At work

To my surprise I woke up early the next day. Even more surprisingly was that I actually felt well rested. Guess my schizophrenic visions had at least been good for a good night's sleep.

As I peeled myself out of bed however, a feeling of dread washed over me as I recalled my meeting with my boss that was scheduled for today.

Evelyn Palmer was the epitome of a cutthroat business woman. She ruled the office with an iron fist though she rarely bothered to talk to her underlings. Actually, she only issued talks with her subordinates if she had to verbally beat them up for something or fire them.

To sum it up: A private talk with Evelyn Palmer never meant good news.

I took a quick shower and tried to make myself at least somewhat presentable though even I have to admit that I still didn't look all that stellar.

A significant part of me still wanted to remain in the flat all day and stare at my dirty ceiling. However, an even bigger part of me felt a strange kind of energy, almost some kind of unexplicable, morbid enthusiam towards the one on one meeting in the dragon's den.

Although I knew better, last evening's events had still stuck with me and a surprisingly big part of me wanted to believe that I had changed. That I could now change things.

Besides, I didn't really have any options. If I didn't show up today, I'd definitely get fired which would also guarantee me to losing my apartment. And I really didn't want to sleep under a bridge.

So I gathered all my courage and left my flat this time taking care not to to run into any other inhabitants. I wasn't sure just how much aggression I'd be able to handle today.

The building containing the offices of "WE LOVE INSURANCES" in short WLI was just one of those huge skyscrapers with massive glass panels on all sides. Without any remarkability it stood amongst its more or less identically looking bretheren not too far from the city centre. Here everybody pretend to be a big shot simply because they were working in a tall building and owned one cheap suit.

Well, I couldn't blame them. I had been thinking the same. Until my Penny had left me, all of this had helped me somewhat overlook the disparities between our careers.

Now, I just hated that I was reliant on a crappy job for which I didn't have any passion. Due to my profession as a door to door salesman I was rarely every required in the office.

The elevator announced that I had arrived at my destination with a gentle "Ding" before sliding open its doors.

This was it. I didn't have any illusions what this talk was going to be about. In a couple of minutes I would have to start looking for a new job.

"Hello, Brendan. Miss Palmer is already awaiting you."

Sheila, the reciptionist/secretary for Evelyn Palmer, informed me with an impatient expression plastered all over her face.

I looked at my watch. 8:55 AM.

5 minutes early. Stupid bitch!

She was even younger than me. 20 if I recall correctly. She had only started working at WLI last year but was an expert when it came to sucking up.

Ohhh, how I would love to have those full lips sucking me...

Focus, Brendan!!! Fantasizing about getting fellatio from that busty blonde bimbo was only a distracting factor now. Instead I tried to channel my anger over her behavior...

Maybe, if I was just being assertive enough my boss would give me another chance?

With dread I approached the door. Unlike the other offices, this one didn't have any glass walls to shut out any curious gazes. But I didn't need those to know what lied behind that door.

I opened the door slowly, trying my best to brace myself for what was about to come.

"About time, Smith!"

Evelyn Palmer was staring me down with her icy blue eyes that made me feel like an ant about to be crushed. I took comfort in knowing that I was not the only person who felt that way. Everybody at the office did. This woman was the devil without any disguise.

Clad in a conservative black business dress that reached below her knees and with hair tied into a strict bun one would have thought that my boss was an unremarkable woman to look at.

But despite her best efforts she was still an absolute bombshell. Without cleavage her humongous chest was straining heavily against the fabric while still leaving a lot to fantasy. The rest of her without a doubt well formed body was hidden well beneath her desk.

Her face would have been considered stunning too if she just stopped looking like she wanted to strangle every single human being all the time.

And her eyes...

oh, her icy blue eyes...

Giving me her best death stare...

I suddenly remembered why I was here in the first place. Without warning my neurons flared awake and utter panic mixed into the blissful horniness that I had felt until now.

Fortunately, I got a grip on myself before things started to get awkward.

Didn't bother to offer me a seat. There was no doubt that she planned on making this a quick talk.

"Mr. Smith. I imagine that even you have already figured out why I called you here today."

She spoke with deadly calmness with just a tiny amount of hearable contempt sprinkled in.

I gulped which the dragon took as a sign to continue.

"You've never been a good salesman to begin with but over the last weeks your numbers have only grown worse and worse."

Her killer gaze seemed to intensify. Was that the hint of a smirk I just saw?

Her expression however didn't waver when she said her next sentence:

"Mr. Smith, you are fired."

So that was it. No thank you. No warning ahead. No talk on how I could improve.

She just shot me without warning.

I had been expecting this but it still came as a shock.

How did she dare?

I had lost everything I had ever built towards in my life so far. I really didn't like my job. I would even go as far as saying that I hated it. But it was still better than having none. And it was something that my ex hadn't taken away from me (probably because it wasn't worth taking).

I looked at the witch seated in front of me. Smugness written all over her face.

She probably expected me to lick her boots and thank her for firing me.

But I wasn't going to take it any longer.

"YOU STUPID BITCH!!!"

It was like a dam had broken. All that pent up anger seemed to flow out of me.

Her shocked expression told me that she hadn't expected such a reaction. But seeing the smugness disappear from her face only fueled me further.

"YOU ARE A HEARTLESS DRAGON! AN ABUSIVE WITCH! I DESPISE YOU!"

I kept hurling insults at her finally getting some relief. I didn't care about the consequences (also I knew that her office was soundproof. Dragons like to keep to themselves after all).

I was really getting in a rush now. But after a minutes of insults I realized that she was getting her act back together. She was eyeing me down like one would a barking dog.

An annoying nuissance but nothing more. She seemed almost amused at my display...

But why wouldn't she?

She would still be head of a moderately successful business after today while I would have to go home and eventually settle for a life under the bridges of the city.

But being aware of all this had made me even angrier.

Then I saw her open her mouth. She had gotten a hold of herself again. Now, she was going to deal the finishing blow.

She would probably inform me on how she would sue me or ruin my life. Perhaps she would tell me that I was simply to irrelevant to be bothered with.

I have never considered myself a violent person.

But when I slapped that bitch across the face it just felt SO FUCKING GOOD.

I don't know what demon possessed me to to it but when my open hand made contact with her cheek I knew that it had been worth it.

"SMACK"

Evelyn Palmer looked at me dumbfounded. Without a doubt nobody had ever done something like that to her before.

I couldn't even find any anger in her gaze. Just utter confusion. And maybe a hint of... fear?

A satisfying red spot loosely shaped like my palm now decorated her right cheek.

She was still staring at me.

Well, Brandon. This is it. The final nail in the coffin.

But had it been worth it?

Without a doubt!

The imagine of a dazed Evelyn Palmer looking at me with my mark on her face would forever be imprinted into my brain.

I could die a slightly less unhappy man now.

But Evelyn Palmer was still just looking at me with a stinging cheek.

Seems like that one was a bit harder to recover.

I hadn't hit her that hard. Better enjoy the scenery in front of me while it lasted.

Then suddenly I felt a rush of energy from inside me. It was as if some kind of furnace in my body had suddenly started powering up.

Simultaneously, I felt s strange kind of connection with Evelyn building. It felt like a link, some kind of gateway that would lead my mind someplace else.

My body was still roaring but already I could feel the link beginning to fade again.

Then I heard a familiar angelic voice.