Consider yourself fired
1000 Words
"What!” I exclaimed as I turned around sharply at the voice.
The CEO.
Max’s father?
“You didn't know that was the CEO?” a lady, one of the company's workers told me.
I shook my head, still unable to believe it.
The meeting.
It clicked in my head. I rushed toward the elevator, my heels clicking briskly against the polished floor.
My mind spun from what I had just discovered.
I reached the elevator and pressed the button. The doors slid open almost immediately.
“Hey!”
The lady's hand shot out, stopping the doors from closing.
“You can’t use that one,” she said
I blinked. “What?”
“That’s the executive elevator,” she explained, “Staff aren’t allowed to use it.”
Of course.
My heart pounded against my ribs as I turned away and rushed down the corridor, my pace quickening into a near run.
How would I face everyone when I arrive?
The receptionist’s words echoed in my head.
You’re toast.
“I can’t be fired… not today… please not today,” I whispered under my breath.
I reached the workers’ elevator and jabbed the button repeatedly, as if that would make it come faster.
The elevator ascended at what felt like a painfully slow pace.
Ding.
The doors opened finally.
I rushed out, nearly bumping into someone in my haste before muttering a quick apology and continuing forward.
I spotted the meeting room after moving around for a while.
I could see them through the glass walls seated and listening to my director speaking.
My stomach dropped.
I pushed the door open after mustering all the courage out of me.
No one noticed as they were immersed in my director's presentation.
I bent down immediately to not risk getting attention and scanned for any available seats.
“Why are you just coming?” a colleague of mine whispered, I was hidden beside her.
A sigh escaped my lips, there were only two and it was in front. Going there to sit would attract attention and not to mention, chastisement for coming late.
“Are all your team members here today?” Someone suddenly asked.
I stilled. Then peeked to see that it was Mr Xavier's secretary, the one who had written down the cheque to quit my job.
How is that possible?
Mr Xavier sat at the head of the table, posture relaxed yet commanding, his expression unreadable… but his eyes…cold and sharp.
The director paused.
“Uhm…except one,” he said. “ “I sincerely apologize that she's not here, she was hit with a fever this morn….”
“It seems,” the CEO cut in, “that you don’t train your team very well.”
The room went completely still at his words. My breath caught.
The woman's eyes flicked to me, the one who I've been using as a cover.
I thought she would rat me out but she didn't.
My director straightened immediately. “Sir…”
“A member of your team walks in late to an important meeting,” Mr Xavier continued, his tone unhurried but cutting. “And this is the standard you present?”
“I apologize, sir,” the director said again, more tense this time. “It won’t happen again.”
Knowing I had put the director in a difficult position, guilt twisted in my chest but irritation began to bubble as well.
Your son caused this Mr CEO. I said within myself wishing I could say it to his face.
With that, the tension eased…just slightly.
My legs hurt as I continued squatting.
The meeting came to a conclusion after an hour, by this time I couldn't feel my legs anymore.
The CEO got up first, his secretary followed after.
The secretary’s head turned slightly to my direction, panic jolted through me which made me immediately dropped my gaze and bent my head lower.
Chairs scraped softly against the floor as people began to stand and gather their things.
That's when they began to notice me and gave me questioning looks as they headed out.
I got up, and blended in with them.
I knew I would still have to answer to the director but I could avoid him in the meantime, till we got to the office.
“Miss Sheridan,” my boss called which made me jolt.
He stared at me sternly, I knew without anyone telling me that I was in deep trouble.
“Sir I could explain, my tires….”
“To the office,” he cut in and marched past me.
My heart pounded harder. I walked in silence along with the rest of the team got to the office.
I followed my boss to his desk, ready for the next thing.
“Do you have any idea what you just did?” he asked.
The rest of the workers listened, although they pretended to be busy but one could feel the pin drop silence
“I’m sorry, sir.” I lowered my gaze.
“You should be,” he said, his tone firm. “This isn’t a casual workplace. This is a company that runs on discipline, structure, and professionalism. Have I done wrong by employing you?”
I clutched my bags tightly.
A lump formed in my throat, I swallowed before replying, “ I promise it would never happen again sir.”
“The CEO could have decided to turn down our project entirely because you made us appear incompetent and undisciplined” he said. “Do you understand what that would have meant?”
“I understand,” I replied, nodding. I wished this day had never happened. To go back in time and avoid the whole incident that made me arrive late.
“It would be in your best interest to sit down and properly study the company’s employee policy,” he continued. “Because if something like this happens again….”
“Consider yourself fired,” he said finally.
- Writer
