Episode 5

Anne Louize

Back in my room, I'm exhausted. Johnson is really determined to get on my nerves. When he said I had to review each one of these contracts, I didn't imagine there would be almost a lifetime's worth of papers here.

It will take me all day to finish this, but if he thinks that keeping me too busy will make my life difficult in this place, he's wrong. I'll finish everything as quickly as possible; I can perform this role, I'm here for this. He won't scare me off with work; we'll see who gets tired first.

Close to four-thirty in the afternoon, I finally finish what was given to me earlier, even before the deadline. I review all the papers one last time, collect everything, and take them to the boss.

I knock on the door somewhat lightly and stand in front of it for a few minutes. I'd like to know why he leaves me out here waiting; it's only the first day, and this is tiring me out.

Damn it, I want to barge in and see what that bastard is doing that's preventing him from opening the door.

When I was about to return to my room, I hear him grumbling from inside the room. I deserve this.

Mr. Johnson: For God's sake, who dares to bother me? Is that you, secretary?

"Calm down, Louise, soon it will be your time to leave." — Attract positive thoughts, maybe that will improve this man's aura.

It seems someone here is in a bad mood. I insist once more and knock on the door; I won't be intimidated by this.

Mr. Johnson: It seems someone here wants to be fired today.

Without listening to him, I knock again.

Mr. Johnson: For heaven's sake, come in, say what you have to say, and leave me in peace, insignificant mortal.

I stifle a laugh; it's not normal to be so inhumane. I open the door with firm steps and walk up to Johnson's desk. The sound of my heels echoes throughout the room, visibly annoying him.

First, he looked at my feet, then confronted me with a less-than-kind expression.

Mr. Johnson: The sound of your heels annoys me immensely. What did you assume was so important that you came here to disturb my peace? (There's a certain sarcasm in his tone of voice.)

Facing the man, I kept a straight face and gently placed the papers on the table.

"Here are the contracts you asked me for earlier today, all reviewed as ordered." (I speak calmly.)

Mr. Johnson: From your insistence on knocking on the door, I could have thought this floor was on fire. Did I inconvenience you because of that?

He rolled his eyes ironically, clearly annoyed by my presence.

"If there were a fire, I'd let you burn, rest assured. I wouldn't go to the trouble of coming here to 'SAVE YOUR LIFE,' and if I remember correctly, you 'emphasized the utmost importance of finishing this by the end of the day.' Well, here they are."

I made air quotes, and that made him even angrier.

Mr. Johnson: Are you telling me that you would let me burn to death, Miss...?

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

Mr. Johnson: Get out of my office right now.

"If you'll excuse me, if you need anything, I'll be in the room next door, with your permission."

Mr. Johnson: I won't need anything, now get out.

I leave him there, fuming with rage. What must be going through his head? This would be a good time for him to fire me. I have no intention of getting into a conflict with him, but his difficult temperament makes me somewhat irritated. I'm holding back as much as I can not to tell him to go to hell. I came to a conclusion: keep my distance from him as much as possible to avoid being fired for cause. Difficult, but I promise to try, I swear.

In my room, I organize some things, get ahead on much of my work for the next day. The good thing is that Mr. Johnson hasn't called me again. That makes me happy, I think.

I don't know for sure what he went through in life to adopt such an arrogant and petulant attitude, but it's not my job to find out.

I need to find a way to stay away from the provocations and insults he directs at me. I want to focus on this job and nothing else.

At the end of the day, close to quitting time, Johnson walks past me without even saying a word, with a briefcase in one hand. Looks like he's leaving.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

What a disgusting man, my God, he couldn't even dismiss me before leaving. Die, hellhound.

I know it's not like me to wish death on anyone, but staying sane around this man is harder than I imagined.

Well, I think this is my cue.

I got ready to leave when I looked at the table and noticed I had forgotten one of the damn contracts.

"Why, God, why did you make your daughter go through this ordeal? Will I be horrible for forgetting this document here?!"

I don't want to face the bastard who calls himself my boss. I'm so regretful about this. I can't leave this document lying around. Since he left, there wouldn't be any problem going into his office, even though he's not there. I put the document on the table and get out of there; he won't even notice I was there.