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This wasn't a nepotism hire.

Technically, Rumi's Eomma was just secretly dating Rumi's future boss. Rumi herself wasn't related to Celine and only been co parented by her for the last decade, which was not her whole life. That made it totally not nepotism. That's how the rules worked, right? Not. Nepotism. Rumi was not a paper sales nepo baby. She refused to be.

Rumi let out a deep sigh, slouching back into the seat of her car, trying not to look at the old, depressing looking office building.

…okay so maybe this was nepotism once removed.

Nepotism once removed, used to get her the most boring, not paid job she could imagine to cover her summer break. She almost wished she had failed a class so she could have excused herself from this "experience gathering" opportunity and studied instead. That's how boring the prospect of this job was. The job wasn't even in her field of studies!

Selling paper.

She was going to learn how to sell paper.

Structured plant pulp.

She would rather watch paint dry and yet here she was, far too early for her first day, which inexplicably started right after lunch, sitting in the full parking lot, behind the building and far away from the entrance, trying to hype herself up to sell some fucking paper.

Sell paper for a dying business, operating in a dying industry, with slowly dying office workers. Or so she imagined at least. She knew Maman had promised her that they had recently downsized, that people had retired, that a new team had moved in. But Rumi was not optimistic about the average age of the new team. Because why would anyone even close to her age choose to sell paper for a living? There was no career to be made here. And nearly no money either, she was certain.

And also, absolutely no fun.

She sat up, trying to straighten out her shirt a bit. She hated this business casual look she had been instructed to wear. She didn't look bad or anything- a cream dress shirt with some nice dark pants and a matching dark belt suited her well enough- but the clothes were tight and constricting and she could feel herself sweating in them already, despite the AC of her poor old car trying its very best. The fact that her dress shirt had long sleeves was really not helping the matter. Rumi was starting to think that showing the purple tattoos that ran across her arms from her lower back, would be worth it. She could deal with the disproving stares of her co workers better than she could deal with the heat. She wished she had had that same conclusion this morning when she was getting dressed in a room with an AC.

Ugh. Why could she not at least have gotten a job in the warehouse? One where she could move, lift all day, get some exercise, leave the building? Where she wasn't confined to a desk, making calls all day?

She knew why. No interns needed there. But she still yearned for the movement.

Maybe they would let her help out, if she was lucky. Have a quick escape from a stuffy office. Maybe. She had to hold out hope. Because if she had to sit at a desk for the next three months, she would fucking lose it. Rumi was a gymrat who needed enrichment dammit!

How heavy was a ream of paper? Maybe she could lift those in her free time? Or the water cooler?

She shook her head, trying to get these negative thoughts out of her mind. She hadn't even stepped foot into the office building yet. Maybe she would be surprised. It wasn't likely but like. Maybe. Maybe. Please, maybe.

Rumi checked her hair in the car mirror quickly, making sure her long braid was nice and tight. The deep purple may be a dress code violation, but she was not about to spend money to undo hundreds of dollars and countless hours of work worth of excellent craftsmanship. They would have to be happy she put it up and that her floor length hair now only reached to her lower back, or let her go the moment she walked in the door.

Rumi would be lying if she wasn't a little bit hoping for the latter scenario to occur.

As she got out of her car, she winced at the bright sun, already missing her faulty AC dearly. That building better have a working air conditioner.

Rumi grabbed her bag from the trunk, swinging it around a bit with ease. It was mostly empty save for her empty lunchbox, but both her parents had insisted she needed one, to visually fit in or whatever. Rumi wasn't about to argue with Maman and Eomma, even if she did question their fashion choices. At least Rumi had gone out of her way to match her tie to the same color as the black case. Try and show a little bit of appreciation, even if she was apprehensive about this entire endeavor.

Her far too new and very uncomfortable dress shoes made her feet ache as she walked quickly to the side of the building, trying to combat the blinding sun with the slight shade it provided.

Every step was slow. Daunting. Apprehensive. She did not want to do this. Not in the slightest. But she had to. One foot after another. She got this. She would survive the most boring summer of her life. She could do this for a few months.

Her internal mantra was interrupted by the sound of the building's door closing with a clang. Voices wafted over to her seconds later, where Rumi stood stock still, just another step away from rounding the building and presumably meeting new coworkers of hers. She came to a full stop.

No. Absolutely not. She was not about to meet them like this, not before she had been given a formal introduction from HR. She did not need random rapport with the people talking, did not need to have them feel like they had to adopt the new intern because she looked lost and scared in the parking lot. Absolutely not!

So she stood still, pressed against the wall, and was forced to eavesdrop on what she was sure was to be the first boring conversation of many.

"I'm sorry but we can't go that low. We would be losing money." A woman's voice spoke up. She sounded surprisingly young- maybe another intern? Rumi hadn't been told there would be two of them. The woman sounded exasperated, a low grumble in her voice that did things to Rumi that she really wished it didn't, not right now. The heat outside was perfectly deadly on its own, it didn't need any help from other, more internal sources.

"Then I really don't see how we can stay in business with you." There we go. That was the sound of a middle aged man, the demographic Rumi had assumed she would be dealing with.

"What if we meet in the middle?" A new voice- another young one? peppy and upbeat? rang out, a slight plea underlining her tone. Maybe Rumi wouldn't be stuck around tired paper salesmen after all? The prospect was a little bit comforting.

"Zoey you can't just-" The lower voice interjected, but was cut off by the other woman.

"Sure we can- look if we up the amount- extra bulk buy, you get me- we can scale back the cost. Make this profitable for everyone involved!" The light voice- Zoey?- spoke with an odd sense of persuasion. Rumi heard the man huff.

"I would be stockpiling paper for years if I do that." He muttered, clearly unconvinced.

"See it as an investment! It'll cost you marginally more right now- but you'll be saving money- I know it isn't fully in your budget but we can totally set up a payment plan!" Rumi heard the other woman groan at the proposition. Maybe in boredom.

"Zoey we can't do that. Celine wouldn't- look just take the loss. I'm sorry we must part ways John, but I think this will have to be where your relationship with Dunder Mifflin terminates." She spoke sternly, with finality. The male voice gave a small stutter in response.

"Wait Mira don't let him go so easy! I haven't even been able to lay out the costs of on-boarding a new paper supplier yet- I can totally still change his mind!" Zoey's voice took on an odd petulant whine and the other voice-Mira?- gave a small scoff at her words.

"Just give up on the commission. You don't have to degrade yourself so hard as to beg our clients to help pay the rent." Her words were cold- harsh even- and completely out of order to direct at a co-worker in Rumi's opinion. She was starting to feel less enthused by Mira being a future colleague of hers.

"That's not-! John I'm sorry, Mira was so out of line with that- please don't feel pressured, we will get by either way, I promise." Zoey paused for just a brief second, letting the words hang in the air.

"But if you aren't completely opposed, I would love to show you my cost analysis- I ran over it with our accountant before you came over, I really think it could change your mind." Wow, she must really be behind on rent if she was going as far as to do homework to earn a commission check. Rumi almost felt a bit bad for her.

"Zoey don't waste his time. Or mine, for that matter." Mira's words stayed gruff and rude. It was as if she was actively trying to lose this client.

"You don't have to be here." Zoey shot back, slight venom in her voice that Rumi truly hoped the client did not catch up on. Wow, those two did not like each other huh. She hoped she could be seated far away from both of them.

"This is a joint account. Trust me, if it was up to me, I would be back in the office, making real sales, something I am actually capable of doing." Mira sneered and Rumi heard a nervous laugh of the client, who at this point, much like Rumi, was being held hostage in this hostile work environment.

"I can make a sale!" Rumi could just imagine this Zoey stomping her foot on the ground, even if she didn't actually do it in the moment. "Just- maybe not this one- but I can!"

"You did sign me two years ago." John sounded nervous as he spoke, slight pity in his voice. Wow, they were so losing him. Rumi hoped he wasn't an important account.

"Yeah, and she's losing you now." Mira responded. Rumi was feeling the need to defend this Zoey, but tactfully ignored it. They did not need an unexperienced intern to jump out and make the situation worse.

"We both are- you aren't innocent in this." Zoey pointed out, quite aptly.

"I'm just taking his no. Respecting John's decision." Mira responded and Zoey let out a small bark of laughter.

"Please, your scheming ass? I know you- I bet you've done the same calculations I have, you just want him to leave so you can get the sign up bonus again, when he crawls back to us." Zoey's words hung in the air, leaving Rumi flabbergasted. Could she just reveal something like that, in front of the client?

"I-" John spoke up, sounding shaken and a little bit apprehensive. "We've already contacted other sellers, we know their rates- why would you think-"

"Oh I'm not going to tell you. I'll lose my sign up bonus." Mira admitted coolly. Rumi could hear Zoey let out a groan of frustration.

"I'm sorry John- seriously, I'll walk you through it, I've done the math- why don't you come back up with us, I can show you what Mira is trying to hide." The pleading had left Zoey's voice as she spoke, sounding self assured.

"No I-" John wavered. "I'll call you. Yeah. It's easier to stay with you. I'll speak to my boss- Zoey, you have my extension-" His voice got a bit desperate and further away, and peaking around the corner just a little bit, Rumi could see him backing off, giving a small, very uncertain wave to the entrance that Rumi dared not try and look at, just in case she made eye contact with the two squabbling sales-women.

"He's not going to call." Mira's voice was still loud, clearly trying to reach John, who had reached his car. She sounded smug. Completely sure of herself. A bit too hot.

"He's smart, he will." Zoey responded as Rumi could hear the front door open with a squeak. Whatever Mira retorted was cut off by the clang of the door and the sound of the client's car speeding away.

Rumi took another five whole minutes to gather herself, to be absolutely certain that she wouldn't run into the two women in the elevator, before approaching the building again.

She was five minutes late.

But honestly, having seen her first in person sales negotiation, that was now the least of her worries.

She had thought this job would be too boring for her. But with co-workers like that, she was now very concerned that she simply was not brave enough for it. Or willing enough to beg. Or both.

Oh she hoped her other co-workers were normal at least.

The cold air of the office hit her face and Rumi felt herself relax, if even a little bit. The staircase and elevator had felt like a slow cook oven, so she was relieved to not be melting while she would actually be at work.

The relief gave away to the usual nervousness as she let her eyes wander over the scene in front of her.

It wasn't as small of a space as she had expected it to be, even if it was mostly devoid of any life. A majority of the desks sat empty, save for two, right next to reception, where two absolutely stunning women sat, clacking away at their keyboards, clearly not having heard her come in. They may not be on a call, but those headphones were almost definitely turned on and blasting music, if the slight rocking and foot tapping from the black haired woman was anything to go by. At least that was a plus, if interns were allowed to do that too.

Rumi let her eyes linger on the two women- who she almost hoped were not Zoey and Mira because it would a) be unfair for such beautiful voices to belong to such gorgeous bodies and b) them sitting so close together was bound to cause a ruckus on a daily basis.

She had to use pretty much all of her willpower to stop staring at the amazingly intricate space bun up-do and the surprisingly long and free flowing bright red hair the two respectively sported. At least she wouldn't be too out of place, color wise.

Her gaze landed on the receptionist, who was busy looking down, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. He looked to be ten, maybe 15 years older than her, sporting some scarce facial hair and eye-bags to match her own. At least his face looked friendly.

Rumi cleared her throat as she awkwardly stood in front of the desk, trying to both draw and absolutely not draw his attention. Unfortunately- or fortunately? She still wasn't quite sure on how to feel- he glanced up at her, breaking into a genuine smile.

"Hello and welcome to Dunder Mifflin! How can I help you?" Oh Rumi hated that name. Sounded so silly. Could the founders not have had cooler names please.

"Hi yes- I uh- I have an appointment with HR today? For on-boarding?" Rumi realized only after she had spoken, that she completely forgotten the social etiquette for the situation. She should have introduced herself first! Ugh. Great start.

"Ah you must be Rumi, our new intern." Well, that took care of that at least. Rumi nodded.

"I'm Robert- just call me Bobby though- let me take you to HR. I can give you the full tour after we have set you up with everything you'll need while you're here." His voice was bright and energetic, contrasting his tired outward appearance. Rumi was happy there was at least one person here she felt she would be able to get along with.

They walked through the small office and she could practically feel the two sales-women stare at her as she passed them. She did not meet their eyes, keeping her own affixed firmly to the space in front of her, taking in her surroundings.

There was the office of the manager- Celine- which had the shutters down and lights off. Rumi of course, knew her Maman wouldn't be in for another few hours, but she had been sworn to utter secrecy about their connection, so she decided to ask about it, try and built a cover.

"Is that the managers office?" She asked, as a cover. Bobby looked back at her and then the room, before nodding, smile still plastered on his face.

"Yes, but she's out for now- still finalizing some contracts regarding the closure of our neighboring branch." Rumi of course, as the daughter of said closed branch, knew about that going on very well. And she was also at least 90% certain, that her mothers were on a date and not signing contracts. But she wasn't going to say that.

"You'll meet her soon enough, don't worry." Bobby assured as they kept walking. They passed a small conference room, and Rumi glimpsed the break room and bathrooms through an open door, before meandering back into what looked to be an annex of the building. A single empty chair greeted her.

Before Rumi could inquire as to where the HR representative was, Bobby sat down in the chair and then got up and held out his hand, with a small playful grin on his face.

"Hi, I'm Robert- you can call me Bobby- and I am HR." Rumi shook his hand, trying not to look stunned.

"And the receptionist?" She asked nonetheless, curiosity getting the better of her. Bobby shrugged.

"We're a little bit understaffed after all the downsizing, retiring and rehiring. Gotta multitask a bit." Rumi nodded, as if she had any idea if that made sense or not. Fake it till you make it, as they said. Was this not some sort of HR violation? It had to be, right? Hopefully he was at least getting two salaries.

"Anyway- here are your introduction papers. You'll just need to read through them, sign a few." Bobby handed her a small stack of paperwork, which Rumi tried her very best not to look annoyed at. By the sympathetic smile that he shot her, Rumi could be fairly certain that she had failed.

"I've set up a company account for you- you can log your sales there. In the last few pages I've also added in your extension number, for if you make a sale. But don't worry, we don't really expect interns to do that. Your job is honestly, mostly snack runs and emotional support." Rumi could set with that. That seemed like far less work. Unless emotional support meant somehow mitigating between Mira and Zoey, but she was going to not dwell on that thought and hope to the high heavens that she hadn't just manifested that reality into existence.

"There's a few old VHS tapes I need you to watch. They aren't anything big, just how to act in the workplace. Don't curse too much, don't insult anyone, don't make unwanted sexual advances, the likes." VHS. This place still used VHS. Of course they did. Of fucking course the paper company still used VHS.

Rumi tried very, very hard not to cringe as she was led to the conference room, where Bobby took out a very old looking TV and prepared the tapes for her viewing dis-pleasure.

"Once you've completed the videos, I'll come pick you up again and give you a tour, introduce you to everyone. Let the camera crew know not to film you, since you haven't signed that stuff yet. You can get to all that this afternoon though." He flipped the lights off, leaving Rumi alone in the dark, staring at a crackling TV and wondering what the hell he was talking about with "camera crew".

"Until then though, sit tight and have fun. Or try not to fall asleep at least." He shut the door, leaving Rumi to her fate.

Rumi cringed at the bright light that invaded her poor pupils, the second the video had concluded. Bobby must have set a timer or something, with how punctual he managed to be here.

"Oh hey you're awake! That beats Mira's first day." Bobby beamed and Rumi tried very hard not to roll her eyes because yeah, that made sense, from the brief introduction to this Mira person that she had already received against her will.

"Now that you have sat through that, please sign the first paper on your lap." Bobby threw her pen which Rumi was ever grateful she actually managed to catch. Rumi glanced down, skimming the basics, before signing the sheet, affirming that she promises to not do anything she shouldn't. Should be easy enough, she wasn't much of a rule breaker in the first place, as long as the rules made sense, which they did in this case.

Bobby motioned for her to get up, so Rumi followed him, fearing the introductions looming on the horizon.

With lunch now officially over, a few more people made themselves comfortable in the office. A singular guy manned a computer in the corner, surrounded by two empty desks. He looked up as Bobby brought them over, a grin appearing on his face that Rumi oddly felt like punching off.

"Let's start with our last standing accountant, Jinu." Jinu gave Rumi's hand a small but sturdy shake, before sitting back down. He wasn't talking yet and it oddly looked like he was scheming. Rumi did not like the look of that.

"Jinu, this is Rumi, our new intern." Rumi gave a small wave, which felt very awkward given the handshake, but she wasn't sure what to do right now.

"Pleasure to meet you." Ugh it did not help that he did kind of have a nice voice, even if she didn't quite like hearing it. Bobby shot him an odd look, which made Rumi assume that Jinu was not usually this cordial. Despite his best efforts, he gave off schemer little shit vibes- not that she would say that out loud. So instead, she gave a quick "you too" back at him, before she got whisked away by Bobby, who she was starting to notice, really liked staying on a punctual schedule. She could appreciate that.

As they walked through the still relatively empty office, Bobby explained that the warehouse crew would be introduced to Rumi whenever it came up and that she wasn't going to interact with that area of work much- much to Rumi's chagrin, which she expertly hid.

She briefly got a quick wave in at two men, both with brightly colored hair, who were setting up what seemed to be cameras. What the hell were they up to?

Her question must have shown on her face as Bobby gave a soft sigh.

"We're being filmed for some kinda boring documentary- it's all in the last few pages. We aren't allowed to interact with them, and they aren't really allowed to talk to us either, except when they pull us off to the side for questions." Rumi stopped in her tracks at that answer.

Why the hell had nobody warned her about this? She had signed up for a boring paper sales job, not surveillance!

"Oh- you don't have to consent. It's on the last page. Just read it carefully, sign what you want. I'll take care of the rest." Bobby assured her, clearly sensing Rumi's hesitancy at being filmed by random men she couldn't talk to. It felt vaguely reassuring, but she still wasn't quite a fan of the many cameras she was starting to see all over the office. What a weird place this was.

As they made their way back to the entrance, an unfortunate realization began to dawn on Rumi. Those two women, were certainly Zoey and Mira. Every lower level employee seemed to have returned from lunch, and they were the only sales people Rumi could spot. Shit. By the empty desk at the head of their cluster, she could also surmise that she would indeed be sitting next to them. Between them, really. Usually she wouldn't mind being sat in between two goddesses of beauty, like the simp that she was at heart, but…

She wasn't quite sure how ready she was to deal with said goddesses bickering all day. Maybe she could wear headphones the whole time. Yeah, that could be a good solution.

As they neared the desk clump, Rumi put on a small, placid smile, hoping none of her emotions would show. She had to at least make a good first impression, lest she draw the ire of both of them.

"Hey girls." Bobby's voice seemed to have some sort of charm to it as it broke straight through the headphones the two had on, their eyes snapping to him, then to Rumi. The headphones came off just as quickly, as the two chorused a cheerful "Hi Bobby!" back at him, that seemed by all accounts, completely genuine. Rumi tried to subtly hide behind Bobby, but he seemed to catch on and stood back, just a bit, to show Rumi off to her future desk mates. Crud.

"So you girls remember a while back when I told you we'd be getting an intern?" He asked, and the red haired woman raised an eyebrow at his words, a small smirk forming on her lips. It wasn't like Rumi hadn't noticed this already, but it was worth repeating: Oh no, she was hot.

"I remember wondering how our company could afford to hire when we're shutting down branches left and right, if that's what you're referring to?" Mira. This was Mira. That beautiful, deep voice, underlined with a hint of playful sarcasm and tease, was Mira's. No mistaking it. That voice belonged to the woman with wonderful long red hair, a stylish white, sleeveless button up and soft blue pants. Rumi tried very hard not to notice how her golden framed glasses perfectly tied the outfit together. And she extra tried to ignore the blue blazer that was hanging off of Mira's chair. Now Rumi had to just keep her mouth shut- and her eyes proper- so she wouldn't give away that she knew that. Play dumb.

Should be easy enough, her brain cells loved to chuck themselves out the window around pretty women.

"I remember saying this was slave labor, if that's what you mean?" Zoey- yeah that peppy, cute, sweet voice was Zoey- wow it matched her excited grin and kind, mischievous eyes and slightly bouncing frame- spoke up. Rumi really tried not to linger on Zoey's loosely tied patterned tie- were those turtles?- or her tucked in short sleeved dress shirt or her dark black, sleek business pants. Bobby gave a soft sigh that Rumi hoped was not directed at her. He couldn't read minds, right?

"Yes, that. Well, meet Rumi. She's our new intern for the summer." Rumi gave them both a small wave, trying to keep the smile on her face and the shake out of her body. Please be nice to her. Please, please be nice. Please don't make her summer more hell than the heat was already doing.

The two women turned to look at each other, briefly, before their eyes landed on Rumi, with an intensity that Rumi had not expected and that felt, if Rumi was allowed to be just a little bit delusional for a second, completely workplace inappropriate. She was pretty sure those VHS tapes had covered this in some capacity at least. Right?

Mira's gaze was sharp, assessing. Raking over Rumi from top to bottom and then top again, as if analyzing everything about her in the second that she did so. Her eyebrows quirked up, a small, nigh dangerous smile settling on her lips as she crossed her legs and leaned back. Her eyes never left Rumi for a moment.

Zoey's eyes meanwhile were gentler in their approach. Curious, wide, darting across Rumi with quick looks, as if she couldn't find where to settle. Rumi didn't feel quite as assessed by Zoey as she had under Mira, as much as she felt like a new shiny toy that had just been unwrapped. Rumi wasn't quite certain if that thought was intended to be dirty by her mind or not.

"Nice to meet you!" Zoey bounced up from her chair with energy that Rumi envied and held out her hand, shaking Rumi's with a surprising amount of strength. Her grin was wide, excited and unguarded. Maybe Rumi could exist with her in the same space after all.

"I'm Zoey! Number one sales woman in the company!" Rumi blinked. Really? Was Zoey just that good at begging? Because that certainly had been the primary sales tactic that Rumi had observed before. Maybe she was judging too harshly. Could have been an outlier client.

"Yeah yeah I know, I don't look it." Zoey laughed- wow did that laughter light up a room oh no Rumi was fucked- before shooting Mira a small, but clearly playful smirk. "Everyone assumes Mira has the better sales record when we first meet."

"Oh- No- That's not-" Rumi tried to reel her mind back in as she realized her disbelief had clearly been very evident on her face. She would need to get a hang of that if she was going to stay. Did she want to stay? There certainly was a bit more incentive to do so now.

"Don't apologize, she does it on purpose." Mira interjected, shaking Rumi's hand as well, which Rumi did on autopilot, her brain fully rebooting again when it registered that Mira was tall. Those office chairs were deceptive. Wow. Focus!

"On purpose?" Rumi managed to mutter out, finding the vaguest of footing in the conversation again. Zoey rolled her eyes as she sat down, spinning around in the chair.

"It's called being strategic and leaning into your strengths." She shrugged as she stopped the chair, facing back towards her monitor. Beside her Bobby- oh right, he was still here- laughed gently.

"Some may call it psychological warfare." Zoey stuck out her tongue at him before grinning. Mira gave a soft chuckle as she sat back down and leaned back, relaxed.

"You're over selling me here in front of the new girl." Zoey waved him off. "I abide by all conventions. It isn't a crime to use your cuteness to sell paper. If you got it, flaunt it, as they say. I don't see anyone getting on Mira's case for scaring clients into sales."

"Wow, slander first thing after lunch." Mira shot back at the remark, though the venom from before was subdued greatly. Probably because they were back in the office, Rumi concluded. Good, at least they could be civil-ish indoors.

"Intimidation is a very valid strategy, I'm not slandering anything! Just saying you are a bit underhanded sometimes." Zoey's voice was filled with tease, as she grinned over at her colleague who sent her what was at best a half hearted glare. Mira was about to respond, as Bobby interrupted with a very performative clearing of his throat. Zoey's grin fell back into a neutral small smile and Mira held her tongue immediately. Rumi had to learn how Bobby did that.

"Anyway!" He spoke, possibly too loudly. "Please help Rumi get settled in. Show her the company account set up, explain the contract if she has questions, all of that. Have her watch you do cold calls." The two nodded, before Mira put her hand up, like a schoolchild. Bobby called on her, as if this was a regular occurrence.

"We have another joint account to try and extend the contract of this evening. Do we take her along?" First day and Rumi was already doing unpaid overtime. Fucking lovely.

"If she wants to, sure." Of course Rumi didn't. But she also wasn't about to say no and show bad work ethic. Not on the very first day. She would save that at least until she knew everyone's last names.

"If you need me, I'll be back in the annex, finishing up the last of the on-boarding papers." With those words, Bobby walked back off, leaving Rumi to the wolves. Or the unfortunately extremely attractive co-workers.

"Well, do you want to?" Mira asked, not even waiting for Rumi to take a seat at her new desk. Her tone seemed genuine, as if she was actively avoiding pressuring her- even if the odd hopeful tint was hard to ignore.

"I- maybe? I don't really know what that entails." Maybe if she played incompetent- or really just was honest because in this, she was incompetent, Rumi would be able to make it to bed before 9pm.

"It's nothing big, you won't even need to talk if you don't want to." Zoey reassured and with that, went Rumi's excuse of inexperience. Oh well, she had tried at least.

"We're just meeting the client in a bar to-" Mira started, but was cut off by Zoey. Mira didn't seem mad about that though, oddly enough.

"Wait- can you drink? How old are you?" Rumi blinked. Really? Surely she looked old enough to have a beer.

"I'm 24. Yes I can drink." Rumi replied, trying to keep the slight disbelief out of her voice. Mira gave a small nod and sat back in her chair again, relaxed.

"Just needed to check- we've had some interns here that were like 17 so, wanted to be sure." Rumi rolled her eyes at that statement. Zoey gave a small giggle- at Mira or her own action, Rumi wasn't quite sure. Mira shot the other woman a look that seemed vaguely hostile, if Rumi was going to try and interpret it, though it seemed laced with something… more. She wasn't sure with what.

Eh. Not her problem if they didn't make it her problem.

"Not that Mira is saying you look 17." Zoey assured, her eyes traveling up Rumi's body again with a not at all unwelcome intensity, that Rumi had to assume had been a little bit against the rules in those VHS tapes. If Rumi wasn't completely delusional. Which she probably was. Sue her for being a bit of a simp or whatever, they couldn't read her mind, this wasn't a violation, HR thought crimes aren't real.

Probably.

Rumi hadn't been fully paying attention to all of the tapes, solid chance they technically were. Whatever. She wasn't being paid here.

"We just- wanted to be sure?" Rumi blinked. We?

"Y'know, before we commit another crime or something." Zoey continued, completely glossing over the word another and not leaving room in the conversation to let Rumi try and question her on it.

"Anyway- we should probably help you get set up now before Jinu lectures us again about wasting company time and time theft. As if that's an actual thing." Zoey pushed her chair out and gave it a spin, before jumping off and making her way behind Rumi, settling in right where she was practically breathing down Rumi's neck and could see her monitor and desk clearly. Rumi tried not to shrink into her seat.

"That prick doesn't believe in those things either, he just likes messing with us." Mira sighed and stood up again, taking two short steps to stand right behind Rumi as well, leaving part of Rumi to be impressed that the two women could stand so close to each other and not kill each other, and the other part ever so slightly gay panicking over the fact of just how close they were standing to her now.

And clearly the universe was out to get Rumi's poor heart as the other two did not in fact seem uncomfortable by the closeness- not that Rumi was uncomfortable, no that would not be the word she would use, that word did not start with an h and end with a y- they clearly deemed it to not be close enough, as Rumi quickly found herself fully encompassed by them. Mira had her left hand resting on Rumi's left side of the desk and was bending over to look at her still turned off screen- an opposite reflection of Rumi if Rumi had the brain space to catch the irony of it- while Zoey mirrored her on Rumi's right.

"Let's help you get your system set up." Mira's breath was hot on Rumi's cheek as she leaned in and turned on Rumi's machine. If that didn't break all of the workplace rules, Rumi would have had the gall to think that Mira was doing this on purpose, but surely not. No, she was just helping her get her set up, like a good co-worker, and that was it. Rumi had to get her mind the fuck together she realized, as her eyes landed on Mira's hand. Wide and sturdy- Rumi tried very hard not to think of how strong her grip was. The soft golden ring on Mira's ring finger broke through Rumi's mind like a battering ram. This woman was engaged. This was all an accident- it had to be- and all in Rumi's head and she was being entirely inappropriate. Focus!

"And afterwards we can help you with those contracts- the fine print can be real tricky." Zoey added on as her right hand found itself on Rumi's back as she leaned forward and grabbed the paperwork from across Rumi's desk, her nails digging into Rumi's skin, ever so slightly under the pressure. Rumi suppressed her shudder as best as she possibly could, eyes landing on Zoey's long, slender fingers- which- shit. Another ring stood out against the pale white of the contract papers.

Less than an hour in and she was crushing on two very attractive, and very engaged, co-workers.

This summer was going to be difficult, she was calling it now.

The last two hours had been the most difficult ones in Rumi's entire life, she concluded as she sat back in her chair, hanging up the phone after another denied cold call.

First, she had had a boring accounting system explained to her by two of the hottest women she had ever seen, while their bodies were practically pressed into her, then, she had had to review contracts in the exact same situation, before all the pressure had been released in a single instant and she had been left to listen to the other two do cold calls, and then urged to try to do it herself.

Roller coaster of an afternoon, to put it lightly.

At least she had retained enough focus to not sign the recording consent form, because she was absolutely not going to have a film crew capture any of this. Over her hot and bothered body would they do that.

Even while knowing the cameras were pointed away and that she wasn't wearing a mic pack, all of the lenses focused on the whole office and the two crew she wasn't allowed to talk to, or interact with at all- it was fucking creepy. She had no idea how the others could possibly deal with this.

Rumi sighed, placing the phone on the table with a clatter, causing Zoey to jump up in her seat, before her eyes found Rumi's and she broke into a soft, understanding smile.

"Cold calls are tough huh." She empathized and Rumi groaned in response. That was one of the tough things alright. Mira gave a soft chuckle from the other side of the desks.

"They take a while to get used to. But they are amazing rejection therapy." She raised a knowing eyebrow over at Zoey, who groaned at the gaze, shaking her head.

"You say that, but I'm still terrified of them each time. I'm really ready for the therapy part of that concept to finally kick in." She leaned back in her chair with a creek, to the point where Rumi was a tad concerned that she would just topple right over backwards. Surely this fell under workplace safety of some kind.

"You do an impressive job if it still scares you." Rumi tried her hand at an honest compliment. If she was allowed to be a little bit delusional again, she could almost see a light pink dusting on Zoey's cheeks. Zoey gave a small wave and shook her head.

"All just conceal don't feel- or as our manager loves to tout, our faults and fears can never be seen. At least not by the customers." Rumi nodded. She had heard that spiel many times- usually when either of her mom's were complaining about employees fumbling sales- and sometimes about upper management having no negotiating skills. That latter complaint had dropped just a bit ago when the company had acquired a new CFO.

"Speaking of manager- you haven't met Celine yet, have you?" Mira joined the conversation, shrugging her headphones off. Had they not been playing music? Rumi would have to remember that when talking around her. Ugh, office politics.

"I have my meeting with her soon. Is everyone on a first name basis with her?" She lied, through gritted teeth and fidgeting hands. She hoped they would attribute her nervousness with her upcoming meeting with the boss and not anything else. Like the fact that Celine half raised her.

"Eh, kinda- she used to go by Manager Kang, but then she got married and we switched to Mrs. Ryu- and then people kept mixing them up out of habit and started confusing clients and she decided to just go by first name only." Zoey recounted with a sigh. Rumi raised an eyebrow. Now there was information she didn't know. She had always wondered what Celine was like as a manager.

"You should probably stick with Mrs. Ryu at first though, until she gives you permission. Make a good impression and all." Mira added on and Rumi nodded. It may be a bit late for that- Celine's first impression of her had been Rumi complaining about Celine taking her Eomma's attention away from Rumi herself- wow had she been a brat as a kid- but she could keep up appearance at work. Probably. As long as she didn't slip up and call her Maman.

"When's your meeting with her anyways?" Zoey asked, clearly happy to keep the distraction of a conversation going. Rumi checked the clock.

"In about five minutes technically. But I don't think I've seen her around yet? Unless I missed her." Rumi didn't know Celine was out on a date with Eomma. Nope. Not a clue.

"You wouldn't be able to miss her." Zoey shook her head and Mira gave a groan that was clearly playful, if jokingly- hopefully jokingly- exasperated.

"She's a fucking beauty- you'll notice the moment she walks into a room. grabs everyone's attention, everywhere she goes." Zoey's voice was filled with admiration and Rumi was having to try very hard right now to not look like someone who had just been told that her mom was hot to her face.

"Easy there, you're engaged." Mira warned with an almost jealous edge in her voice.

Wait.

Was that the source of the conflict? Was Mira into Zoey's partner or something? Oh that was drama Rumi absolutely did not want to get involved with in the slightest. Zoey simply rolled her eyes and sent Mira a wink of all things. Was she gloating? She didn't seem the type but-

Rumi's thoughts- and Zoey's response- were interrupted by the door to the office closing with a heavy thunk and the room filling with the soft thuds of high heels on carpet.

"Oh, Celine!" Bobby looked up from his monitor with a bright smile towards the entrance, that was still out of view from where Rumi was sitting. She heard a familiar hum of acknowledgment however, that instantly let a feeling of calmness settle over her.

"Did the meeting go well?" Meeting. Sure. That was what Celine was doing. A meeting.

"Perfectly satisfactory, thank you for asking." Celine's voice rang through the quiet office, capturing everyone's attention, right before she came into view. Her eyes landed on Rumi, ever so briefly, before turning to Bobby with an impressive poker face.

"How does it look for my next appointment?" She asked, as if she hadn't just seen Rumi. Was this some odd power play she did at work or had she messed up her cover a little bit just there by playing too dumb. Rumi wasn't sure and she probably wasn't going to ask. At least not at work.

"Our new intern has settled in nicely and is waiting for you right over there." Bobby answered, mirth in his voice as he pointed over to Rumi. As Celine's gaze met hers again, Rumi stood up, putting on the most realistic hello-i-don't-know-you smile she could muster. Celine gave a curt nod back before striding right past Rumi and towards her office. Had she not signaled with her hand to follow her, Rumi would not have caught on what to do in the slightest. Sh was starting to really hope that Celine didn't tend to to be like this around her employees. The confused looks of Bobby, Mira and Zoey, indicated that at the very least, this was a new occurrence.

With Bobby giving her a small wave, Zoey a big double thumbs up and wide grin and Mira a quietly mouthed "good luck", Rumi followed Celine into the open office, shutting the door behind her.

Time for the least conventional managerial introduction of her life.

The moment the door closed, Celine visibly deflated in front of Rumi's eyes. Her shoulders slouched, her jaw unclenched- or at least a little bit. She shook off the shawl that she was inexplicably wearing and flung her blazer over her chair, leaving her in her still very formal- and a little bit unusual for Rumi to see her in- tie, tucked in dress shirt and dress pants. Rumi wasn't quite sure what the blazer was even for in this heat, in her opinion, Celine looked perfectly presentable without it. But what did Rumi know of the business world, she was just a biology student trying to pep up her resume in any way she could.

What she did know now on second glance however, was why Celine was covering her neck. And clearly, her bad poker face gave her away immediately, as Celine met her eyes and smiled, warily.

"Are they that bad?" She asked with a hint of shame and a small, fond smile on her face that fully contradicted that. Rumi let out a small giggle and shook her head, trying, and almost certainly failing, to reassure Celine of anything. Celine sent her a half hearted glare that should have looked intimidating and probably give "go to your room" but, the numerous blooming bruises on her neck really cut down on the effectiveness of that. Also Rumi's room was a whole car ride away, so that was out of the picture.

"For a teenager who just discovered hickeys? No, pretty tame." Rumi tried to not offend her mother too much, but this state was one that reminded Rumi of herself as a teen- and that wasn't particularly a good thing. Actually, this whole situation was giving Rumi a bit of a sense of reverse déjà-vu- though Rumi had been somehow even worse at hiding anything. And definitely more ashamed at being caught.

"But for a married mother of one who was out on a lunch date with her wife? Yeah that's impressive. Did Eomma bring a suction cup to help her out?" It did look a little bit like Celine had been attacked by an octopus. Celine groaned and took out a small hand mirror from her pocket, before retrieving some foundation from her desk drawer. Rumi took the mirror from her as Celine sat down, letting her mother use it like a mirror.

"…not a suction cup no." Celine responded, slowly covering up the remnants of her "lunch meeting" with an "important manager". Rumi raised an eyebrow, eyes catching the foundation smearing a dark shade of red around. Celine seemed to notice as her eyes glanced at it in her reflection, but instead of wiping it off, she chose to just cover that up too. Rumi blinked.

"Wait. That's not Eomma's shade of lipstick-" She started, trying to keep her voice at an indoor level as her mind flooded with the possibilities. Number one being her mom just bought another shade, number two…. ??? and number three- and least likely but wow her mind did love to cause catastrophe- Maman was cheating on Eomma. That. Did not seem likely. In the slightest. Celine let out a huff of laughter at Rumi's face, waving one hand, as if she knew what thoughts had just entered her daughter's mind and she was trying to quickly dispel them.

"The suction cup likes a darker shade. Says it projects power. I think it suits her." Rumi raised an eyebrow, cocking her head to the side while trying very hard not to show that she nearly dropped Celine's mirror in shock at the ease of revelation. Wow. That therapy was doing wonders on Celine.

"The lipstick or the power?" Rumi asked as she sat down, now that the damage was at least mostly covered up. What still peaked through could be waved off as a rash or bug bite. Probably. If Celine used intimidation.

"I'm not going to dignify that with an answer, Rumi." Celine rolled her eyes with a soft smile as she riffled through a few papers- Rumi's contract which had magically appeared in her desk- probably Bobby's doing. A pretense of work. As if they hadn't gone through the whole on boarding process at home already. Which come to think of it- was that a violation of something? Probably, right?

"I see, it's both." Rumi nodded and held up her arms with a laugh to shield herself from a playful swat of the papers.

"So how long has this been going on? Am I getting a new mom?" Rumi was mostly joking. Mostly. And internally screaming a little- a lot- a bit and hopefully keeping her cool externally. She could deal with her parents getting into another relationship- she had dealt with Celine entering her life, what's one more? If anything, this meant more birthday money, right? Oh rationalization, her favorite coping mechanism. She could deal with these emotions later. Probably.

"That may be jumping the gun. We've only been on three business meetings now." Celine answered with a soft chuckle. Rumi blinked. Was this code? Or was this mysterious third person somehow also a Dunder Mifflin employee.

"Like. Actual meetings?" Please don't say sex. Please stay at least kind of coy. Please.

"The first one did start out that way at first, yes. But Miss Wallace is pretty… direct with her words. Very communicative. Took us a little bit by surprise actually." Celine responded with a soft chuckle. Rumi blinked.

"…did David Wallace transition or something?" Rumi asked, mostly in jest and slightly in genuine curiosity. That got an actual laugh out of Celine who shook her head.

"Transitioned yes, but a different Wallace." Oh good. Her mother's weren't dating the former CFO of the company they both worked for. Good, good. That would be a moral nightmare to navigate.

"Same position though- it's a funny situation actually." What. Rumi tried very hard not to drop her jaw and she failed miserably at her fight against gravity on this one. Celine just laughed again, as if this wasn't a very precarious person to be going on dates with. What could possibly be funny?

"David quit being the CFO a few weeks back. And by sheer coincidence, his replacement has the same last name as him. Same initials too. Dora almost made her legal first name Davida you know, just for the bit." Celine shook her head, hand running through her hair and de-tangling the few strands that must have gotten messed up while she was doing things Rumi did not feel comfortable thinking about.

"Thankfully she decided not to commit to that joke to that extent. Now it's only her middle name." Rumi was at a complete and utter loss for words. Just who were her mothers going on dates with? She sounded fun, sure- a little nuts though?

"Isn't it like. A terrible idea to date your boss?" She asked instead. Celine just shrugged in response.

"I'm already married to one, what's a second one." Okay wait no, therapy was too good actually. Where had Celine's drive for rule abidance gone? Was this a midlife crisis? Should Rumi be worried?

"That's different- Eomma's just a level above you and only since a few weeks- Miss Wallace is the CFO!" Inside voice, it was so, so hard to use her inside voice right now. What happened to rules? Where was Celine's anxiety? Sure, it was lovely to see her so carefree but this was a complete 180! Right?

Rumi had to calm down. Surely, Celine had thought this through. She was logical, she calculated her moves. Surely, this was handled. Right?

"We're a dying company, in a few years, none of us will be in this job at all." Ah. There it was. There was the calculation. Rumi wasn't quite sure if the math really checked out, but it was comforting to know Celine was still very much so herself.

"And until then?" She asked, swiveling in her chair a bit to get the nervous energy out.

"Until then, we just stay out of HR's way and are responsible adults about the power between us." She responded. Rumi wasn't exactly super happy with that answer, but Celine was generally a good judge of character. If she firmly believed they could work with this- while causing a workplace scandal in quiet- then it should? be fine. Probably. Worst case, they quit the paper business a few years prematurely. Probably not even that bad of an idea to jump off the sinking boat before their feet even got wet.

"Plus, HR won't be difficult to evade. You've seen the downsizing. Even the corporate office has shrunk. I think Bobby helps out there part time too." Celine dropped the news that Bobby now had officially 2.5 jobs in this economy. No wonder he looked like he barely slept, the poor man.

"That feels like a conflict of interest." Rumi pointed out. Celine nodded in full agreement.

"It sure is. But y'know, the downsizing." As if that was an explanation for anything. Surely this company could hire a singular part time HR rep at corporate. Surely.

"Speaking of downsizing. How is our new unpaid intern finding the work?" Celine finally got to what was technically part of their meeting, putting Rumi's papers to the side and crossing her arms as she looked at her daughter.

"The work is… kinda boring?" Rumi responded honestly and Celine laughed, nodding. They had both warned Rumi this would be mind numbing. This response was very expected.

"But the few co-workers I have seem… nice? Bobby is lovely, Jinu is.. polite? Haven't really talked to him much- I haven't met anyone in the warehouse yet and Mira and Zoey are…" How could Rumi sum up her confused and apprehensive feelings about those two women while staying very safe for work?

"They are a bit of a menace when together, I understand." Celine responded with a thousand yard stare. Just what had those two subjected Celine to? Rumi just nodded in agreement. That was one way to put it.

Celine's watch dinged at them both, signaling the end of this very relevant and totally important work meeting. Celine got up and put her blazer back on like a madwoman, straightening out her tie. Rumi wheeled her chair back a bit, waiting for Celine to leave the room first- she wasn't quite sure of the etiquette here.

As Celine reached for the door handle, she stopped, her hand hovering over it as she looked down at Rumi.

"Don't mention that I'm open to polyamory to anyone in the office please." She asked with a symbolic finger to her lips, her eyes flitting out of her office door window to where Mira and Zoey sat.

"Especially not to Zoey. She'll ask me out in a heartbeat and I can't do that to her fiancée. Or to the office. Dating your boss is messy business and should be avoided." She ended the sentence with a bit of a smirk as she watched Rumi try and fail to cook up a remark to that or show Celine the definition of a hypocrite in a dictionary.

Rumi shook her head, finding her bearings again before nodding in response to the request. She hadn't intended on spreading the gossip, but now her lips were completely sealed. Pinky promise and everything. Celine reached for Rumi's hand and interlocked their pinkies with a small shake, taking Rumi up on her small joke, before placing her hand on Rumi's shoulder, steadily and reassuringly.

"Thank you. And we can talk more about this tonight after work. I'm sure there's a few emotions going undressed right now and I promise I am not ignoring them or this reality, I just cannot get into them too much as of this moment because of our work environment." She said with a kind, gentle voice that sounded ever so slightly rehearsed and a bit awkward, but still fully genuine.

It made Rumi's step falter ever so slightly as she nodded, exiting the office behind Celine and tried not to look dumbfounded by what her mother had just said.

Celine had just invited her to talk about her feelings after work and acknowledged why they weren't doing so right now.

Wow.

Maman's therapist was a fucking genius.

Rumi's afternoon break- which felt entirely unearned as she got it at most a half hour after her talk with Celine, was restful for all of maybe 30 seconds, before she found herself crowded by Mira, Zoey and, inexplicably, Jinu from accounting, who all pulled up a chair and sat down at the table at which Rumi was trying to enjoy a quiet moment with her coffee.

Mira and Zoey she kind of understood- they were getting along okay and she was their desk mate, they had a vested interest in getting along with her- but why was Jinu here?

"You didn't sign the filming agreement. The cameras can't capture us here." He said and dammit. Rumi really, extremely, needed to get her face under her own control before it stopped betraying her like this. Mira and Zoey nodded in agreement- hopefully to Jinu's words and not somehow to Rumi's thoughts. If they were mind readers, Rumi may as well be taken out back and put down.

"Yeah, you're a safe zone in this panopticon of cameras." Mira added, opening her chocolate bar and offering half to Zoey. Huh. Maybe they had a peace treaty going.

"Technically a panopticon relies on the observed not being able to see the observer or know when they are being observed- we see the cameras and camera guys, so it's more just your run of the mill 24/7 observation." Zoey spoke up before swallowing her part of the chocolate in one bite. Mira rolled her eyes and jostled Zoey in the side with her elbow lightly. Jinu just laughed.

"Then she's a safe zone from the 24/7 camera observation. Same difference." Mira shrugged and Rumi cocked her head to the side slightly at the wording.

"24/7? Do they film you sleeping or something?" She took a sip of her mediocre coffee, letting Jinu answer the question.

"They may as well. Creepy fuckers have followed me home before and been there when I've woken up. Honestly I did not know what I was getting into when I signed that shit." He nigh growled at the end and slouched back like a pouting child, sending a glare to the blue haired camera guy standing in the corner of the room, who gave a smirk and peace sign in return. They couldn't film them here, but clearly, they could still eavesdrop.

"That's ridiculous." Rumi gaped and the other three nodded in unison.

"There's a reason we explained the recording clause to you in so much detail. It signs away so many rights to privacy it kind of feels illegal." Mira grumbled with a glare at the same guy. He ignored her.

"At least the sound guy is cute." Zoey offered and Mira rolled her eyes, scoffing at the very idea.

"The mop with a body? Your taste in men is horrible." Wait maybe Mira hated Zoey's fiancé actually? Was the sound guy Zoey's fiancé? That would be nuts.

"I think my taste in women makes up for that, tenfold." Zoey grinned and stuck out her tongue. Rumi tried not to make it too clear just how big the news was to her that Zoey was also into women. This was normal information and she would be normal about it. Besides, Zoey was still engaged, no matter who she was into. Possibly engaged to the sound guy with covered eyes and a purple dye job that paled in comparison to Rumi's hair. Wait, why was she comparing herself to him?

"Besides, we all know the person with the worst taste in men in this room is Jinu. Unless Rumi is hiding some serious red flag ignoring glasses somewhere." Rumi nearly chocked on her coffee as Mira included her in this conversation. As she hacked and sputtered, Jinu spoke up in his own defense.

"Just because you don't like the men I hook up with does not mean I have bad taste." He argued, though he sounded extremely uncertain of himself. Mira scoffed.

"The last guy you went home with is a client who was trying to get a discount from you, because we wouldn't fall for his bad pick up lines. That's bad taste." Mira smirked at Jinu's attempt at a response, which was more a few incoherent attempts, before he put his hands up in defeat.

"Yeah, I'll admit, he was a blunder. Good luck meeting with him today, I think I made him worse." Wait what. That's who they were going to go on a sales call on with? Jinu's ex hook up?! Did HR even exist in this company or was it all just a smokescreen.

"A tendency you have. Maybe you don't have bad taste, you just drag them down to your level." Mira shot at Jinu with venom that Rumi had only witnessed her spit towards Zoey this morning. Zoey, not being at the receiving end of it this time, let out a soft giggle at Mira's words while Jinu rolled his eyes. Clearly some office politics were going on here that Rumi did not want or need to be a part of.

"She doesn't mean that." Zoey quickly said, though Rumi was pretty sure she was lying through her teeth because it very much had sounded like Mira had extremely meant that.

"But thanks for the luck- we'll need it. That creep keeps flirting with both of us and it's weird." Zoey shuddered and now Rumi was growing a bit apprehensive of the meeting after work. Did she really want to meet this guy at a bar?

"Don't worry Rumi, he seems mostly interested in me. For some reason." Mira tried and kind of reassured Rumi as she shrugged. Jinu grinned.

"You gave away that you're sometimes into men when you said you liked the foreman's abbs. Mr. R has been doing sit ups you know, to impress you. He hasn't gotten very far yet though." Jinu nigh cackled out the information and it kind of looked like Mira wanted to punch him.

And wait. Did that mean Mira was into women too? Engaged to a woman? Oh kill Rumi now, she could not be crushing on two co-workers who were sapphic and also hated each other. Please no, she wanted out of this sitcom ass situation.

"Please tell me you don't call him Mr. R in bed." Zoey groaned and Jinu shook his head only slightly convincingly. Rumi was learning way too much about her co workers sex lives on day one here. Mira sighed.

"Anyway- yeah, don't worry Rumi. He's barely good looking and his flirting is kinda shit, you don't have to worry about being swept up by the guy unless you're Jinu." Mira ignored the "hey!" from Jinu as she got back on track, clearly sensing Rumi's lingering apprehension.

"Oh uhm- that won't be a problem. I'm not really into men." The words were out before she had a chance to stop them. Rumi resisted the urge to comically slap her hand over her mouth. Sure, she hadn't really planned to come out as a Lesbian today- but at the very least everyone at the table was queer, so she wasn't putting herself in any danger. Probably. Wait what was she thinking, the branch manager was an out Lesbian. Wow, habits from Uni were hard to shake. She was safe here. A bit bored, but safe.

The sudden intense looks from Mira and Zoey- for all of a second before they hid them and smiled softly- did leave some room for danger though. Wanted danger. Wait. No. Down. They were both engaged. How did Rumi keep forgetting that crucial fact?

"Oh good, you'll drive him crazy then. He can handle rejection, but I feel like he'll flounder under complete disinterest." Mira grinned, a scheming smile on her face. Rumi was about to ask if that was really relevant to a business meeting, as the break room door opened and a new person she had yet to meet walked in, catching both Mira's, Zoey's and even Jinu's eyes, before they all put on expert poker faces as the man turned to greet them while pouring a cup of coffee. He broke out into a bright smile as his eyes landed on Rumi.

"Oh hey! Nobody told me the intern started today!" His voice was bright and boisterous, matching his large and slightly intimidating frame. The man was jacked beyond belief, Rumi could tell, even if his body was slightly hidden by the work uniform.

"Sorry, we were going to when she made her first paper sale. Y'know, load up the truck on her own as is the ritual." Jinu answered and the man rolled his eyes, hand ruffling through his reddish pink hair. It was impressive how dyed everyone's hair was at this company actually.

"A ritual you made up to save in labor costs." He grinned as Jinu shook his head, very unconvincingly. Rumi started to wonder if some of the cuts had been made as a result of Jinu being the sole accountant here. It was starting to seem possible. Clearly, there was little oversight.

"Whaaaaat? I'd never." Jinu laughed, not even trying to really hide it.

"Anyway." The new guy walked over and held out his hand. Rumi stood up and shook it on instinct. "I'm Abby. The warehouse foreman." His grip was strong and his hands calloused. Clearly he was made for this line of work.

"Rumi." Oh she wished she was better at small talk.

"Great to meet you." He turned to the rest of the group, chugging the hot coffee in one large go which was a little bit worrying and also a bit impressive.

"Zoey, you got a minute? I got a few pallets I gotta haul and I'm a bit behind schedule." What. Did he not have co-workers who could help him out? What could an office worker even do here? That sounded like an insurance nightmare if one of them got injured in a warehouse task.

"Ah shit- I really should be prepping to meet with the map guy this evening." Zoey said in an apologetic tone. So that's what they were going to be selling today? Map paper? Rumi didn't even know physical map making was still an industry. Abby grimaced.

"Damn yeah they're a piece of work- Jinu? You got a minute?" Jinu didn't even try to look sorry as he shook his head, a silly, kind of punchable shit eating grin on his face.

"Sorry, you know I'm more brains than brawn. Plus, I'm fully booked up today, got a lot of numbers to crunch." He crossed his arms and leaned back, seemingly happy with his very feeble excuse.

"If you'd do some crunches instead for once you'd actually be able to help out." Mira muttered very loudly under her breath as she got up, stretching. "I'll help, can't be that hard."

"You sure Mira? You wouldn't want to break any of those pretty nails." Zoey… teased? goaded? hopefully lightheartedly teased and Mira rolled her eyes, holding out her perfectly manicured, if short fingernails, a fact that Rumi was not going to read into in the slightest. They were a soft pink, though the ring finger on both hands seemed to have a small turtle decoration on them. How cute. Rumi hoped it wasn't meant as a power move over Zoey's tie. Wait- is that why Zoey mentioned the nails? Eugh. Too many thoughts.

"I'll break you with these pretty nails." Mira shot back and Jinu whistled loudly. Rumi was stuck between trying very hard not to picture that, and wondering if that could possibly mean what it very much so sounded like it meant.

"Careful, that's what we call a hostile work environment." Jinu jeered. Mira gave him the middle finger as a response, which, also seemed like a hostile work environment. Actually, hadn't those tapes been quite specific about insulting hand gestures not being allowed?

"How bout you too, intern? Wanna haul some cube?" Abby offered as Mira already walked out the door, presumably towards wherever the warehouse was located. Nobody had actually told her anything about that, which felt like an oversight, in retrospect. But the offer sounded amazing. Rumi had been stuck sitting in an office for less than half a work day, and she was already getting kind of sick of it.

"Oh yes please."

Hauling cube turned out to be easier than Rumi had initially expected. She had been a bit scared that they were going to plop her forklift uncertified ass into a forklift and say go- it wouldn't feel out of place with how this whole place seemed to run things- but Abby was actually quite safety conscious.

Before he had even allowed Rumi to start picking up so much as a sheet of paper, he had given her the run down of the warehouse- which was in the same building turns out- and made sure to properly instruct her on lifting with her knees and not her back. He had seemed extra elated when Rumi had picked up a massive box on her own, remarking she should have applied here instead.

Which, was how Rumi had learned that not only did Abby have nobody to help him out right now, he had nobody to help him out, period. The warehouse crew consisted of him, and him alone, all because of "downsizing". How was this company still running?

"Well, Zoey does help out a lot." Abby elaborated as the two of them hauled a large pallet of paper into the truck with help of a pallet mover. "With how much she's down here, she really should be payed to be a part time warehouse worker."

"I see it as a free gym membership. It's a job perk." Zoey remarked, looking up from where she was sat on the warehouse floor, surrounded by papers and a notebook filled with scribbles that vaguely looked like math.

"Plus you steal so much from the company, it practically amounts to a second income anyway." Mira grunted in what probably? was a joke? as she hauled a large box into the slowly filling delivery truck.

"Hey, if they don't want the printer to go missing, they shouldn't leave it so unattended." Zoey shrugged, admitting blatantly to a very clear and illegal theft. Rumi set down a box of reams onto a pallet, giving Zoey a questioning look.

"You're kidding." Rumi blanked and Zoey stuck out her tongue in response. Dammit, how did she manage to be hot and cute at the same time? And a co-worker? This was hell.

"In all fairness that thing desperately needed to be replaced, I could barely print out legible order forms with it." Abby moved the pallet jack- the singular one in the entire warehouse- under the fully stocked pallet, slowly maneuvering the heavy pile to the truck.

"I basically did community service." Zoey agreed with a nod, before she focused on the papers in front of her again. Why she had taken her work down here of all places, Rumi could not say. It was less comfortable, louder, with Mira and also, so, so much hotter. Like physically. Did they not have any AC down here?

"Is there time between this and the sales call after to drive by my place and change shirts?" Rumi asked, as she tried very much not to take the heaviest items and break into a massive sweat that would absolutely ruin her dress shirt. She was kind of failing at it. A lot failing at it.

"Probably not. Why do you think I'm doing minimal effort here?" Mira put down a small stack of papers, inspecting the nails on her right hand after she did so, frowning.

"She probably thinks you're just too dainty to lift anything heavier." Zoey sent out a jab, not even looking up from her notebook as she did so. Mira sent her a glare before looking back at her hand, pretty lips pressed thin in a grimace.

"Shoulda known this would happen." She grumbled. Zoey's head snapped up at the words, eyebrows furrowing in… worry? Yeah that was worry. Probably.

"Break a nail after all?" Rumi would have expected her to sound goading, or at least a little smug, but she sounded genuinely sorry. What complex office rivalry did these two have going on.

"Not the nail, but a paper or something got snagged before- ripped the embellishment straight off." Rumi didn't get a chance to look at Mira's hand- maybe see what embellishment the other fingers had so she could look for it- as Mira shoved her hand in her pocket, looking glummer than Rumi had expected.

"Come here." Zoey's voice was calm, collected and oddly soothing- Rumi didn't even need soothing but she felt soothed- was Zoey a siren? Did they have sirens on land? Were paper warehouses their natural habitat?

…the heat was getting to Rumi.

She shook her head, tugging at her shirt. If Mira was out, that left her and Abby and a mountain of paper. This shirt would not survive until the sales call.

"You can take it off if you want. Zoey usually does in the summer." Abby appeared beside her, taking a stack of reams that she had intended to move on her own. Was that rude or helpful? She really couldn't tell anymore.

"Isn't that like. Extremely unprofessional?" Rumi protested, but the idea was very tantalizing. A quick look over at Mira and Zoey confirmed that they weren't looking at her. Wait was Zoey doing Mira's nails? Not important. Kind of important. Oh it was so hot in here.

"What are they going to do? Dock your pay?" Abby laughed and Rumi blinked. Right. She wasn't payed for this shit. She wasn't even insured to do this shit. Her Maman ran the branch and her Eomma was manager of all the branches on this side of the country. And they were going on dates with the CFO. She couldn't get fired. Why was she treating this like a real, actual job?

Screw it. Screw this. It was hot. It was humid. And her dress shirt was so constricting! Rumi nodded and swiftly undid her tie and unbuttoned her shirt, shrugging it off her shoulders. The cool- well hot but less hot than it felt before- air hit her torso and she felt her jaw unclench, ever so slightly. This was better. Not good, but so, so much better. A sports bra was just miles less constricting than the corporate straight jacket.

After neatly folding her shirt and placing the tie on top of it on a pallet in the corner of the warehouse- a pallet that she could guarantee wouldn't be going out today- what a terrible mistake that would be to make- Rumi stretched, letting her body finally move in the way it had been screaming for, for hours.

The sound of glass crashing to the ground grabbed Rumi's attention before she could even think to continue hauling cube, a slew of Spanish swear words hitting her ears just moments after- at least she had to assume they were swear words by Zoey's tone of voice. Mira laughed- in response, to provoke, or because of a secret third thing, Rumi didn't know.

"Sorry Abby- I'll clean this up!" Zoey had recollected herself by the time Rumi was close enough to see what was actually happening and was quickly wiping the floor with a pack of teal turtle tissues, which were quickly being stained by a soft pink color.

Rumi's eyes shot to where Zoey was cleaning up, finding a shattered bottle of nail polish on the floor, the glass pieces of which Mira, through fits of what seemed to be actual giggles- oh no she was cute too- was slowly picking out of the spilled polish, before Zoey could get her hands on them. Good to know they didn't mean each other physical harm. They may even be friends? Rumi should really see if the camera guys would be willing to give her all of their previous footage so she could be caught up to speed with everyone's relationship dynamics.

"Worse things have been on this floor, you're free to bedazzle it a bit." Abby shrugged off as he gave a wide grin, before nodding his head to a stack of paper, which Rumi finally could properly carry and use her muscles without fear of ruining a shirt.

Rumi and Abby hauled cube by about double the speed as previously as Rumi decided to switch gears and see this as her gym time for the day. She wasn't sure how many sets of paper hauling would equal anything in her meticulous workout schedule- there was unfortunately no existing reps to reams ratio- but by the sweat she was building up and the soft burn in her muscles, she was clearly exercising something, so it would have to count. What were the odds the office stocked protein powder and creatine in the break room?

By the time the warehouse was empty, or at least emptied of the existing stock that was dedicated to go out, Rumi could feel beads of sweat dripping down her back and her throat run dry from dehydration. Her muscles went from burning to aching, her back was hunched and her hands were struggling to keep their grip- all while Abby looked relatively unfazed.

She would still take this over the dreaded sales call, any day of the week though.

"Just in time!" Zoey spoke, her voice ever so slightly hoarse and rough, which she was kind of clearly, even for Rumi, trying to cover up with extra pep in her tone. Had Rumi jinxed herself by thinking of that damn call? No- what? no-that's not how time worked.

"We got another 30 minutes until we head out." Mira's voice was low and amused, a light pink flush adorning her cheeks. They really all had to get out of this heat. Zoey rolled her eyes.

"Exactly. Just in time. It'll take another 5 to wrap up, at least 10, if not 15 for Rumi to wash up and I'm adding in 10 for spare time. Or a bathroom break." Rumi wasn't sure why Mira looked nigh offended at a comment that Zoey was clearly aiming at her and if the room was just one degrees hotter, she may have been rude enough to ask. Wow, thinking was hard. Breathing was hard. How did Abby survive this daily? Rumi had to get out of this heat before it kept frying her brain.

But washing up did sound nice. And chugging a boatload of water. Maybe a protein shake. Some soap. AC. A shower.

Rumi desperately hoped there was time to shower. Or use a hose at least. She would even settle for pouring the water cooler over her head.

There had not been time to shower. And there was no hose. And she was absolutely forbidden from abusing the water cooler like that. It seemed like nepo privileges only got her so far, and flooding the break room- which did have chalk like, expired protein powder- was the line.

There at least had been time to pat herself dry with paper towels and wash her upper body kind of well with bathroom soap, water and more paper towels. One of the least refreshing cleanups in Rumi's life. The paper towels clung to her skin, the soap dried her out and the water couldn't get colder than lukewarm.

Sure, it did the job, she didn't smell like sweat anymore, but she didn't smell good either. She was washed, but far from cleaned, and she still felt kind of gross as she reluctantly pulled on her dress shirt again, tucked it in, and tied her ridiculous tie.

At least she didn't look like she just came from the gym. Small wins or whatever. And her mind was actually up and running again, now that she wasn't trapped in that microwave of a warehouse.

As Rumi got in the elevator and checked her watch- she was right on time- she just dearly hoped that the car they were going to use had a functioning cooling system, or Rumi would be out of commission and not be able to even try to earn her commission.

The elevator doors opened with a ding, and Rumi was met with the two sales women, who were busy tucking in her shirt and fixing her tie in Zoey's case, and rectifying her collar in Mira's case. Rumi didn't blame them. She'd want to be as comfortable as she could until working hours demanded otherwise too.

Zoey's head snapped up as the elevator doors closed behind Rumi and she broke into a wide smile.

"And there's the newbie! Right at that 30 minute mark. Told you my math was spot on." Mira rolled her eyes at Zoey's words and straightened up, giving Rumi a soft smile of her own, as if trying to calm Rumi's nerves. It kind of did the opposite, though the newly inflamed nerves were certainly different ones from the jittery kind. Head in the game Rumi, focus on the sales call. And then going home and sleeping for as long as she physically could.

"Hope you don't mind if we take my car. It's just a few blocks down and we can use the car time to prep you a little bit." Zoey took out her car keys and tossed them up, catching them with a snap of her wrist. Mira held up a briefcase as Zoey spoke, opening it carefully and taking out some of the papers that Zoey had been scribbling on before.

"It won't be much, you'll just be listening for the most part, but we can't have you going in blind." Mira added as she held the door open, motioning for the both of them to leave the building before her. If this was some sort of power move or just manners, Rumi wasn't quite so sure.

They got into Zoey's car- with Mira opening both doors too in a way that Rumi just had to ignore, with Zoey at the wheels and Mira and Rumi seated behind her, as if they had a chauffeur now.

The car was thankfully relatively spacious, allowing for Rumi to have a semblance of personal space as she took in the interior of Zoey's Subaru. It was clean, if a little bit cluttered in what Rumi could best describe as organized chaos. Papers were spread out on the passenger seat and various bottles and snacks were stowed in cup holders. It seemed in this car you were never more than an arms reach away from some goldfish crackers and a soda pop of some assorted flavor.

Turtle charms hung from the ceiling, which matched the turtle shaped fake stained glass window stickers that decorated the back windows of the car, making the light flood a pretty rainbow. The decor and snacks briefly made Rumi wonder if Zoey had a kid, but the lack of trash, a booster seat and any kids toys made her reevaluate. A question to ask later. Or figure out on her own.

The engine came to life and Mira opened the pages on her lap, catching Rumi's attention.

"The guy we're meeting today is, as you have been warned, a bit of a flirty sleaze who insists that we call him Romance. Or, as we prefer, Mr. R, because. Ew." Mira scowled as she spoke.

"Unfortunately, we do need to meet with him, because the company he represents, is a pretty large client of ours." Well that was unfortunate. In front, Zoey let out a bark of laughter.

"That's a mild way to say that- Gwi-Maps is the largest distributor of maps in the country- they are a massively valuable asset to us." Rumi almost wanted to ask why the task of retaining them was up to Mira and Zoey- two sales women from a dying branch. But she didn't. She had manners. And she admittedly, had only seen them make one sale in person. Maybe they were usually less…. guilt trippy and aggressive, for lack of a better word.

"I was trying not to put pressure on her." Mira sighed and shook her head. "But, Zoey's right. This is a big contract- but we aren't negotiating anything new, don't worry. Just convincing them to stay with us as their main paper provider." Though Mira's tone was soothing and the weight of the contract was lessened a little bit, Rumi was still uncertain if they, nevermind herself, should be the ones on this case.

"It'll just be some talking over some drinks. You can take notes if you want, we won't expect you to speak. This is a pretty routine call, all things considered." Right. Routine call with a sale that could seemingly make or break the whole paper company. Routine.

It totally made sense that this was up to Zoey, Mira and an unpaid intern. This made sense. Totally.

This company was going to run itself into the ground.

The bar they had decided to meet in was at least not as seedy or run down as Rumi had for some reason expected. It was actually decent, with soft music and pretty lighting and an extensive list of drinks to choose from, which she had been told would be charged to the company card. Because that, it seemed, the company could still afford to do. Whatever, Rumi wasn't an accountant.

They sat themselves in a small booth in the corner of the place and placed three orders of simply sodas to start with- which good. Rumi had been a little bit worried that all negotiations would happen while inebriated, and that sounded like a recipe for disaster if she had ever seen one.

Mira plopped the briefcase onto the table and finally decided now was the time to don her blazer- not that Rumi would complain or question her decision, because for one, it made sense to look professional now and second, wow did she look good in it. Sharp shoulders matched her angular face perfectly, while the soft way it framed the rest of her body complimented her glasses in ways Rumi was sure a fashion student could articulate, but her mind was simply trying not to ogle her co worker, so she had no idea why it fit, but it sure did. Wow.

Rumi sat down in the middle between the two, hands finding the round table, pressing into the hard wood for some grounding relief. Her first sales call. Why was she nervous? She wasn't being payed. He was, apparently, a very annoying person to deal with. Nothing to be nervous about.

Zoey moved closer to Rumi, to look at the papers, her thighs brushing up against Rumi's.

Okay.

Something to be nervous about.

Quick. Shift gears. Focus on work. Get that workaholic brain to lock in.

"When is this… Mr. R? here?" She asked, and Mira grimaced at the question.

"You'll know when you see him. Trust me." Her voice was low and filled with disdain as she flipped through the pages of notes for at least the fifth time now. Rumi held on to her drink, hoping the cold glass could provide some relief.

As if she had summoned him, a man appeared at the entrance of their booth, large, lazy smirk on his face. And wow. Yeah. Rumi wasn't sure what to expect but. Yeah. Nobody else could be a man who insisted on being called "Romance" but the guy who stood before her with bright pink hair shaped with what was surely copious amounts of hair gel, into an odd, kind of weird looking heart. His suit, which consisted entirely of maps, would have looked endearing on some people- Zoey would rock that, Rumi was sure- but on him, it made him look ever so pretentious. Okay she was starting to see why Mira had said that Jinu had bad taste in men.

"It's okay, you can keep staring. I know I look stunning." Oh no. He was talking to her. And had noticed she was staring. And had taken that the completely wrong way.

"She's staring because you look like a shrink wrapped globe." Mira took the heat of of her with bite that seemed dangerous for business. Thankfully, the man just laughed and did a small twirl to show off the suit. Zoey looked actually kind of interested in it. The suit at least. Not the man in it.

"Oh please, I know she wants to peel back these layers and gaze at my core." Well. That was. Entirely unacceptable. Rumi blanked for a response and barely managed to shake her head, appalled. Jinu had slept with this guy? Why?

"At least introduce yourself before you make a fool of geology." Zoey groaned, seeming genuinely offended by the nature of the joke, which Rumi absolutely agreed with,and she had words to say about it, if she could find them. This man was flabbergasting in the worst way possible. They had to sell to him?

"Oh my bad, of course- you must be the newbie Jinu was talking about." Intel via pillow talk huh. Sure, that felt ethical or whatever.

"You can call me Romance, or Mr. R, if you are as cold hearted as these two lovely women. Do you have a name darling? Or can I just call you mine." Rumi had been reaching out to shake his hand, but stopped in her tracks as she felt herself shrivel up inside. Ew. Ew. What? Ew. She took her hand back and straightened up, trying to look polite. Possibly she was failing.

"I'm Rumi. It is. An experience to meet you." Zoey let out a soft giggle next to her as Mr. R blinked, looking at his outstretched hand like he had actually expected that to work, before shrugging and pulling up the chair for the outer seat around the round table and hopping on it, swinging his briefcase onto the table with a thud as he did so. His posture on the chair was relaxed, laid back, while his eyes practically undressed them on the spot. What a creep.

"Have you ordered a drink already ladies?" He asked, and Rumi shot a look to their sodas. He shook his head and beside her, Mira groaned.

"Oh no not hydration. A drink." He caught the eye of the bartender and put up four fingers, while saying something about a usual. Great. So he was a regular customer around here. Go figure.

"We really should focus on work first." Mira interjected, eyes narrowing at him. He gave a small, winning smirk that was just so, so gross to look at. Rumi felt herself crossing her arms, as if that would defend against him.

"Chill Mira, a drink won't hurt." Zoey responded, much to Rumi's surprise. They had taken her car here! And now she was going to drink? How long were they expecting to stay here and sober up for? At least the office was only a thirty minute walk away. Rumi could still get to her own car. Or to Celine.

"We are here for business, not to get drunk." Mira scowled at Zoey, who rolled her eyes. Rumi blinked. Just what about negotiations broke the truce they seemed to usually hold?

"I knew you'd get me Zoey." Mr. R grinned as four drinks were deposited on the table wordlessly by a very sorry looking bartender. The sales man took his drink and held it up, as if to toast. Zoey followed suit. Mira didn't touch a glass and he actually pushed one in front of her, just so she would have one. Rumi wasn't sure what to do, so she took to simply holding the drink, that smelled strongly of rum and coke. She hadn't planned on drinking, but she was starting to wonder if she could survive this guy while sober.

Zoey and Mr. R toasted, a bit halfheartedly, and both took a far too big swig from their glasses. Rumi decided to take a sip. Maybe she should get a little bit buzzed. It would probably, ironically, save her a headache from dealing with him.

"So. Work. The thing we are here to discuss." Mira muttered and he rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Fine fine, I can sum up our position- it's simple anyways. With growing technology, people are buying paper maps less and less. We can't keep affording your high prices and the bulk purchases." Rumi cringed. She had expected something along those lines.

"Eugh the internet. Ruining people's lives, I'm telling ya." Zoey bemoaned and Mr. R nodded along. "They print less books now, y'know that? Sales have gone down because people are just buying them online- or worse! Just downloading them. Straight up piracy." Rumi looked down at her glass and amusingly, found Zoey's hand under the table, crossing her fingers. What a funny way to negate a lie, though Rumi wasn't so sure if it even was a lie.

Mr. R lit up at her words however and rummaged in his pocket, pulling out a tattered piece of paper that had some lines scribbled on it in horrid handwriting. He cleared his throat.

"Como quisiera ser pirata. No por oro ni por plata sino por el tesoro entre tus patas." He pronounced each word solidly incorrectly, even to Rumi's ears and she could feel Zoey tense up beside her.

"The treasure is locked up tight, unfortunately for you. But I appreciate the effort." Zoey responded just a beat too late as she held out her engagement ring adorned hand. He looked at her, with a crestfallen expression, but was cut off from whatever he was going to say by Mira, who shoved a few papers into the middle of the table as she spoke.

"Speaking of gold or silver- we really have negotiations to get to here." Zoey nodded at Mira's words and took her hand back, clasping it around the now nearly gone drink. When had that happened?

"I know you can afford our prices. Jinu is a snitch." Mira continued as Mr. R rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "So what is it you actually want?"

He shrugged.

"Boss wants to expand into new territory. But the current contract we have doesn't cover the new style of maps. The paper we need now is thicker and smaller, and your competitors sell it at a far lower price." He leaned forward, suddenly far less playful. Rumi wasn't sure if this was better or worse.

"I need you to come up with convincing arguments why we should stay with you. Give us a discount. Extra paper. Maybe get into selling printer ink, whatever. Make yourselves more appealing." He sat back again, eyebrows raised. Rumi could already feel the next comment coming.

"I, of course, mean Dunder Mifflin. You three ladies are plenty appealing. Worth keeping this contract going, really." And there it was. Rumi wasn't sure if she had ever rolled her eyes so hard in her entire life. Mira let out what could be described as a growl if Rumi had heard that right. Zoey's fingers clenched into a fist under the table.

"With our competitors- do you mean those damn big retail branches?" Mira stayed on track with an impressive amount of iron will. Mr. R nodded.

"Then don't you know just as well as us, that their low prices are unsustainable and will exceed ours within a few years, once they have a monopoly?" Mr. R shrugged at Mira's very good point.

"I don't think the boss much cares. We won't be around for much longer either, I wasn't kidding with the internet taking over the map business. In a few years, I doubt anyone will even have a paper map, nevermind know how to use it." Rumi blinked at that response. Hold up.

"Didn't you just say your company wants to expand into new projects?" The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them and now she had this guys full attention again. His eyebrow twitched, ever so slightly, but his face remained placid.

"Well you have to spend money to make money- be adaptable and all that." He waved her off, but Mira was quick on his tail.

"If you're planning to jump ship, you wouldn't be expanding. Seriously, who do you take us for? You're already getting a good, sustainable deal. We can extend that and branch it out to other products- what's with these underhanded tactics?" The venom in her voice was palpable. Beside Rumi, Zoey stretched, shoving her empty glass into the middle of the table.

"Relax Mira, he's just an employee like us- I bet he doesn't want to be lying either." She drawled, cheeks pink, words ever so slightly slurred. Was this bad? This felt bad.

"I really don't. Deceiving women isn't really my style." He agreed and Zoey and him exchanged a meek fist bump. His drink too, was empty, which he noticed when he took a swig and was met with air. A second order was quickly placed, one which Mira grimaced at.

"Unless it's for money?" Rumi asked, now a bit curious to see his reaction, caught in a lie and all. His back stiffened.

"We all want to keep our jobs, it's nothing personal." The new drinks arrived- four more, one for extra for everyone- and his was half gone in a single swig, the moment Zoey held up her glass and set the pace. Oh boy.

"This is a fight between our bosses dude. Let's not be the collateral damage here." Zoey set the glass down and rummaged in her pants pocket, pulling out a few small, crumpled papers, passing them along to Mr. R, who's eyes widened at this.

"Where did you get these?" He asked, looking it over once again. Zoey looked ever so smug.

"I got magic fingers." Mira groaned at Zoey's response, while Rumi remained lost, taking another sip from her drink. Getting tipsy wouldn't help her situation. but it wasn't about to make it any less confusing so, whatever.

"You picked my pockets." Mr. R let out, aghast and so taken by surprise, he didn't even take the bait that was magic fingers. Zoey, brazenly, nodded proudly.

"It's nothing personal." Zoey parroted his words back at him and shrugged, leaning back, drink in hand. Rumi still had no idea what her game plan was. "I just wanted to see the other businesses you were talking to last time. Looked them up, got their rates."

"I should have known a hug from you was suspicious." He mumbled, but seemed far less upset than Rumi had assumed he would be. Zoey just kept grinning. Mira looked ever annoyed at the scene unfolding in front of her.

"This is in your favor too! I've done the math- none of them can match our prices long term, even if they are cheaper for the first few orders. I got it all on spreadsheets for your boss too- we really don't need to fight about this." Zoey sat up straighter and pulled out a stack of papers- some stained with nail polish, setting them on the table. She took another sip of her drink, and he followed suit.

"Zoey this is completely out of line." Mira scolded, barely concealed rage bubbling up in her voice. Zoey shot her an easy smile, rolling her eyes.

"Mr. R gets it, I'm sure. One sleaze to another, you get it, right?" She turned to him with a grin that invited in, as if she was scheming with him, not against him. He fell for it hook line and sinker, giving a nod and handing the business cards back to her.

"It's all fair play here- I respect the hustle." He and Zoey nigh finished their glasses again. Mira looked ready to murder someone, her drink untouched. She took a deep breath in. Out. In. Out.

"So what is this new venture you'd need a new contract for?" Mira's voice had calmed, even if she was gripping the glass with a force that Rumi was scared would shatter it.

"Theme park maps, mostly. We have a deal set up with some local parks, hoping to expand- those aren't online yet. People like their free souvenirs. But the paper type is too different to print our usual way. Needs to be sturdier, which really ups our price." He shrugged, seemingly finally laying it all out on the table. What a small thing to make such a big deal about.

"Y'know, if you extend your contract, we can save shipping costs for both products." Zoey added in, her elbows propped up on the table, chin resting in her hands.

"No, we can't. That would cause logistical issues." Mira interjected, like she was actively trying to lose the customer. Rumi wouldn't really blame her.

"We can talk it over with Abby- I'm sure he's good for a special shipment-" Zoey shrugged and Mira cut her off mid sentence, glaring at her.

"I'm sure Celine would love if we did that. Undermine her authority and go directly to the warehouse foreman. Like that won't cause any issues." She spat, shaking her head and sitting back in the booth, arms crossed, fingers digging slightly into her skin as she was clearly trying to control her temper, to moderate success.

"Hey if it keeps Gwi-Maps as a customer, I think it's worth it- how often would you need a delivery?" Zoey brushed off Mira's concerns and went back to dealing with Mr. R, who looked far to entertained.

"Probably once a month? More if we seal the deal with Six Flags, but that is a while out. That funding would let us work with your limitations though." The sultry undertone in his voice was gone for just a minute as he took out a few more papers from his briefcase, handing them to Zoey, whom's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she skimmed the pages.

"Well damn- yeah once a month is easy- if I help out- or Rumi- we can have that done in an extra afternoon." She said as she handed the papers back, which Mira snatched out of her hand, before they could reach Mr. R. Her eyes narrowed as she read through what looked to be a preliminary contract with the amusement park franchise.

"Only problem is, the boss still demands discounted rates. He's a stingy guy with a seriously fiery temper, I rather not go home empty handed here." Mr. R managed to pry the papers out of Mira's clenched hands- nearly tearing them apart as he did so, his voice underlined with a nigh pleading tone. Mira let out a huff of disbelieving laughter.

"We're already going behind our manager's back and you expect us to cut you even more slack?" The ice in her voice really should be scaring away the client- unfortunately for everyone, he leaned in closer, salacious grin right back on his face.

"What if we make your other map paper thinner? Or advertise or as recyclable paper, up the price, then add a discount to it and sell you that?" Zoey offered up as an idea with a soft, mediating tone. Rumi cocked her head to the side, confused.

"Isn't all paper recyclable?" She asked, with perhaps too much skepticism in her voice. Mr. R let out a bark of genuine laughter at the question and Zoey grimaced a little bit.

"Eh, some of our printer paper is pushing it." She responded, shaking her head. "I've been trying to get it off the shelves, but restaurants really like it when their paper is half plastic it seems." She sighed, slouching a bit at the thought.

"Zoey, we can't go lying to his boss too." Mira spoke up. getting them back on track at this alcohol influenced business meeting. Wait. When had a third round of drinks been delivered to the table? Rumi took a large gulp of her first drink, only slightly eagerly waiting for the pleasant buzz to arrive and soothe her pour soul.

"It's not lying, it's highlighting a feature. Technically." Zoey didn't sound very sure of herself, looking down into her glass with a pensive stare. But the mention of a marketable feature, gave Rumi an idea. Something that may be worth throwing out there and bonus- she actually could kind of talk about this with semi deserved expert status.

"What if instead of recyclable, you sell recycled paper?" She asked into the round, hoping that Dunder Mifflin even sold such paper. She had no clue what they even had in stock apart from the cube hauled today, which had all been simple white printer paper for a nearby school. It probably had an actual name, but she had not even tried to read that. Too hot. Too boring.

"Won't work, that costs more." Mira said, though she did sound slightly curious, which Rumi filed off as a win.

"It's a bit more flimsy too." Zoey added on top, agreeing with Mira for the first time during this sales call. Common ground found: recycled paper and it's downsides.

"Push that cost off on to the park then, make it their job to laminate it. Or have it be a selling point, that they are being sustainable." Rumi may have an agenda to push here, but it seemed better than straight up lying multiple times to her Maman about the deal today.

"That won't work with theme parks." Mr. R shot her down, shaking his head, sounding just ever so slightly condescending in a way that made Rumi want to set his chair on fire. What was it with men today making her feel violent? Deep breath in. She couldn't let him get to her. She had had a minor game plan here to expand upon. And bonus, hopefully, Mira and Zoey would like the idea.

"Have you thought about expanding to national parks instead?" She kept her tone light and innocent, as if she didn't actually know anything about national parks, like a normal person who was normal about them. Like a liar.

"Yeah, as if we'd get an in on that." Oh he had just slipped from covert condescension to completely mask off overt. Mira's grip around her papers crumpled the previously carefully stored material. Zoey scowled.

Rumi tried not to smile at his response though. That wasn't disinterest. They had thought about it. And they had failed. All the better for her.

"…if you secure this deal with us, for an extended contract and the up-charged, but marketable recycled paper stock, I could change that for you." Rumi relished in the shock that overcame his face, for just an instance, before he hid it behind an interested, cautious facade.

"How could you arrange that?" He asked, voice measured. His hands tapped on his glass as he swung back his… fourth? drink?, to keep himself occupied. Rumi waited a second, looking over at Zoey, and then Mira, who both gave her a short nod, and a curious look, before responding.

"A professor of mine advises the national park service. I can give you her personal email." Rumi let the information hang in the air, basking in the proud and eager smile that overcame Zoey. Mira in turn, frowned, though her voice was soft an cautious as she spoke, not as Rumi had feared, opposed.

"Is that legal?" She asked, and Rumi shrugged. Probably.

"Who cares!" Mr. R interrupted, standing up with vigor and slamming his hands onto the table with tipsy recklessness, causing the remaining drinks to splash over the edge a bit. "Yeah, I'm in, that's a deal. That's a huge new market." His grin was wide as he held out his hand- which was quickly shaken by an enthusiastic Zoey.

"Perfect! I'll send you the paperwork to sign tomorrow then- once you have, Rumi can send you the contact information to your extension." Zoey spoke quickly, with urgency, and Mr. R nodded, with clearly inebriated movement, before shaking his head and sitting back down, completely switching course as his focus landed on Mira.

"Awh, here I was hoping to finally get Mira's number." His tone was nigh a whine- frankly it sounded a little bit pathetic- and Mira narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why would I be the one giving you her information." It wasn't even a question so much as a request that he dare justify his line of thought. He simply grinned at her.

"You're the lead sales person on this, surely it would go through you." That. Unfortunately made kind of sense? Maybe? Rumi didn't know how closing these deals actually worked.

"By email. Which you have. It has never gone through my number." Mira responded curtly, arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line as she looked away from the client and at Zoey, who was giggling, ever so softly, at the attention being directed elsewhere.

"A missed opportunity, if you ask me." Mr. R bemoaned, but shrugged, taking the rejection. At least for now. Rumi couldn't fathom how the other two had regular meetings with this guy

"I'm not asking you." She shot back, clearly ready to punt him into the ground. Rumi would actually kind of like to see that happen.

"Miraaaaa quit antagonizing him before he signs." Zoey whined- actually whined- as she draped herself across the table, face red, eyes only half open. When had she gotten so drunk?

"Oh because going all buddy buddy with him is the better strategy." Mira spat back, the venom replaced with a clear pout. Zoey giggled at the response, holding up one of her many empty glasses.

"Hey I got free drinks out of it." Speaking of-" She sat up, swinging her legs out from the booth and jumping out of it with vigor that really shouldn't be coupled with a drunk mind, as she wobbled the landing, only not chewing gravel because Mira stood up and snatched her arm from across the table, stabilizing Zoey to the point where she was standing on her own two feet again.

"What goes in, has got to go out- Great to do business with you R, I have to go piss." Zoey didn't even acknowledge that she had almost crashed and burned and had been saved by her colleague, instead smoothly finishing her sentence and looking very proud of the fact. She gave Mira and Rumi a quick wave as she walked off, in a relatively straight line towards what Rumi hoped was the bathroom and not a bush outside.

"I suppose that's my cue." Mr. R sighed, swiping his papers into his briefcase with abandon, crumpling half of them in the process and snapping it shut. Mira filed the rest of their papers, checking to make sure none were missing, and slotted them into her bag.

"A pleasure meeting you, as always." He winked at Mira, who grimaced. "And I hope to be seeing more of you in the future." Rumi raised an eyebrow, watching him get up slightly tilted and fumble with the table.

"You're hoping in vain." Rumi waved off his remark with as neutral of a tone as she could muster. Mr. R frowned in response. Mira let out a stifled laugh that she tried- and failed- to disguise as a cough.

"Well." He shook his head, as if he had lost track of his words. Rumi really hoped he hadn't driven here or he was about to become an illegal menace.

"My ride should be here soon. Thank you for your time ladies, send me that contract and email as soon as you can." He nodded at them, then took a few sturdy, if slightly off kilter steps, before finding his footing and strutting out of the restaurant, stopping quickly to pay their drinks. A car pulled up in front of the glass door, giving a far too loud honk for the late hour of nine in the evening, and Mr. R nigh jumped at it, before bumping into Zoey, shaking her hand, and bumbling his way out the door.

Zoey joined them seconds later, face flush, breath heavy, with a quizzical look on her face.

"Why is Jinu's car outside?"

"Fuck I wish you would have messed with him more." Zoey drawled out as she sat herself on the hood of her car, beer in hand.

After downing their drinks- which Rumi wasn't sure if she had done because of non existent peer pressure or to forget that entire meeting or to spend more time with these two women- probably the latter, which was a bit stunning, considering how the day had started- the three of them had taken to visiting the gas station across the street and getting some cheep, frankly gross- beers. Beers that Zoey seemed to enjoy, while Rumi was seriously contemplating going back to grab a bottle of literally anything else. She would shot vodka over drinking this.

The cool-ish air of the night was calming and the quiet space of the nigh empty parking lot- Zoey had insisted on parking a block away from the bar and Rumi was starting to really admire that foresight- was a far more welcoming environment than the bar. Soft light from streetlamps, chirping birds and bugs, no other people and the presence of co-workers she was kind of warming up to- even if she still had a few thousand questions.

"I didn't want to ruin the deal." Rumi deflected Zoey's lament. Mira gave a soft laugh, from where she was sitting below Zoey, using Zoey's legs and the car as a back rest. Rumi felt a little bit awkward just standing there- but she wasn't particularly a fan of sitting down in the dirty gravel and sitting down next to Zoey felt too close. Not for comfort, but for familiarity.

"Pft after what you pulled? He wouldn't have pulled out of that no matter what. You had him hook, line and sinker." Mira took a sip from her drink, only vaguely managing to disguise the disgust on her face as she did so.

"Plus I think he generally isn't the kind to pull out." Zoey added on with a grin, downing her beer perfectly happily, as if it didn't taste like dirt to her. Rumi was a bit worried for her taste buds.

"Zoey!" Mira elbowed the sales-woman's legs, who was giggling, far too entertained by the joke, as she shook her head and shrugged, slightly composed. Or as composed as she could be with the amount of alcohol in her system. In their system, really. Rumi wouldn't be doing any better right now. Zoey shook her head, as if to keep hold of a thought she had had.

"No but seriously Rumi- well fucking done on that upsell." The pride in her voice washed over Rumi like a warm blanket as she tried not to show just how happy she was to hear it. Was her smile too wide? Maybe. it was hard to tell.

"Yeah, who knew you were such a negotiator." Mira added on, holding her drink up in a cheers motion, before downing another gulp, fully grimacing this time and shaking her head. She kind of reminded Rumi of a dog that accidentally took a bite out of a lemon. Cute.

"I just saw a chance and took it. Nothing special." Rumi tried to laugh off, her heart racing as both of their gazes landed on her. Zoey sat still, for once, drink by her side, looking at Rumi, then down at Mira, who met her gaze. They both gave a soft nod as Mira got up, dusting herself off.

"Don't diminish your accomplishment." Mira's voice was low and genuine, sending a very inappropriate shiver down Rumi's spine. Only a soft lilt in her voice gave away that she had been drinking.

"Yeah, you're perfectly special." Zoey agreed, cheerful as usual, but with a gravity that Rumi tended to prefer to hide from. Unfortunately, there was nowhere to hide and she had had alcohol, so she simply stood still, struggling to find words.

"I'll get us something better to drink while Rumi boots back up again." Mira's voice was laced with Mirth as she stretched before walking past Rumi, and giving her a small pat on the back, that was ever so slightly condescending. Rumi couldn't find herself getting mad at that though when Mira was sporting such an endearing smile. So instead, she nodded.

"Boo, just say you hate my taste in drinks why don't you." Zoey finished her bottle and laughed as Mira sent a thumbs up in their direction, already halfway towards the road. The sound of a new bottle opening broke the silence Mira left in her wake, and Rumi puzzled how Zoey could possibly want another glass of… that.

"I see you're on her side on this." Damn her horrible, horrible poker face. Zoey at least, seemed to not take offense as she laughed. "It's an acquired taste, I get it."

"How do you acquire it?" Rumi folded her arms, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Zoey raised an eyebrow.

"You go to a shitty High School and- are you just going to stand there all night?" Rumi blinked at the pure confusion in Zoey's voice, at how quickly she asked the question, like she had been holding it in.

"I… don't want to sit on gravel?" She offered as an answer, and Zoey rolled her eyes, scooting over on the hood and patting the area to her side, like she was encouraging a shy pet to hop onto the sofa next to her. The look Zoey was giving her now, as she didn't jump up and join her, was that of self evident confusion.

"I could have just made space- I thought you just liked to stand but you look like a sad kicked puppy over there." Rumi would have taken offense but she did kind of feel like a mutt not allowed on the couch so the comparison, while rude, was a little bit apt. Zoey pat the car again, eyebrows raised expectantly.

"Come on. You're allowed to sit on my car." Zoey encouraged and Rumi took a few stiff steps towards her, more leaning against the car than actually sitting. But the back of her knees were touching the hood so like. That was kind of sitting?

"What in the world are you scared of. I don't bite." Zoey grumbled and Rumi felt a hand on her collar, which was the only warning she was given before being nigh dragged up the hood in an impressive feat of strength that did absolutely nothing for her thank you very much. Rumi flailed, ever so slightly- maybe a lot- before her elbows found the windshield and she managed to stabilize herself and prop up her upper body, sending a harmless glare at Zoey, who was too caught up giggling to herself to even notice.

"Apparently you do manhandle though." Rumi grumbled with no bite in her voice. Zoey stuck out her tongue in response and sent her a sloppy wink that had absolutely no right being as endearing as it was. Rumi had to remind herself through the alcoholic haze in her mind, that this woman was engaged.

"Also she does bite." Mira surprised them both and Zoey let out a small squeak of shock as a cold bottle was pressed into her hands. A cold bottle of that horrible beer.

"Don't worry, I got us something better." Mira held up a six pack of ciders, much to Rumi's delight. Sure, they cost more. But worth it. So worth it.

Mira now stood in front of them, looking between the two, then at the floor. Rumi immediately jumped up and she could have sworn Zoey let out a low whine of disappointment at that, but she stuffed that thought away. No way that was not a hallucination.

"No need to get up." Mira drawled, handing Rumi the cold six pack, before softly pushing her back by it, until her knees bumped right back into the car, buckling with barely any force and plopping her right back to where she had been a second ago. If the heat she felt was any indication, she had just run bright red and she could only hope that the streetlights were dim enough for that not to be visible. She couldn't be this much of a mess just because a pretty woman pushed her via cider cans. That would be just a bit too pathetic. Right?

… fine maybe alcohol just made her a little bit pathetic. Whatever.

Rumi shook her head and tried to scramble her senses together, just in time to see Mira point at Zoey, then off from the car and watch as Zoey obeyed without a second thought, letting Mira take her place. And then. Insanely. Mira pointed between her legs and Zoey also followed that, plopping herself right in Mira's lap with a happy grin on her face.

Okay that did it. Rumi could ignore office politics, sit back as they bickered on sales calls, whatever. But what the fuck was this?

"So like. What is up with you two." She probably could have phrased that better. Whatever. Who cares. Rumi took a can and opened it, chugging about half just to avoid the confused looks they were giving her. Unfortunately, half a bubbly can of cider later, they still looked confused.

"You were just bickering during the whole sales call- and this morning you sold paper by- i don't even know- guilt trip? Good cop bad cop? And now you're cuddling?" Rumi didn't mean to sound so pouty- so petulant- but even she could recognize that she was practically whining like a kid left out of a game at this point.

Zoey blinked. Mira looked… like a mixture of concerned and amused.

"You saw our sales call this morning?" Mira finally asked, slight apprehension in her voice, alongside some genuine bafflement. Rumi nodded.

"I hid behind the wall- didn't want to talk to people until I'd met HR- and then you guys seemed to kind of hate each other so I extra waited." If Rumi wasn't holding on tightly to her cider, she absolutely would have hid her face behind her hands by now- especially when Zoey broke out into the widest shit eating grin Rumi had ever seen on a person.

"That was your introduction to us?! Oh my- did nobody tell you- so this entire time-" She broke into a fit of giggles in Mira's arms, who tilted her head to look at Rumi, adjusting her glasses as she did so.

"So you've been going the whole day thinking we have it out for each other?" Mira asked and Rumi nodded, mumbling "something like that" as lowly as possible- unfortunately, Mira still seemed to catch it, concern on her face now completely replaced by amusement.

"Yeah you got me. I hate Mira so much, her being my ex girlfriend and all." Zoey stopped giggling long enough to wheeze out those words, doing absolutely nothing to help with Rumi's confusion. Mira gave a soft sigh.

"Zo, that is still the worst way to tell people we're engaged." Mira laughed, despite her words, holding up her hand, the one with the ring. Rumi blinked, her alcohol addled mind trying to slot the pieces together as quickly as it could.

Oh.

The matching turtle items. Both sapphic. The rings. Biting.

Oh.

They were engaged. To each other.

Rumi had been fighting very inappropriate thoughts all day about an engaged couple she was working with.

Oh fuck.

Somehow, that made this so much bet- worse! That made this worse!

"So what- the sales calls?" She managed to splutter out, emptying her can, but holding on to it as if it could save her from this mortifying experience and wasn't partially responsible for it. Why hadn't she just kept her damn mouth shut?!

"Sales tactic mostly." Mira answered, ringed hand now very conspicuously resting on Zoey's upper thigh in a way that drew Rumi's eyes despite Rumi's brain's best efforts not to do exactly that.

"Also it's foreplay." Zoey added on, bright and chipper and blushing, her hand now resting on Mira's, their matching rings now suddenly very obvious. What was Rumi even still doing here, third wheeling. She moved to get up, but Zoey's hand shot off of Mira's and towards Rumi, grabbing her wrist with absolutely no force. Which very effectively trapped Rumi right back on the car hood. She really had no choice but to stay seated now.

"It is not." Mira gave a soft swat to Zoey's thigh that, if Rumi was candid, didn't not look like foreplay, but sure, whatever Mira said.

"Okay not always. But it can be. Especially with hot clients." Zoey laughed, settling herself in Mira's lap like a content little lap dog, wiggling like a gleeful, smug little slug. Her drink was empty, yet again.

"So this time wasn't foreplay I take it." Rumi tried to sound professional and totally normal and she was kind of succeeding. Probably. She at least still had words, which was a fantastic start. Zoey grimaced, shaking her head quickly and Mira fake gagged at the mention.

"Ew, no. If anything was foreplay today-" Wow that word was losing its meaning rapidly. "It was watching you lift those boxes." Zoey finished with absolutely no shame and the hand she had had on Rumi's wrist, holding her in place with the weight of a feather, traveled down, landing on top of Rumi's hand. Rumi stared at it, gears turning.

She blinked as her mind screeched to a halt, causing a massive pileup of her last remaining brain cells. She let out words- were they words? Syllables? A verbal keyboard smash, before her jaw just hung open as she tried to cook up a response.

Preferably a witty one, but really, literally any response would do right now. Because. What did that even mean? What?

"Don't listen to her, she's drunk. That was also not foreplay." What did that word even mean anymore. Zoey raised an eyebrow and looked up at Mira with a smirk, which Mira remained impressively stone faced at.

"Says the person who dropped my nail polish when she saw Rumi's back." Mira's poker face remained intact, but she was betrayed by a soft red blush that was still very visible in the dim light. Rumi tried to speak again. And failed again. And tried again.

"My- my back?" Okay not witty or smart and mostly just baffled, but at least, the were words. Zoey nodded, far too seriously, and Mira gave the curtest of shyest of nods.

"You sound way to surprised for someone with a back like that. Or muscles like that. Or a body like that." If Zoey's voice wasn't filled to the brim with adoration, to the point where even Rumi could be 100% sure that that was what it was, Rumi would have assumed she was somehow being messed with

"Seriously, have you seen your own tattoos? The way they move when you flex? How they snake around you so perfectly?" Zoey took Rumi's baffled silence as a note to continue talking, words stumbling over each other in a rush as she leaned out of Mira's lap a bit, leaving far too little space between them to be friendly and let Rumi think she was only delusional. Wow this car hood suddenly felt like a lot smaller of a space. When had they sat so close? Had her thighs always been touching Mira's? Rumi gave a small shrug as a response to Zoey's questions. She had absolutely no idea how to answer and if she opened her mouth right now, she doubted many coherent words would come out anyway. Not any appropriate ones, at the very least.

"Mira I don't think Rumi knows what mirrors are." The genuine befuddlement and urgency in in Zoey's voice disoriented Rumi only further. Grounding. She had to do grounding. Rumi could not fumble this. Whatever this was. Grounding.

She could see Mira and Zoey. Mira's hand back on Zoey's thigh, softly caressing it. Mira's calculating yet somehow incredibly soft and caring eyes. Zoey's hand on her own. Zoey's beautiful freckles- wow she was close. Was that five? Okay. Rumi was touching the car. Touching Mira's thigh. Rumi could feel Zoey's nails softly press into her hand and the soft weight of the gentle squeeze Zoey was applying to it. Okay, that was four. She could hear Zoey's stuttered, shallow breath. Mira's controlled inhales that took on a rhythm that could only be purposeful. She could hear her own rapid heartbeat through the blood rushing in her ears. Three. She could smell the cider can in her hand. She could smell the faint scent of beer from Zoey's breath. She could taste- wanted to taste-

Rumi stopped that line of thinking in it's track before it reached the very logical conclusion.

Fuck this wasn't helping in the slightest.

Whoever had invented this grounding technique had clearly not had this situation in mind because really, it was making it far worse. Better? Worse. More intense. More.

"…I think we made her uncomfortable." Mira's concerned voice broke through the haze as Rumi's eyes snapped back into focus. Zoey's grip on her loosened- her hand didn't leave, but Rumi already missed the contact, if that was even really possible.

"Uncomfortable? She's practically cuddling us." Rumi's eyes focused on where her legs met Mira's. Was this cuddling? Did that count? Did it matter?

…She liked the idea of cuddling them.

"Also, she hasn't moved away." Zoey finished, though now she too, sounded ever so slightly concerned. Rumi jolted as a hand landed on her shoulder. Strong, steady, yet with no pressure.

"….Rumi, are you okay?" Mira asked, low and slow, as if not trying to spook her. Rumi nodded, but by the look Mira was giving her, that wasn't going to be enough.

"Fine. Perfect. So good. Great. The okayest." She said, with as much conviction as she could muster up, adding in a few enthusiastic nods in between and only slightly feeling a bit like a cartoon character. Mira cocked her head to the side, hand not leaving Rumi's shoulder. Rumi leaned in to the touch.

"Let me rephrase. Are you comfortable? We can call you a cab if you want, you aren't trapped here, just because none of us should drive now." Mira asked again, reacting to Rumi's pressure on her hand, with a bit of her own. Her hand no longer nigh hovered over Rumi's shoulders, but was placed firmly on it, her thumb rubbing gentle circles.

"Oh shit, didn't think of that." In all fairness to Zoey, neither had Rumi. The thought of leaving was really, very far removed from her mind and she wasn't quite sure she could blame the alcohol on this one.

Rumi felt a slight pressure where she and Zoey were still holding hands and looked up to now two slightly concerned faces. Zoey was more curious, eyes wide, eyebrows up and wondering, while Mira's features were marred with worry. How long had Rumi been quiet this time?

Okay, big person words. She could do this.

"Oh no I- I could leave at any time- call my mom's- Sorry wrong topic- Yes, yes I am comfortable." The words spilled out quickly, rapidly and overlapped, but it seemed like the message was clear, as the other two visibly relaxed at her words.

"You just caught me off guard." As if Rumi had ever been on guard. As if there was a guard to catch at all. But they didn't need to know that part. Mira let out a soft laugh.

"That is a specialty of mine." Zoey nodded with a smug grin on her face, which had replaced any semblance of worry that she may have been feeling before.

"Yeah, Zoey can be a bit loose lipped with alcohol in her. Or when I'm in her." Mira's last words hit Rumi like a bus. She had just figured she could get used to Zoey's boldness, she hadn't even considered Mira would somehow top it. Top her? Yes please top her. Rumi shook her head to get those thoughts out, but with the image Mira had just provided her, it was proving to be a difficult task.

"I think we caught her off guard again." Zoey's teasing voice brought Rumi back to focus- well, her voice and the sharp sting of Mira's nails in her shoulder- a feeling Rumi's body fucking leaned in to like a traitor. Or an ally? Rumi really couldn't tell where this was going anymore. Hopefully somewhere. Rumi blinked, trying to focus and not just sit here like a useless Lesbian. Come on brain, participate in the conversation.

"Is this the workplace bullying those VHS tapes warned me about?" She asked, adding as much jest to her tone as she could, before the other two could even think of backpedaling. Zoey did move her hand, but Rumi caught it, keeping her in place before she could pull back. A spark seemed to light up in Zoey's eyes at her action.

"Do you consider an empty parking lot a workplace?" Mira asked back with mirth, her nails scratching a slow trail down Rumi's arm, fingers moving deftly around her biceps. Rumi suppressed the shudder as best she could, but by the smirk on Mira's face, she hadn't hidden it well in the slightest. For once, Rumi wasn't too annoyed at her terrible poker face.

"I think technically this would fall under the unwanted sexual harassment video." Zoey spoke up before Rumi had time to try and figure out how a parking lot could technically count as a work environment for paper sales people. But her words made Rumi stop. This made it clear, without a doubt. Rumi wasn't delusional. This was sexual. She raised an eyebrow at the rest of the statement though.

"I remember enthusiastic sexual encounters being on the third tape, not the second. And on a longer form." Rumi tried not to grimace as she remembered the paperwork. Zoey shook her head, looking impressed.

"Wait you actually watched those?" Rumi nodded in response and Zoey let out an impressed whistle which didn't really seem fitting but sure, Rumi would take the admiration- even if the air suddenly felt a lot less heavy and a lot more friendly again.

Still, it was comfortable. How were these two nigh strangers so comfortable?

"Damn, you may be the only person in this company to have not zoned out. I took a nap." Mira added on, sounding somehow actually a little bit proud. Of Rumi or her nap, Rumi wasn't so sure. Quite possibly both.

"I wouldn't be surprised. Would explain how nobody has caught that unwanted sexual harassment implies there is wanted sexual harassment. As if harassment isn't an inherent negative." Rumi felt a little bit silly ranting about something so inconsequential, but really, it had to be said. The tapes understood enthusiastic consent, but implied wanted harassment? Come on.

And actually. While she was rambling. She had another bone to pick here!

"Also- can I just say- apropos sexual harassment- what the fuck did that R guy mean with peeling back his layers and seeing his core?!" Rumi couldn't suppress the actual pout and confusion in her voice, that mirrored only a little bit in the other twos demeanor. Their eyes met and Zoey shrugged, Mira smiled, before Rumi had their attention again. Their very focused attention that felt too much for the subject matter.

"Like how am I to interpret that. Is his suit the whole oceanic and continental crust? Is his epidermis supposed to be the asthenosphere? What's the mantles? Did he get his inner core and outer core confused? Surely his semen aren't-" She cut herself off. She wasn't going to think of this any further. Ew.

"I just. Could he have at least made a good analogy. A volcano could have worked. Magma and lava or something. I don't know." Rumi groaned and leaned into Mira's touch, only after realizing that now she was definitely cuddling them. The situation broke through her drunken ramble like a wrecking ball, filling her with complete clarity about what she was complaining about to whom and in what situation. Shit. Had she just fumbled this? Please let her not have just fumbled this.

"Wait, are you actually bothered by the inaccuracy of his bad geology innuendo?" Zoey asked, slightly breathless. Rumi gave an uncertain nod. Zoey's hand slipped out of Rumi's hold- causing a spike of panic that Rumi hid as best she could- as Zoey gripped on to Mira's blazer and shook her. Mira seemed unbothered, in fact, she seemed to know exactly why Zoey was acting the way she was.

"Mira. Mira. We can't not fuck her. Mira. This is serious. We can't not." Zoey was whispering, but not even slightly silently enough for Rumi, who was still leaning on a shaking Mira, to not hear perfectly clearly.

"I'm not disagreeing, but I think she heard you." Mira responded with a sly smirk as her nails dug back into Rumi's arm, keeping her trapped again. Rumi nodded, absolutely not trusting her voice in the slightest right now. It was good to know she hadn't fumbled. Amazing, actually. But where did she go from here?

"Oh shit-" Zoey sat up, looking alarmed. "Sorry Rumi- I should have worded that better- maybe a bit politer? In a few days? Weeks? A bit less direct? Shit- seriously sorry-" Rumi caught one of Zoey's flailing hands in her own, lacing their fingers together in a move she would never be able to replicate even if she tried, she was sure.

"I like direct." She muttered, keeping her voice as even and confident as possible. Zoey let out a small squeak and suddenly, Rumi really got the appeal of being the tease.

"Woman after my own heart." Mira responded with a deadly wink that Rumi was fairly certain had just halted her own heart and caused her mind to take a screenshot. Mira's hand snaked its way down Rumi's arm, finally landing on where she and Zoey were holding hands, and placed hers over theirs. It felt comforting.

"Let me be direct then." Mira started, eyes only ever so slightly unfocused, breath barely uneven- not much gave away that she too, had been drinking.

"You're absolutely stunning and smart and Zoey and I had our eyes on you the moment you walked through the door." Oh. Oh Mira was direct. Rumi wasn't even sure if those statements about her were true but with the conviction that Mira was saying it, she wasn't about to question her.

"Now we were going to take this slow. Getting to know you at work, at sales calls, hang out. But clearly, someone had other plans." Mira glared at Zoey, who looked completely unapologetic, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hey, why wait when she so clearly is into us? The risk was calculated and I am damn good at math. And also, drunk." As if to demonstrate her point, Zoey chugged the rest of her bottle that Rumi wasn't even sure from where she had gotten it, before letting it roll off the car and fall to the floor with a clunk, very much risking broken glass and getting lucky this time.

"Yes well, now I am redirecting our approach." Mira responded with a soft laugh that made Rumi melt. Then her eyes found Rumi in a way that made her melt in a very different, far more dangerous way. Oh Rumi was so whipped, this was sad. Amazing, but sad.

"Rumi. How would you feel about us taking you on a date?" She asked, leaving no room for Rumi to question her sincerity.

"You can say no- we promise we won't make it awkward at work or anything- but you're really cool and hot and you like geology and-" Zoey added on in rapid fire, which Rumi interrupted, having heard absolutely everything she needed to hear.

Yes, this was rushed, yes, she knew little about them except for that they were caring and kind and fun and a little bit sleazy and yes, they were engaged- but somehow, everything, even the minor thefts, were just so appealing about them. Comfortable. Approachable. Attractive.

"Yes. Please." It was the easiest thing Rumi had ever agreed to in her entire life, she was pretty certain. And she was rewarded for that easy choice with an absolutely beaming- nigh vibrating with joy- Zoey, and a softly content looking Mira, whom's hand tightened around theirs, ever so slightly.

"Yes!" Zoey squealed, bouncing on Mira's lap with glee. "How do you feel about aquariums? Oh! Or we could go tour the old coal mine?" A few more ideas were dropped- in descending order of excitement but all still fun- until Mira gently interrupted.

"Let's do something smaller first, maybe? Like dinner." Diner sounded good too. Actually, it all sounded pretty amazing. Whatever it took for Rumi to be allowed to go on a date with her two co-workers.

"I can cook for you two. Do you like French cuisine?" Rumi offered and that clearly grabbed their attention. Cool, cool. Now she just had to convince her mom's to stay away for a night. She could do that.

"As long as you don't serve me snails." Zoey answered with a grimace. Rumi laughed at that. Of course her first thought had been snails. Of course.

"I was thinking more like a Coq au Vin." Mira's eyebrows shot up as Rumi mentioned the dish- meanwhile, Zoey snickered.

"Oh you can give us your coq alright." Zoey giggled as Mira gave her a soft swat to her arm and Rumi felt her cheeks heat up all over again.

"You speak French?" Mira asked instead, a hint of awe in her voice. Rumi nodded in response, sitting up a bit more, to look at the two, gage their reactions a little bit more.

"I'm part French on my mother's side." Not by blood, but that part wasn't relevant. "Comment as-tu pu le deviner?" Rumi did not miss the sharp inhale that both of them took. Zoey blinked, furrowing her eyebrows for a moment, before answering.

"Your pronunciation was on point." She answered for Mira, who nodded. Had Zoey just translated her French into Spanish? Impressive without being able to read the words.

"Also that is like. So hot." Zoey sighed out dreamily, before catching herself and perking up with a serious, focused look.

"Wait I can't get lost in this- Mira we forgot an important step here! We haven't even kissed her and we're asking her on a second date!" Rumi blinked. Second? The urgency in Zoey's voice over something so trivial- tantalizing, yet trivial- was beyond endearing-

"I don't know if we can count a sales call as a first date. We may need to wait for that for after this promised dinner." Mira responded with a challenging smirk, aimed directly at Rumi. "Make her earn it."

"I earned us the sale. Does that not earn me something?" Rumi ignored- or maybe leaned into? the sharp heat that Mira's response had sent through her body as she responded. Her voice was far more level than she felt, but by the approving smile Mira shot her, that had been the correct response.

"See, now we're moving into bullying." Zoey swung herself off of Mira and plopped herself onto Rumi's lap in an acrobatic feat that Rumi couldn't even try to replicate. Wow, Zoey was flexible. That did nothing to her brain, absolutely not.

Zoey's hand slipped out from between their holds, leaving Mira and Rumi to clasp on to each other, as Zoey's found itself lifting up Rumi's chin, with minimal effort. Her right hand settled on Rumi's shoulder, softly digging in.

"I'm sorry, Mira likes to be mean." Zoey didn't sound sorry at all, in fact, she sounded gleeful. Almost a little bit patronizing. "Rumi, do you want a kiss?"

"Please." The second easiest thing she had ever said yes to. Zoey let out a soft giggle, before the hand on Rumi's shoulder moved up and took a soft but firm hold on the back of Rumi's head, tilting it back just a bit. The small tug forward was all the warning Rumi got, before Zoey's lips met hers.

Zoey kissed slow, steady, controlled- not in any way that Rumi had expected, from how the woman tended to act- but she wasn't complaining. The grip on Rumi's neck tightened, ever so slightly, as Zoey's left hand left her chin and trailed down her neck, scratching at it and finally, breaking Rumi's composure down as Rumi let out the softest of moans.

Rumi felt Zoey smile as her nails raked down her neck again, with more pressure. Rumi leaned in, back arching ever so slightly. Zoey pulled away, eyes sparkling with mischief as she dove down, lips finding Rumi's neck where she latched on, peppering it with small bites and bruising kisses, leaving Rumi to pant into the cool evening air.

Her gaze landed on Mira- for help or more stimulus, Rumi wasn't quite sure- and Mira simply leaned over, after just a moment of hesitation, swallowing Rumi's soft moans with a kiss of her own. Her lips were softer than Zoey's, if more insistent. Less controlled in how they moved against her, but demanding Rumi show that control instead, pulling away, ever so slightly, when Rumi moved too eagerly, too ambitiously. The smirk on Mira was hard to miss when Rumi started adapting to her pace.

Zoey's left hand moved down Rumi's shirt, pulling it, catching on her buttons, teasing it open, before landing on Rumi's belt and unbuckling it the moment Rumi thrust her hips up into her hand, a small giggle escaping Zoey, that brought Mira's attention to her actions.

The lack of contact to her neck, to her lips, to her crotch, hit Rumi like a breath of moldy bad air. Or like a second bus. She blinked, trying to focus in on a disapproving Mira and an apologetic Zoey, who was fixing Rumi's belt again, as if that was remotely something Rumi had signaled her to do.

"What-?" Rumi let out, scrambling for some hold on the car windshield, to prop herself up, looking between the two in confusion. Mira sighed, sending her a sympathetic look.

"Sorry Rumi- I know Zoey is just expanding on our plan to fuck in the car until we are sober again and drive home-" What. What? What?! Rumi nearly missed Mira's last words as that sentence sank in, said so casually, as if this was an everyday, obvious activity. "But, I feel it best we stop here for today. Alter some plans."

Zoey let out a disappointed, but understanding whine, while Rumi simply blinked in confusion, confusion, which Mira easily caught, sending her a sympathetic smile.

"I know how hard it is to say no to having Zoey in between your legs." Mira said as she gave Zoey a soft pat on the head, one that made the woman absolutely beam. "But, I would much prefer if our first time didn't involve alcohol. Or a parking lot, really. And maybe, if it wasn't in public"

Rumi blinked, taking in this new information. She hated to admit it, but Mira was making a semblance of sense. While they were all clearly sobering up- the worst of the alcohol was multiple hours ago now after all- Rumi had kind of forgotten just where they were right now.

Which was on a car. In a public parking lot. In full view of anyone who wanted to walk by.

And also yeah, maybe they should be sober for a first time. Rumi did quite want to remember it well, after all. Rumi gave a small, understanding nod.

"Ugh, I hate it when you make good points." Zoey grumbled, flopping down in a manner that let her stretch out over both Mira and Rumi's torso.

"I know, I'm the fun police." Mira ran her hand through Zoey's bangs, loving smile on her face, before turning to Rumi.

"And as the fun police, I gotta talk logistics for a moment- Rumi, how do you feel about having that dinner date this Friday? After work?" Rumi took a quick second to get herself back into planning mode- which was difficult with Zoey still in her lap- before she finally nodded. She could clear out the house for the night. Possibly even the weekend.

"And how do you feel about that diner date turning into a sleepover?" Zoey asked, clearly being on the exact same page as Rumi. "Not to move at Lesbian speeds or anything but, y'know. We may want that extra time." The implications of that spun Rumi's head in the best way possible, as she tried to focus still on the conversation. Yes, she could manage that.

"I can get my mom's out of the house for the weekend, yeah. That's doable." The agreement lit up the other two, as Zoey held out her fist, which Mira, while rolling her eyes, fist-bumped like a teenage fuckboy who just managed to score.

"Speaking of- you mentioned you could call them for a ride?" Mira asked, leaning into Rumi as she spoke. Her body weight was comforting. Rumi felt like the luckiest girl in the world with two amazing weighted blankets she had scored a date with.

"Oh yeah, that shouldn't be a problem. Maman is almost definitely still at work." Rumi took out her phone, checking the time. Yeah, before midnight. Celine was nigh certainly still in the office.

"Oh, good. Not that we want you gone or anything, just want to make sure you can make it home safe." Mira assuaged a small worry that had popped up in Rumi at the request to leave.

"Mira's just trying to make sure you manage a whole night's sleep." Zoey drawled, sounding amused. Mira gave a soft hum of agreement.

"What about you two?" Rumi asked, and Mira shrugged.

"You heard the plan already. We won't be having an issue." Right. Right. The plan. The plan of having sex in a car in a parking lot. Were the windows tinted? Did it matter? Was this some after sales call ritual for them? All many questions, Rumi would ask another day. Or find out herself, hopefully.

"Don't worry, you're invited next time." Zoey answered a few of those questions as she winked, before rolling over, nigh falling off the car, and sitting up back in Mira's lap. The space she had filled now felt empty and cold- not something Rumi would have thought possible in the summer heat.

Rumi ran red and gave them a small nod, texting Celine as she did so with far too much focus. She got the okay back pretty quickly for a pick up, like she was some teenager at an illegal house party.

"Maman is on her way." Rumi let them know. The two looked a little bit disappointed- despite this being their idea- which oddly, was very affirming.

"Does she work close?" Mira asked, checking her Dunder Mifflin branded wristwatch. Rumi blinked, realizing at that moment just who was coming to pick her up. Oops.

"I- uhm. Quite, yes. Just a few blocks." She answered with a stutter that definitely drew their attention. The sound of Celine's car- still further off, but distinct, especially in the quiet late night hour, drew it away from Rumi and towards the sound of the noise.

"That'll be my ride. I'll see you two tomorrow." Rumi managed to sneak in two more kisses, while trying very hard not to sound like she was disappointed to be leaving and not seeing them for all of what, 10 hours at most? Despite the fact that she very much was disappointed. Oh she was down bad.

Celine parked at the entrance to the lot, waiting for Rumi to make her way over. As Rumi walked off, she caught the last few snippets of Mira and Zoey's conversation.

"Is that Celine's car?"

"Oh fuck Mira- Celine is French."

"…We asked the boss's daughter on a date."

"We kissed the boss's daughter."

"We're going on a date at the boss's house."

…

…

…

"I have conflicting feelings about simping for Celine now."

"You'll get over them, I'm sure."

…

…

"Wait is this like, an actual HR violation now?"