A Reprimand

"Okay," he muttered with a longing glance toward the time clock. He knew he was in trouble and was hoping to escape before she caught him.

"Have a seat," she instructed as she closed the door to her small office.

Dan looked around the neat and tidy workspace as he sat in one of the dented plastic chairs in front of a slanted wooden table with two books holding up one corner leg. Pictures of Ms. Carmen decorated the shelves behind her desk.

"I was less than impressed with your professionalism earlier," his boss remarked as she sat in the only new item in the room. Her leather chair creaked a little as she leaned back.

Dan studied the brunette woman in front of him. He'd worked with her before, mostly in the mornings, and respected her to some degree. She expected only what she'd do herself from all of her employees. The rumor mill around the breakroom was that Ms. Carmen had a mean streak as wide as the English Channel if you made her angry.

"I got angry, ma'am," he got out after a moment.

Ms. Carmen's petite chest rose and fell as she stared at him in silence for a time. Dan tried to not shift in his chair too much. She finally asked, "what should I do with you?"

"Um, what?"

A small smile stretched across Ms. Carmen narrow face. "I can't say I've ever had an employee receive such vitriol as what I hear was said. I've been keeping an eye on you for some time. You've been late once in the last year you've worked for us. That was to go to your mother's doctor's appointment. You told us about it and we accidentally scheduled you to work. That being said, you still came into work. While you're here, you work hard and keep your head down. However, what happened today will not happen again. I don't care if you do have a... what did she call it, a limp-dick? You wear glasses, fine. The other words she used... well, they aren't complimentary either. However, I expect professionalism at all times," she finished with pursed lips. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," Dan answered in a flat tone. He wasn't going to take that crap from some old lady for minimum wage.

"If it's any consolation, I can't say I would have remained calm if someone said those things to me," Ms. Carmen admitted as she rose from her chair. She strode around the desk, her heels clicking as she stood in front of him. With a hard look in her eyes she locked eyes with him. "Do not disappoint me again. You'll beg to keep your job, if I even allow that much. Do not scream at the customers if they scream at you. Are we clear?"

"Ah, yes, ma'am," Dan answered as he leaned back in his chair. Ms. Carmen had an imposing aura of authority that he'd never seen before.

"I'll keep you away from Customer Service for a bit. Unless I don't have a choice. Now, why did you laugh when that harlot called me an import wench?"

Dan tried not to laugh and kept his face as neutral as he could. Something still slipped through.

"There's that expression again. Why?" Ms. Carmen demanded. It was obvious by her tone she wasn't delighted.

"I just think of a Ferrari or something whenever I hear the word import. Sorry, ma'am, but hearing her call you an import is just... amusing?" he tempered.

Ms. Carmen stared at him for a moment before leaning down and staring him in the face. Dan leaned farther back in his chair. The plastic groaned under him.

"I am not a Ferrari," she said in her clipped British accent. "I would be an Aston Martin," she quipped with a smirk. "Now, get up and go clock out. We're not paying you to sit around staring at your boss."

Dan realized he was staring at his boss. It was the first time she'd been this close to him and he realized how attractive she was. "Right," he muttered as he rose. "I'll do better next time," he said as he tried to get to the door.

Ms. Carmen place a hand on his arm and squeezed gently. "I am serious," she said. "You do need to clock out, but you also need to work on your professionalism while working Customer Service. I will not give you another chance."

"Ma'am," Dan said again and headed for the door.

He didn't like what his boss had to say, but he knew she was right, at least about some of it. If he wanted to keep his job, he'd need to be more careful in the future. However, did he really need to keep this crappy job anyway?