Lift Rides, Obvious Questions And Stale Ideas
Lift Rides, Obvious Questions And Stale Ideas
Day 220 of The Andie Chronicles
The lift doors sprung open, and I was relieved to see the vacant space. It was past the time most of the staff from the office departed.
I was caught up sketching my designs, and I couldn't stop. I was taught at university that if the inspiration came, I should not stop for anything. And today, I had one of those moments.
As I was about to enter the empty lift and make my way to the lobby, I heard a voice call out.
“Hold the lift, please hold the lift.”
I knew his commanding voice well. I wasn't used to hearing Douglas say the word ‘please’. He only reserved this honour for the people in his private life, and now that we were exes, I wasn't treated with such respect.
His behaviour in this office was that of a cliche. He was the big tyrant boss, rude and arrogant. And in his private life, he was calm, relaxed, suave, kind, and generous to everybody.
What I hated most was that he lived by these cliches. I blame the old-school training from old money moguls, men who slapped women’s bottoms and thought it was their right because they had a penis. Outdated ideas realised in modern settings made me nauseous.
What was worse than being stupid was being stuck in the mindset of thirty years ago.
Grow up.
Get with the times.
He didn't need to be like this. And part of me wants to tell him. I want to tell him so many things. But if I said he was doing wrong, if we had any idea what it was like to work for him, he would drag me over the coals and then sack me. And I couldn't risk losing everything right now.
I still needed the damn paycheck.
Douglas stepped into the lift. “Going down?”
“Of course, I'm going down. Where else would I be going from the top floor? And you're welcome, by the way.”
“What for?”
“For holding the lift. Don't think I heard you ever say thank you to anyone here.”
“People know that I'm thankful. They get their paychecks.”
“Oh jeez, Douglas, do you think that? Do you really think that paying people is enough?”
“And you know nothing about business. Why do you think you can preach to me when you haven't made money alone?”
“I know what it's like to work for you. I know what it's like to wait for home time every minute of the day. You know you can see me as being incompetent all you want. But I'm trying to help you see. One day, everyone in this office will walk out, never to return, and you'll wonder why.”
The lift descended rapidly, much like the speed at which I delivered my frank assessment of his employment skills.
“Actually, you won't wonder why. You will assume they're all ungrateful and disloyal to you. In reality, you're just an asshole, an asshole to work with."
I looked at Douglas, realising I had said everything I promised not to say. I expected his face to be filled with fury. Instead, nothing. Calm, unaffected.
“Have you had any thoughts about Sydney?”
I shook my head.
“No, well, yes. I have had thoughts. And I'm not going to go.”
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.
Or the day after that.
Or the day after that, too.
Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
a fantastic
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A little lost on what’s happening at 1 Lovelock Drive?
Well, you see, Andie’s break-up started back in February and so much has happened since then. These stories will help you catch right up! xx
