Who does he think he is?
1139 Words
I didn’t realize how fast I had walked until I was already at Brenda’s door.
My knuckles rapped against it harder than intended.
The door swung open after few knocks.
“He’s the CEO.”
Brenda frowned.
“…What?”
Anisha pushed past her into the apartment, dropping her bag onto the nearest chair.
“Max’s father,” she said, pacing now. “Mr. Xavier. He is the CEO of the company I just started working at.”
Brenda shut the door slowly, her eyes never leaving me, “Okay… I’m going to need you to rewind and say that again.”
“For real Brenda,” I breathed so it could register to her, because it seemed she was not getting it.
Brenda folded her arms. “Wait. You mean the same Mr. Xavier, that child whom you nannied dad?
I stopped pacing.
“Yes.”
Silence stretched between us.
Brenda’s brows shot up. “You’re joking.”
“I wish I was,” I responded and sank onto the couch, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. My fingers curled tightly together.
Brenda walked over slowly and sat beside her.
A sigh escaped my lips.
“I also nearly got fired today because I arrived late to work, and do you know the cause of it?”
“What?” Brenda looked clueless.
“His son. Can you believe that?” I revealed, utterly baffled myself.
“His son? Like Max?.... How?”
My words caught in my throat, how would I tell her what had happened to her car?
“Uhm…. Brenda before you say anything, just know I would take it to a mechanic,” I began.
Brenda gave me a knowing look.
“What did you do to the car?”
“That's the thing,” I gestured. “Can you believe I ran into Max's car? No…no, his driver cut across my lane. I don't know if he was drunk, because it has to be,” I said, irritation building inside of me.
“So I was held by his bodyguards…. securities…. whatever and they didn't let me go till I coaxed him.”
I turned away, recalling how my director has been confronted because of me.
Brenda listened. “Wow.”
For a moment, the room fell quiet, the weight of the day settling heavily around them.
Then Anisha straightened abruptly.
“Oh….and that’s not even the main part.”
Brenda turned to her. “There’s more?”
I reached into my bag and pulled out the envelope, tossing it onto the table in front of us.
Brenda stared at it.
“…What is that?”
“A check for me to quit my job.” I sneered. Max's father was just something else.
Brenda blinked slowly. “Quit your job?”
“To return as Max’s nanny.”
Brenda’s mouth fell open.
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not.”
A sharp laugh escaped me, but there was no humor in it.
“He actually had his secretary write me a check. Like I’m some… some human being he can just buy back whenever it’s convenient.”
Brenda grabbed the envelope, pulling the check halfway out before shoving it back in.
“How much is it?”
“Enough to make it insulting.”
Brenda let out a low whistle. “Wow.”
I leaned back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling, my arms wrapping into a fold.
“I felt like slapping it across his face,” I muttered. “Like….who does he think he is?”
“The CEO,” Brenda said dryly.
I shot her a look.
“Not helping.”
“Sorry,” Brenda raised her hands. “But seriously, Riele… what are you going to do?”
I turned my head slowly, my gaze hardening.
“I’m not taking it.” I said, surer than I had ever been in my entire life. I scoffed within myself. It was now the whole thing settled inside my brain and it made me mad.
“You sure?” Brenda asked with uncertainty.
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation.
“I worked hard to get this job. I’m not throwing it away just because he thinks he can control everything.”
Brenda nodded slowly. “Okay. Good.”
“But…” Brenda tilted her head slightly. “You are aware that saying no to a man like that isn’t exactly… simple, right?”
My lips pressed together.
“You feel so right?”
Brenda nodded in response, crossing her legs. “So what’s the plan?”
I reached for the envelope again, my fingers tightening around it.
“I return this tomorrow. after all, he said I could think about it and that have I done,” I said firmly.
The next morning, I arrived at the office earlier than usual.
The building was quieter, the usual buzz of activity replaced with a calm, almost eerie stillness.
My heels echoed softly against the floor as I made my way to my desk.
It was better being very early than arriving any minute late.
I set my bag down and sat, powering on my system. A smile tugged my lips as I looked around.
This was where I wanted to be.
The screen flickered to life and I immersed myself in work.
Voices came in some time later,
“Wait… is that Riele?”
I sighed inwardly.
“Wow,” another voice chimed in. “You’re early today.”
I glanced up to see two of my colleagues walking over to my desk.
One looked genuinely surprised.
The other… skeptical.
“I didn’t know you could come in before nine,” the second one added, folding her arms.
I offered a small, tight smile. “Good morning to you too.”
The first colleague laughed lightly. “Ignore her. She’s just shocked.”
“I’m not shocked,” the second said quickly. “I’m just… curious.”
“About what?”
She shrugged. “You being early. That’s all.”
My gaze held hers for a second longer than necessary before turning back to my screen.
“Well,” I said calmly, “now you know I can.”
The first colleague chuckled again. “Fair enough.” she said before they move on to their desks.
People began to arrive at the office after that.
My boss came in which made me slightly proud that I had arrived before him.
His gaze lingered on me as if telling me; you should have come late today.
Time seemed to move slower after that.
“Miss Sheridan?” A voice came
I looked up.
A man stood a few steps away from my desk.
“Yes?”
“The CEO would like to see you.”
- Writer
