Painful Decision

Chapter Two... Punishment or Pleasure?

Rhysa's 'date' dress.

I am switching the story from third to first person so there will be instances of the two points of view.  

"Ms Perkins!" I froze, "My office now!"

I slowly turned around still clutching my belongings against my body as some sort of armour, my boss Mr. Leonard Frenkin stood a few feet away from me. His face was deadly. I slowly followed my boss,  to his office. Mr. Frenkin was tall and lean and walked stiff backed with a determined purpose in front of me. I felt like a prisoner walking to my execution. The shy smiles I received from my colleagues who seemed to have had witnessed everything were of little comfort. I had barely closed the door behind me before the volcano exploded.

"This must be the most humiliating experience of all my years in this business." Mr. Frenkin bellowed. As he paced, he glared at me menacingly like a tiger surveying its prey. His words were enunciated carefully and made me feel like I was back in Kindergarten.

"You arrive late, miss an important appointment with one of our biggest clients;" He sat behind his heavy oak desk with his hands flat on the surface. "make Chris O'Connor no less wait for you and to top it all off, you insult the man when you do arrive!"

My boss stood up as if to punctuate his point. I started to tremble because Mr. Frenkin's huge bellowing voice sounded like thunder during a lightning storm. It was sharp and could sneak up on a person even if you were prepared for it.

"Well young lady, what do you have to say for yourself?" he took a deep breath and I was unsure whether I should speak or just sink into the floor.

"Well?" he repeated this time less patiently.

"Sir, I am so sorry but I locked my keys in my apartment and the traffic was a mess because of a diversion----" He was looking none the bit moved by my babbling. I stopped talking since his look suggested that my grave was already being dug.

"Alexander Graham Bell invented phones for a reason," he paused "to communicate especially for situations like this." He stressed slowly.

"Yes sir but my mobile was dead!" I frantically added.

"Dead mmm, what an apt description," I gulped "if you screw this Ms. Perkins you will be dead in this business like your mobile."

I was speechless, Mr. Frenkin had never spoken to me like this. He was pretty mad but I could not blame him since Chris O'Connor was a hot commodity. His impending business with us would definitely lend more credence to our work as efficient building development consultants in the England.

"I demand competence from all my staff including executives. If we don't set up a high bar, how can the juniors learn and progress." He stood up and started to pace. "I had to tell your 8:45 am appointment....." He looked at his watch and then at me, "Mr. O'Connor....... in case you forgot, some reason why you were unable to be present at 8:45 am." I gulped, Mr Frenkin had a way of making me feel worse than I already was feeling. I feel for his children if they dare disobey him.

"I will make it up to you I swear. I will call him right now and apologize. I will do anything." I added eagerly.

"You bet you will," he picked up some files from his desk. " Now leave my office and fix this now!"

I left my boss' office so frazzled that I rushed to my own office and just slid to the floor against the door. I needed time to reboot, recharge, just some time to get a hold of the situation.

Ten minutes later after drinking a nice cup of camomile tea  made by Nadia, one of my junior colleagues and a short meditation at my desk, I felt more revived and confident.