Chapter 4: The Weight of Expectations

Ava woke up early, her mind racing with thoughts of her mother. It had been a few months since her passing, but the grief still felt like a heavy weight on her chest. She thought about her mother's struggles, working multiple jobs to provide for their family. Ava's determination to succeed was fueled by her desire to create a better life, one that her mother had always wanted for her.

As she got ready for work, Ava's thoughts shifted to her current situation. She felt stuck, her financial struggles meant she couldn't afford to take a cab to work. She lived only 10 minutes away, but the walk seemed like an eternity as she rushed to get to the office on time. She arrived breathless and flustered, her mind already racing with the tasks ahead.

She finally got to the office tired from the walk as her feet were aching. As Ava walked into the office, she was met with a chorus of snickers and whispers from her coworkers. They seemed to be reveling in her misfortune, and she could feel their eyes on her like daggers. She tried to ignore them, but the gossip was hard to avoid.

"Hey, did you hear about Ava's meltdown yesterday?" one coworker said, chuckling. "I heard she couldn't handle the pressure."

"Yeah, I heard Caleb ripped her a new one," another replied, giggling. "She was bawling her eyes out."

Ava felt her face flush with embarrassment and anger. She tried to focus on her work, but the whispers and snickers continued throughout the day. Every time she looked up, someone was staring at her with a smirk on their face.

As she settled at her desk, she felt a sense of frustration wash over her. The work was piling up, and she was struggling to keep up. The tasks were menial and unfulfilling, and she felt like she was wasting her skills. She sighed and rubbed her temples, trying to shake off the feeling of being overwhelmed.

The morning dragged on, with Ava struggling to focus on her work. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of paperwork and deadlines. Her mind wandered to her financial struggles, and the weight of her responsibilities threatened to crush her. She knew she needed this job, but it seemed like the job was suffocating her.

During lunchtime, Ava opened a small box on her desk, containing a photo of her mother she felt sad and almost cried. Later on, she joined her coworkers in the break room, hoping to make some friends. They chatted about their weekends and families, but when Ava tried to join in, they seemed hesitant to include her. One of them, a girl named Sarah, leaned in close and whispered, "Be careful around Caleb. He's super strict and doesn't tolerate any mistakes."

Ava nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. She had already gotten a glimpse of Caleb's stern demeanor, and she didn't want to cross him. The rest of the lunch break was awkward, with Ava feeling like an outsider.

The afternoon was a blur, with Ava struggling to focus on her work. She felt like she was living in a constant state of anxiety, never knowing when Caleb would pounce on her again. And then, just as she was starting to make progress, Caleb stormed out of his office, his eyes fixed on her. "Ava, I requested that report an hour ago," he said, his voice stern and commanding. "Where is it?"

Ava's hands trembled slightly as she gestured to her computer screen. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm still working on it. I know I'm running behind, but I'll have it ready soon, I promise."

Caleb's expression turned skeptical, his eyebrows furrowed in disapproval. "What do you mean you're still working on it?" he repeated, his tone dripping with disdain. "Didn't I make it clear that I needed it today? Didn't I stress the urgency of this project?"

Ava's jaw clenched, and her eyes narrowed as she struggled to contain her frustration and anxiety, her mind racing with excuses and explanations. But she knew better than to speak out of turn. She remained silent, her eyes cast downward, as Caleb continued to scold her.

"You're not taking this seriously, Ava. This is a high-pressure environment, and I expect my employees to deliver. Do I make myself clear? I don't pay you to make excuses or waste time. I pay you to get results."

Ava nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "Yes, sir. I understand." She knew she had let him down, and the weight of her failure hung heavy on her shoulders.

With that, Caleb turned and returned to his office, leaving Ava feeling defeated and anxious about her future at the company. She knew she had to do better, but the pressure was suffocating her. As she worked on the report, her mind wandered to her financial struggles and the long walk to work that morning. She felt trapped in a cycle of poverty and frustration, and she didn't know how to escape.

The rest of the day was a blur, with Ava struggling to focus on her work. She felt like she was living in a constant state of anxiety, never knowing when Caleb would pounce on her again. She left the office at the end of the day, feeling drained and defeated. The walk home was long and arduous, her mind replaying the events of the day. She knew she had to find a way out of this cycle, but for now, she was stuck.