Mina marched straight into the IT department to figure out why they could not set up her account when she emailed them from Florida.

    "It was denied," shrugged the support guy.

    "How? Um...I mean, why?" She was puzzled.

    "The boss refused to give permission. You may want to clear that up with him."

    It dawned on Mina that she was deliberately put in trouble so that Daniel could make her feel like an incompetent slacker who did not deserve to work for him.

    What an egoistic jerk! Anger mixed with a strong determination burned inside her. Why do people always have to go to such an extent to prove themselves right? She's had her fair share of misfortune to cross paths with people with similar obsession in the past. She was still paying the price for her poor choices.

    She walked back to her desk in frustration and typed furiously on her computer to send an email to the CEO.

    "Nathan, how soon did you have to get your online training done when you first joined?" She asked her new coworker friend, her only coworker friend, who was nice to her so far.   

    Everyone else that she had met looked down upon her as soon as they found out that she did not go to an Ivy League University to get her bachelor's degree. Erika was nice to her but she was on the seventh floor and she rather never go there. 

    "Couple of weeks, maybe. You just need a few done during the first week to get started and do the rest at your own pace over the holidays," he said.

    "Is that how it is for everyone? Any job title?" She wanted to make sure.

    "Yeah! We pretty much have the same job title, except that I have the word senior added in front of mine for I have experience."

    She was told to finish them today, which meant she had to stay up all night, and still may not get them all done.

    "Don't stress it. No one monitors it. In fact, we are the compliance people that monitor everyone else. So, just chill," he said with a friendly smile.  

    Chilling was the last thing on her mind. 

    "Do people get fired before the six month probation period ends?" She asked.

    "Did someone tell you that you overthink way too much?" He chuckled, "Let's go get some coffee, I will show you all the eating options we have in this building."

    Nothing seemed to excite Nathan as much as food. 

    I am going to burn a hole in my wallet very soon if I hang out with this guy too often. Mina thought.

    "Are you seeing anyone right now? Or do you have a boyfriend back in Florida?" he asked.

    Mina almost choked on her coffee. 

    "I had one until a few months back," she said, "Not exactly a boyfriend," she added after a pause.

    He will probably be disgusted if I tell him the whole truth, she thought.

    "I am sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I was just getting to know you." Nathan changed the topic after that.

    Mina looked at his finger for a wedding ring and there was none. 

    They returned to their desks and she worked until 7 PM before she realized that it got dark by 5 PM in St. Louis during winter, unlike in Florida. She decided to try the train as she didn't want to splurge any more money on the cabs.

    It was cold and windy. All her life, she thought 60F was bone-chilling cold. It was below freezing ever since she arrived a few days back. She cut through her office parking garage to go to the metro station. Brown leaves crackled and crunched under her feet as she stepped out of the garage shelter.

    A Lamborghini whirred past her before the tires squealed and the car slowly reversed. Mina let out an exasperated sigh when she saw Daniel rolling down his car window.

     "Are you lost? Where did you park?" he asked.

    "No, I am walking to the metro stop," she said. The icy wind made it difficult for her jaws to move when talking.

    "Where do you live?"

    "Central West End," she replied.

    "Why would you choose to live there if you don't drive to work? The residential area is not that close to the train stop. And you can't just walk around alone after dark."

    None of your business! Mina creased her brow but didn't say anything.

    "I will see you at 7 tomorrow morning. In my office." He drove away leaving Mina to feel pissed even more. He had not responded to her email that she sent to him about her conversation with the IT guy. He granted her access though.

                                                 ******************************************    

    It was 4.30 AM by the time Mina finished all the modules and passed quizzes at the end of each one of them. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, staring at the ceiling.

    It is going to be another day in hell, she thought before closing her eyes and forcing sleep.