Chapter 8 Under the Neon Lights on the Seventh Floor
The chime of the central air-conditioning system on the seventh floor of Graha Mandiri seemed to form a constant rhythm accompanying the afternoon rush. Behind rows of frosted-glass cubicles, dozens of pairs of eyes stared tensely at their monitors. Yet in the corner near the large windows overlooking the traffic-clogged streets of City B, Noni remained still.
The fingers of her right hand danced rapidly across the keyboard, while her left held a yellow highlighter to mark up the printed vendor audit documents. At twenty, Noni had learned that in the fast-paced world of state-owned companies, even the smallest weakness could become an opening for someone else to push her aside.
"Noni, you're seriously focused. Aren't your eyes tired from staring at a screen since this morning?" Rendy said as he set a glass of iced coffee beside Noni's cubicle.
Noni looked up slightly and flashed a faint smile that never reached her eyes. "I'm almost done, Ren. This raw-material price comparison report for next quarter's revitalization project has to be finished before six. Mr. Lukman wants the first draft tonight."
Rendy sighed and leaned against the edge of Noni's cubicle. "You're way too much of a perfectionist, No. We're just interns, and our pay is only a daily incentive. Those girls from the university next door—Maya and Karin—are already getting ready to touch up their makeup at exactly five so they can hang out in the lounge."
Noni glanced briefly at the two interns from a prestigious private university, who were laughing merrily near the coffee machine. They wore designer clothes and carried bags that probably cost as much as her mother's shop earned in two months.
"They have a safety net if they don't get hired here, Ren," Noni whispered, her voice soft but sharp. "Maya's father is one of the commissioners of a subsidiary. But me? I don't have anyone to lean on. All I have is my brain and my own hard work."
Rendy fell silent. He knew all too well how Noni had fought to make it on her own, without abundant financial support from her family. He felt both admiration and pity as he watched the older daughter stand so firmly on her own.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of approaching footsteps rang out. Mr. Lukman walked toward the interns' cubicle area, his face wearing its usual impassive expression. In an instant, the hallway fell silent.
"Noni, come with me to my office for a moment," Mr. Lukman called, not slowing his pace.
Noni nodded promptly. She tidied up her remaining notes, picked up her work binder, and followed him into the supervisor's chilly office.
"Sit," Mr. Lukman ordered as he flipped through the files on his desk.
Noni sat upright in perfect posture. "Are there revisions to yesterday's presentation data, sir?"
Mr. Lukman set down his pen, then fixed Noni with a steady look over his glasses. "No. Yesterday's presentation was praised by the board of directors. You know that. And because of it, there's a new assignment. I want you to handle the risk analysis for a new vendor consortium. This is a major project, Noni. It's worth billions."
Noni's heart began pounding. It was a high-level assignment rarely entrusted to an intern.
"Thank you for your trust, sir. I'll do my very best," Noni replied enthusiastically, her eyes shining with happiness.
"But..." Mr. Lukman let the sentence hang, his gaze narrowing. "I've heard from people in other divisions that you often go home later than anyone else and take work home with you. You also come across as too dominant compared with the other interns. In this company's structure, soft skills and the ability to maintain team harmony are just as important as the numbers."
Noni's smile slowly faded. "You mean... I'm not good at working with others?"
"Several of your fellow interns feel that you monopolize the strategic assignments," Mr. Lukman said coldly. "I don't want internal conflict in this division. Give some of the data-gathering tasks to Maya and Rendy. You will still handle the recommendations."
A sharp sting of disappointment pierced Noni's chest. Monopolize? Hadn't Maya and her friends always dumped the difficult assignments on her because they refused to work overtime? Why was she now the one being accused of not being a team player, simply because she worked harder than people with connections?
But Noni held her breath and clenched her fingers tightly beneath the desk so she wouldn't reveal how vulnerable she felt.
"All right, Mr. Lukman. I understand. I'll coordinate the raw data with Maya and Rendy later," Noni replied firmly, forcing her voice to remain professional.
"Good. You may return to your desk."
Noni stood, gave a small nod of respect, and walked out of the cold, air-conditioned office. As soon as the glass door closed, she stood motionless for a moment in the hallway, which was beginning to empty. The neon lights reflected her shadow, making her body look small amid the grandeur of the towering building.
She walked back to her cubicle and looked at the 4R photo of Wanda and Nana tucked behind her monitor. In the picture, Wanda wore a completely sincere smile, her eyes shining with pride.
Noni brushed the corner of her eye, which felt slightly hot. Exhaustion, a sense of injustice, and the pressure of competition in the working world seemed to assault her defenses from every direction. Yet her mother's gentle gaze in the photo seemed to whisper: Mom's girl is strong. Don't give up.
Noni let out a long breath, straightened her blazer, and sat back down in her work chair. She opened a new document and began typing out the task assignments for her team. The competition in this building might be cold and unfair, but Noni made herself a promise—she would not let it break her stride as she fought for the future of the family she loved.