Chapter 1

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Chapter 1

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"The package is in the back of my pickup truck, BE CAREFUL," Hassan shouted from his office. He is the Head manager of SERAMICS' second branch and mini boss to me. He is a tall lanky man with a short temper. He hardly ever smiled and barks more orders than a Caucasian shepherd dog.

I was only the secretary– tending to the small errands and records.

I humphed as i walked to the truck, Hassan could be a pain in the butt. Although he was nice on some occasions.

"Don't break anything! Be careful always!" I mimic him as i pull the brown box from the back.

I feel a hand grab me suddenly and i scream, releasing the box to catch the hand. I wince at the cracking of ceramics in the box as it hit the floor and spilled out. I whipped around so fast, i feared for my ankles.

"What are you doing?!" Hassan screamed at me, my hand gripping his wrist.

"Hassan?" I ask confused.

He snuck up on me when he could've just called my name?

He couldn't just call my name!?

I thought as i scanned the mess I had made.

"You idiot, you've done exactly what i told you not to do!" He bellowed again.

*"Jeez! Does this guy have a lower tone somewhere in his cords?"* I wondered as i let go of his wrist.

"Sorry," i said softly. Aware of the damage i had just done.

"You are reporting yourself to the boss," he ordered, "I'm not helping you out here, i warned you."

"But it was partly your fault!" I whined, " if you had not snuck up on me like that, I'd not have dropped the box, you scared me!"

He narrowed his eyes, leveling his head to my 5'4 height, his thick brows closely knitted in a frown.

"You. Report. Yourself." He commanded, before backing up.

"But i-" i tried to say.

"Save it," he interrupted and traipsed back into his office.

I stomped my feet on the ground in a tantrum like manner and picked up the salvageable pieces of what was left. My heart beating faster now as i thought of how to take the broken china cups and saucers to the boss. I had heard from employees in his first branch that he was strict and impassive, and didn't tolerate mistakes– and this was a huge mistake, a costly one.

Ah!! That insufferable man!

He didn't even say why he needed my attention, he just put me in a fix! A tough one!

"What do i do now? God." i ask, looking towards the sky. It was almost evening, and i knew the traffic would be worse now.

I closed the box and headed for SERAMICS' first branch, praying to God that i wasn't fired.

This wasn't the first time afterall, even though it wasn't my fault this time.

Luckily for me, there was less traffic than i expected, so i got there on time.

I stood in front of SERAMICS 1 as it was boldly written on the two storey brown building, which stood oddly tall and intimidating towards me because i knew what i was going to be getting if i went in.

I had no choice though, i knew.

I swallowed and slowly made my way up. Since there are only two storeys, the boss decided his employees needed the exercise and didn't install any elevators.

His office was just at the end of the hall. A wide intricately designed mahogany door with his name *Ahmad Abdulrazaq* boldly written on it. stood between me, and my doomed fate.

I folded my sweaty hand and knocked. It was silent. I knocked multiple times, yet no response.

So i proceeded and opened the door.

"What are you doing?! Get out!" Someone screamed from behind me. I whipped around sharply to see who it was, half of my body already in the office.

It was his secretary, walking hastily towards me, a rope from her red blouse flying wildly and dramatically– a bulging vein on her forehead, and her lips smacked in red lipstick upturned in a frown.

"Are you okay?" I ask worried that the vein in her head was going to pop.

She frowned my way even further and pulled me out of the room– locking it afterwards.

" I should be asking you that, frog face!" She bit out, " what are you doing sneaking into the boss' office, huh? Your numerous endeavors at trying to get his attention not enough?"

I backtrack, appalled by her accusation. How dare her! I thought, anger seeping into my being.

"I knocked! Okay? Multiple times. No one answered so i tried the door." I explained, wearing a frown of my own.

"Tsk, you don't expect me to believe that, do you?" She queried, flipping through her clipboard. " There's no appointment here in your name. So what brings you here?"

I rolled my eyes at her attempt at sarcasm and thrusted the box forward for her to see.

" This is what brought me," i said, shoving the box in her face. "And as an employee, i don't think i need an appointment to deliver an errand."

I knew i wasn't supposed to be showing the box around as if i was proud of what i had done, but i couldn't help it with this annoying woman.

She folded her arms, sizing me up.

" Well, he's obviously not in. Come back tomorrow." She said glumly.

I shook my head negatively, nervous again. I couldn't prolong this judgement further.

" I can wait." I said, determined to get it over with.

She tsked and waved her hand.

"Sure, you can wait here till he comes in tomorrow." She replied and made for her small cubicle just by his office.

I shifted awkwardly, wondering if she was just trying to get rid of me, or if she was being honest.

"He's not coming back?" I ask, turning around to face her from her small workplace.

"No airhead, he's gone for the day." She replied without raising her head from her desk.

I thought about dropping the box on the table and telling her to send it to him, but i knew she wouldn't– even if she did, it would mean a direct sack letter for my nonchalance.

I tapped on the package, and then slowly walked out as though he'd pop up from behind me and call me in.

Although I knew he wouldn't.

Tomorrow was indeed another day– and if i lost my job( which I hope! I don't) all i had to do was dust my CV again. I prayed i didn't have to though. I thought to myself as i made my way out.

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