“I’m being summoned by Patricia.” Walker savored the last bite of his cupcake half.
Patricia typed an email on her computer while reading another one on her phone. She held up a “one minute” finger. Walker took a seat.
The pen in his hand began doodling an ad for Dollop’s oversized cupcakes. That could be their hook.A woman jumping out of a cupcake at a bachelor party? Probably not the right audience, but still funny.He laughed at his sketch.
“Sorry about that.” Patricia put down her phone. Walker put down his pen. “Can you shut the door?”
Walker immediately went on high alert. He felt a plunk inside him, like a rock dropping into a glass of water. Closed-door meetings were never a good sign.
He did as instructed and sat back down.
“Our presentation to the client is in two days. As you know, this is more than important. It’s make-or-break for us. I need to be sure your head is in the game.”
“It is.”
“Your work hasn’t been at your previous level of quality these past few weeks, right when I need you to be more focused than ever.”
Patricia was using corporate-approved nice speak to make this sound as pleasant as could be, but it still stung. Walker hated letting this job get the better of him.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, that market share issue. You should’ve been on top of that. We couldn’t go into a presentation that openly told the client that because of us, they were losing money.”
“It’s not our fault, though. They have lousy commercials and a lousy product.”
“We can’t say that. It might be true, but that’s not our job. You’re an associate director. You should know this.”
Patricia’s chair squeaked as she leaned back. She played with a pen cap. Even though she had an office and was the consummate professional, she still seemed nervous, like she wasn’t totally used to being the boss yet. “And it’s not just that issue. You don’t seem to be paying attention in meetings. I see you, staring off, or doodling.”
Her eyes traveled to his notebook. He snapped it shut.
“I know you don’t want to be here.” The bluntness got Walker’s full attention. “I’m sure you’d rather be somewhere else. But you are here, Walker, and you’re paid quite nicely for it. And when you’re in this office and sitting at that desk, I expect you put in maximum effort.”
“Okay.”
But she wasn’t done. “If we are able to save the Radiance account, I want to be sure I have the best team in place moving forward.”
Another plunk. Walker pressed his notebook shut tighter until his fingers hurt. “Does that include me?”
“I don’t know.”
Walker clamped his lips shut to stop them from trembling. He didn’t even like this job, but he pictured not having it. The condo, the car payments, Hobie.
“I just had some personal issues come up, but my head is clearly in the game, I promise.”
As he left her office, he felt the golden handcuffs chafe against his wrists.
Φ
Walker found himself getting angrier the more he drove. It built up like water in a dam. It was because of Doug that he was in these golden handcuffs, in a job he hated, in a life he didn’t plan for at all. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Walker wanted to hit the gas pedal and rocket to over 100 miles per hour and keep driving until the world blurred.
He rang the doorbell to pick up his son, and sure enough, Ron answered.
“Hey, Walker. Hobie’s just finishing up a bath.” Ron opened the door further. Even though it was a nice night, Walker came inside. He knew Doug was keeping himself locked away in the bathroom with Hobie to avoid him. Doug liked to hold grudges.
But so can I.
Walker bypassed Ron and charged up the stairs. Ron tried to catch him.
