Defect

Compulsion

The elevator groaned to a stop and chimed when it reached the fourth floor. The doors opened slowly, almost like they knew Evan was late and was anxious to get to his desk. This was his fifth time being late in the last two weeks. Hopefully, Mr. Butler hadn't noticed. Evan walked into the office and stopped. Mr. Butler was leaning against his desk, arms across his chest, his eyes narrowed to angry slits.

He noticed.

"My office. NOW!" Mr. Butler hissed the words more than he spoke them. Evan's shoulders slumped a bit, but he did as he was told and followed the old man into his office. He closed the door gently behind them and turned and faced his boss, whose neck was already an impressive color of red.

"You've been dragging in here late almost everyday for the last two weeks."

Evan didn't respond. His face remained expressionless and his blue eyes stared blankly into Mr. Butler's brown eyes. He knew the old man was just warming up. Sometimes it took him a few minutes to kick it into fifth gear with the threats and the yelling.

"I have been trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you seem to be taking advantage of my good nature." Evan's eyes widened a bit in surprise.

Did he really just say that? Evan choked back a bitter laugh. He knew it was best to just let his boss blow off steam so he could get his coffee and start working. Mr. Butler continued yelling and Evan's mind began to drift.

Wow. He's really mad today.

The nice thing about severe sleep deprivation was that it numbed you to things like irate bosses and crappy jobs. Evan studied Mr. Butler's face. He took note of the various reds and crimsons that colored his cheeks, neck, and ears. He noticed the little bubbles of spit in the corners of his mouth. And, he watched the veins start to pop up on his forehead.

I wonder what it would take to get those to burst.

"You're fired!" That got Evan's attention and snatched him back to reality.

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me. I'm tired of your irresponsibility and your lame excuses."

"You can't fire me. I'm your top salesman."

"I just did. Get your things and leave the premises."

Evan's hands balled into fists. His eyes narrowed with malice.

"This company is nothing without me." Evan growled the words.

"And, I said you're done, Mr. Winters. Get out!"

"You're dead." The old man's mouth dropped in shock.

"Are you threatening me?"

"It's not a threat, Mr. Butler." Before he could respond, Evan swung his right fist and hit Mr. Butler on his cheek. He cried out in pain. Evan was throwing his fists in a fury, beating the old man all over his face and neck. Mr. Butler was screaming for security in between cries of anguish. Evan grabbed Mr. Butler by the neck and began to squeeze as hard as he could. The cries were replaced with choked wheezes. Suddenly, the office door flew open and two security guards raced in. One wrestled with Evan and managed to remove his hands from Mr. Butler's neck. He'd made two distinct hand shaped bruises. The other guard knelt down beside Mr. Butler and called for an ambulance and police. The first guard managed to handcuff Evan and drag him out of the office.

Evan felt humiliated as the big guard dragged him from the office to the elevator. He saw the confused and scared looks on everyone's faces. He could hear whispers of people asking what happened. He heard someone say, 'Evan beat up the commandant.' And he could almost swear he saw two people high five each other in the corner. Well, he was going down in infamy today. There was always that.