Natasha considered leaving the office, in fact, everyone was and who could blame them? Nobody felt safe, nobody felt secure and with family caught in the midst of the anarchy, it was unbearable just being here.
Natasha for one could relate to that, she had her kids and their father in hospital, not exactly too far away yet from the chaos, she had a fiancé who was now no longer answering his phone and her blood pressure wasn't benefitting from any of this.
Stress had her stomach in a knot and her heart thumping harder than ever before.
Why wasn't Daniel answering his bloody phone, why? Did something happen to him? She dreaded to think it, but had to face the dire possibility that that could very much be the case. Try as she might, she was only able to reach his voicemail.
"Fuck, maybe this is a hint to get out of here", a colleague behind her suggested.
"They'll get control of it, the army is pushing in there. You know how the media is, it probably ain't as bad as it seems. Besides, if we start panicking, that ain't solving nothing", Elmira replied.
"Fuck that, there are people packing up and leaving already".
"They have family in there, Natasha too. Are you going Natasha?"
"I am, though they're at the hospital".
"Here's hoping they're okay". Just as Elmira said that, an email popped up from the office manager.
'To all employees, due to the events occurring in London, it has come to my attention that some of you will have family members within or close to the scene, know that I understand your concerns and I hope they are okay. In light of this situation, many of you will want to leave, as such I formally allow you to leave the office, not only that, should the situation not improve by tomorrow, it will be understood if you choose to remain at home, you will be paid for this day. Everything else beyond this will be left until further notice. I hope you get home safely and that you family members and friends are safe and well. Thank you, Bishop'.
It was a considerate message, even granting them leeway for tomorrow and Natasha couldn't have appreciated it more right about now.
"We can leave, just got an email from Bishop. You can also stay home tomorrow if the situation doesn't improve", Natasha alerted the others.
"And miss out on pay? No thanks, I'll be here 9 am sharp, this company is already stingy enough as it is, why would I voluntarily miss a far worth of pay?"
"They are willing to pay us tomorrow as though we'll be here".
"In that case", she got up and begun packing, Natasha joined her as others left the two women's cubicle to return to their own and prepare to leave.
"You heading over to the hospital now?" Elmira asked.
"That's the plan".
"What about Daniel? Is he there yet?"
"He isn't answering".
"What the fuck is up with these men today?"
"To be honest, I'm worried that something happened to him, it's not like him to ignore me and he has a hands free set in the car".
"Well I hope he calls you back. In the meantime let's get out of here".
Having packed their things, they made their way out of the office to the elevator and stairway. They weren't the only ones standing there, quite a few people were also using the opportunity to make a hasty exit, some taking the stairs.
As the door to the elevator opened and everyone poured in, Natasha's phone rang. The elevator was quite a squeeze with Natasha and Elmira having stepped in first, stuck at the back. The attempt to reach her phone in her handbag whilst cramped in this elevator was quite the was going to be something of a challenge and it was, but as they almost made it to the bottom, she managed to get her fingers around it and answer it.
YOU ARE READING
Cryptophobia - Outbreak
Terror(Book 1 of the Cryptophobia series) The Ouroboros Virus has hit London, plummeting the city into a state of anarchy. As the British government hopelessly scrambles to resolve what will go on to be the beginnings of greatest known international catas...
