Comfortable pants, sneakers, tight shirt.
Bianka was glad that every morning she could dress in clothes that didn’t involve any compromise. As a computer technician, no one at her workplace expected her to spend hours in a little suit, silk blouse, and high heels at the computer. In fact, it probably wouldn’t even have occurred to anyone if one day she showed up among her colleagues in a canvas sack.
Simple ponytail, short nails, makeup-free face.
She always felt sorry for the women who had to regularly visit the hairdresser and manicurist as part of their routine. She chuckled internally at the girls her age who wore thick foundation. The contrast between their skin and their much lighter neck made them look ridiculous, even though their aim was likely to cover up skin imperfections. Bianka never wore makeup.
Lentil stew, grilled sausage, cheesecake.
She worked a lot. And that required energy. She didn’t understand what those girls sitting in the cafeteria with their salads were thinking. Do they even do anything useful? Or are they secretly stuffing sandwiches hidden in their bags when no one’s looking?
Peter.
The youngest of the three owners. The smartest person in the world. And the most beautiful. He always had a girlfriend, but no matter. He adored Bianka because Peter knew the company would be in trouble without her special knowledge. This was an unbreakable bond between them. The two of them could talk about work for hours. In fact, over time they developed countless inside jokes. Ones that only they understood. This was worth more than any fleeting romance. Besides, slow and steady wins the race.
October 12th.
The date Amanda, the new secretary, appeared.
In a turquoise blouse, black leather miniskirt. Bleached, permed hair adorned with turquoise gemstone clips. Perfect makeup. Floral patterned nylon stockings. High heels. Long, turquoise manicured nails with tiny crystals. A fragrance that smells like heaven. And Peter, giggling awkwardly, hovering around her.
Miniskirt, high heels, satin blouse.
In the end, you can get used to anything. The stretchy skirt allows her to sit a bit more comfortably than in faux leather. The blouse is better in black or white because sweat stains are less noticeable. She can kick off the shoes under the desk, as long as she’s quick enough to slip them back on when she hears Peter’s voice in the hallway. But the perfume is outrageously expensive! It’s unbelievable how much they charge for such a small bottle!
Hairdresser at six in the morning, manicurist at seven-fifteen, makeup in the restroom.
She still needs practice so she doesn’t smear everything with foundation. She had finally managed to spy on what that bimbo Amanda uses. She’ll get the same brand. You can’t even tell the difference between the secretary’s skin and her makeup. Bianka can’t get used to the lipstick, though. Peter clearly doesn’t understand what’s happened to her, but it seems he likes what he sees.
Thin slice of dried-out chicken breast, salad without dressing, roasted almonds.
During lunch, she listens to Amanda’s chatter instead of Peter’s velvet voice. She has no choice. She has to keep the woman occupied if she wants to keep her away from the man she adores. It was a bit daring to lie to the intruder that she and Peter were secret lovers. Especially when she even shared some juicy details about their office encounters. Like how she accidentally screamed out because she enjoyed it so much, forgetting about the meeting going on in the next office. It’s just a little embellishment of the truth. She has no other choice. Amanda’s already slept with two guys: one of the security guards and the doorman. There’s nothing that can’t be deployed in such a critical situation. It’s true that reality and fantasy have become so mixed up in Bianka’s head that last time she almost greeted Peter with a kiss. But only almost.