Dec took a deep breath as he stared up at the office building on Monday morning.

He felt both excited and nervous.

Excited that he had a job and was beginning to get his life back on track,but nervous about how it would go,he wasn't worried about the actual work,that sounded simple enough,but would he fit in?would he be liked?business men and women weren't the kind of people he'd had much to do with throughout his life so far,but Ant assured him that everyone was lovely and they would all make him feel very welcome.

Ant's office was only about a twenty minute walk from Dec's new flat,so he decided a nice morning walk might be good to steady his nerves.

Not that he could have taken public transport anyway,cash hadn't been accepted on London transport for many years now and he obviously didn't have a bank card anymore and didn't have enough money to purchase an oyster card,the smartcard that a lot of people used for travelling around London.

Still,a twenty minute walk was nothing and once he started earning,if laziness...or more likely over sleeping,ever got the better of him,it wouldn't be a problem,buying an oyster card would be top of his list once he got paid,just in case he ever needed it.

"Declan Donnelly" he said to the receptionist behind the desk "Anthony McPartlin is expecting me"

"Of course" the woman replied,who Dec noted had the name Joan on her badge "take a seat Mr Donnelly"

"Thank you" Dec smiled.

"Mr McPartlin,Declan Donnelly is here for you" Joan said into the intercom.

Dec could just about make out Ant's reply from where he was sitting,something along the lines of 'be right there'

Probably no more than two minutes later,Ant stepped out of the lift that opened up into the reception area with a big smile on his face.

"Dec" he smiled warmly at his new friend and held out his hand for Dec to shake.

'Very businesslike' Dec thought to himself,Ant was definitely in work mode.

"Come on" Ant beamed "I'll show you around and introduce you to everyone,thanks Joan"

He waved at the receptionist as he stepped back into the lift with Dec by his side and pressed the button for the third floor.

Just a few seconds later,the door opened to the floor where Ant's office was based.

They were a small,but tight knit group and Ant went around to each and every employee,making sure they all knew who Dec was and what he would be doing there,while Dec did his best to remember all of their names.

"And this" Ant announced,as he walked into an area separated from the larger office by a plastic screen "is my good friend,Nicholas Derby,also a senior partner in the company"

"Please call me Nick" the man smiled and held out his hand to Dec "it's very nice to meet you Dec,I'm sure you'll fit in very well here"

"I hope so" Dec beamed,taking Nick's hand and shaking it firmly "so you're equal partners then?"

"Yeah" Nick replied "although Ant likes to think he's the boss,I just humour him"

"Well,if you were actually any good at your job" Ant quipped playfully.

"Better than you'll ever be" Nick shot back.

Dec was enjoying the banter between the two friends,until Ant announced that he needed to pop out for something and Nick would show Dec where to get started with work.

"I won't be long" Ant promised.

"No worries" Dec smiled "I'll be just fine"

"Course he will" Nick smiled and placed a reassuring arm around Dec's shoulder.

After Ant left,Nick took Dec into a small kitchen and pointed out where the tea,coffee and everything else was.

"I know what you're doing you know" Nick suddenly announced.

"What?" Dec asked surprised,unsure of what Nick was talking about "what do you mean?"

"Let's just say I've got my eye on you" Nick whispered menacingly into Dec's ear,before walking off back to his desk.

Dec was so shocked at Nick's comments and tone,that he stood routed to the spot,totally confused about what had just happened.

What on earth could Nick have meant?

Why did he need to keep an eye on Dec?

How did he know what Dec was doing?

Dec didn't know himself what that was,so that was totally baffling to him.

He just hoped and prayed that this wasn't the beginning of something awful and Nick wouldn't make his time at his new work unbearable.

"How are you getting on?" Denise,one of the women who Dec had been introduced to asked as she entered the kitchen,finding Dec standing still,gazing straight ahead "you look a bit lost there"

"Oh yeah" Dec mumbled "I was...um,just about to make coffee for everyone"

"Here" Denise smiled,opening the cupboard and taking out the jar of instant coffee that Nick had already shown Dec "this what you're looking for?"

"Thanks" Dec replied awkwardly and busied himself filling up the kettle with water.

By the time Dec had made and handed out all the drinks,Ant was back from whatever errand he'd had to run.

"Alright Declan" he beamed "how's it going?"

"Fine" Dec smiled "everyone seems very nice"

Dec hoped Ant hadn't noticed the scowl he aimed in Nick's direction.

"Yeah,they're a nice bunch" Ant replied "and Nick is one of my closest friends"

Dec's heart sunk at those words.

Ant and Nick were very good friends,but Nick already seemed to have it in for Dec,although he had no idea why,this could become extremely difficult.

"We're a good team aren't we Nick?" Ant asked as he sat down in the office space that he and Nick shared.

"We certainly are" Nick nodded "both in and out of work,no stopping us on a boy's night out,right Ant?"

"Right" Ant laughed "not that we've had one of those in a while"

"That's true" Nick frowned "it's been ages,we need to do it again soon,you'll come too,won't you Dec?"

"Er...sure,yeah" Dec replied "why not?"

Ant turned around to retrieve some paperwork from the filing cabinet near his desk.

"SHIT" came the angry curse from Nick "look what you've done"

"Nick,what's what's wrong?" Ant asked surprised.

"These documents are important Declan" Nick fumed,picking up the paperwork and letting some of the coffee that had been spilt all over them trickle back into the coffee cup.

"Don't worry" Ant replied calmly,glancing at Dec's devastated face.

"I...I...I didn't do..." Dec stuttered.

"You didn't do what?" Nick snapped coldly "it didn't pour itself all over my paperwork did it?"

No of course it didn't,Dec thought to himself,but he hadn't done it either.

Nick had deliberately knocked it over and smirked at Dec in the process.

Nick knew the paperwork wasn't at all important,it was in fact destined for the shredder,but Ant and especially Dec didn't know that.

Dec had no idea why this man was acting this way towards him.

A grown man...a businessman for that matter,picking on an office boy on his first day in the job,it just didn't make sense and Dec began to well up,not understanding what was going on.

But if Nick saw that Dec was on the verge of tears,that would no doubt give him more ammunition and give him even more reason to make his life a misery.

"Nick stop it" Ant snapped "there's no need for that,it was an accident,we'll sort it"

Nick seemed to soften for a moment.

"Yeah,you're right" he nodded "I'm sorry Dec,I overreacted"

"It's ok" Dec replied nervously.

"Good" Ant smiled,then left to find some things from the kitchen to mop up the mess.

"It'll never be ok" Nick growled into Dec's ear "not as long as you're here"

"Why are you doing this?" Dec asked sadly "why have you taken an instant dislike to me?what have I done wrong?"

"What have you done wrong?" Nick snapped sarcastically "oh,you've done absolutely nothing wrong,never mind about taking advantage of Ant's good nature"

"What?" Dec asked surprised.

"The flat,the hotel,the clothes" Nick continued "and now this job,oh yeah,Ant told me all about it and who paid for all that stuff?"

"Ant" Dec mumbled awkwardly.

"Yeah,Ant" Nick fumed "and I won't let you take advantage of him any longer"

"But I never asked for any of it" Dec protested.

"Didn't stop you taking it though did it?" Nick retorted.

"Ant wanted to...I mean,he insisted that I..." Dec tried to defend himself "and I'm working here to make up for it"

"You're just a dirty,little nobody that Ant plucked from the street" Nick snarled "he took pity on you for some reason,God knows why"

Dec stared at Nick dumbfounded,wishing Ant would hurry up and return,but unfortunately he had got chatting to another colleague in the kitchen.

"I've seen you out there" Nick carried on with his verbal attack "messing up our streets with your dirty,filthy body and clothes"

"I'm not filthy" Dec muttered sadly.

"What's that?" Nick retorted,holding his hand up to his ear,pretending he hadn't heard properly "you're not filthy you say?"

"No" Dec whispered tearfully.

"Never eaten food out of a bin then?" Nick said.

Dec immediately thought of Betty and the offerings she brought back most mornings,but just shook his head.

"Liar" Nick snapped.

"Well,maybe you'd do the same if you were homeless and starving" Dec replied.

"Never" Nick quipped "and I'm not stupid enough to let myself become homeless"

"I didn't become homeless because I'm stupid" Dec replied defensively.

"Oh yeah?" Nick retorted "and an office boy is really a job for intelligent people isn't it?"

"I'm just getting back on my feet" Dec replied confidently.

"Yeah,at Ants expense" Nick fumed.

"And I'm not stupid" Dec said quietly,just as Ant reentered the office.

"How are you kids getting on?" Ant smiled,passing some kitchen roll to Nick "sorry I was so long,got chatting to Sandra"

"We're getting on swimmingly" Nick lied "looking forward to having a few beers with this one"

Nick moved forward and patted Dec's back.

Dec didn't reply,just forced a smile out.

He had no idea how to deal with this situation,Nick was Ant's friend and business partner,even if Dec told Ant what was going on,would he believe him?they'd know each other for years after all,Ant and Dec had barely known each other for more than a couple of weeks.

Dec did his best to keep out of Nick's way for the rest of the day,keeping his head down and just getting on with whatever task was assigned to him and he was totally relieved when it was time to go home.

"How was your first day?" Ant asked as Dec said goodbye to him,knowing that Ant was likely to be at his desk for a few more hours to come.

"Good,thanks" was all Dec could say "I'll see you tomorrow"

"Yeah,go home and relax" Ant smiled "you must be knackered?first day in a job can be exhausting,especially if you haven't worked for a while"

"Yeah,I am a bit" Dec nodded and turned to leave.

"Bye Dec" Nick called out cheerfully "well done on your first day,you did great"

"Bye" Dec snapped,without looking back.

"Thanks for being so supportive towards Dec" Ant smiled at Nick "I really appreciate it"

"No problem at all" Nick grinned with a sly look in his eyes that Ant didn't notice "that's what mates are for"

Dec arrived home shortly afterwards,kicked off his shoes and slumped down onto the bed.

The events of the day came flooding back and he couldn't hold his emotions in any longer.

All he could do now was sob into his pillow in despair!

He'd never felt so alone!