Chapter 1

Pairing: William "Bill" Lumbergh x Julia Anderson [OC]

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Rating: T

Summary: When she first laid eyes on her boss, Julia found him oddly attractive... until he opened his mouth. Years of pent up hatred unleash and she's caught in a web of penny shaving and an intense love affair.

Julia's eyes were locked to her computer, fingers typing vigorously as she began the day's work. Just over her cubicle, she could hear Samir fidgeting frustratingly with the printer.

"Piece of shit..." Samir muttered furiously as he ripped the paper out of the printer forcibly.

A small smile graced her lips as Samir cursed the printer, Michael's voice following soon after in agreement. The malfunctioning printer seemed to annoy them extra on a Monday. This Monday in particular was off to a nauseating start for Julia when she realized it was her one year mark with Initech.

It seemed like only yesterday that she had been an intern, filing paperwork and doing menial tasks as she studied for her degree; a degree that would then enable to become a programmer for the company. She would soon learn what a soul-sucking environment Initech truly was now that the naivety of being an inexperienced intern wore off.

She remembered her first day so clearly. How could she not? She was extremely nervous and a completely different person than she was now. She was once bubbly and eager to please. Nowadays it was rare to draw a genuine smile from her while she managed to do just enough work to get the job done but never exceeding expectations as she once had. If it weren't for Peter, Michael and Samir, she would've probably quit a long time ago.

"Hey guys."

Samir and Michael looked up to see Peter rounding over to the tiny cubicle they shared.

"What's up, chief?" Michael nodded.

"Mornin', Jules," Peter peaked over her desk

"Good morning, Peter," She smiled up at him before returning to her work.

"You guys wanna go to Chotchkie's? Get some coffee?"

That was when Jullia knew his Monday was already off to a bad start.

"It's a little early," Samir pointed out.

"I gotta get out of here, I feel like I'm gonna lose it," Peter blurted before Samir could protest further.

And to further prove Peter's point, an overly cheerful employee popped up from behind him with a smile that would somehow make you want to frown in disdain.

"Uh oh, sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays!" She stated before walking off with a giggle, as if she had said the funniest, most clever thing.

Michael and Samir nodded in agreement before getting up to follow Peter. Peter walked over to peek over Julia's desk, nodding her towards the group.

"You coming, Jules?"

"Not this time," She sighed, looking up at him, "I have a lot of work to catch up on."

"Suit yourself," Peter shrugged, "I'll bring you the usual?"

"Sure," She began to reach for her purse but he waved his hand dismissively.

"I got it, see you in a bit."

Before she could protest, he and the guys began to walk too eagerly out of the office. She sighed softly as she continued to type away but her momentary peace was soon disrupted when all all-too-familiar voice brought her eyes upward.

"Hey Jewel, what's happening?" Bill greeted her unenthusiastically.

She grit her teeth as she looked upon her boss, coffee mug in hand and leaning against her cubicle. From the moment she began here as an intern, he insisted on calling her "Jewel" and after having corrected him twice, she gave up long ago.

"We have sort of a problem here," He began blandly, "Yeah, you apparently didn't put one of the new cover sheets on your TPS reports?"

"Oh, yeah," Julia nodded, forcing a lighthearted smile as she tucked a strand of her deep burgundy hair over her ear, "I apologize, it must have slipped my mind."

She attempted to return to her work but it would only be too easy if he were to accept her answer and walk away.

"Mmm, yeah... You see, we're putting cover sheets on all TPS reports before they go out." He continued, bringing her eyes back towards him before he questioned confusedly, "Did you see the memo about this?"

"Yes," She cleared her throat, "I have the memo, I just forgot."

"Yeaaah," He nodded, "If you could just go ahead and remember to do that from now on, that would be great. And I'll make sure you get another copy of that memo, mmmkay?"

"Yeah, I have the memo-"

"See you later, Jewel," He interrupted, walking away as he took a sip of his coffee.

Julia stared after him heatedly, gritting her teeth. She suddenly wished she had gone to Chotchkie's with the guys. She turned back to her computer, her mood now foul. She glanced at the time. One hour. She had been here one hour and her day was already ruined. Bill Lumbergh had a real talent for doing just that. To think there was a time when she found him to be a pretty attractive man.

When she initially met him, she had been instantly attracted. I mean, she always had an attraction to men who most wouldn't probably find attractive but Bill Lumbergh was, respectively, a good-looking man. At nearly six feet tall, he towered over her as she just managed to reach five feet. He had nice hair; full, thick and a flattering brown. Behind his large glasses were passive blue eyes that matched his tone of voice.

His voice had once been something she found soothing. He never yelled. Ever. In her entire year of working here, she had never even seen him express any kind of anger or frustration. Even when he was giving you warnings, they were calm and nonconfrontational. She had initially enjoyed that about him, having previously worked for bosses that would explode at any mistake.

But as time went by, she would come to learn that she hated his passive aggressive nature just as much – if not more – than the bosses who would yell and berade her. Little by little, her patience wore thin and her attraction to him began to lessen until she finally couldn't hear his voice without wanting to shoot herself.

That was when she began to befriend Peter. One day after being talked to by Bill, she had rolled her eyes as soon as he turned his back before making eye contact with Peter. There was a mutual understanding between them and they clicked. He would then introduce her to Samir and Michael.

She didn't know what it was but she instantly got along well with the trio, assimilating into their circle easily. She attributed it to their equal disdain for their boss. It was no surprise, she had always gotten along better with men than women, always being "one of the guys." This time was no different as she was unable to stand the fake sweetness of the equally soulless women in the office.

But as tight knit as the four were, she and Peter had a bond much like Michael and Samir did. She had, at one point, sat in the cubicle right across from Peter. That was what probably made them as close as they were until Bill asked her to move. She and Peter had been disappointed as their conversations seemed to be the only thing keeping them sane.

She had been lucky to be moved beside Samir and Michael but it, unfortunately, left Peter with no one but Milton to talk to.

"Julia."

Julia looked up to see Dom standing by her desk, a smile on his face.

"We need to talk about your TPS reports..."

She plastered on the best smile she could, internally screaming.

This was going to be a long day.

When the trio returned, it was to Samir and Michael's desk. Joining them was a very flustered Tom. Julia stood from her desk, greeting them with a nod.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" She questioned.

"I'll tell you what!" Tom began, "Have you seen this?!"

He handed her a wrinkled piece of paper. She took it and read the memo before looking up at him confusedly.

"It's a staff meeting."

"Not just any staff meeting!" He informed her, bringing an eye roll from the three men who had already heard this on their way inside.

"They're downsizing Initech-"

"Tom, keep it down," Michael mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"-They're bringing in consultants! We're all screwed!"

"Tom, I think you're overreacting," She tried to comfort him.

"Not this time!" He insisted, "You know there's people who don't have to put up with this shit?! Like the guy who invented the pet rock?"

Julia sat back down slowly, shaking her head as Tom rambled on in a fit of paranoia. This was a man who constantly felt his job was in jeopardy. If there was one thing she was sure of, it was the security of her job. She was good at what she did and so were the rest of the software people.

She had absolutely no fear of losing her job.

When Julia arrived home that day, she drew a much-needed hot bubble bath for herself. It was a stress-relieving ritual for her which she seemed to be doing much more of lately. In fact, it was becoming almost a daily thing. But even as she lay in the water, she found herself unable to relax, too deep in thought, thinking about work.

She eventually stopped trying to relax and finished her bath. She stepped out of the tub, the water draining loudly as she wrapped a towel around her form. She looked at her foggy mirror and began to wipe it, looking at herself through the clear streaks.

She felt a sudden weight on her shoulders as she looked in the mirror. It was as if she didn't recognize who she was anymore. The sparkle in her hazel eyes had dimmed. She couldn't remember the last time she genuinely smiled, managing only to do so when in the presence of her friends outside of work. She questioned herself and questioned her future constantly.

It was beginning to take a toll on her mental health and though she had begun seeing a therapist, it didn't seem to do much good. The problem was her job. She could quit but what good would that do? She would only get a job at another software firm and deal with the same bullshit she dealt now. Except she wouldn't have the guys and that would make it unbearable.

Ring. Ring.

She nearly jumped at the sudden ring. She fastened her towel securely over chest before walking to her phone and picking it up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Jules," Peter's voice echoed in her ear.

She felt her lips curl up in an involuntary smile.

"Hey Peter, what's up?"

"Nothing much, just wanted to see how you were doing. You were kind of quiet today."

"Yeah," She sighed, "Just... one of those days."

"I get it," He assured her, "I swear, one of these days I'm coming to work and shooting the place up."

She laughed at his dark joke, relating to it on many levels.

"What if we're still there by the time we're fifty?" He questioned with a sudden seriousness.

"I'd kill myself before I make it that far," She spoke dryly as she walked back to the bathroom.

"Lumbergh's gonna make me work on Saturday, I just know it," He continued, "And I'm gonna end up doing it because I'm a big pussy... Which is why I work at Initech to begin with."

Julia scoffed on the other end as she walked back to the bathroom.

"Yeah, well, I work at Initech and I don't consider myself a pussy," She stated as she grabbed a second towel to dry her hair, "By the way, we still up for poker this Friday?"

"Oh... no," He replied hesitantly.

"Why not?" She frowned.

"I'm gonna go see this occupational hypnotherapist with Anne."

"An occupational hypnotherapist?" She repeated in disbelief.

"I know, I know," He sighed, "The guys gave me enough crap for it earlier but Anne wants me to go and she thinks it might help... I..."

"What?" She pressed on.

"You know, sometimes I get the feeling that she's cheating on me."

She chuckled lightly, raising her eyebrows as she continued to dry her hair with one hand.

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

There was a brief pause on his end.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean... come on, Peter," She spoke frankly but said nothing else, "I mean, why don't you just tell her you're not into hypnosis and come play poker with us?"

"Nah, she's just gonna get pissed off," He mumbled, "Who knows, it might help."

"I think it'll help as much as Lumbergh's reminders to put covers on our TPS reports."

"Jesus, did he talk to you about that too?!"

"Don't even get me started..." She mumbled, "Hey, I think I know how to get you out of working on Saturday."

"How?" Peter asked hopefully.

"Here's what we do..." She began what would continue on to be an hour long conversation, her hair drying by the time it ended.

Author's Note:

I know this story won't get many views/reviews but it's been on my mind for a while and fuck it, I wrote it for the 2 of you who will read and hopefully enjoy.

Stay tuned!