Edward Nashton

Working at an accounting firm was always easy… as long as you ignored the constant comments from your colleagues. Those disgusting smiles and starched suits, looking like 1980s yuppies, were all ridiculous. They did practically nothing and still earned more at the expense of other people's work.

As a secretary, her salary was relatively good. It was enough to live comfortably and still have a little left over at the end of the month to spend on something small. Her job consisted of organizing documents, maintaining an impeccable appearance, and laughing at the idiotic jokes of Zack Morley, the newcomer who, in a very short time, had already managed to get a promotion. You were sure he had only reached that position at someone else's expense.

And that someone had a name and surname: Edward Nashton, the most intelligent forensic accountant in the industry.

You rarely spoke. Edward was always quiet, reserved, and had a closed, uninviting expression. Even so, you made a point of treating him kindly, ignoring the cruel nicknames his colleagues insisted on giving him. "Edweird" was, without a doubt, the office favorite. It sounded as childish as it was ridiculous.

“Morley asked when the document will be ready…” That was the message from the newcomer who, ironically, was now my boss and the man with the rounded cheeks. They resembled those of a hamster: grumpy, territorial, and solitary.

“It will take a while…” Edward replied. His voice barely seemed to come from his throat, always low, as if it were stuck to his vocal cords and needed to be forcibly ripped out. He never once raised his eyes to meet hers. He remained focused on the calculations scattered across the table… or perhaps he was simply avoiding any contact with another person.