A broken heart. Literally.

Photo: Akif Hakan Celebi

It is Friday, 3pm. I’m at work, browsing guitars on internet when e-mail from Jay, my boss, arrives:

Boss: what are you doing now? quick glass? Arrgh, he must have noticed I’m on internet. Shit.
BbG: Glass??
Boss: G&T ?
BbG: Now?
Boss: YEP, MANAGEMENT PRIVILEGE, JUST A QUICK ONE IN THE FINE LINE, LETS GO, OFFSITE MEETING ABOUT SEMI-ANNUAL OBJECTIVES

So I pick up my handbag and tell the team I’m off to a meeting.

Cool air conditioning welcomes us. The place is not as busy as usual, probably because of the time of the day. There are mostly older men in elegant suits scattered around, chatting quietly in small groups. A TV screen is discreetly positioned on one of the walls. Football is on – it’s South Africa v. Mexico. I think about WontDieWondering and I’m wondering if he’s watching the game. Probably not. Most of the normal people are working.

At the bar, Boss asks me what I would like to drink, but before I have a chance to even open my mouth he gives his order to the barman – a bottle of champagne. I try to protest and come up with excuses that we can’t possibly finish it, and that I still have work to do. But he states shortly that I shouldn’t worry about anything. Ok, he’s the boss so I try to relax, but insist on staying at the bar instead of being squashed at too smug looking sofas.

My boss faces me with a grin ‘Cheers to the top performer! You did really well in the last 6 months’ and raises his glass. I can feel my face beaming with pride and excitement ‘Oh really? Thanks Jay. And thanks for all the opportunities I’ve been given’. I take a sip of ice cold and sharp tasting champagne, and laugh at his bad jokes. Today they don’t sound that bad actually.

‘It’s time to start reaping synergies from the merger’ says Boss turning serious and fixing his glare somewhere above and beyond my head. ‘I want my management team to work closely with each other to achieve that. You and Matthew will need to collaborate’ he breaks for a large sip of champagne.

‘Of course. You can count on me. It’s all forgotten from my perspective’. I try to stress the last sentence with a strong (and slightly exaggerated) hand movement for added effect.

‘Well, there is one thing I need to tell you’ Boss looks down and polishes invisible stain on his gold cufflink ‘Matthew had a heart monitor installed this morning. He’s been experiencing severe pains recently’. I can’t hide my shock but my boss continues, looking straight into my eyes, ‘He tried to blame it on you but I wouldn’t have it, plus I don’t want HR being involved. So please be careful around him. Literally. His monitor will beep if his heart is on edge.’

I feel a sharp, single twinge at my forehead. How could this turn so wrong?

I look around as if in search of help, then sigh loudly and think that this at last explains a glimpse of satisfaction on Matthew’s face this morning, when he passed me with his chin raised unnaturally high.