Double Assignment

•9|😬

I knew he was mad, like super mad but for the first time in a long while I was the last person that could defuse the situation. Why? I'll tell you, I'm the cause of this tense atmosphere lingering in his office.

"Chief?" I called with shaky breaths." Chief."

Silence. Silence was all I got. He knew I hated it. I preferred being scolded than being ignored, no matter what my crime was. But here he was, towering over me, his beady eyes boring into mine, making me shrivel In my seat.

"Chief." I picked the invisible dirt under my black polished nails." Please say something. Your silence is unnerving."

"What do you want me to say Vivian?!" He boomed, his fists crashing down on to his desk. For a quick second, I thought it would break at the force of his impact but it didn't. He'd called me by my full name too.He never did that unless I was in serious shit." What exactly do you want me to say!?"

I flinched at the tone of his voice as I sunk deeper into the comfy headrest of my chair. That was the only comfortable object in the entire room. The ticking clock way up on the left wasn't helping either. Instead I found my heart beating to the exact same movements of the clock's hands.

"Come on." He pressed." You wanted me to speak. Now I'm asking, what do you want to say?"

"I." My voice was barely a whisper. "I, Chief..."

"Look at me." His voice was so low, I almost missed it." I said look at me!"

I shifted my gaze from my feet and focused on him, but I regretted it immediately. His face was contorted in rage and barely inches away from mine.

"Come on." He pressed." You're usually talkative and never shut up. So why are you quiet now? Why are you quiet!?"

"I'm sorry." I blurted out. In my entire life I'd never apologized to anyone ,but at this point I didn't know what to do anymore. I screwed up,big time." I didn't mean to.."

"Don't lie to me Vivian!" He shook his head vigorously." Don't just lie to me. You meant to. You meant every single thing."

"I didn't..."

"You did!" He spat." You saw my calls. But you ignored them. Why? Because they're not important. I'm useless for calling you up so many times!"

"No!" My lips quivered as I chewed down on them." You're not useless Chief.."

"But you ignored my calls, because I'm wasting my time and you can do anything you like." He pushed himself off the table and walked towards his window." I gave you one task, I trusted you and what did you do? You messed up on the first day. It wasn't even up to 24 hours Vivian! 24 hours!"

"Chief I ..."

"Yes I told you to live a little." He sighed, his voice breaking." But not at the expense of your job. I thought you loved this..." He turned to me, gesturing wildly with his hands." I thought you loved me?"

I heard my heart shatter with that last question. He wasn't my biological father but he was the closest I had.

"I do." I let the tears that I'd been fighting fall freely,cascading down my already swollen cheeks." I really do Chief."

"I don't believe you anymore." His eyes were swollen too. I'd never seen him like this before, except when he spoke about his wife and son." I really don't. You disappointed me today Vivian, so, so, much."

"Please." I walked cautiously towards him, my eyes never leaving his. I placed my hand on his arm expecting him to flinch, but he didn't." I'll make it up to you."