After Effects

Chapter 18 • After Effects

"So...how's your day been so far?" Julian asked, gulping uneasily as he stared warily at me. We were currently seated at one of the tables in the cafeteria having lunch. It was a miracle that Mr. Remora had even allowed me to have an half hour of lunch!

I looked away from the Remora name board that was hanging on a wall of the hall and stared at him as if asking "did you really just ask that question?" He gulped again before mumbling a hurried "never mind", going back to his food as Harper looked at me concerned. My eyes twitched as I pursed my lips and my body shook as I threatened to break the pencil that was currently in my hand. Why? If you are thinking 'because you are pissed at a certain person named R-I-D-D-I-A-N R-E-M-O-R-A who now happens to be your boss?' then you are absolutely correct.

Sure the bastard had given me an half hour for lunch, only I hadn't realized that his P.A.'s lunch time consisted of writing the minutes of the meeting that we had attended this morning and making my own notes on whatever had been said. I mean the only possible good thing that could come from that is that he wanted to hear my opinions, but we all know that that was not it and he only wanted to annoy me. It was only the first day- no, the first half of the first day, and I was already ready to snap. The six months weren't looking too good so far.

"Katherine I-" Harper started to say, but stopped seeing as she didn't know what to say.

I took a deep breath and straightened my back before releasing the poor pencil from my torturous grip. "I'm fine," I replied, trying to not only convince her of this but also myself.

"If you say so," she said hesitantly, returning to her food with a sigh. I glanced her way but didn't say a word.

Ten minutes later and I had finally finished the minutes and notes I had been making on the meeting. "Finally," I murmured, putting down the pencil and stretching my fingers. Done, done and done.

"Done?" Julian voiced my thoughts, causing a smile to brighten my face.

"Yep, and now I can finally take my break," I answered, going back to my half eaten cheese sandwich. In your face Mr. Remora.

I was just about to sink my teeth into the double cheesy goodness when I heard a peep, peep, peep emanating from my phone.

Taking in a deep breath, I growled, "Oh. Come. On!"

"Deep breaths! Deep breaths!" Harper quickly repeated. I slowly put the food down and forced a small smile unto my face.

"I'm fine." I said as I stood, grabbed the notepad and strode off into the direction of the elevator, muttering words along the lines of 'there is no way I am going to leave by the end of six months and not kill him'.

Stepping into the elevator, I pressed the button for my floor. "Okay Mr. Remora, what else have you got up your sleeve?"

:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:

"Katherine," Harper asked slowly as she rubbed my back in soothing circles trying to find out why I was hitting my head against my desk repeatedly at the moment. "I know that you must be under some kind of stress at the moment, but I don't think that hitting your head against the desk repeatedly is.. good for your health."

I took a respite from damaging my forehead against the desk, to look up at my friend. "Why did I ask that question?" I whispered in disdain. "No, why did I ask those questions?" I corrected myself. And what questions you asked? Well let's just say that Mr. Remora, being the wicked bastard he was, must've heard my mental question about what else he had up his sleeve... somehow, and met me head on as soon as I entered his office after lunch. And that's not even all, because I had this obsession with this thing called "I-have-to-win-at-all-times", I just had to ask if he had anything else he wanted me to do after he had given me the usual ten things to do... let's just say he did not hold back.