The Incubus

Chapter 13, Scene 1

'You what?' Justin asked louder that he intended to. 'You gave me your word!'

Lance frowned. 'I know I did,' he said. 'But I would really not have asked you if you weren't my only hope.'

'Is there no one else in the entire company that can go?'

'This is our biggest paying client,' Lance said. 'We simply can't afford to lose them. Richard made such a mess of the site that they're threatening to cancel the contract, and if that happens...well, then who knows how many people we would have to lay off.'

'That's not my problem,' Justin said. 'You gave me your word that I wouldn't have to go.'

'You're up for a review next month,' Lance said, ignoring Justin. 'Just imagine to what advantage it could be, career wise, if news would reach the board members that you single-handedly saved the company.'

Justin bit his lip. He wanted to single-handedly smack Lance across his large desk. But there were bills to pay, a wife to take care of, and a baby that would soon need a lot of diapers. All of those things meant money, and money was something that Justin could use more of.

'It's all in your hands now,' Lance said. 'You alone control the fate of this company.'

Justin thought about the comment for a while. 'And who controls the fate of my marriage?'

Lance smiled. 'I know you'll sort something out with the wife,' he said. 'You always do.'

Justin wanted to strangle Lance with his own tie. Why don't  you go, mister family man, he wanted to shout as Lance's face turned from red to purple. 'I'll see what I can do,' he said instead.

'You do that,' Lance said and exposed his teeth in his perfectly practiced corporate grin. Defeated, Justin took a deep breath and left the office.