Broken Business

They had just come to take her into another room. One of the soundproof offices. We all knew it was coming, but someone had to tell her personally. She hadn't heard from him in weeks. Usually he called at least two or three times a day. However, this time was different. At first we wondered if things at home were rocky, but when I went to visit her, she assured me that there was nothing wrong, and that he was probably just really busy this time. I knew she was sincere about their relationship, but I could tell she was trying to come up with excuses for his neglect to phone her. That was the last time anyone talked to her about it. It has been two and a half weeks since I'd gone to see her, four since he left.

Behind me I heard a grumble, and quickly I turned to face my boss. His face was red, and full of anger, not the least bit unusual. He was inquiring about the whereabouts of Amy. "She's g-gone out for a bit. T-taking a brief brake." I stammered. This man always made me nervous. He was at least two, maybe three times larger than I was, and he always looked as if he could tear out someone's throat.

He stepped forward toward the door, intent on retrieving her no doubt. Before I knew what I was doing, I stood, and placed my arm across the glass door in front of me. It was more of a symbol than anything else. I had no chance of keeping him in, if he wanted through. But I sure as hell wasn't going to just sit here while he goes and tears poor Amy out of the conference office. She was hearing the worst news imaginable. He raise one ruffled brow at me, and I could hear him saying, "And JUST what do you think YOU are doing?"

"You can't go get her right now!" I practically spat. "This is a really bad time. I will make sure she gets back to you as soon as she is through." But this didn't satisfy him. He reached out and grabbed the glass door, swinging it open. He hadn't even bothered with removing me from his path. He simply swung the door into my forearm. I heard a snap, and lost control.

"Amy is a good woman! A hard worker! She goes above and beyond for you day-in, day-out! She deserves a little bit of appreciation! A bit of respect! She is busy, and it's not optional! I guarantee you she'd rather be working at the moment, than enduring the words being relayed to her now! I'd like to take your big, fucking paycheck, and shove up your damn ass!"

He stood there staring at me for a moment, and I was shaking from a mixture between shock, fury, and pain. We both looked down simultaneously, and noticed the bone protruding from my arm. The skin around it was stained in black and purple, and it was soaked in my blood. He looked scared, and then everything got fuzzy. My legs went numb and I felt the faint touch of someone catching me. Then everything was black, empty.