Page 20 of The Office Games

“It’s about some important projects with my coworkers,” I say. “They probably want to talk shit about the boss, and I don’t think it’s appropriate for him to overhear what they think of him.”

He rolls his eyes and continues driving.

Then he turns up his podcast.

“Fine,” I say. “Just don’t say you weren’t warned.”

I scroll down my contacts and call Harriet.

It rings once. It rings twice.

“Are you on your way to the office?” Harriet answers with a shriek. “How close are you?”

“No, I…” I keep my voice low. “I’m headed home for the holidays, remember?”

“Remember?” She scoffs. “That has to be a joke coming from you.”

“I told the entire team that I wasn’t working this holiday season,” I say. “I left you everything you needed.”

“What we need is for you to be here whenever Mr. Calloway isn’t because you’ll save us from tons of redrafts, since you know him like the back of your hand.”

“Did you miss the part where I pre-mentioned my holiday absence?”

“We thought you meant Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Miss Stone.” Her voice is tight. “Not the days before. Will you be coming back after Christmas Day then?”

“Um…” I suddenly feel guilty. “I wasn’t planning to come back until a few days after New Year’s.”

“New Year’s!” She screams. “Are you fucking?—”

Beep!

“Hello?” I ask. “Harriet, are you there?”

I glance at the screen, seeing “call ended.” Before I can call her back, she sends me a message.

Mr. Calloway is taking his first holiday vacation in YEARS, yet you’re off AGAIN…That’s why he’s CEO!

Ugh.

“Still need me to pull over for you?” James smirks. “I’ve had a sudden change of heart.”

“No…” I groan and lean back against the seat.

“Are you sure? Harriet sounded like she was really upset with her boss.”

“Just shut up and drive…”

Our cell phonesbuzz in unison twenty minutes later, signaling that it’s time for us to stretch and make our first switch.

Without saying a word, James taps “nearest gas station” on his screen and steers the car to the right lane.

“I think I might be able to get an Uber from here,” I say, noticing a long line of cars behind the ride-share sign. “If you think we should call it quits while we’re ahead on not killing each other.”

“I wouldn’t allow you to get into a car with a stranger.” He puts the car in park and unbuckles his seatbelt.“But if you want to see how long it would take for them to toss you out after you fall asleep, I’ll consider it.”

“Last time I checked, you’re not my boyfriend.”

“If I was, you’d be a lot less stressed and far better fucked.”

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