Give Me A Chance

Unintended Encounter

"Mr. Hazel will take the lead in promoting our product, while your role will involve providing support to ensure a seamless process. We want to guarantee a trouble-free experience for him." Harry glanced in my direction and began to speak those words. As his words washed over me, a profound sense of delight enveloped me, rendering me almost speechless in my happiness.

I turned towards Harry and exclaimed, "Absolutely! I am absolutely thrilled at the prospect of guiding Mr. Hazel."

My expression conveyed my genuine enthusiasm, and Hazel responded with a warm smile.

Hazel, with a touch of playful sarcasm, commented, "You seem rather excited!"

Jake chimed in with a stern countenance, "I don't recall ever seeing you this enthusiastic, not even when you secured this job. We knew you were a fan, but we didn't realize the depth of your admiration."

Thomas, deep in thought, stroked his chin as he addressed Harry. "I do have some reservations about entrusting Miss Emma with this responsibility. Her excitement might lead to errors. Perhaps we should consider assigning someone else."

Harry's scrutiny bore down on me, as if he were contemplating something significant.

Before Harry could formulate a response, I interjected, "Sir, while I may be enthusiastic, I fully grasp the importance of professionalism. My eagerness will not compromise my performance; you can trust me implicitly."

Hazel, eager to express his support, interposed, declaring, "I have great faith in Miss Emma's confidence. I believe she's the ideal candidate to guide me."

Nonetheless, Harry sided with Thomas, his tone marked by caution. "I share Thomas's concern. Emma is relatively new, and her exuberance could potentially lead to mistakes. Being a fan might cloud her judgment."

Hazel then shifted his stance, sharing his perspective. "If Miss Emma is new to the role, this is a valuable learning opportunity for her."

Directing his attention towards me, Hazel stated, "Miss Emma, you will be my guide."

As I was about to accept the role, Jake intervened, affirming, "If Mr. Hazel is comfortable with this arrangement, we have no objections."

He exchanged a glance with Harry and Thomas, and his reassuring smile seemed to quell some of the tension.

Hazel nodded decisively, announcing, "Then I shall proceed accordingly. If any work-related queries arise, please feel free to contact my manager." With that, Hazel made his exit.

Harry gestured towards a nearby chair and invited me to sit. I complied, anticipation coursing through me.

"Do you believe you can confidently handle this responsibility?" Harry inquired, seeking assurance.

I met his gaze directly and responded with unwavering confidence, "Absolutely."

Thomas rose from his seat, positioning himself behind me. Meanwhile, Harry and Jake remained observant, their lips curling into faint smiles. Thomas leaned in slightly, his hands resting on the armrests of my chair. His breath brushed against my neck, creating a disconcerting sensation. I found their behavior unsettling, but Harry and Jake continued to maintain their silence.

Thomas brought his lips closer to my ear, a note of caution evident in his tone. "Mistakes come at a cost, should you falter."

Jake followed up with a stern warning, "Did you hear what Thomas just said?"

My gaze darted to Harry, whose unwavering stare remained fixed on me. Thomas subsequently returned to his seat, yet my discomfort lingered. I abruptly rose from my chair, compelled to leave the room, my emotions a mix of unease and trepidation.

In retrospect, I began to regret my decision to accept this job. The conduct of Harry and his colleagues seemed overly flirtatious, which only heightened my discomfort.

At that juncture, Olivia, my coworker, approached me, her enthusiasm palpable. "Emma, you're incredibly fortunate to be entrusted with guiding Hazel!"

Jennifer, another colleague, joined in the conversation, adding, "Not only that, Emma, you're working closely with Harry, Thomas, and Jake. You get to see those three handsome men every day."

Jennifer paused, then ventured further, "Do they ever flirt with you?"

I cast a quick glance at Jennifer before responding, "Thomas and Jake certainly do, but Harry does not."

Olivia mused, "Harry is quite the gentleman. Even when his former secretary, August, accused all three of them of harassment, it's difficult to believe Harry was involved."

Jennifer concurred, "You're absolutely right, Olivia. Harry handled the situation deftly. He granted her a few months' leave, and now you're stepping in as her replacement."

Olivia added, "If it were me, I would have reported them and pressed charges, but Harry adopted a different approach."

Their conversation left me somewhat bewildered. All three men had faced allegations of harassment, yet August remained employed and was merely granted a leave of absence. The situation perplexed me; such impeccable behavior from men was difficult to fathom.

But there was another matter that continued to weigh heavily on my mind.

Jennifer placed her hand on my shoulder and inquired, "Emma, what's bothering you?"

Returning to the present moment, I met Jennifer's concerned gaze and replied, "Oh, it's nothing. I was just contemplating some work-related matters. I have a few tasks to complete. Let's catch up later."

With that, I made my way back to my desk, leaving the conversation behind.

Lunchtime soon arrived, and the persistent growl of hunger drew me to the restaurant next door. As I entered the eatery, my thoughts lingered on the words of Olivia and Jennifer.

After having my lunch, I came out and was crossing the road. Lost in contemplation, I inadvertently bumped into a man.

"Ouch!" I exclaimed, turning to see a figure clad in a mask and a hat, standing at a towering six feet. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, and his face remained obscured, with only his eyes visible through the mask.

The man extended his hand to help me regain my footing, but I managed to rise on my own. He withdrew his hand and advised, "Be more cautious when you're walking; otherwise, it might not be a person you collide with next time, but a car."

I retorted with a hint of irritation, "Can't you watch where you're going? Do you not have eyes? Can't you use them properly?"

He glanced at me and replied, his tone laced with playful banter, "Do you possess functioning eyes? Why didn't you use them? Or do you not know how?"

He gestured towards his chest for emphasis.

My frustration mounting, I retorted sharply, "So, I don't know how to use my eyes, is that it? Why don't you teach me then? Let's see how proficiently you use your own two eyes!"

My eyes narrowed as I delivered my challenge.

The man chuckled and responded, "Do you take me for a tutor? I hardly have the time to instruct you. I suggest you visit an eye doctor; they're better equipped for such lessons."

His words ignited my anger, and as I stepped back, I stumbled and fell once more. The man burst into laughter.

His amusement faded, and he commented, "I initially thought you couldn't use your eyes, but now it appears you have some trouble with your legs as well."

He approached and extended his hand to help me up again.

As I reached out to

I was about to grab his hand but he withdrew it with a sly grin and quipped, "You might struggle with your eyes and legs, but I hope you can manage your hand." With a final chuckle, he left.

"What a character! No assistance whatsoever!" I muttered to myself as I got up and proceeded to the office for my further work.