Welcome to Underland

The Big Boss

I transfer into the fancy sports car before dismantling my chair and handing them to Ren who puts them in the back before climbing into the driver's seat. The drive begins in silence and I groan silently, quiet car rides are not a vibe.

"So Mr Park was it? When did you start working for the company?" Ren asks suddenly, dragging me out of my thoughts, I whip my head towards him before answering. "About three months ago if I'm remembering correctly, and yes it's Mr Park but you can call me Elliot," I answer politely, pausing for a moment to remember how long I've been in the area.

"You're in the editing department yes? So do you work on books or are you someone who works with smaller businesses and such?" he continues on. "I work with both, I do books and then I also work with magazines and small businesses and other things, I'm a bit of an all-rounder in editing always have been," I explain to him and go into more detail about the varying people and such that I've edited before.

"Impressive, we've never had such a well-rounded editor before, and I assume you are your own supervisor with no one to answer to other than myself since you clearly are the most experienced editor in the department," he asks, I stiffen knowing that he's searching for information about Nora. "No, Nora is the editor supervisor so we all answer to her," I spout out quickly looking away and out the window.

"Well that going to change as I don't like supervisors who discriminate against people, you also don't require a supervisor with your experience and such, so I'll find someone new for the department and demote Nora and enrol her in a few mandatory classes," he says, anger running through his voice making me tense slightly. "Oh Sir, I wouldn't worry about her honestly, she's fine most of the time she's just stressed," I blatantly lie, she is the most ableist person I've met outside of my family, maybe worse than Quinn too. "You don't need to lie, Elliot, we've gotten complaints about her before but what I witnessed earlier cemented it for me.

"Ok, well unrelated I don't think I can be my own supervisor to be honest, I don't work at work often so it wouldn't be easy to update on my progress," I tell him after a minute or two of silence. "We can organise this properly later, but you will be getting a raise with your own office on another floor, you won't be expected to come in apart from once every other week, unless you can't for medical reasonings, to report to me but other than that all I'll expect is weekly progress reports via email," he explains to me essentially shutting down all my responses.

"Thank you Sir," I respond after a moment making him laugh. "Please don't call me Sir, call me Ren. Sir is so...... formal," he laughs again, his deep voice even deeper when he laughs. "May I ask where we are heading? " I ask him once he stops laughing and he nods spouting out the name of some fancy restaurant in the area. It takes everything in me to stop my jaw from dropping, the one time I can't eat food we go to a bougie place.

"I won't be able to eat but will hopefully enjoy getting to know my co-workers," I say to him. "You'll probably have a place at my table since everyone else will arrive first and will probably race away from the table with those they consider higher up," he chuckles and I smile at him. "That's no problem at all Sir, I mean Ren. I will have to set up a feed for myself though, the bags I have aren't transparent though so it shouldn't make anyone uncomfortable," I explain making him frown.

"I doubt you have the tube for aesthetic purposes so others comfort is not really important to be honest," he says to me as he pulls into the restaurant. He gets out and pulls out the pieces of my chair assembling it quickly before putting it beside me with the brakes on. I transfer myself and get myself settled before removing the brake and heading towards the entrance.

Ren was correct, as soon as we arrive the only seats we can find are two on opposite sides of a table where the 'important' people are. Ren however walks over and gets someone to move so theres two seats together then. "If I'm beside you hopefully they won't harass you with questions about the tube," he explains as I stop my chair beside the table. Just before he can move my chair at the table I stand up and sit in it, it is too high for me to try a transition. He looks at me baffled but decides to drop it, the others at the table however decide against this and a number of questions are raised.

"I have an illness that makes my joints really weak, I can sometimes get around with just a cane but have been ill recently so my body is weaker than usual so I am using my wheelchair," I explain quickly getting many apologies in response. Once everyone is settled and chatting amongst themselves while waiting for the food I quickly set up a feed hoping no one notices. Of course, this does not go to plan with a few people making awkward eye contact with me.

"So yes the office is now occupied by Mr Elliot Park," I hear my name and perk up looking at Ren for an explanation. "I was just explaining that you are now on our floor and the other things to a few of the others so there's no confusion," he explains to me, I nod understanding before including myself in the conversation.

Just as everyone finishes eating my stomach bloats and I groan silently. I excuse myself before wheeling towards the bathroom and don't find a wheelchair-accessible one making me groan in frustration. Moving from the chair to chair earlier was already too much movement for me in this state, walking into the bathroom stall and walking around and such will definitely be too much. I resign myself to exhaustion and walk into the men's bathroom leaving the chair behind me and stumble into a stall collapsing onto the toilet.

I use the bathroom quickly and drag myself into a standing position and head out to the sink. I stay there for a moment leaning heavily on the countertop, the world spinning as my breath goes unsteady. I close my eyes for a moment as I try to ignore the sweat on my face. The door opens and I hear footsteps heading towards me.

"Elliot, are you ok? Do you need me to assist you to your chair?" I hear Ren ask, I shake my head and open my eyes slowly and begin washing my hands attempting to ignore the swirling world. "I'm fine, I think I may just head home however as I am feeling a bit weak at the moment as I'm just after recovering from a dose," I explain as I try to steadily walk back to my chair clinging to the wall for my life. I finally get back into my chair and drop my head into my hands for a moment before sitting back up and looking at Ren whos looking at me concerned.

"I will give you a lift," he offers and begins to head back to the table. "Oh no need, I can get a taxi," I say but he ignores me and heads towards his car after saying goodbye to the others. I sigh in frustration but smile at his stubbornness, maybe it'll distract me from the chaos ensuing upon my body at the moment.

Hey guys,

Sorry I've not been around, my sister passed away so life has been very sucky but decided to write to escape the feels.

Good news however is I finally got registered for a doctor so I may be able to get help soon.

Hope y'all are doing oki

Much love

Boo xx