Billy wiped the last bit of dust off his shoe before the elevator doors opened. His employees greeted him with respect as he made his way to his office, boxes still in the corner of the room.
Oh how he loved to have Anvil. It was his baby.
Working there wasn't always nice. He loved his job, having his own company and his own employees, but having to do a lot of planning, investing a lot of time in front of screens, looking at calendars and pictures of people to hire was strenuous work. To sit in front of his computer all day made him really uncomfortable. He was a type person who always needed to be active, always running around, all day. He had been a few minuted into his work, checking numbers, string at the screen when his phone rang. Who would call him at 7:43? When he saw the name he chuckled. Julia Castle. Again.
He rolled his eyes, but answered.
"Hey Julia! How are you?", he said into the phone.
"BILLY!", she exclaimed as if she didn't know who she was calling, "so good to hear your voice! I'm holding a BBQ tonight and wanted to know if you would like to come? I figured you probably already have plans, but the kids haven't seen you in so long...", she sighed, clearly wanting to make Billy feel bad for not visiting more. He did not feel bad. "... and you're their last remainder left of their uncle and cousins. So we would be delighted to host you.", she finally stopped talking.
Billy groaned annoyedly as he looked at his calendar. He could lie and say that he was busy, but he had been craving a nice BBQ for a few days now and the Castle family wasn't all too bad. "Sure I'll come", he finally replied, "when do you want me there?"
"Oh Billy, come by whenever you want. You're always welcome here. But dinner starts at 8. And please feel free to bring your own drinks if you aren't driving yourself. You know I don't have alcohol in the house. Just make sure you mark them as dangerous so the kids don't take them."
Billy rolled his eyes in annoyance as he remembered the stupid rule that made staying there with her kids even more unbearable. But he put on a smile and said: "Sounds good Jules. See you tonight!"

During his lunch break Billy would usually stop at a Cafe down the street. It was owned by a VET couple and they were very nice, not asking him many questions and generally minding their own business. He enjoyed that space. As he got his usual he looked around the place.
The high beams made it look like a barn, but there was something really cozy about it. The walls seemed soft and inviting, and the space wasn't as loud as any other place in probably the entire country. Growing up close to New York City he had never minded the noise as a kid, but ever since he became a Marine he missed the silence. He fondly remembered the quiet nights in the tents with his brothers, or the long training runs through the wilderness, hearing nothing but footsteps, heavy breaths and the birds around them. This place reminded him of this. It was calm and felt like home.
As Billy grabbed his coffee and turned around, he didn't see the tiny woman standing beside him. As she bumped into him she cursed and spilled her cold coffee all over Billy's shirt.
"I'm so sorry!", she exclaimed as she grabbed napkins to try and wipe his shirt clean, but Billy wasn't having it.
"Next time watch where you're going, alright! This is a $500 shirt.", he stated annoyed and pushed past the shocked woman with his food and coffee in his hands, on his way back to his office.

"What happened to you?", asked his secretary as he walked past her.
"Some people can't watch where they're going. Bring me a new shirt, will you? I cannot wear this for the meeting this afternoon.", Billy said plainly and closed the door to his office.