crave | 16+

VIII

JOSIE

     THE SOUND OF MY phone ringing stops my fingers from typing on my computer. I feel a few glances my way, but say nothing as I see his name on my phone screen. I furrow my eyebrows and decline, shaking my head before getting back to my work. The phone rings again less than a minute after I hung up, and I groan making my way to the printer room, before closing the door behind me.

"What," I utter, rubbing a hand over my forehead.

"Josie, it's dad. He's sick. Like coughing blood, cursing and shit. You need to come see him," he says into the phone, and I feel my heart drop to my feet.

"What happened?" A pause. "Maddox?" A sigh from the other side of the phone.

"He's drinking again."

I bring my hand up to my mouth, and dig my teeth into my nails, looking out of the printer window seeing Kristen and Ali looking at me from the front desk. "I'll be there by tonight," is all I say before I hang up.

When I make it out of the printer room, I watch as Kristen makes her way directly toward me. Ever since I moved to the 20th floor, I would see her here all the time. Coincidence? I think not.

"Leaving so soon?" she interrogates and I let a bitter laugh out before looking directly into her eyes.

I nod my head looking around. "Yeah, family emergency."

She smiles, and I turn my lips into a straight line before making my way back to my desk.

"Does Elijah know you're leaving already?" she yells, and I roll my eyes turning my back to her. She smiles, and inhales before walking over to me. "Look, I know you're new here and all but Elijah–"

"I've worked here for four years," I interrupt, and I watch her eyebrows go up in surprise.

"You know what I mean, honey," she smiles and I squint my eyes at her.

"No, actually I don't. Care to explain?"

"All I mean to say is Elijah doesn't appreciate slack. He expects all his workers to stay in 'till their hours are done."

I smile, and take a step closer to her. "Worshipping the ground he walks on won't make him fuck you, honey. If Mr. Christ has a problem with me leaving early, he can send me an e-mail. Now if you'd excuse me."

I turn my back to her, before she can let more bullshit out, grabbing my things from my desk walking toward the elevator. I scan my keycard, and wait as I descend. When the elevator doors open, I find myself in something that looks like a parking-cellar. Furrowing my eyebrows, I press the 0 button but it does absolutely nothing. 

I curse under my breath. I turn to look out toward the cellar again, but this time someone is standing there staring at me. His blonde dreads are tied up in a bun. I choke on a laugh when I see it's only Zakaria. 

"Hi," I greet him, letting a breath out. He doesn't even answer me, he simply just stays still. For a second I hope the elevator doors close, but they don't. I'm left with one of my bosses standing before me, looking like he's ready to kill me. 

"Zakaria?" I question, fear wrapping itself around my vocal cord. 

He shakes his head, as if coming back to reality. "Sorry, I sniffed some coke on my way here and it's really fucking with my head. I thought you were a hallucination."

I let another breath of comfort out, knowing he isn't a psychopath out to kill me. 

"Would you mind helping me? The elevator is stuck and I have to be at the airport in 2 hours."