With the Manager gone, the tension in the office had shifted from "high-pressure" to "casual." But my mind was still stuck on the image of the Manager's empty chair and the wedding I wasn't invited to.
I was deep into my files when the Advisor walked over. He didn't have his usual stack of reports. Instead, he looked a bit restless.
"Hey," he said, pulling up a chair next to my desk. "Can I ask you something? It's... personal."
I looked up from my screen. "Sure, what's up?"
"You're local, right? You know the area well," he started, lowering his voice. "My girlfriend is coming to town, and she needs a place to stay for a while. I was wondering if you knew of any empty rooms or a safe place nearby? I want her to be close to where I am."
I blinked. The "Advisor" who had been so charming and helpful had a girlfriend. And more than that, he was asking me—the 18-year-old student worker—to help him find a place for her.
It was a strange feeling. One man I respected was getting married, and the other man who had been my "office friend" was asking me for help with his love life. I felt like I was becoming the "confidante" of the office, rather than just an employee.
"I... I can look around," I said, trying to keep my voice professional.
"Thanks," he smiled, and for a second, I saw a flash of genuine worry in his eyes. He really cared about her. "It would mean a lot to me."