One shot
Heat…
It’s all my mind can conjure: the sun, its obnoxious glare, and the sweat. At this rate, we’re all going to melt.
I release a puff of air in a snort that betrays my discomfort while fanning myself with my hands. The meager breeze that can be felt on this terrible sunny day irritates my skin because it makes me even hotter instead of cooling me down.
To make matters worse, I’m practically running under the torturous glow as I’m running late for work. I look at the watch on my wrist for the second time and let out a desperate squeal when I see that it’s already two in the afternoon. Right at this hour, I should be entering my data into the computer in my cubicle!
I exhale a sigh of relief when I finally arrive at the building, but mortification takes hold of me again. The cause has a first and last name: Roger Perkins.
He is everyone’s boss. Yes, the head of the place.
Roger Perkins is a foreigner with a captivating accent when he speaks English; however, hearing him speak Spanish makes me cringe. Why? Well, no idea.
“I must get to the elevator, now...” I mutter, mortified, as I quicken my pace.
All the air that I have retained since I glimpsed my boss is released abruptly when I arrive in front of the metal cube. However, I am bad luck personified, so the elevator does not open because it is on the sixth floor.
I have to wait for it to go down. What a disgrace for me! So slow is this elevator!
A smile graces my lips as the doors slide open before me, but it quickly fades when my boss steps in.
Oh, no.
“Good afternoon, Raquel!” he greets me with a friendly smile.
“Good afternoon, Roger,” I reply politely, though I’m far from comfortable.
Do you think my unease stems from my tardiness? Yes, partly, but that’s not the whole story.
The truth is, being around my boss makes me incredibly uneasy. The man is intimidating.
And no, it’s not because he looks like a Greek god with his exotic handsomeness. Nor is it that sensual, mischievous smile he’s sporting right now. Let’s not even talk about his muscular physique, visible beneath the tailored suit that gives him such an authoritative and elegant presence. No, it’s not his green eyes or his flawless face...
Oh dear, have I been drooling?
No! What am I doing?
“It’s hot,” he says, breaking through my deepest musings.
Very hot...
“Yes, these days are brutal,” I reply out of courtesy, with absolutely no desire to engage in conversation with this man.
“Yes, I’ve already received a complaint that the air conditioning in the entrance cubicles isn’t working.”
I nod.
If only he would just be quiet…
Again, a tense silence fills the narrow elevator, which for some reason seems to be standing still.
I suppose it’s the desperation of being in such a small, enclosed space with this man I dislike so much.
‘And who have you been devouring with your eyes?’ that annoying little voice called my conscience reminds me.
What?
I really can’t stand him, but why?
I suppose it’s due to the dark aura he possesses, and also his strange personality, which makes me wary. However, my aversion is not only due to his exotic vibe; rather, it is provoked by the location of his office, whose transparent wall allows him to watch us.
Yes, he watches us.
Roger Perkins sits in a strategic place from which he can spy on everyone. Yes, he does that.
Apparently, cameras are not enough for him.
It is for this reason that whenever it is time for Roger to leave —since he leaves before those of us who have the night shift— I feel a great relief. My work area is square, and the window behind me is always closed with the curtains drawn. Therefore, the only view to the outside is at the far end of the bosses’ offices.
So, if I want to contemplate the sky or the rain, I am forced to look towards that area, and whenever I do, I am met with the scrutiny of my torment… that is, of Roger Perkins.
That is annoying because he might think that I am stalking him or, failing that, that I am watching to see if he is looking to do something wrong.
‘Is that the only reason?’ that annoying and nosy little voice asks me.
Yes, it’s the only reason!
Everything is calm here inside; uncomfortable, but calm. However, I think I see something that threatens to destroy my little sanity.
It is something small and brown, that seems to be moving… Something like a…
“Cockroach!” I scream, terrified and out of my mind because I have a horrible phobia of those disgusting bugs that I find so repulsive.
Oh no, I’m going to have a heart attack…
I try to get as far away as I can while I pray to heaven that that thing does not move from its place until we arrive. My boss’s face disguises amusement, but his eyes shine with entertainment and laughter, so I have not failed to notice that he wants to laugh.
What an insensitive being!
I remember that I am in front of the person who pays my salary and I try to act with maturity and calm. However, I cannot maintain my composure when that bug moves from its place.
I back away, trying to stay as far away as possible from the tiny threat, in a tense silence that I find difficult to maintain because all I want is to scream like a crazy person.
My boss’s light eyes are fixed on me as if waiting for another reaction to amuse him, but I remain firm.
I don’t understand why the elevator is slower than ever. It’s as if time has stopped on purpose just to annoy me.
I try, with all my might, to ignore the cockroach from hell, but seeing it walk towards me is too much. I back away again, but I stop when I notice that I am invading my boss’s personal space.
I fake a smile that doesn’t show my teeth and I clear my throat, implying that I have everything under control and that this cockroach will not bring out my crazy self.
“I’m sorry for this incident,” he apologizes, embarrassed. “This shouldn’t happen. I’ll talk to maintenance.”
He focuses his gaze forward as if the presence of a cockroach in the office is embarrassing.
I notice that we will soon arrive at our floor, and my heart celebrates excitedly. However, my joy is short-lived because, just at that moment, the damned cockroach flies in our direction.
I lose my temper and any vestige of maturity that I had left.
I jump, scream, and run within the limited space before the wide-eyed and surprised look of my boss.
When I no longer know where to run, because the damn bug seems to be chasing only me, I climb on top of Roger Perkins.
Swallow me, earth!
I freeze in his strong arms and his burly chest, not knowing what to say. That second of astonishment lasts a little while when I glimpse the insect flying from one side to the other.
I don’t skimp on a scream, even though I’m on top of my boss. His expensive and manly perfume floods my nostrils as I bury my face in his collarbone as if that action could protect me from that disgusting bug.
I notice him tense, as his breathing becomes audible, although he hides it well.
Oh no. I hope this is a nightmare and that I can wake up soon.
Suddenly, the elevator opens and the light invades my face, making me lift it. When my eyes stop seeing blurry, I find myself with the stupefaction of the supervisor and a very gossipy colleague, who observe us between surprised and amused.
I don’t know what is worse: having passed all the embarrassment of the cockroach with my boss or being the protagonist of the juicy gossip, surely full of fantastic versions.
