Esperanza Jordan was so excited to start work in the Minister's Office! As a secretary she was sure she would get to meet all manner of important people. And a party? On the first work day? She was so excited to meet her coworkers!

She was so excited about so many things.

Esper had scoured the memo at least six times in order to determine appropriate attire and when to arrive: a good first impression was a necessity, especially since she would be spending time with these people every day for...a while. How awful would it be to be known as the girl who showed up three hours late on the first day of work? So she was determined to be on time, if not early. Who knows, maybe they needed some help setting up! Was party-planning under her jurisdiction as secretary? She would have to ask.

Nothing could dampen her spirits and the novelty of walking through the Ministry Atrium and going up the lifts to Level One, not the frigid cold weather, not the run in her hose she had to keep repairing, and not the fact that she was the first person to arrive at the party. Uh-oh. She had meant to be early, but not this early.

She couldn't just wait alone, could she? That was awkward, and who knows how long it would be till others arrived? But there was no place else to go...so Esper quietly sat down and poured herself a cup of tea.