Chapter Two - Rude son-of-a- b***h

                   Aubrey

I was exhausted by the time I got home. It had been a busy day. I was ready to get into my pjs, have dinner and a glass of wine, in front of the TV watching some crappy movie. My mind was tired from everything that was going on today, but I have a prototype for a new website for Modern Vintage because I think they can do better than they have right now. They cater to all, and I don’t believe the site shows that. I think if they showed more, then they could become more. 

I sat my things down, heading to the kitchen to reheat yesterday’s leftovers. I hated cooking, so I always cooked enough to cook for two nights. If I could live on takeaways, I would, but that wasn’t healthy for anyone. I was a lazy cook. I can cook. I just didn’t like doing it. I heated the pasta in the microwave and prepared a side salad to go with it. I poured myself a glass of rose wine. 

I changed myself into my PJ’s and got myself comfortable on the sofa, deciding to watch the crime channel to pass the time. I was about to take the first bite but was interrupted by my work phone going. It was the tone I use for my email. It was probably Kay, freaking out about something, or Darren wanting to talk about the plan. I grabbed my phone, opening the email and was surprised to see it was from Mr Hunter. 

To: Aubrey Winters

From: Gabe Hunter (CEO) 

Subject: MV Project

Good evening, Miss Winter’s, 

Kay informed me that she had chosen you to work closely with me on this project. She tells me you are the best she has, but I will be the judge of that. 

There is no room for mistakes with this, and if you are not sure you are up for this, you tell me right now. 

I need a team I can trust—a team who can work under pressure. I need a team who won’t complain about early mornings and late nights. I need someone to work under pressure. You get one chance, and one chance only! You mess up. You are out! 

Kind Regards 

Gabe Hunter (CEO, HUNTER’S LIMITED) 

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes as I read it. He even sounded like a douche in his emails. I hit reply and changed the subject line. 

To: Gabe Hunter (CEO) 

From: Aubrey Winters

Subject: I work well under pressure 

Good evening, Mr Hunter, 

Yes, Kay chose me because I am the best at what I do. I don’t make mistakes. I also work very well under pressure. I can do this, and I have no doubts in my mind that I can’t. 

Kind Regards,

Aubrey Winters

I'm not too fond of kind regards, but it comes up automatically when we write emails. I waited for him to email back, and it didn’t take long. 

To: Aubrey Winters

From: Gabe Hunter (CEO) 

Subject: I will be the judge of that! 

As I said, I will be the judge of that, Miss Winters. I want you at the office at seven-thirty a.m. Monday. You are a minute late, do not bother coming. 

Have a good evening. 

Kind Regards,

Gabe Hunter (CEO) 

Seven-thirty a.m. is he serious? We don’t usually start until nine a.m. Asshole! I am going to be cranky Monday morning, that is for sure. I didn’t even respond after that. I put my work phone on silent. I was off the clock. I don’t need to be contactable. 

All I can hope is that I do not end up killing him by the end of this. Yes, we have a month to get ideas sorted, but if all goes well, then I will be stuck with him for even longer. I need to keep my professional head on my shoulders. My job is more critical than is arrogance and my dislike for him. 

I pushed him to the back of my mind and concentrated on my alone time. These were my favourite times, just me, myself and I. I wasn’t ashamed of enjoying it. Everyone who knew me was used to it by now. 

I think an early night is in the cards for me tonight. I was looking forward to a long lie tomorrow since I don’t start until noon. I still can’t believe he is making us go in so early! 

God, I was a whiny bitch tonight, was I not? I am sure there are people out there who get up at that time every morning or earlier. I should stop complaining and be thankful I have a job. 

Monday morning should be interesting, if nothing else. I can only hope that I don’t end up in prison for murdering the rude son-of-a-bitch.

                                                    ***

I was in the middle of watching a movie, stuffing my face with popcorn. You can’t watch a movie without it, that is just wrong! Or maybe that is just me. My personal phone soon started ringing. My first thought was it was one of my friends, but when I picked it up, it was a number I didn’t recognise. I didn’t have it stored in my phone, but it was a cell number. Who the heck was that?

I thought for a moment, hoping it would stop ringing, but it didn’t. I groaned, hitting the answer button.

“Hello, who is this?” I ask curiously.

“Gabe Hunter,” He said, but he sounded a little annoyed.

Who does he think he is calling my personal phone? He has no right.

“And why are you calling this number?” I said, trying to keep my annoyance at bay.

“Well, if you answered your work phone, then I wouldn’t have had to,” He said sternly.

“I am off the clock. I do not need to use my work phone,” I reply.

I grabbed my work phone and saw there was an email, a text and a missed call. What the heck? That is a little too much!

“You should still be available in case needed,” He said.

That is bullshit! There is no rule like that. There is nothing like that in my contract.

“Why are you calling?” I asked.

I roll my eyes when I do. It isn’t like he can see me.

“I want a quick zoom meeting with you, Darren and Kay on Sunday night,” He says, “Also, I want you at the office by seven a.m. on Monday, rather than seven-thirty,” He added.

None of us works Sunday, so why does he think it is OK to make us do so? I know there was no point in arguing about it. I swear the more I talk to him, the more he irks the hell out of me. I am usually a patient person, a nice person, but something about him gets under my skin badly!

“Yes, Sir,” I said, through gritted teeth.

It is probably a good thing he can’t see me right now. I am sure the look on my face isn’t a happy one.

“Goodnight, Miss Winter’s,” He said and then hung up.

Argh! God, why does he need to do this damn project? I am sure this isn’t part of his job. I will need to deal with it, especially if I want to keep my job.

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. I look at the email from him on my work phone. It was just the same information he told me on the phone. I opened the text, and when I read it was tempting for me to text back to his rude text, but if I did, then there would be a high chance that I would lose my job. The text read…

Will you get back to me! I do not have all night to wait around for you to reply, Miss Winters. If I do not hear back soon, you will give me no other option than to contact you on your personal phone. The choice is yours!

Rude son-of-a-bitch! I turned my work phone off, and it can stay that way until tomorrow. I plan on some me time, and I am still going to do. Mr Hunter isn’t going to ruin that for me.