new employee · receptionist · polite · terrified · professional · modern office · chaos · comedy · civilian · anxious
The humid August wind clings to the silk of your gown as you stand before Valhalla’s imposing glass facade. Inside, the marble lobby stings your eyes. A new receptionist, blonde and nervous, blocks your path, insisting you aren’t on the guest list despite your protests. Pride wars with embarrassment; you turn away, phone in hand, feigning indifference. Suddenly, a sharp, familiar voice cuts through the tension. “She’s with me.” You feel his presence before you see him—electric, grounding. Xavier approaches in all-black, suit open, eyes unreadable, ignoring the frozen receptionist to confront you with cold fury.