Where Are They?

"Anna, I'm going to need a few more copies of that document. There are more people coming to the meeting than I anticipated."

"Right away, sir."

She took the document and headed to the elevator.

'Which floor should I go to today?

'I can't go to the sixth floor anymore, since I'll just be subjected to their spiteful comments again.

'Wait, no, I shouldn't be so easily swayed by others! I'll go the sixth floor to make my copies, and if they dare say anything rude again, they won't know what hit them!'

With a determined look in her eyes, she clenched her fists and pressed the button for the sixth floor.

Ding!

The elevator soon arrived at the sixth floor, and Anna strode out confidently once more. However, this time, her aura was much more violent, as if she was looking for a fight.

'I'll give them what for this time!'

However, much to her chagrin, her 'friends' weren't around.

'Are they hiding from me now that they know I'll bite back?'

A look of disdain appeared on Anna's face. It was just yesterday they'd been so haughty and cruel around her, but today they were nowhere to be seen.

In the time it took her to make the copies and return to the lift, they still hadn't returned.

"Seems they're cowards as well as snakes," Anna muttered with derision. Currently, it was impossible for her opinion of that group to be any lower.

'Maybe it's for the best that I didn't run into them; it would've just upset me again.'

…

Barov was currently in Roland's office showing him some files.

"These are the applications we've already received. There are a lot of highly qualified candidates here."

Roland sifted through the CVs, looking for something that would make one of the applications stand out.

"Most of them are either fresh out of college or old timers. Personally, I'd like to pick the college kids and groom them, get them invested in the company."

"Yes, I agree, sir. New blood is important for a company's growth, and old timers are often stuck in their ways, which can inhibit the company's development."

The two sat at the desk discussing the CVs for quite some time.

Anna had already gone home long before they finished up sorting through the applications.

"Okay, this is the last one. What do you think, Barov?"

However, Barov was forlornly staring out of the window, completely unresponsive to Roland's words.

"Oi, Barov! Wake up, you old fart!"

Barov slowly turned away from the window and asked Roland, "Sir, I was thinking about what happened with Anna."

"You mean the bullying? Yes, that was unfortunate."

"Sir, if I was bullied, would you fire the bullies like you did for Anna?"

Roland looked at Barov with a weird expression, but then started laughing boisterously.

"Hahaha! Barov, you are funny. We're two guys, so it's completely different between us. Plus, I can't imagine you ever being bullied."

Barov pouted and looked out the window again with a dejected look on his face.

He mumbled to himself, "Sigh, I should just accept my loss now."