It was Monday morning at WidgetCorp, and the kitchen was buzzing with the sound of the coffee machine and forced laughter.

Bob was the first to arrive, sporting a grin that could rival a toothpaste commercial. “Morning, everyone! Had a fantastic weekend hiking up Mount Everest… well, the virtual version,” he chuckled, hoping no one would ask for details.

Karen from HR joined in, holding her mug like it was a lifeline. “Oh, I had the best time at a pottery class. Made a vase that looks like a Picasso painting,” she said, conveniently omitting the part where she accidentally glued her fingers together.

Jim from accounting shuffled in, looking like he hadn’t slept in days. “Spent the weekend fixing up my vintage car. It’s practically a classic now,” he lied, knowing full well it was still a pile of rust in his garage.

Sally, the intern, tried to blend in with the seasoned pros. “I went to a jazz concert. The music was so… enlightening,” she said, recalling the hours she actually spent binge-watching reality TV.

Mr. Thompson entered with his usual authoritative air. “Had a productive weekend strategizing for our next quarter. We’re going to crush it!” he declared, ignoring the fact that he spent most of the time trying to beat his high score in Candy Crush.

Linda from marketing couldn’t resist adding her own twist. “I hosted a gourmet dinner party. Everyone was impressed,” she said, thinking about the frozen pizza she had for dinner.

As they all sipped their coffee, the room was filled with exaggerated tales and fake smiles. The truth was, everyone had a boring weekend, but in the corporate world, appearances were everything.