Chapter 9 Damaged System

I reached to the office all rushed up, sorry and confused. I hurried into my office, fumbling with my files and computer. I got a telephone call. Not now. I answered the call. The CEO wants me in his office. Reaching to work by 9:30 am wasn't a joke. Who knows what Sidd had told his uncle? I learned he resumed before everyone else. As I tried to rush to the CEO's office, my foot entangled with my computer's cable pulling it along and hearing the system land on the floor. I turned to it, it was damaged. The screen was broken.

What am I supposed to do? Another bad start up? This shouldn't be happening, not today. Late coming, damaging company's property, why? How do I explain myself? I rushed down to the system, gathering the pieces together, the telephone was ringing again. Gosh! I jerked up and scuttled to the CEO's office.

I was permitted to come inside after knocking. Sidd was there. He will be present in anything bad happening around me. I scowled at him while moving closer to them. "Good morning, sir," I saluted.

"Why did you come late?" the CEO asked.

"Um, well, I...I overslept, um, l, considering the event we attended last night, and I...we were stuck in traffic till late and I woke up from the wrong side of the bed," I fumbled with words to say.

"Even after we reached home by 7 pm?" Sidd interjected.

What? Was that what he told his uncle? How could he? I could remember we were stuck in traffic till 11 pm before I dozed off.

"Sidd, was that..."

"Enough, learn to take responsibility for your shortcomings. I want you to print out the shipping deal file for me," the CEO interjected.

My jaw dropped. The file was saved in the system that just got damaged. No backup. What should I do? He needs it? Why now?

"Sir, the system is...my system got damaged," I stuttered, my hands covered in sweat as I clung them together.

"What?" the CEO chuckled.

"Got a backup?" Sidd asked.

I scowled at him. He has ruined my life. If he hadn't lied against me, the CEO wouldn't have called me so urgent and I wouldn't have got to be in a hurry and getting the computer damaged.

"No!"

"Your computer is damaged, you got no backup, how do we get the shipping deal sealed?" Sidd questioned.

"I'm sorry," I managed to say.

"Sorry?" Sidd chuckled.

"Go back to your office. I will get the maintenance to get it fixed," the CEO said.

A smile crossed my face. "Thank you, sir," I commented and left.

The rest of the day went on with me doing nothing with my system, but getting stuck in Sidd's office. We have to complete a project. We got to work out on a new recruiting project. It would have been fine if my system wasn't damaged, but the unfortunate had to happen. Go get this, go get that. He just wouldn't stop annoying me. The CEO would check up on us now and then, he knew we were like cat and dog, nothing ever goes right with us working together. The blame will always be mine to carry, Sidd is the life saver. I simply hope nothing goes wrong with this project. I don't want more troubles.

"Go get me a cup of creamy coffee," Sidd ordered. I clenched my fist while gnashing my teeth with my head rotating in anger. I imagined punching him, pushing him to the floor, pulling his hair and kicking him even harder. He snapped a finger at my face. "What are you thinking? How to kill me?"

"Call the secretary to get it for you," I said.

"Maybe I should call the CEO instead," he spited.

"I detest you!" I snapped out heading towards the door.

"Who said I don't detest you too?" he riposted.

I left the office, slamming the door behind me. I wanted to do something to him, but I couldn't think of an idea. What if I spike the coffee I'm going to get for him? I will then have the chance to tell the CEO Sidd was sleeping on duty. That is a brilliant idea, but what do I spike his coffee with? I got no sleeping pills in my bag. That was a thought, and I decided to leave it as a thought. I went to the kitchen to get him a cup of creamy coffee. I stood in the kitchen for longer minutes. I didn't wish to return to his office and work with him. I just hope he finishes before I return. I wished the CEO came to see me in the kitchen. I would be in seventh heaven reporting Sidd to his uncle for the very first time, but unfortunately, he didn't show up.

Upon my return, he had printed the format. As I walked to him to give him the coffee, he stick out his leg in my way, I stumbled over and the coffee poured on the print out. He jerked up.

"What's wrong with you?" he snapped out.

"It wasn't intentional. You..."

"What's going on here?" the CEO interrupted.

Why now? I had wanted him to interrupt my activity in the kitchen, he didn't. Now that the turn out is against me, he showed up. Was it because they were related that Sidd gets the good luck most times?

"She just ruined the project sample I printed out," Sidd reported.

That should have been me reporting. I couldn't even defend myself. His uncle always believe him.

"What is boggling your mind this days, Rani?" the CEO queried.

I knew he was out to scold me. "I'm sorry, sir," I apologized.

"Always sorry, you damage things simply because you are good with sorry. Does sorry fix things?" Sidd stated. He was obviously mocking me.

"Print out another one, Sidd," the CEO said and left.

The moment he was out, I exploded. "What is wrong with you, Sidd? We have been doing this project for hours now and first sample print out, you ruined it because you want to make me look bad. Are you that jobless?"

He sat down with his usual crazy and irritating smile, adjusted his collar and focused on the computer. I hit the desk and sat down opposite him.