Page 46 of 12 Days

I take the hint. I perk up a bit as usual, and we push through the massive double doors to the next department.

The stylish, spacious design of the HR block of offices puts people at ease. Kind of ironically, since the walls are finished in cool, grey steel. The design has a pseudo-industrial feel to it, but with the low, blue mood lighting in the corridors during working hours, it works pretty well.

Alyssa’s up to a few feet behind us when we walk into the HR section. She jogs a few steps to catch up while we walk through the doors.

“We’ve got all the time in the world,” Tristan assures Alyssa. She acknowledges him with a polite smile.

Sean and I are both taking a page from Alyssa’s book, scoping out the unique setup of our Human Resources like it’s our first time there.

Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh perspective to jolt you out of the autopilot of your daily existence.

I realize I’ve been walking through these halls like a zombie for ages. Thanks to Alyssa, I’m now appreciating my own unique, fascinating workplace with a fresh perspective.

I look down from the track lighting lining the ceiling to spot Alyssa walking alongside me. I want to think that’s intentional, but she’s so busy adorably checking out the décor, looking into the little round windows on the office doors lining the corridor that it might just be a happy accident.

“You’re right about all the different styles under one roof,” I tell Alyssa, causing her to gradually, casually turn her wonderful face towards me.

She gives me a brief look, a perfunctory nod before looking behind me at whatever’s going on there.

“This is where our Human Resources people work,” Sean announces.

Oh shit, I guess we’re supposed to be giving a tour or something.

I can see the interest leave Alyssa’s face at this news. Maybe she’s one of those ‘HR is too important to be left to HR’ people.

“This part’s not that electrifying?” I hear Tristan quip from the other end of the corridor.

“I’m very electrified, but I’m ready to move on,” announces Alyssa.

“Hellllooooo…” I hear a voice sing from somewhere behind me.

I jump a little, but I know who it is. I spin around in my tracks to see Shelly, de-facto head of HR, grinning in the hallway.

I wave, but keep walking. Alyssa does the same, but Sean stops to give Shelly a big hug before immediately jumping into asking about her cats.

It’s to Sean’s credit that he does everything to keep the HR people happy, especially now, since I know he’s as keen on impressing Alyssa as the rest of us.

Alyssa’s already on her way out the door down the hallway, though. I follow, as quickly as I can while keeping my casual air.

She gets to the next section a few long seconds before me, and I hear her impressed voice as I walk through the door.

“This is even bigger!”

Alyssa’s just finishing her exclamation when I enter the room. She’s right. This area leading into the main research department seems almost warehouse-like in scope when you first walk in—apart from the white, saturated, space-age aesthetics.

“I like to say that this what people thought the future would look like forty years ago.” Tristan’s wearing a self-satisfied smile while delivering that gem.

“Ah-hah.” Alyssa’s not really listening, she’s just enjoying the tour, and so am I.

My favorite moment yet is when Alyssa spots a few lab coat-wearing techs wandering around the far side of the room. Her wide smile of marvel sends my heart into a happy flutter.

I feel Tristan’s glare before I look over to see him. He’s just as enchanted by Alyssa’s smile, and our rivalrous vibe turns to understanding.

‘She is something else’ seems to be our understanding as we share a brief glance.

That is, before we hear Alyssa walking through a door into an adjacent, much less interesting and much more office-y part of the building.

As if she’d flipped a switch by walking through the door, that vibe of rivalry returns with a vengeance.

I hear the sound of Sean finally catching up with us and entering the room, but Tristan and I are busy watching each other, now with a different understanding.

Only one of us can get to be the tour guide now, and the race is on. I’m sure it takes Sean by surprise to see us both start bolting towards the door out of nowhere.

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