Page 116 of Savage Bosses

Kathy’s voice dropped even lower. “Kyle caught Josh looking at porn. Well, not Kyle. I’m sure it was someone in the I.T. department. He didn’t even give him a warning.”

I angled up out of my chair and glanced over to the corner where Josh sat. Sure enough, he was gone.

“Damn, that’s messed up.”

“Just a heads-up, he’s on a warpath. I don’t know what happened, but he’s being really tyrannical.”

I swallowed hard as their whispers continued around me. So that explained the tension. We were constantly walking on eggshells, unsure of what might set off our overbearing boss next. Three days back from his grief vacation and he was out here clowning. My first week of training was so peaceful. What the hell happened?

I jumped when the phone on my desk rang. With a shaky hand, I squatted back down in my chair and I answered, “FuSeWater, this is Aerica.”

“Hey girl, it’s me,” my best friend Jordyn’s voice came through the line.

“Oh thank god,” I whispered back. “You won’t believe the day I’m having.”

As I recounted the office gossip, my heart pounded. What if I was next on Kyle’s chopping block? I knew he had a temper, but firing someone over porn seemed excessive.

Jordyn sighed on the other end of the line. “That guy needs some anger management classes. But don’t let him get to you. Just mind your Black business.”

“I always do, but I have to work directly with that punk,” I muttered. But Jordyn’s words gave me some comfort. I could do this. I just needed to stay focused on my work and avoid cussing him out. He had just lost his parents. I need to stay here. This job was good money.

“Listen and don’t look at him. Wait. What does he look like?”

“He looks like a White man.”

“No, really?”

“He looks normal. I guess. Oh shit, let me call you back. Here he comes.”

I hung up the phone just as Kyle stormed past my desk, his face like thunder. Trailing behind him was Tim from marketing, his eyes red-rimmed and cheeks stained with tears. My anxiety rose. Whatever had happened, Tim was clearly distraught.

Around me, heads ducked down over computer screens and a heavy silence permeated the office. The threat of becoming Kyle’s next victim hung over all of our heads.

I busied myself with a report, trying to ignore the unease swirling in my gut. But the image of Tim’s anguished face was stuck in my mind.

I glanced over at Josh’s empty desk, picturing him gathering his belongings under Kyle’s harsh glare. None of us knew exactly what had happened, but the aftermath was clear.

Kyle had crushed another spirit, asserting his dominance over us all. The mood in the office was bleak, with hushed conversations and sidelong glances. Josh hadn’t deserved to be humiliated like that. He was a kind, hardworking guy. If he was doing his job and not beating his meat at work, it’s whatever. Why would Josh even be looking at porn on an office computer?

I thought of the rumors circulating about Kyle’s pattern of firing people in threes was an overstatement. My stomach churned. Was I next on his hit list? He fired Josh today and Tim looked like he had been crying.

I glanced around at my coworkers. Their eyes were clouded with the same fears. We were all trapped, afraid to speak up or act out. Kyle held the power to ruin careers. Not mine, cause fuck this job. But these older people had kids and families. Lord, let me get through this assignment.

I tapped out a quick message to Jordyn as I left the office that evening.

Aerica: [Can you go out to eat tonight? Need to vent about the tyrant.]

My phone buzzed with her reply moments later:

Jordyn: [Girl, you know I can always eat. Where? What time?]

Aerica: [Cheddars 7]

Jordyn: [C U there]

I could always count on Jordyn for a listening ear and sage advice. I couldn’t wait to have a drink. After the last three days I had, I deserved it.

We met at our local Cheddars restaurant. She arrived first, and we settled into a cozy booth. In minutes, we were enjoying our frozen margaritas. Jordyn told me all about her day. When it was my turn, I wanted to have a more upbeat tale.

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