Work Text:
It was an ordinary day for Miss Sylvia at the Heim News Agency. At least, it started as such. She was sitting in her usual place with a bunch of papers in front of her. It was her job to proofread the articles before they got published in the newspaper. It was important that she should do her tasks without a mistake. The president of the company, the media mogul Charles Augustus Milverton was a decent employer with all the distance he kept from everyone except for his secretary - but he expected a fine work in return for the fine salary he paid. And Miss Sylvia was determined to do a fine job. He felt lucky that she was hired here since other newspaper companies didn't employ women in the editorial department. Not like there were a lot of other companies. President Milverton was not called the King of Media without a reason.
That morning, Miss Sylvia was occupied with her work as usual, browsing the papers through with an unbothered expression. The office was silent and peacefully boring - everyone else did the same as Miss Sylvia and nobody stopped to chat. Everyone knew that the earlier they were done, the sooner they could go home.
However, this morning peace didn't last for long. Suddenly, a loud, ominous sound broke the silence, something that made everyone, including Miss Sylvia, simultaneously turn their heads over. All of them could recognize the noise, they just couldn't understand it. It was a cat's mew - but how did a cat got inside the company building?
But the mew didn't come on its own. A moment later, another sound filled the corridor.
"Come here, kitty! Don't run away!"
"Carefully, sir. If you rush after it, it will feel threatened and get away."
"Ruskin, I know what I am doing. I caught cats before. We have several at home!"
"Isn't it you who always says that every cat is an individual and that's why you can't get enough of them, Mr. Milverton?"
"Oh, Ruskin, you don't need to bring that up!"
The conversation sounded like a little lovers’ quarrel and the editors would have viewed it as such if it wasn't the company president and his personal secretary. Miss Sylvia let out a chuckle listening to the discussion, but only quietly, so she wouldn't miss out on anything the two men said to each other.
"Ruskin, what do you think, how should we capture it?"
"You seemed to know it a moment ago, sir."
"I still know that! I merely asked for your opinion!"
"My opinion is that we should try to trap it with food. Should I go to the kitchen for milk?"
"What if it will get away by then?"
"Maybe it will get away anyway!"
The entire office listened with attention. Nobody moved or turned back to their work. Now, all of them were excited for the end of the admittedly amusing talk. Will President Milverton and Mr. Ruskin capture the cat and adopt it into their family?
Miss Sylvia especially didn't doubt that they were indeed family.
"Kitty! Kitty!"
"Sir, if you need to do this, then do it slowly. I don't want it to scratch you. What if you get infected?"
"You worry too much."
"I think I am worrying just the right amount. Sometimes, you are really hot-headed - especially when it comes to cats."
"Ruskin, you are overreacting because of a stray cat. See? They started to come closer. It seems that it likes me! Cats are full of malice, just like..."
"Mr. Milverton, don't forget where you are. Here, even the walls have ears."
Those who were prone to blushing, turned red in the office. Does Mr. Ruskin just know? But they didn't get the answer to this question. A few seconds later, all editors let out a cheerful sigh.
"Here, kitty. I told you that you don't need to be afraid of me."
"Careful, sir!"
"I am careful, Ruskin. It is purring in my hands. I am sure that it indeed grew fond of me."
"We should give some food to it then."
"You are right. It is still some hours until we can bring it home."
The sounds of steps slowly silenced on the corridor as the president and his secretary walked away with the cat and the sense of victory. The office started to turn back to normal as the people realized that the entertainment was over and soon, everyone was working again. Miss Sylvia took up another paper and began to proofread it with a bright smile on her face.
She liked working at the Heim New Agency.