Paola maintained the smile on her face even after she arrived inside the skyscraper building.
With her pass card, she passed through the security checkpoint of the building and went straight for the elevator.
Upon entering the elevator and pressing the 11th floor button, she stood still.
Without anyone needing to tell her anything, she knew that the elevator had its own personal CCTV camera.
So, because of that, she could not risk behaving like her normal self and affecting her perfect record as an easy-going worker in the company.
Tsk. A perfect record that nobody cared about except her.
But she had no idea about that.
*Ting*
The elevator doors opened up, and she went out of it. She turned in the right direction and walked through the hallway that led to her department's office.
As expected, when she arrived inside the office, the whole place was empty.
Even the chairs were empty, as no one was sitting on them.
It still baffled Paola how such people got promoted.
While she, who was very diligent at her work, was stuck in the lowest ranking.
She went to her own work desk and arranged it before sitting on her chair.
She switched on her computer and began to work, as it was not in her job description to leisurely sit around and wait for her colleagues and team leader to arrive.
Last week, the director tasked her department with a huge project.
A project of teaming up with the best producing farm and presenting detailed ideas about how to improve the efficiency of the farm, and also how to gain the farmer's cooperation.
Although the farm produced so much, like milk, cheese, corn, grains and many other food items, the farm's operation method was old-fashioned.
It needed an upgrade, so that the foods/plants produced by the farm could be efficiently distributed to customers and manufacturing food processing companies without delay.
An elderly man was the owner of the farm. And up till today, no company had ever succeeded in making him agree to work together with them.
As a certified engineer, Paola had already come up with an idea of how the farm's products would be easily distributed without delays to the customer and make them happy.
Since the farm was located in a remote place, where taxis and cabs were scarce, including other means of transportation.
She had outlined inside her computer that the company should invest in a five-star transportation company and help them establish their transportation company in that remote area, close to the farm side.
In that way, not only would the farm benefit from it, but the people living there would benefit from it too. As a result, big profits would be earned by each side.
She also outlined other stuff.
Like the company helping the farm to have more individuals to work on it, because, the more, the merrier.
Paola also outlined that the company should not just speak to the owner of the farm about him agreeing to partner with their company, but should instead, ask him about the future he planned for his farm.
In that way, they would have a broader idea of how to make the cooperation work.
Paola stopped typing on the computer's keyboard as the transparent glass doors of the office opened up.
Giggles and laughter were heard as some individuals made their way into the office.
Paola recognized every single one of them.
They are Cindy, Sarah, Jack, Jerry. Her colleagues. And the last person who entered the office was their team leader, Frank.
Paola quietly checked the time on her cell phone and saw that it was 10 minutes after 7am.
"Oh, Paola, you are already here". Cindy said to her as she walked to her own desk.
After she kept her expensive-looking purse on top of her desk and sat down on her chair, she added, while staring at Paola, whose desk was next to hers, "Since you came earlier than the rest of us, you should have helped us arrange our desks. Don't you think so, Paola? After all, are we not your favorite people?".
"Don't mind me, Paola. I am sorry. I was just kidding with you. I wanted to see your reaction". Cindy jokingly waved a hand at Paola and giggled after saying this to her.
Paola was offended by Cindy's words but had to keep her cool. But, why was everyone now staring at her after Cindy apologized to her? She did not quite understand them. Do they seriously want her to arrange their desks for them? How did that make sense? Was that in her job description?
Scratching the back of her head, Paola chuckled as she said, "It did not cross my mind to do that, Cindy. But, thank you for letting me know".
"Of course, Paola". Cindy said, and the instant she said this, everyone, including the team leader, stopped looking at Paola.
Paola did not get confused when everyone stopped looking at her. She knew that everyone supported Cindy, despite Cindy not being the team leader or anything special. And she has found out why recently. That was why what Cindy had said to her right now pissed her off, because she hated the kind of disgusting person Cindy was. Because of what she learned about Cindy, she vowed never to help her with anything, because she hated those kinds of rotten people.
She switched off her computer and suddenly stood up from her seat. "Carry on, everyone. I will be right back". She said to them and left the room without waiting for any of them to reply to her. On her way, Paola could not help but think to herself, 'Why do I feel that my colleagues are distancing themselves more and more from me? And why do I feel that they are no good and have been taking advantage of my kindness all this while? Is it because I always smiled at them and helped them do whatever they begged me to do for them?'.