Quite Quitting

Casual

"Thank you so much for giving us a second chance," Alex said as the two men in suits smiled on our big conference room screen.

"We are intrigued. Let's see where this leads." One of the men, Charles Buckely, a Marketing Analyst for Bar Bon, a fast food restaurant we have been trying to partner with, spoke.

We were at the tail end of our successful meeting with the company. After all, they had just decided that they wanted to go forward with the partnership with LongD.

"We are thrilled to join the Bar Bon family as well. Your chain and food are becoming a staple for a simple but tasty food option."

"Healthy too!" The other guy, whose name I forgot as he mainly just stared at us while we pretended and nodded once in a while, said. Healthy? The place served double-fried chicken on stale bread. I doubt anyone went to this place because it was healthy.

"Yeah, we know what we are having for lunch today, eh Charlotte?" Alex chippered.

"Yeah, you feed me, and I'll feed you. You just make sure I choke on it before I swallow." I whispered to Alex. He laughed so hard that half of the sounds he made were snorts.

"Everything okay?" Charles asked.

"Oh, excuse us. We have been up all night, ensuring you gentlemen got the best information from this meeting today. We are a bit loopy." Alex excused our very unprofessional behavior.

"Aren't we special, Lar," Charles said to his quieter companion, whose name was apparently Lar.

"Only the best for the best! Well, boys, I say we call it here and hang up before you change your mind, and my secretary here faints from exhaustion." Alex said. The men on the screen chuckled.

"Do I get workers comp if I do?" The men on the screen chuckled just a bit harder.

Finally, the screen went dark, and we were done. I let myself yell out my yawn and stretched my arms so far up that I felt like I could touch the ceiling. I saw Alex just staring at me and judging me. Was this man human? How was he not as tired as me? Maybe he was on drugs. Or a superhero who wasted his powers to run corporate America. "What?" I finally asked.

"Go home and get to bed. Take the rest of the day off." Alex offered. I blinked at him. "What?"

"Is it April fools today? Or are you actually giving me the day off?" I asked in disbelief.

He scoffed. "You make me sound awful."

"You are awful. I was starting to think you were getting off on torturing me."

"Maybe I do, but I've gotta give you a break once in a while to keep you coming back." He laughed.

"Right, I see your game. You are giving me just enough air, so I don't choke on your bullshit."

"Damn, you are so mean this morning!" Alex observed.

"I've had 3 hours of sleep this whole week. Sorry if I am a bit snippy." I articulated. My voice was tight, and my face was mean. Hopefully, I got my point across. Though I should lay off, Alex might change his mind and take away my day off. "But I guess today will be the day I catch up on my sleep, so thanks for the day off. I will take it!" I gave Alex a fast smile before turning my face into its neutral tired self.

I wasted no time. I rushed to my little cube that faced Alex's clear door (yes, he could look at me all day, ensuring I was working.) I packed up and dashed before Alex returned to his room. My Uber was waiting for me before the elevator descended the 14 floors. I hopped in, and the first thing I did was call Ben.