Holding a stack of papers in my hands I walked down the aisle of the office. My long auburn hair tied up into a bun leaving two strands of hair falling into my face. Thin rimed glasses falling on my perfect round nose as I walked in my low heal dress shoes. My pants wore silk black looking almost as if I was wearing a long skirt. I was never one for dressing up even though I was raised by the McCollens, who were the royalty of Gandoria. Shelly had been my best friend since grade school. My parents socialized with hers all the time. So, when the plane accident happened, the will had me living with them since I was ten. Although I chose not to attend the parties only because I wasn’t much of a social person. Shelly would try though as I always refused. Even Mrs. McCollens would try and I would polity smile and refuse.

“Damn stupid machine!” I heard Jason’s voice, their older son. I sighed, came to the printing room and looked in. His black fluffy head was bent over the copier, his lean tanned hands pushing button after button. He wore his normal dark navy blue suit, white button up shirt, and a blue tie to match the suit. As always when I saw him my heart skipped a few beats. I looked down at the mass of papers in my hands, placed them on the doughnut table, then went in right when he kicked the machine and ran his hands through his thick slicked back hair.

“No need to mistreat the machine, Jason.” I said as I walked in. His blue eyes shot up to look at me. I just smiled as he stood there watching me as I approached always standing a good arm and a half length from him. “I thought Kim was suppose to be your reliable secretary?” I asked my arms at my side itching to be folded over my average bust. But instead I pushed the glasses up my nose to meet my amber eyes as I looked at the machine then up at him as yet again he ran his hands through his hair.

“Yeah well she called off for the forth time this month. She thinks I am going to let her keep her job after this.” I nodded as the light on the machine was blinking red. I have dealt with so many copiers that it wouldn’t hurt to help him, but then let him boil in his own stew sounded nice also. Specially since he didn’t listen to me about his third secretary in the past six months. And I had been right about every one of them so far. I sighed, knelt next to the machine and opened the paper tray. No more paper. I went over to the file cabinet and pulled out the sized paper he needed. I placed it in the bin and closed it. I hit the button, it scanned, tried to print but wasn’t able to. So I lifted the lid and took the ink jammed paper out of the machine. Closing it, I hit the button again as it worked this time but left lines of ink on his paper.

“You will need Tracy to come in and clean it. Take another look at it. Maybe it’s about time you junked this one and got a more updated one.”

“As long as it still works there is no need to replace it.” I shrugged.

“The money your spending to fix this one every week should have been a better model by now. Seriously, Jason! What are you going to do when it doesn’t work, can’t be fixed, you have a meeting in less then a half an hour and you need copies.”

“I’ve told you before. You know nothing about business. You’re here as a favor to my father and to clean those rooms he left unfinished so that I can have a decorator come in and finish them.” I knew I had hit a nerve but stayed my ground.

“OK.” I said turning to walk away, my hand giving a dismissal motion next to my head. “When your secretary less, no copy machine, and running around like a chicken with his head cut off, don’t come ask me to fix your problems.” I picked up the papers I was carrying and pissed off my self walked away.

I opened my new dusting rooms windows to let some light and fresh air in the room. It felt as if the room had not been used in almost ages. The company was in repair since Mr. McCollens had gotten sick and Jason wasn’t out of college yet. The smoe that was here working it just shoved things where it didn’t belong. When the building closed Mrs. McCollens would place her over stocked items in here. She was the worst Hoarder I had ever seen. Of course when you have the money and the places to put these things it didn’t matter too much what you bought or how your companies rooms looked. I sighed and opened the box closest to the window. A lot of class wear. I closed it looking around noticing an expensive china cabinet in a corner, dusted, old but still beautiful. Nothing was inside, it was like everything else it was shoved in this room.

“You know you should tell him.” I heard Shelly and looked up. Her arms were crossed, her green dark eyes looking at me, her blond curly hair tied back in a tight bun. At least as close to one she could get. She was a spitted image of their father while Jason was his mother. I only shook my head and went to another box.

“Tell who what?” I asked noticing plates made of china in it.

“Jason.. your feelings.” I shrugged.

“You should tell him that that red blonde bitch cheated on him.” I closed the box ruffly then looked up at her leaning against the box. “It doesn’t matter what either of us says. He already knows we don’t like Olyvia. He’ll just call us lairs and then where would I be. Paying college with good looks.”

“You’ll definitely pass.” She said taking a look up and down. I just laughed. She was smaller chested then me, a bit taller, and blond. I was always the plain. One. Amber eyes and auburn hair to match. I gave her a yeah right look. I sighed. “Does he know your taking courses?”

“No, and he doesn’t need to.” I said looking at my watch. “Quitting time.” I exclaimed closing the window behind me.

“Oh, by the way. Mom wanted me to invite you to the mask party tonight, tomorrow and next Saturday.”

“What’s it for?” I asked.

“Jason and Olyvia’s engagement party.” I gagged sarcastically as she laughed at me.

“I’ll pass.” I said as we stood behind the closed door.

“Come on. You wouldn’t let your best friend suffer alone would you?”

“I am sure your other friends will be there.”

“But they aren’t you.” She said with a pleading pout at the end. Sighing again I rolled my eyes.

“Alright but you owe me.”