The Broken Pieces

3 . The Clash

The next morning, I woke up to call for morning prayer. I got up, got fresh, prayed the morning prayer, and read the Quran. My daily habit. I set out for a walk in the fresh morning air, before returning to get ready for another full day of office work. I slip the check into my purse and head out for work after having breakfast prepared by my mother.

I took a deep breath as I held the cup of bitter coffee on a tray with the check, standing outside the boss's cabin. I entered confidently, as I heard, “come in”. I placed the coffee on the table and waited for the boss to take notice. He picked up the cup and with it, the check came up too. He frowned and put his cup down holding the paper and realized I was still standing there. He took a look at the check as it dawned on him and then looked up at me, raising his eyebrows, “Why?”

I politely answered, “There was no need for it when the damage has been covered,” he dropped the check on the table and got up, putting his hand in his pocket facing the window, “Why not, people like you do things like driving under the speed limit to get money out of others.” My eyes widen at that word, I couldn’t believe someone with high status can be this low make comment about others, without knowing them.

I almost shouted, “Excuse me, Mister, how could you judge me, when you don’t even know me.”

He smirks, “ it's obvious.” My face heated up, not believing my ears. I shook my head, not wanting to get into a useless argument. I walked toward the door. I opened the door, but it was shut before I could go out. I came face to face with the devil, “The conversation isn't over yet and I hate when people leave before I am done talking.” I took a step back, keeping a safe distance between us.

I looked at him in the eyes and smirked’ “Please continue Mr. Osman” He was bothered by my boldness.

“ I don’t like this attitude of yours, you need to be afraid of me, I am your boss,” he muttered.

“ I am only afraid of God,”. I blurted confidently.

He stared at me and turned to the window and almost yelled, “Get out!” I quickly got out and took a deep breath, ‘Geez, what is his problem,’. I thought as I walked to my desk.

In the afternoon, I was told by Stacy to make another cup of coffee for the boss with a look of worry on her face. “Is everything all right?” I asked Stacey, who seemed to wipe invisible sweat from her forehead, “ The boss can be hard to deal with when he is in a bad mood, just some advice for you try not to get on his bad side,”

I nodded my head, thinking to myself, ‘Uh uh I guess it's too late for this advice.' I proceeded to the kitchen to make the coffee, ‘maybe you could have been sweeter if you did not drink such bitter coffee’, I thought as I made my way to his office. I sat the coffee down and turned to leave before any interaction took place. The door was locked and then I heard, “Stacy, I have some work for your assistant so she won't be out until she is done.”

I turned around to face my boss, who proceeded to throw piles of paper on the ground and ordered, “Collect and organize them into neat piles.” I felt humiliated at this act of my boss, which seemed so childish. I looked at the paper scattered and got to work. I felt his piercing gaze, which was making me uncomfortable. While working, I glanced outside and then at the clock, the ticking of the time was making me tense. I liked being home by dark and here I was stranded in an arrogant boss’s cabin with a long bus ride home. From the corner of my eyes, I saw him smirk. I think he was expecting me to beg him for mercy, but I was too proud to beg any human being for mercy.

Osman POV

I watched her organize the paper that I threw just to get a reaction from her. She was trying to be very patient with me, I guess. I just hated the fact that she was too proud to be afraid of me. Someone who has challenged me through just a mere encounter. I always noticed people avoiding looking at me in the eyes or trying to get on my nerve. I was well known as a cold businessman who was very proud. And why wouldn’t I be proud if I had everything anyone could wish for: power, money, and a look to die for. Her big amber eyes challenged my very existence. Ah, her eyes reminded me of fire, like those of a lioness. I watched her getting tense at the disappearing light. She got up as she gathered the pile she had made, and put it on my desk.

Ayna POV

I stood in front of the boss waiting for him to give me permission to leave. I watched in horror as he picked up the neat pile of papers. I spent hours organizing and dumping them in the nearby dustbin with a smirk. I cursed the moment I had applied for this internship. I gave him a fake smile and proceeded to leave when he got up. “ Don’t you have any respect, you are not to leave before I give you permission.” I was already frustrated at this human, who thinks he can order me around like a robot.

I looked him in the eyes. “Respect, haha very nice joke. Mister, respect is earned not demanded”, I snapped.