He glanced at the clock. It was a little past 7 PM. He was pretty sure about the PM part. This time of year, it got dark early and stayed dark late, but he didn't think he had been working on the project for that long without realizing it. It had been two days, maybe three, of straight coding. He was pretty sure it was two.
Honestly though, it wouldn't have mattered how long it took. André was an intern, he still had to prove himself. And all of his co-workers worked well into the night. It seemed like some of them never went home, though between his erratic schedule and the ones they had to be working, he could never be sure. It's not like any of them talked to him anyway.
His boss, though, had been happy with the project. Happier than André had every seen him. Almost happier than André had ever seen anyone. His grin dimmed a little when André told him that he was going to head home and sleep for the night. This project had been huge. It was going to make the company millions. Could he stay a little bit later so he could meet with the owner? André couldn't refuse. He was an intern. He still had to prove himself. So here he was, fighting off yawns and the strange desire to start up another project, something, anything, to keep his fingers moving and his mind too busy to think of sleep. He started working logic puzzles instead.
He had neatly matched all fifteen of the 5K racers, their times, their pets names and their shirt colors by the time his watch buzzed with a notification. It was time.
His boss met him at the end of the row of cubicles, nodding approvingly. He silently led André to the elevators. André, thinking to take the initiative, reached for the button for the forty second floor, but laughter from his boss brought him to a halt. With an amused twinkle in his eye, he reached instead for the button that would take him to the lobby.
The fifteen floors flew by in the literal blink of an eye. André shifted uncomfortably as the doors opened, he was apparently tired enough that he was falling asleep on his feet. Hopefully he wouldn't embarrass himself in front of the owner.
His boss led him away from the banks of elevators and out the front door. André fought of a slight moment of panic, worried that his contract was being terminated on the spot.
"Don't look so scared, little man. You have done well. I'm far too pragmatic to throw away such a useful tool."
The voice boomed throughout the courtyard. André glanced around, trying to discern its source. No one was around besides himself and his boss. The only other thing was the giant blow up mascot the company kept in front of the building.
"I suppose you can't be blamed for suffering from the failings of your race. Such a limited world view."
The voice was coming from the mascot. André looked closer, and realized, for the first time that there was no apparatus keeping the thing filled with air.
"Don't be surprised, young man. There are terrible things that are older than you know in this world. Fortunately for you, I am a humanist. I'm just here to offer you a job. Something a little more... permanent than your current employment."
André considered for a moment. Most CEOs were considered monsters anyway, and the benefits of full time employment with the company were unparalleled.
"You've made up your mind." It was not a question.
André nodded and bowed slightly, not trusting himself to speak.
"Excellent. Welcome aboard, young man."
No comments:
Post a Comment