Craving Them

The staccato beat of my heels resounds off the marble floor as I rush in. “Melinda!” I look at Ruth and nod while rushing to take my seat. I sit, trying to look like I wasn’t late. “A bit late to pretend, Wayne already walked through. He wanted the sample files for the Wade business.” Shit, double shit!

“What did he say?” I’m in trouble, and I know I am.

“Asked where you were, well he actually demanded like he normally does. So, I tried saying you had gone to the restroom, but he wasn’t fooled.”

Nodding to her, I click on my account. Going through the work, I find the samples and quickly email them over. I am hoping that they at least get there in time for the meeting.

I sit, working, trying to make it appear like I am making up for being late, although I know that is impossible. I know as soon as the meeting ends, I am getting shouted at. “How bad did Wayne seem today?” I look at Ruth.

She laughs like it is a joke. “As bad as yesterday and every other day. Just flutter your eyes and pray for the best. Two years Melinda, two years, and that is your second mistake. Your job is safe. He will be vocal, so be ready.”

I nod, my eyes constantly looking towards the door, waiting for it to open.

Two hours later, I watch as it slowly opens, and people begin walking out. I feel like running but running makes me look worse. He will undoubtedly be angry that I was hiding when he came to tell me off for my mistake. My eyes inspect the exit to the restroom. Maybe I should just flee? Hope he forgets and doesn’t come out shouting when I come back. Yeah, even I know that will make things worse.

“I wouldn’t Melinda, if he holds it in, he will be worse.” She laughs. I don’t find it a joke. He needs to stop being so damn harsh on everyone.

“You know what it is. I don’t care. He may be the boss and CEO, but that doesn’t give him the right to be so damn vile!” I look at her. I've had enough of people in here being scared of him!

Her eyes widen as she shakes her head. “You’re going to stand up to him and say it?”

I feel myself nod. "Why not? Someone needs to, he acts like a fucking manic!"

“Well, here’s your chance.”

I look at her, then towards the door, my body shaking. Maybe not today, I mean I was late which will have pissed him off and that was my fault.

Maybe I won’t. I watch as his body radiates with anger, my body sinking further into the chair. He gets to my desk, his eyes fleeting to me briefly before he carries on walking.

“Daniel!”

I jump at the loudness of his voice. Then, turning, I see him standing with Daniel. What did his PA do?

Ruth looks at me like she wants to know, no one knows, but we will soon find out.

“This, what is this?”

Daniel peers down at the paper, his eyes widening. “Erm.”

I close my eyes, don’t just say erm. That's like saying 'but' to Miss Trunchbell, he should know that by now.

“Erm? Is that all you can say? Imagine their faces when I hand around those files, and it has that inside! Playing the field, that is how it looks.”

Ruth leans over to me. “What does that mean?”

I have no idea, and I can only assume it means whatever it was, made it look like the company was going elsewhere.

“It wasn’t for here.”

I turn, looking at Daniel, everyone confused by his words. Wayne stood waiting for him to explain.

“I applied for a job over at Medaliums. I was set a pre-interview task.”

Oh crap. Daniel should have lied!

“A competitor? So, you apply for a job with a competitor and mix up their business with mine!” I turn to look at the screen, Ruth tugging on my arm.

“Shh, seriously, you speak too loud, and he will ask why.” I laugh. I am relieved in a way that Daniel screwed up big time and took the heat off me.

“Pack up and go. You best hope you get that job.”

Wait, I turn and look back. He sacked Daniel. Everyone stares, shocked, as Wayne walks back through the door, slamming it. Daniel stands looking around, I want to ask him if he is okay, but that wasn’t exactly a small mistake.

Medalium’s has been trying to steal the companies’ clients for ages. We work with specific companies that will not work with Medalium due to other businesses they support, so seeing a name in the files won’t have been good.

We all go back to our work. We know better than to get involved. Getting involved makes us get shouted at. I look at where Wayne disappeared to, wondering just what his issue is. Everyone is always on edge, he walks out, and it is like a bomb.

Everyone can hear the ticking. It gets louder and faster as Wayne gets closer to them, then boom, it’s a bomb, and it explodes. I watch as everyone starts clearing away for the day. Moving through my things, I ensure I email the items over now. That way, if I am late tomorrow, it will be in his emails waiting.

“See you tomorrow. Who knows, Wayne may actually be in a good mood.”

I look towards Ruth, us both laughing, knowing that isn’t going to happen.

“Yeah, and pigs can fly and fart rainbows.” I sit, sorting out the files and putting them in my bag. Then, opening the drawer, I flick through it. I need another file for tonight.