Chapter 13
Thirteen
Nhuri’s first day of work hadn’t gone exactly how she had planned.
Her alarm would’ve dragged her from her sleep at six a.m., but she woke up at five forty-two and just lay there with her eyes closed. She was grateful.
Not just for the job but for life in general. No matter which route it took her, she seemingly navigated toward the right track. She wasn’t sure if working at GHC was right or wrong, but her body said otherwise when she climbed from bed eighteen minutes later. Surprisingly, she wasn’t nervous.
She was just a bit anxious to see what all was in store.
Nhuri took her time in the shower, letting the scalding hot water fully wake her.
While she washed her face, she thought about what outfit was fitting for her first day.
Standing inside her closet wearing a silk robe, she debated her outfit much longer than she cared to admit.
She wanted to look professional but not stiff. Not too revealing but still flattering.
Knowing she needed to put a move on it, Nhuri settled for a sleeveless V-neck taupe dress that cinched at the waist, a black blazer, and gold accessories, but not over the top.
Just a watch and stylish hoop earrings. She slipped her feet into black high heels but grabbed a cute pair of loafers in case she needed to change.
She pulled the look together by styling her hair in a low bun at the nape of her neck.
Breakfast was out of the question because she knew her stomach wouldn’t agree with it.
Plus, it was much too early. By the time she was in her car, Nhuri declared that whatever happened today was for the best. It had to be.
This was the start of a new journey, and she hoped she was making her parents proud.
After stopping by Sip and ordering a hazelnut iced coffee for herself and a chai latte with almond milk for Shyriq, she headed toward the main office.
Nhuri found parking rather quickly, thanks to her assigned spot.
She smiled at the extra perks and grabbed her things.
Then she strolled through the doors and was greeted by Ashley at the receptionist desk.
“Hey. Good morning, Ms. Coleman,” Ashley said brightly.
Nhuri smiled. “Good morning. Please call me Nhuri. Ms. Coleman is so formal,” she chuckled.
“Noted. I’ll let Michelle know you’re here,” she said, picking up the phone.
Nhuri gave her a soft smile and took in the lobby. Many people were arriving at work. Some of them stopped to introduce themselves, while others gave a polite wave. GHC was welcoming, and Shyriq made sure it felt like one big family. Michelle walked her way a few minutes later, smiling brightly.
“First day on the job, and you’re looking like that?” Michelle questioned, smirking.
Nhuri’s mouth opened in surprise as her eyes widened. “Is . . . Is something wrong with my outfit?”
“Absolutely not. You look good, girl. Me and this belly can’t squeeze into a dress like that unless it’s a muumuu,” Michelle said, laughing.
Nhuri exhaled and chuckled. “Whew. You had me scared. My dress is okay, though, right?”
“Yes, Nhuri. I was just complimenting you. No worries. You’ll more than likely be the first contact for Shyriq besides Ashley, so looking good isn’t a problem. Now, the roaming eyes of the men might be, but all they better do is admire.”
Nhuri blushed. She liked Michelle’s energy. It was much different from the first day they met, but Nhuri wouldn’t hold that against her. She was doing her job while carrying a life in her womb.
“Okay. Good,” Nhuri said, relieved.
“Ash, can you please hold all of my calls for at least the next hour? I’m going to get Nhuri settled in,” Michelle said.
“Of course. Have a good day.”
“Come on. Let’s get you all set up. How are you feeling?” Michelle asked as they walked through the lobby that led to the elevator.
Nhuri followed behind her. “Blessed.”
The elevator pinged, and they climbed on.
“That’s a great feeling. Today will honestly be a drag or overwhelming, depending on how you intake things. Lots of paperwork, system setups, introductions, and busywork that stresses me out.”
Nhuri sighed. “Sorry. I know getting me acclimated isn’t something you really want to do.”
“No, no. Don’t take what I said as an insult.
I’m more than happy to bring you into the flow of things.
Trust me. It’s just I know how meticulous Shyriq can be and how fried my brain is,” Michelle snorted.
“No one prepared me for pregnancy brain, so forgive me if I repeat myself or forget something today.”
“You’re fine. I’m sure I can keep up,” Nhuri assured her.
“Good. That’s what I like to hear.”
Their first stop on the executive floor was her office.
Nhuri entered and inhaled the fresh scent.
It had been deep cleaned the night before, emitting the air with a cozy laundry and lemon fragrance.
The floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the space in natural sunlight.
The courtyard view was breathtaking, and she knew she’d be spending most of her days gazing outside.
The walls were painted a soft cream, making the rich wood tones of the floor and bookshelf pop.
It was filled with reports she’d need, decorative accents, industry help books, a small potted plant, and a framed abstract painting that added a touch of personality.
“This is a new desk and chair,” Michelle explained. “If you want to change anything out, email Ashley, and she’ll get on it.”
Placing her things on the glass-top desk, Nhuri swiveled the plush ergonomic chair so she could sit. Her body immediately sank into it, and she smiled.
“Nope. This is good,” Nhuri said.
To the right of the desk, two caramel-colored leather chairs were positioned as a sitting area for guests.
It was cozy but not cozier looking than the plush love seat on the opposite side of the office.
A sleek floor lamp stood nearby, but Nhuri knew it’d hardly be needed, especially if she kept her shades open.
The space was soft but professional, and she already felt at home.
Despite only being inside the office for a few minutes, Nhuri felt like she belonged.
“You’ll get to come back in here later. Let’s make our rounds,” Michelle announced.
Nhuri stood and grabbed the warm cup off her desk. “This is for Shyriq.”
“You can leave that for now. He’s not here yet,” Michelle said.
“Oh. Okay,” Nhuri said, setting it down. She thought he’d be here just as early, if not earlier than her.
However, she didn’t harp on his absence as they exited the office.
“I’ll walk you through the basics, but most of this is learn-as-you-go,” Michelle explained.
Nhuri nodded slowly. She’d already learned so much, so that technique was fine with her.
The next few hours flew by and were a blur of information.
Michelle was efficient, introducing Nhuri to a few employees she’d need to know, showing her how to set up scheduling and internal systems, and throwing in hints about Shyriq’s work habits.
“He’s big on structure but open to ideas that may help things flow smoother,” Michelle explained, clicking through the scheduling software. “Right now, meetings are tight, and his schedule is packed. If it isn’t urgent and you can handle it on your own, don’t disrupt his workflow.”
Nhuri absorbed it all, forcing her mind to catalog every detail.
“And what about emails? Is he hands-on with his responses?”
Michelle snorted. “He skims. I’ll give him that. I filter the fluff and flag what needs his attention. More recently, especially with us launching overseas soon, his time is spread thin. But you’ll learn what he cares about real quick.”
Nhuri wasn’t sure if she was relieved or nervous.
She was already overloaded with information but soaked it all up gracefully, not shying away from a challenge.
Next on the agenda was receiving a work cell phone.
Then Michelle explained the different parts of the building and which floors belonged to which part of the company.
They made a detour to HR, where her professional headshot picture for the website and company directory was taken. By the time Michelle freed her, Nhuri was worn out, and it was only a little before noon.
“I leave today at one, but I’ll drop by to see how things are going,” Michelle said.
“Okay. I’ll try to knock out a few assessments before lunch.”
Michelle smiled. “Have at it. I’ll see you in a little bit.”
When Nhuri finally returned to her office, her feet were killing her. But not enough to notice that Shyriq still wasn’t in his office. She bypassed it with curiosity, wondering where he was.
It’s not like he didn’t know it was my first day, Nhuri thought, stepping inside her office.
Exhaling, she flopped into her chair and slid off her heels.
With a contented sigh, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
She tried to relax before jumping back into work mode, but she couldn’t shake the slight irritation that crept up on her.
Nhuri figured he wouldn’t be the one showing her the ropes today, but it also felt like he’d just thrown her in the deep end.
Nothing against Michelle. She’s a sweetheart, Nhuri thought, swiveling her chair toward the window.
Nhuri tried quieting her thoughts, watching the rippling waves from the pond.
She didn’t know what irritated her more: the fact that she was pressed to see him or the fact that he hadn’t checked in at least once.
After all, he was the one who hired her and had the audacity to move as if her presence didn’t shift a single thing in his day.
“Maybe it doesn’t,” Nhuri murmured.
She exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders. It’s fine. You don’t need him to hold your hand. Just as her gaze locked in on a group of ducks, the office phone blared, cutting her daydream short. Nhuri jumped, swiveled in the chair, and reached for the receiver.