CHAPTER ONE – ACCIDENT ON THE FIRST DAY

The bustling lobby of Eladio Enterprises hummed with activity as Karina Zaslav pushed through the revolving doors, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She smoothed down her crisp navy blazer and adjusted her grip on the coffee cup that had become her lifeline. "Deep breaths, Karina," she muttered to herself, taking in the sleek marble floors and modern art adorning the walls. "You've got this." As she approached the reception desk, a friendly-faced woman looked up and smiled. "Good morning! How can I help you?" "Hi, I'm Karina Zaslav. It's my first day," Karina replied, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. The receptionist's eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh, wonderful! We've been expecting you. Let me just call your department head." While the receptionist made the call, Karina's gaze wandered around the lobby. Employees hurried past, their shoes clicking on the polished floor. A group of suits huddled near the elevator, engaged in animated conversation. "Excuse me, Ms. Zaslav?" A tall woman with a sleek bob approached, hand outstretched. "I'm Sandra Chen, head of Human Resources. Welcome to Eladio Enterprises." Karina shook her hand, grateful for the warm welcome. "Thank you, Ms. Chen. I'm excited to be here." "Please, call me Sandra. Let's get you settled in." As they walked towards the elevators, Sandra chatted amiably about the company's history and culture. Karina nodded along, trying to absorb every detail. "So, Karina, what made you choose Eladio Enterprises?" Sandra asked as they stepped into the elevator. Karina took a sip of her coffee to buy herself a moment. "Well, I've always admired the company's innovative approach to sustainable technology. And the opportunity to work on projects that could make a real difference in the world was too good to pass up." Sandra nodded approvingly. "That's exactly the kind of passion we look for in our employees. I think you'll fit in well here." The elevator doors opened onto a bustling office floor. Cubicles stretched as far as the eye could see, punctuated by glass-walled conference rooms and break areas. "This will be your home away from home," Sandra said with a smile. "Let's introduce you to your team." As they weaved through the maze of desks, Karina couldn't help but feel a twinge of imposter syndrome. Everyone looked so professional, so sure of themselves. She tightened her grip on her coffee cup, drawing comfort from its warmth. They approached a cluster of desks where a diverse group of people were gathered. A man with salt-and-pepper hair stood up, grinning broadly. "Ah, you must be our new recruit!" he exclaimed. "I'm Tom Reeves, your direct supervisor. Welcome aboard!" Karina shook his hand, relieved by his friendly demeanor. "Thank you, Mr. Reeves. I'm looking forward to working with you all." Tom waved his hand dismissively. "Please, it's Tom. We're pretty informal around here. Let me introduce you to the rest of the team." One by one, Karina met her new colleagues: Sarah, the data analyst with a wry sense of humor; Raj, the soft-spoken programmer; and Elena, the bubbly marketing specialist. Each greeted her warmly, making her feel a little more at ease. "Alright, now that introductions are out of the way, let's get you set up at your desk," Tom said, leading her to an empty cubicle. "Take some time to settle in, and then we'll have a team meeting at 10 to go over your first project." Karina nodded, setting her bag down on the desk. "Sounds great. Thank you, Tom." As her new colleagues dispersed, Karina took a moment to arrange her belongings. She placed a small potted succulent on the corner of her desk, a touch of green amidst the sea of beige and gray. "Nice plant," a voice said from behind her. Karina turned to see Elena leaning against the cubicle wall. "It's always good to bring a bit of life into the office." Karina smiled. "Thanks. I figured it might help make the space feel a bit more like home." Elena nodded knowingly. "First day jitters, huh? Don't worry, we've all been there. Listen, a few of us usually grab lunch at the café down the street. You're welcome to join us if you'd like." "That sounds great, thank you," Karina replied, touched by the gesture. As Elena walked away, Karina turned on her computer and began to familiarize herself with the company's systems. Time flew by, and before she knew it, Tom was calling the team for their meeting. They filed into a nearby conference room, and Karina found herself seated at a long table surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Her palms began to sweat as she realized this wasn't just a team meeting – executives from other departments were present as well. Tom stood at the head of the table, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "Alright, folks, let's get started. First order of business: I'd like to introduce our newest team member, Karina Zaslav." All eyes turned to Karina, who managed a small wave and a nervous smile. "Hello, everyone. I'm excited to be here and learn from all of you." A few people nodded politely, but most quickly turned their attention back to Tom. Karina felt a mix of relief and disappointment at the lukewarm reception. As the meeting progressed, Karina tried her best to follow along, jotting down notes and acronyms she'd need to look up later. Suddenly, Tom turned to her. "Karina, would you mind grabbing some coffee for everyone? The pot's just outside." Karina blinked, caught off guard. Wasn't she hired as a junior analyst, not an intern? But eager to make a good impression, she nodded. "Of course, no problem." She slipped out of the room, locating the coffee station in the nearby break area. As she carefully filled a tray with steaming mugs, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. This wasn't exactly how she'd imagined her first day going. Taking a deep breath, Karina lifted the heavy tray and made her way back to the conference room. She'd just stepped through the doorway when a booming voice startled her. "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Eladio Enterprises will lead the charge in sustainable energy for the next decade!" Karina's head snapped up, her eyes landing on a tall, imposing man at the front of the room. His tailored suit and commanding presence left no doubt – this was Miguel Eladio, the CEO himself. In that moment of distraction, Karina's foot caught on the edge of the carpet. Time seemed to slow as she felt herself pitching forward, the tray of coffee mugs teetering precariously in her hands. "No, no, no," she thought desperately, trying to regain her balance. But it was too late. The tray tipped, sending a cascade of hot coffee directly onto Miguel Eladio's pristine white shirt and designer suit. The room fell into a shocked silence, broken only by the sound of ceramic mugs shattering on the floor.