#Chapter 18: My New Department

The interior of the department was not at all what I expected. There were the same types of cubicles, but various styles of music came spilling out in a cacophony of sound. And while the soundscape was active, there was almost no actual movement. I looked around and saw an office at the far end with glass walls. Inside a tired looking woman sat staring at something on her screen. I went in that direction. As I passed the cubicles I glanced right and left, smiling at people who looked up, startled away from their phones or online shopping at their computers. I certainly wasn't a good judge, but it appeared people were doing more recreational things than working. The woman in the glass office looked up and saw me, making eye contact and beckoning me inside. She stood up briefly, her vaguely smoky scent pleasant and mild. "Elena?" "Yes." "Welcome to Social Scene. I'm Sally Lugano, but most people call me Sal." She reached her hand over her desk and