Quit

ZOEY'S POV

The devil gave me the work he knew I would use all my time and energy doing it. Time moved fast and it was already lunch time and I was yet to reach halfway decoding the complicated long codes he assigned me.

Since he said I could not leave till I was done, I missed lunch. It's not like I would have eaten anyway even if I didn't have something I was doing. Food here had to be very expensive, I could not afford it and with the amount of money I had, I used it to buy the overpriced coffee for my evil boss. If coffee was that overpriced, how about food?

He left for lunch, I saw him leave and he took forever to get back. I was just wondering why he would give me such complicated work. He should have given me work that will enhance the advancement of the company not work that would waste my time.

I sighed looking at the time on my wrist watch and I gasped. How time flew, I hadn't realised because I only had less than thirty minutes to get Alex from school. It was time past the company's time to close but I couldn't because I was yet to complete the assignment. I was sure everyone had gone home.

What was I going to do? Who could I ask to get Alex from school? Olivia was out of town, so she was not an option. My mom, my mom could get her from school though it would take her some time to get there but she was the better option.

I took my bag and got my phone out. Then I dialled my mom's number. Looking up as I waited for her to pick up, I made eye contact with Roy.

Was he looking at me the whole time? He had to be."Are you making a call to ask for help?" he asked and I raised my eyebrows tilting my head to signal I could not hear him. 

"I'm sorry?"

"If you can't crack such a simple code then I was right about you not fitting to be here. How many hours have you been on it? Let me guess, you have not made any progress. If you fail, I'm deducting twenty points and five more for making a call in my office." he declared and I ended the call to speak to him.

I couldn't be on call and listen to him at the same time so I gave up one thing and that was the call."I'm sorry boss but you gave very complicated codes. I think you did this on purpose hoping I would fail."I decided to speak my mind.

Roy was silent for quite a bit."So are you going to give up or what? It's just twenty-five points to be deducted from the other ninety-seven." he deducted one point when I frowned after mentioning cinnamon. How petty.

Only twenty-five points? If he were to deduct them then I would only have seventy-two more points. It was my first day and I had already lost a quarter of my points. Yes, I didn't think I would succeed so I was sure I had lost the points already. For heaven's sake, I had spent seven hours and I led nowhere.

I was about to speak when my phone rang. It was my mother, she must have called back because I ended the call earlier without saying anything. I looked at Roy and then at my phone but I risked it. Alex was in the subject here, I would risk anything for her.

"Mom.... I was calling for a favour please."I immediately said looking away from Roy.

"What's going on sweetheart?"

"I uuh...I need you to get Alex from school. I'm very busy at work."I said hashing every single word. I was sure Roy didn't hear a single thing, as he should.

My mom was quiet before speaking." As happy as I would like to do that, I just can't. I'm very far, I went to check out this vineyard I want to buy. Why don't you ask Olivia?" she suggested but I knew that was a dead end, Olivia was not around.

I smiled nodding though I was sad inside."Yeah, let me do that."I didn't have to explain to her that Liv was not around.

What was I going to do now? Admitting failure seemed like the better choice here if I wanted to leave.

So I closed my laptop and got up after putting it in my bag. I walked to stand just in front of Roys's desk and smiled."I admit failure, you happy now?"I asked looking at him.

He stared at me and I could not tell what he was feeling because his face was just neutral, like it was dead. He was handsome, very handsome but his face had no life. Why would anyone decide to do this to themselves?

"Who did you call? Is that person the reason you gave up?" he asked and I blinked surprised.

So he cared enough to assume I gave up?." That's none of your business, I am done here. I failed because I could not complete your work, no, I don't know how to decode the codes you gave me. Wasn't that your mission, to give me hard codes that I could not crack? Congratulations, you win."I ignorantly said.

"You are not leaving till you complete the work," he said with finality.

Why was he being like this, didn't he want me to fail? Why was he insisting I finish the work and making assumptions as if he was sure I could do it?" I can't do it so just deduct whatever points because I need to leave, I'm in a hurry."I said with urgency this time. Looking at the time, I could see I would not make it in time, I had ten minutes remaining to reach Alex's school. She would be so sad and I feared she would start to cry if she was left all alone in school. 

"Where are you going?" Roy asked and I was getting annoyed. He was making me late.

I sighed looking at his desk, and then I bent down to pick up a pen and a piece of paper. I wrote down some numbers and put the paper on his laptop."Call me if you have more questions to ask, like I said, I'm in a hurry. I know you are my boss, but there are more important matters in a person's life than you. Deduct the points, at this point, I don't care."I said and without waiting for his response, I walked to the door only to find it locked.

God... Why would he not be complicated? I turned to look at him with a pleading expression."Please, boss. I need to leave."I begged.

"You are always disrespectful towards me Zoey, I'm your boss. Can't you watch your words when speaking to me?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, I have an emergency I need to attend to."I urgently said.

"And what is that emergency?"

"I need to visit the washroom for one, I have not moved my body around since I sat on that couch. I am a human being with a functioning body."I said trying so hard not to snap.

"So, after the bathroom break, you will come back?" he said more as a statement than a question.

"No... I need to be somewhere at this time. Maybe I should just officially inform you now, that I can't be working at five o'clock."I revealed.

Roy looked at me."And why is that?"

"One, because I am supposed to have been done with work like an hour ago according to the company's policy. Every employee should work for eight hours."I angrily explained.

"You are not like other employees, you are under my instructions not the company's. That means you do what I say and the company's policy doesn't apply to you. Do I need to remind you that you took on my challenge to show me you are fit to be here? You need to show me through actions so that I can be convinced you fit here, under my harsh supervision. I'm disappointed to say I don't see a future with you, you just failed a simple test today. What would you do when I assign a hard one?" he lectured and I felt like crying.

Was I in hell? Did I deserve this torture? He was so close to achieving his goal because I wanted to quit in just one day. He was talking as if he was innocent and it was my fault I could not get the work right.

" You are not being fair, and you know it. Those codes are not easy. And sorry for disappointing you but I'm starting to feel like I don't want this job anymore. I am supposed to have fun working, but all I am experiencing is mental torture and physical exhaustion."I finally snapped. To be honest, I was exhausted. 

He looked at me and slightly smirked. That was possibly the only reaction I had ever seen on his face since I met him, while I was sober that is."So you are ready to quit?" he asked.

I was about to reply when my phone rang. It was from Alex's school. I was late, time had passed while I was acting pull and push with words here with Roy. Alex must have been so stressed.

"Yes..."I replied looking away from Alex.

"Is this Alex's mother?"

"Yes, is she with you?"I asked running my fingers in my hair.

"Oh yes, she is the only one left. All parents have picked up their children from school. Are you on your way?" the feminine voice said.

I was walking back and forth unconsciously." give her the phone, please."I commanded and then I heard her little sad voice."Hey, baby, I'm on my way so don't worry okay? I'm coming to get you I just got caught up at work."I explained.

"I thought something bad happened, you've never been late Mommy." she worriedly said and I smiled.

"Of course not sweetheart, I am perfectly fine," I said." I love you okay, just wait for me."I hung up feeling pressured.

I looked at Roy and this time I was not ready to bicker with him."I am leaving, for any more instructions or information, call me. You have my number."I said then I pointed at the door." please."

He unlocked it. The door lock system was connected to his desk, I couldn't explain how but it was cool. He just pressed his finger on a button located at his desk and the door automatically unlocked opening itself. That was quite brilliant and very secure.