The Winner Takes it All

Part V

"T-thank you, Køhler," Lukas replied. Everyone that worked for him feared him, possible even hated him. He had never been thanked before. What made this stupid Danish man so grateful? The question lingered in Lukas' mind for the rest of the day.

It was 5:00, and everyone was leaving to go home. Matthias looked around to see if Lukas had left, but his regal silhouette could still be seen from behind the frosted glass. Lukas was many things: arrogant, selfish, proud, cruel, heartless, greedy, just to name a few, but he was not lazy. He was one of the most diligent workers, no doubt why he made it so high up the financial ladder. Matthias knew that it was often considered disrespectful to leave the office before your boss left, but everyone was already going home. However, this was his first day. Perhaps Lukas was testing him. That man was as mysterious as the outer galaxies. He just couldn't chance it. Matthias stayed at his desk, but no one was calling after 5 PM. Minuted turned into hours, and before Matthias knew it, it was already 9:00. He got up from his desk and gazed out the window, only to see a blanket of thick, white snow covering the streets of Oslo. He groaned. "Snow, lots of it. Just what I need," he grumbled.

Lukas opened the door to see Matthias staring through the window, much like a child. The sight nearly warmed his heart. How a grown man, let alone a bumbling idiot like Matthias, could evoke these feelings of happiness and serenity within him, Lukas would never know. "Matthias, why are you still here?" he asked.

Matthias' eyes opened wide. "Ah! Mr. Bondevik. I'm sorry. I just thought it was rude to leave before my boss. I'm really sorry." He looked down in embarrassment.

"There's no harm done. I appreciate it Køhler. God natt." Lukas bowed his head to Matthias and pressed the button for the elevator.

Matthias followed and smiled, "Good night, Mr. Bondevik."

Lukas placed a hand on Matthias' shoulder and smiled, a small, microscopic, smile. "Lukas. Just Lukas."