Page 24 of The Off-limits Grump Next Door
I nodded to myself, feeling a sense of calm. I walked into the entrance and approached the security post, where a friendly guard greeted me.
"Hi, can I help you?" he asked.
"I'm looking for the admin block. I'm new here."
He smiled and pointed across the sprawling grounds. "Head toward that building over there, with the glass façade, and then take a left. The admin block will be the first building you see. Its name is written boldly on the building. You can't miss it."
I thanked him and set off in the direction he'd indicated. As I approached the admin block, I spotted Tina waiting for me outside, a bright smile on her face and a headset draped around her neck.
She waved enthusiastically, and I could see a microphone peeking out from under her collar. She looked every inch the production expert.
I took a deep breath, feeling the cool morning air fill my lungs, and quickened my pace toward Tina.
"Hey, girl!" Tina exclaimed, enveloping me in a warm hug. "You look amazing! Welcome to ABS."
I hugged her back. "Thanks, Tina. You can't imagine how stoked I am to be here today."
“I think I can… the smile on your face gives you away,” she teased.
My response was an even bigger smile. I couldn’t contain my excitement.
“So, I’ll be taking you to HR first, so you can sign in, and then I’ll give you a little tour.”
“That sounds wonderful. Uhm… I am not complaining, but isn’t there something you’re busy with? As much as I would love the guidance, I wouldn’t want to keep you from work.”
“Girl! It’s barely 8 a.m. Everyone is still just setting up and catching up on how they spent their weekend.”
“Okay, let’s go then.”
We walked into the admin block, and Tina led me to the HR department. "I'll wait over here while you sort out the uh… formalities," she said, nodding toward a sleek, modern couch.
I nodded and entered the HR office, where I was greeted by a warm smile from the HR representative, who introduced herself as Mrs. Jenkins after I stated my name.
"Welcome, Kendra! We're thrilled to have you on board. Please, have a seat."
I sat down, trying to take everything in at once. The office was tastefully decorated, with ABS Broadcasting Station's logo prominently displayed on the wall.
Mrs. Jenkins handed me a thick folder. "This contains all the information you need to get started. Your contract, benefits package, and a map of the facility. Take some time to review it."
I nodded, flipping through the pages. "Thank you. What's the next step?"
"Within the next few days, please submit your documents for onboarding, including your ID and social security number. We'll also schedule a photo shoot for your ID badge and department picture. You'll meet with your unit head, Mr. Thompson, after this, to discuss your role and responsibilities."
I made a mental note. "Got it. Anything else?"
"You’ll be joining the investigative journalism team for now. I believe Mr. Thompson is already expecting you. He doesn’t like to be kept waiting, so that'll be all for now. Let’s get you settled in."
After signing a few documents and collecting my temporary ID badge, I left the HR office, feeling more… official.
Tina stood up from the couch, grinning. "All sorted?"
"Yep," I replied, holding up my ID badge.
"Awesome! Let's take a tour. I'll introduce you to some of the team members."
As we walked through the facility, I couldn't help but admire the sleek, modern architecture. We passed by the news studio, where anchors were preparing for the morning broadcast.
"That's where the magic happens. They take your stories and give life to them," Tina said, winking.
