“Good job.”

I have just finished presenting and it went so well. I’m so grateful for what he did. He fixed my eyesore notes into an excellent compact information and easy for me to understand. That made me think, is this what made him stayed up last night? I felt bad if he did.

“Thank you, Mr Collen. It’s all thanks to you. I know you’re the one who fixed my notes because this is great.”

“Of course it’s me. I can’t even read your writing last night and it’s bothering me. I can’t sleep after knowing that so I had, no, I must do something about it. You’re wondering why I’m late? Ask yourself.”

What’s wrong with this guy? I was trying to be nice to him. Here I am thinking that he had gone soft with me. I guess no. He keeps picking up a fight with me.

“Um, I’m sorry that my writing’s haunting you?”

“Yes, you should be.”

“But wait. Why did you read it at night though, sir? You can use other option like maybe checked it in the morning so it won’t bother your sleep.” I know it’s a self preference but I’m willing to throw anything I can think of to attack him just like how he did me all this time.

“Are you commanding your boss?”

“I’m suggesting for a better idea, Mr Collen. I’m not saying you’re wrong or someth-”

“But it sounds like it.”

“Look, sir. I know it’s bad as you se-”

“Bad? It’s horrendous. Did you see it before I mend it? I have to reconstruct everything while trying to understand what you’re trying to say. It took me so long that I ended up slept for only three hours last night.”

“And you’re saying it’s my fault?”

“Hm, let me see.” pause as he tap his fingers on his chin, acting like he’s actually thinking. “Yes.”

“Why are we even arguing over a small matter?”

“This is not a small matter. It’s your incompetence we’re talking about, Jigglypuff.”

I can feel my blood boiling in anger as I heard him said that one particular name that I loathed so much. What is my body have to do with any of this again?

“Fucking stop calling me by that name! I had enough of your bullshit. You can judge my work but don’t body shaming people. You can’t keep calling me Jigglypuff! I’m not fucking fat already!”

I burst my anger ranting in front of his smug face. Without waiting for his response, I walked out while stumping my feet, slamming the door behind me as I exited. I can feel Tara’s peeking from behind her monitor but I ignored her and went down the elevator.

I didn’t bother to go to the restroom this time and went straight to my desk. Since everyone’s busy with their work from yesterday, no one notice my behaviour which I’m really glad. I’m so pissed that I can’t hide it anymore.

I need my coffee to keep me sane and I realize I brought the book with me. Ugh! I’ll give Tara to pass it to him later. I don’t want to face him right now or maybe ever again. He might send resignation letter to me in a moment.

My phone from my pocket buzzing and I took it out.

Mr Jerk

Without hesitation, I pressed the red button, rejecting it. Instantly another call from him went off which I did the same. Fucking go away!

He did it a few times and in the end, I just let it rang for as long as he wants. All I know is that I will not answer his calls. But the intense vibration from the phone irritates me because it constantly vibrating so I blocked his number then put it back inside my pocket.

Not a few minutes later, Ms Darcey came running towards me. She’s the one in charge of Highden’s communication from clients and Crowdest itself so any calls was connected directly to her.

It’s been awhile since I’ve spoken to her though. She’s been so busy especially at the end of the month, she received so many calls of reports and meetings that I couldn’t have conversation with her. So when she came to me now was a little suspicious as to what favor can I offer her to the extend.

“Cody! Cody!”

“What is it, Ms Darcey? Take it easy.”

“CE… CEO…”she panted hard, catching her breath.

As she mention it, I can’t help feeling annoyed but my curiosity got the best of me. “What about Mr Collen?”

Taking a deep breath before saying, “He called me just now. And he asked for you to come to his office.”

No fucking way. “Just tell him I’m busy and I can’t rig-”

“Please, Cody! When I said he asked, I mean he demanded your presence there immediately or else, he’ll fire me. I don’t know what you did to Mr Collen for him to be so mad but please, I beg you.” she said with pure terror in her voice.

I felt guilty for her to get involve in this mess. Why is that jerk involving an innocent lady when she had nothing to do with this? Fucking demanding jerk.

I have no choice but to go. I don’t want because of me, Ms Darcey lost her job and moreover, over something stupid like this. I hate a manipulative bastard like him so much. Don’t go using your power against low rank people.

I didn’t spare a glance at the lady, practically kneeling in front of me and walked to the elevator and went upstairs. Let’s hear what this jerk have to say. I guess he wanted to fire me upfront. Sounds good to me.

Walked out the elevator, passing through Tara who once again took a peek from the monitor but didn’t make an effort on calling me or something, probably didn’t want to do anything in this mess.

Open the door harshly, letting the kinetic force closes the door behind me but as it’s an expensive kind of door, it closes softly thanks to the door closer preventing it from slamming.

As I was nearing the man who was glaring, copycatting exactly what I did now. I know we’re both pissed like hell right now.

“What?” I said as I crossed my arms across my chest.

Completely dropping every formality of mister and sir, employer-employee relationship long forgotten. If you’re gonna fired me, might as well show my true color.

He showed me his phone, some picture I guess but I’m really not in a mood for his game at the moment. “Is this why you called me and threaten Ms Darcey about firing her if I’m not here? Do you think this is a game? You scared the shit out of her. Don’t involve innocent people.”

“Look at this!” he yelled from his seat.

“Fuck no! I’m not dealing with your shit. Call me when you have important task and not some bullshit like this.” heading out while still rambling in anger. “I regret coming up here for something insignificant. Branding yourself boss when all you did was messing with low rank employees. I’m not even emp-”

As I was holding the door knob, my words was interrupted and I felt a hand yanking me to turn around, slamming my back to the door with a loud thud then a large, thick hand was holding my neck like trying to choke me.

I gasp at the sudden change of position and the fact that Mr Collen not only want to fire me but to terminate me from this world. He’s gonna fucking choke me to death.

His eyes displayed his furious, eyebrow furrowed as he looked straight to my frighten soul through my blue eyes. I can’t lie, all my anger vanished in a blink of an eye and turned into petrified, I can’t move. He didn’t say anything but his anger was so oozing like a thick smoke around me that my natural reaction was to be scared even if I wanted to fight back.

While still holding on my throat, he took out his phone with the other hand and put it in front of my face.

“Fucking look at this.” Our faces were so close to each other that his breath hitting my face as he said so.

I finally got a clear vision of the picture he’s so eager for me to see. It’s an image of a pink spherical creature. It has pointed ears with black insides and large, blue eyes. Matched with a small, stubby arms and slightly longer feet. I get it, it’s cute but why is he showing me this?

“Meet Jigglypuff, your resemblance.”

What? “J-Jigglypuff?”

“Yes, this adorable little creature here is one of the monster from Pokemon. Do you know what Pokemon is?”

“I-I guess.” No.

“Pokemon is an anime that I watched since I was a little boy and I loved it until now. I’m calling you Jigglypuff because you’re wearing a pink suit the first time we met and kind of adorable similar to it. For your information, I never wanted to call you fat, obese or any for that. This is just a misunderstanding. You should have told me if you’re uncomfortable with it. If you did, we wouldn’t be in this position right now.”

I finally let out a sigh and slumped my shoulder after all the tense situation passed. I felt so dumb and embarrass right now. Door, just swallow me so I don’t have to deal with this situation.

“I’m sorry, Mr Collen. You’re right, I should asked you. We could work things out peacefully.” I said. Glad that I didn’t stutter while uttering it.

I’m very much embarrassed with myself. I’m so stupid. I looked stupid right now in front of him. I don’t know how much I roast myself with the dumb, stupid and embarrassment internally until I heard him laughed and finally let go of his grasp but not backing up, leaving the space as thin as it is.

“Puff, you need to start speaking up if something’s bothering you. You can’t keep it to yourself and assume that everyone’s going to understand you.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Stop calling me that.” My words made him lifted one of his eyebrow. “No, no, I understood but I have issues, okay? You don’t know my past. I’m traumatize when you first called me that, it brings me back to that dark memory of mine that I didn’t wanna recall. The name Jigglypuff made me think you’re pointing out parts of me that jiggles when I walked in. You got me so mad there.” Finish it off with a snicker.

“Nothing jiggles. Unless your puff back here might…”He reached out for my butt. He sounded flirty when he said that. Is he for real?

I pushed him back not that rough, just enough to make some room for me to breath and get that hands away from me. I don’t swing that way. I’m straight.

He laughed again. “What about this, do you ever heard of fighting fire with fire?”

“Where is this conversation going?”

“Trust me. I’m not playing.”

I sighed. “Yes, I’ve heard it before. What about it?”

“You said you’re traumatize by your past. I think we can overwrite your unpleasant past.”

“How?”

“I’ll keep on calling you Jigglypuff and in return you can call me by first name basis. Call me Derek.”

“You can’t expect me to simply call you that when we’re in office. People gonna think I’m disrespecting you. Are you crazy?”

“Okay. You can address me as Mr Collen or sir when in public but call me Derek when we’re alone. Just like now, how about that?”

“I mean, I don’t know if it’s a good idea. What is the reason of doing this anyway?”

“I’m trying to help you here. This include being hangout friends. Go out, have dinner or whatever you want to do. It’s all on me. I know you don’t have any friends to hang out with since you live far from here. Bet you’re lonely.”

“How do you know that?”

“Of course I knew. I’m your boss.”

I can’t help but rolled my eyes at his statement. “You don’t even know my real name. You’ve been calling me Jigglypuff since day one.”

“Cody Kian. You reached 24 last week on 23rd November. Your mother’s name is-”

“Okay, okay. You don’t have to say my whole resume.”

“So deal?”

“I don’t know. You did know I’m straight, right?”

“All of this thing is to help you to overcome your past tied by the name Jigglypuff. We’re just going to have fun, make some beautiful memories together with that name and I don’t see why your sexuality matter.”

“Hm, sounds interesting. You’re saying it’s all on you?”

He nodded. “On me.”

“It sounds like you’re my sugar daddy and I’m the sugar baby when you phrase it that way.”

“Whatever you want to call it. We’re hangout buddies that’s all.”

That does sounds interesting. I mean he’s not totally wrong about the whole thing and I did felt lonely nowadays especially on weekend since I don’t have anyone to mingle with.

“Fine. But we’re taking turn paying bills. I don’t wanna look like I’m some leech, going after your money.”

He grin. “It’s a deal then. Let’s shake hands as a symbolic that we reached a compromise.”

We did as he said and pulls away.

“First thing first, you have to unblock my number. I know you blocked me because after your rejected my calls a few times, it went straight to voicemail. That’s why I have to call Ms Darcey and threaten her to lure you out. It’s a false alarm anyway so don’t worry. I wouldn’t let go of such a competent worker like her.”

Without warning, he rubbed around my pocket and when he found my phone, he fished it out. I let him be, too tired from all the talking.

“Mr Jerk?”

“Oof! I forgot about that.”

He chuckle and continue doing something on my phone. When he’s done, he give it back to me. I didn’t have the energy to check for any changes and simply put it straight to my pocket.

“Now, you can go back to your office. I’ll text you later. Be sure to check your phone and reply. I’ll drag you back here if you don’t.” He warned.

“Okay, Mr Co-” He shot me a glare. “Oh, I mean. Okay, D-Derek.” Well, that’s awkward to call your CEO by his first name.

For some reason, he smiled like an idiot once I uttered his name and I felt weird about it. It gives me the creep but I know he’s just being friendly. It’s too late to back out now so I just have to get use to with.

“I’ll get going now. Bye!” Then walked out the door which was located behind me.

What did I just agreed to?