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With only five minutes left before it’s time to clock out and go home for a quick bite to eat, the time seems to drag. I’ll have just enough time for that and to shower quickly and get ready for the club.
Mr. Neal pops his head out from his office and calls me in.
Great.
With my purse ready to go, I shut its drawer but don’t lock it since it will likely be time to go when I’m done with him. Rounding my desk, I make my way into his office. I stop on just the other side of his door.
“What can I do for you?” I ask, folding my hands in front of my pelvis area.
Without giving me more than a cursory glance he says, “I’m going to need you to stay late and help me get my presentation ready for Monday morning.”
My heart stutters and I feel a frown cross my face.
“I wish I could but I’ve got plans tonight,” I say calmly.
“Cancel them,” he clips out.
His complete disregard for my personal time has me rolling my jaw in agitation. Before I respond, though, I take a steadying breath to calm my fast-rising ire.
“Mr. Neal, I need more than five minutes' notice to work an extended workday, even if I didn’t have plans it’s only courteous to do so,” I explain in what I think is a very non-confrontational way.
With no remorse, he slams down an ultimatum, “Either stay and keep your job or go and don’t bother coming back. Choose.” He stares at me with unwavering hardness in his beady eyes.
I stand there, unsure if I should call his bluff, but ultimately I need my job and I’m not in a position to risk the alternative.
“Let me go cancel my plans,” I say, crestfallen.
“Make it quick I’m not paying you to have a social hour,” the jerk says.
I turn around, my hands clenched into fists at my side, and concentrate on each step it takes to my desk. If I don’t, I might do something I’ll regret.
The squeak of my chair is the only sound that penetrates my ears as I take my seat. Sitting there for a few beats to try and calm my anger, I focus on controlled breathing. Once I’ve got it level I take my phone out and send Rhett a text.
:Elli:Looks like I won’t be able to make it tonight. My boss dropped an impromptu long workday. Sorry.
:Rhett:Sorry to hear that. Next time, perhaps.
Still holding on to some anger, I choose not to answer him and put my phone back this time locking the drawer.
“Elizabeth! Come in here and help me take all this into the conference room!” Mr. Neal shouts, making me jump.
“Ass,” I whisper under my breath. I go in and together we take all the papers I printed out into the closest conference room. Once everything is in there, Mr. Neal sits down at the table and starts doing something on his phone.
“Start by organizing the papers into time order then by project participants,” he says without looking up from his phone.
I purse my lips in aggravation and start on the closest pile to me. It takes both of us a few hours to get through the stacks of papers. Mostly because Mr. Neal spends more time on his phone than he does helping.
Placing the last paper in its corresponding stack, I breathe out a relieved sigh.
“Done.” I celebrate with that one word. I look out at the dark sky through the floor-to-ceiling windows and admire the city light.
“Excellent. Thanks for your help. I’m going to grab some sushi, want to join me?” he asks as if we’re buddies and we hang out outside of work all the time.
“Thanks, but I’m beat. I’m going to head home.” I make my way toward the door and out over to my desk.
Mr. Neal follows me a little too closely and all the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I relax a bit when he walks past me and into his office. He stops short and says, “You can go, I’ve got one more thing to do.” Then he dismisses me by closing his door.
I dig my phone out and quickly order a ride. I get the confirmation it will be at the office in five minutes and check the time on my phone again. It’s just after nine; I can still go to the club and might catch Rhett. If not I’ll be a voyeur and look in on whatever public scene catches my eye.
