I arrived to work six minutes late, despite carrying my shoes and running from the bus stop to the office. I was acutely aware of the time because I had been accused of being late all month. Today would give them actual ammo.

When I arrived at my cubicle, my chair was missing.

I leaned around the corner into Beth’s cubicle. “Morning Beth, have you seen my chair.”

Beth gave me a smile that looked like it hurt her face and informed me that she did not steal chairs. Before I could ask Steve, my neighbor on the other side, he spoke up.

“I didn’t take it either.”

Who would take my chair?

My phone rang. The display read Pinkie – DoHR – XT411.

I gave a small growl under my breath. No one like talking with Pinkie. If you didn’t kiss her ass she grew from incompetent and gossipy to a vicious enemy.

When I answered the phone I tried to make my voice as sweet as possible. “Morning!”

“Your chair is in my office. Please join us.”

With a sinking feeling I knew this morning was about to get a whole lot worse.