Chapter 3 REMEMBER

Sally tried to steel her nerves. He was such a bully. "It was lunch time," she answered. " I had to eat. I need strength to do my work, boss. Or do you not agree?"

"I know what happens at lunchtime, silly girl. You do not have to tell me about it," Edmund said.

Sally almost rolled her eyes. The only reason she did not roll her eyes was because he would see her.

"How can I help you...boss?"

"Do you not know?" he asked sarcastically.

Sally smiled. She looked around and discovered a bigger pile of files placed on her table.

"Work on these files, too," he said, "and you cannot leave the office until you are done. I do not care how long it will take you to finish up. All I know is that I must have them on my table tomorrow. You cannot be lazy while you work here. My family worked hard to make this company what it is today. And no good for nothing will ruin it. Am I clear?"

Sally smiled; he was trying her patience. "Understood, sir."

He kept smiling at her. He felt like a child who was enjoying exacting revenge on his enemy.

She noticed and frowned. "I will work faster if my boss will leave my chair and office right now. Or, would you suggest, sir, that I work on the floor?"

Edmund realized he was still sitting on her chair. He had forgotten, and now he rose to his feet.

"What a horrible temper," he said. "Note one thing: you cannot take the company's files home. It is against our policy here." He moved past her and reached the door. He noticed the smell of her perfume, it was a tantalizing fragrance. He felt like staying longer, but he opened the door and left.

Finally, Sally said what she had been holding in, "Why you evil... good for nothing boss! These files are too much. How am I going to finish this before closing time?" She jumped around and dragged her hair in protest.

Edmund had not really left. He was outside Sally's door. He had placed his ear on her door to hear her outburst. He smiled and giggled on hearing her protests, and then he walked to his office.

The secretary noticed this. She picked up her phone, and dialed a number. " Jasmine, you need to know what just happened at the office."

A pause.

The secretary was listening to the party from the other end. "It is about your boyfriend Edmund. There is a new girl at work, and he is treating her differently. You have to come see for yourself."

Another pause. The secretary put down her phone.

***

Sally reached her place at 9 p.m. Becky opened the door, and her exhausted friend entered.

"My oh my girl, you told me your job closes at seven pm every day. Why are you home by nine? Did you go someplace else I do not know? Tell me," Becky asked.

"It was work, girl, I tell you the truth. I have the worst boss in the world. He gave me a large number of files and restricted me from leaving until I was done attending to all the files," Sarah replied.

"Your boss sure is mean. Did he stay in the office with you?" Becky asked.

"No. The cursed son of the devil left much earlier than other employees. I hate him so much. Why did I have to have such a boss? I have wanted a job so long, and now that I have it, my boss bullies me so!" Sally almost cried.

Becky went to sit beside her and placed her hands on her shoulders. "he is really a pain. You know what? I do not think you should let him bully you. He should not force you to work overtime." Becky realized something. "Is he paying you for working overtime, girl?"

"He said nothing about paying me for working overtime," Sally replied.

"Well, girl, you cannot let him bully you. You have to tell him. If he wants you to work overtime, then you will have to be paid accordingly. No more free slavery work when you are meant to be at home resting."

"I will do just that," Sally replied.

***

Edmund was sitting in his car while his driver drove him home. He had been at the tower next to the office, observing Sally work. He had given her extra files and forbidden her to go early just to punish her. He had instructed the security guards at the company to keep an eye on her, but for some reason, he felt hurt watching her work long and hard.

He just wanted to see if Sally was okay, so he had gone to the hotel beside his workplace, and had paid for a room. The office Sally used had secret camera installations. He had watched her all through.

When everyone had gone, Sally played some music. She even changed the lyrics of some songs to curse him. He had watched her childishness and laughed. He would think of her throughout the night and was prepared to give her even a better shock in the morning.

***

The next day, Sally got to the office and quickly arranged the files. She was ready to present them to her boss. She knocked. She heard a cold "Come in." She frowned. If that meant he was unhappy to have her here, then she would also want him to know that she was not happy to hear his voice, or see him either.

She entered his office and made to keep the files on the table.

"No," he said, stopping her. "Put the files on that shelf," he pointed to one shelf, and Sally did as directed. As she turned to go, he stopped her.

"Sally. Thank you. You have done a great job."

Sally was confused. Why was the most arrogant person she knew on the face of the earth thanking her? She pinched herself slightly to know if what she was hearing was real.

Edmund noticed and smiled. "I really need to thank you for working on those files for me. I will be using them in the next six months, and you have made the process all easy."

Sarah almost exploded. When Edmund had given her the files the previous day, he had acted like they were needed urgently. That was the reason why she had been told to stay in the office past her scheduled closing time. But now, he was telling her the files will be used in six months?