Corporate Knight

(CHASE)

My eyebrows knit close together as I bend over the table, my hands balled into fists on top. The voices in the busy diner drown in the background as I try to summon all my composure to keep calm. "What was that again? I just want to make sure I heard you right."

Ruzek eases on his seat, crossing his arms and leaning back more, looking anything but fazed by my state. "I said Devlin is getting the promotion."

My grip tightens and I almost snap the pen I'm holding in half. "What do you mean Devlin? I was supposed to get the promotion."

"Sorry, Chase. Things changed." He shrugs.

"This isn't fair. I worked too hard for too long. I bought in ten million and this is what I get? You told me yourself that if I outdid last year's shares would get the promotion." I blurt, barely able to control myself.

"But Devlin bought it in fourteen million." Ruzek waves me off dismissively, which causes a new wave of anger to surge through me.

Unable to contain my anger anymore, I slam my fists against the table. I don't care that it's drawing attention to us. I don't understand why he is so casual about it. "And you know too well the reason for that was because that slob Devlin went behind my back and stole my client. The whole campaign idea was mine. He ripped me off."

"It's your word against his, Chase."

"This is all crap," I yell, fighting the urge to slam the table a second time.

"We've reached a decision, Chase. Maybe try harder and you'll qualify for a promotion next year."

"That's it?" I ask disbelievably. This man can't be serious. He can't throw away all my hard work just like that. Not after everything I went through to attain that threshold.

"That's it." He repeats. "Don't worry though, you'll get a bonus, a decent one."

He didn't just tell me that. A bonus? I don't want a bonus. I didn't work that hard for a bonus. I wanted that promotion and for all I know, I deserve it.

I get to my feet and push the chair back so hard it falls with a loud clang. I tower above Ruzek and being that he is still seated, he looks rather smaller. Still, he looks calm like he hasn't just broken the most devastating news in the weirdest of ways to me.

"Easy there, Chase. Remember at Fay Inc. we value our teams. You are still part of our team."

I return his gaze with a sharper one and summon all the cosmic forces to not tell him to go to hell. I clear my throat. "Right, a team."

I know for a fact that if I stay here, I might not be able to control myself, and things could go terribly awry. So, I shake my head and turn to take my leave.

I walk back into my office and I go past every employee as though they are invisible. When I get to my office, I slam the door open, and my assistant stares up at me with bewilderment. Of course, she has had enough of my pissy attitude to know when I'm in a bad mood, but today is a tad bit extreme even for her.

"What did I tell you about eating at your desk?" I snap.

"B…but I thought you were out." She says, scrambling to her feet with the sandwich still in her hands. "I…I was working on―"

"Screw whatever you thought," I yell, reaching across her and snatching the sandwich in her hand then I stare at the contents condescendingly. "Jam and Peanut butter? Really? Is that the best you can do with the pay they offer you here?" I lift it and accidentally spill the contents on my suit. "Oh crap!"

"I…I'm so sorry, sir." She says, scrambling to get a paper towel on her desk. "I'll get your coat to the dry cleaners right away." She says, attempting to wipe the mess off of it.

I take a step back. I sure notice that she has gone even paler than she was when I first stepped into the office. Not that I care. Not after the clusterfuck I've had for a day.

"Yeah, you better," I yell at her. "And get me a taco while you're out."

"You didn't go for lunch, sir?"

"Again, Miss Le Fay, your thought process is wrong," I say as I yank out my coat furiously. "Get me a taco, and a coffee, no sugar. And I want Nicholas on the phone right this minute. Take this wherever you want to take it and I want it back this afternoon, do you understand?"

She is too shaken to form a response. So, she looked at me quietly as if she didn't hear what I just told her.

I snap my fingers at her face. "Are you deaf?"

"N…no, sir. So, which one do you want me to do first?"

"Are you asking me?" I dart my coat at her. "that's not my job, figure it out." I say as I turn to head out. "Get it done, fast," I say without turning back and I slam the door again on my way out.

A few minutes later, the intercom buzzes in my ear. "Sir, I have Nicholas here for you."

"Alright, put him through," I say, picking up the telephone. "Nick, we need to meet today, asap."

"I'm fine, Chase." Nicholas says, "Thank you for asking."

"I'm not in the mood, Nick. When are you available?"

"Not until tomorrow."

"Cancel."

"I'm not in the city. Even if I leave now, I won't be there in time."

"Do what you can, Nick. It's urgent. Meet me at Molly's at nine. I'll be waiting." I don't wait for Nicholas' response before hanging up. "Come in here," I yell.

When the door opens, she trips on her way to it. I'm so irked that despite my attempts to hide my disgust, I find myself rolling my eyes so hard that they almost fall at the back of my skull. She is the clumsiest person I've ever met, God, she'd even trip over air.

I look at her condescendingly as I wait for her to get up. She struggles to her feet and I watch her scramble for get pen and her notebook. She is flushed pink, and her hands are trembling.

"Yes, Sir?"