Page 4 of A Way Down


  ***

  Mr. Eisen awoke in a pool of his own drool. He sat up from his desk that he was passed out on. Rubbing off some of the dry drool from his chin, he looked down at his watch.

  "Shit, I'm late!" He yelled. "I don't have time to shower." Mr. Eisen ran over to a closet that was in his home office. Pulling out a blue work shirt, it was the only thing that would work for the time being. As he quickly changed, he grabbed his suitcase and raced out the door. His driver was waiting inside the car for him outside.

  Lowering the window, the driver said, "I was wondering where you were sir. Need help with your suitcase?"

  "No time," Mr. Eisen said, opening the door and getting in. He slammed the door shut. "Just hurry. I'm very late."

  The driver started up the car and quickly took off.

  "Next time I'm this late, wake me," Mr. Eisen said.

  "But sir," the driver started. "The last time I tried to get you up while you were late, you fired me."

  "Just forget that. Next time, wake me. I'll fire you if you don't."

  The half hour ride to the office felt like it took forever for Mr. Eisen. Instead of dropping him of in the garage area like Mr. Malmsteen, Mr. Eisen likes to get dropped off in front of the building. He quickly got out of the car.

  "Be here on time to pick me up," Mr. Eisen said. "I have very important plans going on when I'm done with work."

  "I'll be here sir," the driver said, pulling off.

  Mr. Eisen ran into the building, walking into the revolving glass doors, pushing his way around.

  "Good morning Mr. Eisen," the woman at the front desk said.

  "Good morning," Mr. Eisen said. He glancing up at the company's triangular logo that was mounted on the wall behind the front desk.

  Rushing over to the elevator, Mr. Risen got in, frantically pushing the button to make him go to his designated floor. Finally, the door shut, taking Mr. Eisen up. The doors opened and Mr. Risen quickly walked to his desk.

  "Hey, how come the boss can come in late and be fine, but if we're just one second late, we get our ass beaten," a man in the break room said. Mr. Eisen caught what the man had said. He walked into the break room, placing his hand on the man's shoulder. "Hey buddy, do you mind?" The man shrugged off the hand, then turned around to see who it was. "Oh, Mr. Eisen sir. I'm sorry."

  "Look here," Mr. Eisen said. "I wouldn't be talking after I just finished reviewing your sales. Instead of talking shit behind my back, it'd be smart of you to get back to work." Mr. Eisen turned and walked out the break room. Before he turned the corner, he said one last thing to the man. "And for the record, I'm the boss. I can show up here at anytime. Hell, I might take the week off. Just because I can." He then headed towards his office.