Contracted Heart

“Yes, come in,” a strong masculine voice wafted in the atmosphere and Emily opened the door delighted as she strutted in elegantly with a wild smile plastered on her lips. “You called me manager,” Emily traced her hand on her hair feeling nervous as she blew out air gently to calm herself. “Take that,” The manager pointed his finger to an envelope placed on his desk without sparing Emily a stare as he was engrossed looking at the pile of documents on his desk. He took one up to his face, engrossingly staring at it. “Thank you, Sir,” Emily couldn't help but blush. Oh, this was what she wanted. What she has been praying and hoping for for years has now become her reality. She opened it as the papers made a rustling sound which earned her a glare from the Manager but she was too happy to notice it. The manager looked at her with a raised brow as he slowly pushed his sunglasses down his nose with the tip of his finger gracefully and the corner of his lips shifted into a tense smirk. Emily pulled the paper out of the envelope as she couldn't wait to see the letter of her promotion. Joy danced with her heart but as she saw the title of the letter her eyes popped out and her chest jumped in her chest aggressively. “What the….” A voice echoed in her head. She stared at the letter in her hands as she became more stunned. “How come I am seeing this instead of a promotion letter?” She questioned herself silently. She struggled to fathom what was going on but she couldn't. Her eyes welled up with tears. She took a deep breath to calm herself. Unknown to her, her manager was peeking at her. She stood lost in her reverie. She was brought back to the moment when the manager snidely cleared his throat. She looked at the manager subtly and for a moment her eyes focused back on the sack letter in her hand. Am I dreaming? She couldn't help but whisper to herself. She looked at the manager one more time who sat with a nonchalant face playing busy with work. Her whole body trembled on its own accord and her heart pounded the most in her chest. She opened her mouth to talk but she couldn't find the words and her mouth hung wide open. Her vision became blurry and tears only shimmered down her cheeks. “Sir,” She stuttered, her hands trembling with the letter in them. The manager took his time to dress his swivel chair backward slightly as she adjusted his neck-tie, clearing his throat, he placed his hands on the desk, with the looks in his eyes, he wasn't budging. “How may I help you?” He said politely with a pleasant smile. His actions got her more confused as she frowned the most wondering what the hell was going on. “How may I help you?” The manager's words replayed in her head and she admitted it was just rubbish. It didn't make any sense. Is he not the manager anymore? He has to know what the f**k was going on. She just got a sack letter which wasn't what she was expecting. She shut her eyes as she shook her head swiftly, “I think there is a mistake." Her chest heaved as she said quickly, managing to hold her breath. The manager nodded in reply, his gaze locked on her. “So what's the mistake then?” “This isn't for me." She gulped, " I am supposed to be promoted, not sacked.” " I see," the manager drawled, nodding his head slowly. He sat with his finger across his lips like he was lost in thoughts, “But whose name is on that?" He pointed his finger at the letter in her hands precisely. Emily looked at the letter in her hand one more time hoping her name shouldn't be there but when she saw her name again after flickering her eyes several times, she gave a long exhale exhaustively trying to wrap her head around her current reality. She looked back at the manager hesitantly and tears only shimmered down her cheeks the most. The manager's facial expression suddenly tightened as he glared at her for a moment. “Good,” He said, breaking the awkward silence in the atmosphere, his voice sharp, "Since you can't talk, that means we aren't mistaken. Like the letter addressed, your services are no longer required,” He scoffed Emily looked at him with her hands dropped by her sides, not knowing what to say or do. The manager motioned his chin at the desk, “Please drop your ID card before you leave." He looked at her for a while then smiled which was short-lived. She closed her eyes as her heart kept rising and falling as she breath, when she opened her eyes her face was sullen, “What's the meaning of all these? You just gave me a sack letter when I was supposed to be promoted," she blurted, her fist clenched by her sides. The manager listened to her with no emotions on his face like her yelling was just the joke of the year. She yanked the ID card which she hung on her neck as it was expected of all the employees of the agency to do so and tossed it at the manager, she looked at the letter one more time with much hate in her eyes, and the next thing, she groaned as she tore it furiously into pieces which stunned the manager as he sat with his eyes widened. Emily groaned as she threw the pieces at the manager. “After all I have been doing, you went ahead to do this to me?" She shrieked, pointing a finger at her chest. The manager glared at her, “Like I said, your services are no longer needed. The agency has enough manpower so they have decided to reduce its workers. Get that and get it clear." He pointed at the door, “Get out of my office. Now!” He commanded but Emily was not moved by his words or his deep voice. Emily stood glaring at him with so much hatred because she knew there was something behind what just happened . Just that it was still anonymous. He observed Emily for a while and then he scrunched his nose in disgust. Suddenly, he gave a sharp exhale and his hand was on the intercom. He held it to his ear, “Come to my office right away." The call ended instantly and he placed the intercom back in its place, his eyes fuming with anger.