Manon doesnt listen anymore.
The phrase is stuck in her mind:
“Probably had a lot of relationships”
Probably. No, certainly.
___________________
She wasnt about to do it, but Megan played with her mind.
She stares at the sticky note in her hand, reading through it one last time before knocking on the door.
Sophia’s voice, “Come in.”
She does.
“I uh. The numbers.” She places the note on Sophia’s desk as if shes feeding a lion.
Her boss examines the note without picking it up, only smiling once she reaches the end, Manon doesnt even have to guess to know which one she read.
0************ ~Meret Manon Sarpong Bannerman
“4 names?”
She nods.
“Uhm, my Ghanaian name. Sarpong.”
Sophia stares at her, lips parted. It seems like shes thinking about it, whether it suits or not. Then she smiles.
“Its beautiful.” She states back at the note, whispering to herself, ‘Sarpong’
Manon’s breath hitches, fingers fiddling with each other behind her back. She swears shes sweating.
“Do you? I mean. Do you have another name?” She asks, shyly.
“Elizabeth.”
Manon breathes out.
Of course, Elizabeth. It makes so much sense, Sophia is the definition of a princess. Shes elegant, beautiful, rich, kind. Of course she has the most princess name in the world.
“It suits you.”
For a second, something in Sophia cracks. The smug look in her eyes get replaced with something soft. She seems shocked to hear that.
“…Thank you, Manon.”
But it feels more than that.