The Office Chronicles: No Detective Hats Allowed

Once upon a time, there was an office where employees were known for their peculiar habits. Among them was a certain individual who fancied themselves as the office detective, always eager to don the imaginary detective hat and solve mysteries that weren't theirs to solve.

Our protagonist, let's call them Nik, had a knack for jumping to conclusions. One day, as the clock struck 9:01 AM, Nik noticed a colleague rushing in, a tad bit late. Instead of welcoming them with a simple "Good morning," Nik couldn't resist the temptation to play Sherlock.

"Ah, fashionably late, I see! What's the story behind the tardiness today?" Nik inquired, completely ignoring the fact that the colleague was not reporting to them.

The colleague, slightly puzzled, replied, "Just hit some traffic, nothing exciting." But Nik wasn't satisfied; the detective hat was firmly in place.

As the days passed, Nik's detective adventures continued. Colleagues heading into private meetings with higher-ups became the focus of their imaginary magnifying glass. Instead of focusing on their work, Nik couldn't resist the allure of workplace gossip.

One day, after the annual evaluations, Nik gathered the courage to bring up the forbidden topic – salaries. In the quest for information, the detective hat grew larger, overshadowing common sense. "I couldn't help but wonder, did the evaluations come with a bonus this year?" Nik probed, much to the discomfort of their colleagues.

But the pièce de resistance of Nik's detective career came when a colleague announced they were leaving for a new job. While most would offer congratulations, Nik couldn't resist crafting elaborate theories about the real reasons behind the departure.

"Leaving for more money, I presume?" Nik speculated, convinced that every career move revolved around financial gains.

The departing colleague, with a bemused smile, responded, "Actually, it's more about escaping the strange office coffee than anything else."

As the news spread through the office grapevine, it became evident that Nik's detective escapades were more of a comedy than a drama. The lesson learned was clear – in the intricate tapestry of office life, it's best to skip the detective hat and focus on the tasks at hand. After all, work isn't a mystery novel, and not everyone is a character in your story.