My Buddy Archie [1]

01..

Three years later

June

Just as I was about to leave for the day, my boss Smith—just Smith, no first name that I know of at least—called me into his office. My skin pricked a little at the sharpness in his voice. I felt like I was being called to the principal’s office, but I couldn’t think of anything I did wrong. I took a deep breath, attempting to seem relaxed as I walked to the door.

As I knocked, peering in, I said, “Smith?”

“Come in, come in.” I did what he said and took a seat on the other side of his big oak desk. “Horan, you’re not in trouble, I just have a couple questions.” That didn’t relax me.

“Okay.”

He pulled something out of his desk, pieces of paper, and laid them on top. “This report says you helped with the whole ‘new building project’ while Darren was out?” I blanched. Was that a bad thing? My other boss Darren, probably the only person in this whole company that knows my real potential—he was the one to help me get this job, though he shot for something much higher—had suggested I help him out while his wife was sick in the hospital.

It turned into more work than I planned, but it actually felt like I was doing something I was supposed to, not just getting thrown busy work—something they give the college kids. I was doing something important and that’s all I ever wanted.

“I did.”

He looked up at me, then down to the desk, shaking his head. “You know what bothers me about this world Horan?”

“Uh, no…”

“Hidden gems.” What? “This planet is full of hidden gems, diamonds in the rough, smart mother fuckers stuck in McDonalds.” I was thrown off by his language, but chuckled a little at his metaphor. “I’m serious. A lot of these fuckers here didn’t do a climb like those hidden gems have to do, just to get a job to even kind of express how valuable they are. You, Horan, are a hidden gem.”

“I am?”

“Yes, and I’m sitting here with my dick out because you’ve been working here for, what, four years?” Five, but I wasn’t going to correct him. “And I had no idea. Horan, this isn’t about briefing. Fuck briefing. It’s about your work ethic, teamwork skills, your ability to handle a tense situation with that shithole Marks from accounting, your understanding, your urgency--and you’ve been working as someone’s dog all this time?”

“Yeah.”

“And you did a job that takes two people a whole week and some, in four days—while still staying on top of your own work! Are you not understanding this fuckery? Are you human?”

I’m so confused. “Yes...I’m human…”

“For fuck’s sake. Go pack up your desk.”

“Wait what? I’m fired?”

“No!” He shouted making me flinch, “You’re being moved up a couple floors. A gem like you shouldn’t be with us knock off hair store press-on jewels. You know the ones they put on little kids for Halloween? Yeah, this isn’t for you. Pack up your desk today and tomorrow, you go up.”

I was overwhelmed. Did I just get promoted? This is a dream; it has to be.

“W-what will I be doing?” I stuttered.

“Using your fucking major! Work up with Vince and Brendon who oversee all this shit down here. Business managers! They work very closely with Flander so—” Flander? As in the guy who built and owns this company? I’m going to be working with the guys the work closely with him? I’m not going to lie, but I really idolized that man. Only in his forties with such a successful business with and uncountable amount of accomplishments under his belt. I really looked up to him. It never even crossed my mind that I’d ever get to this position. Robert Flander always seemed like a person up in the clouds, unreachable for someone as small and insignificant as me. And now I’m about to be working closely with him.