The Corner Office

Alyssa moved the photo to a different position on the desk, one where she could see it when she needed to, but not one where it confronted her every time she sat down. It was her graduation shot, and she was smiling for the camera, standing next to a serious-looking Gabe, her rock, her best friend. She closed her eyes for a moment or two and imagined what he would say if he were with her today, her first day in the corner office on the 28th floor. Something like, "You did it Aly, I always knew you would." Opening her eyes, Alyssa blinked back a tear, and picking up the photo, she removed it from the desk altogether, placing it on the shelving unit amongst the legal tomes and congratulations cards.

At just 35, Alyssa had made partner, the youngest female to achieve such an accolade in Grey and Moritz, the firm she had been with for nearly ten years. To celebrate her commitment to equity and equality, Harry Moritz, the managing partner, had recently given her a corner office that had been vacated by a retiring senior partner. Despite a natural ability to absorb and regurgitate huge volumes of information, while Alyssa had studied nonstop, Gabe had always said she would get there before him. Not that he lacked ambition. He just didn't have her ruthless streak, her killer instinct. While Alyssa had pursued a career in corporate crime and investigations, Gabe had opted to practice public interest law, focusing on representing the disadvantaged and vulnerable. If either of them had enemies, it would definitely have been Alyssa. But the figure who had come out of the shadows in broad daylight had pointed his gun at Gabe, his face twisted with hatred. Before either of them had the chance to move or scream, the gun went off three times, two bullets hitting Gabe, one in the chest, one in the neck. The third went clean through Alyssa's shoulder as she tried to throw herself in front of Gabe. The gun clattered to the pavement, the man took off, and Alyssa threw herself down beside Gabe as he bled out, his life ebbing away.

At 35, Alyssa hadn't made a relationship commitment to anybody. Her work had been her life up to that point. She used to joke with Gabe that if they both hit 40 and remained single, they would marry each other and grow old and cranky together.  With two felines at home already, she now envisioned herself growing old with a clowder of cats, taking up hobbies and dropping them just as quickly, still meddling with the law.

Realising night had fallen, Alyssa moved to the windows, floor-to-ceiling glass in a triangular shape providing impressive views across the city, lights glowing and flickering in office blocks and apartments. As she stared out at the skyscape, Alyssa felt someone beside her, a hand brushing the back of hers. "Come on, let's get out of here and grab a drink." Fetching her coat and bag, she left her shiny corner office and set off towards the lifts. The cleaner watched her go, wondering who on earth she was talking to.