Stacks of paper lay on top of the desk, it was pretty eye-catching as the condition of the other table is a stark contrast with a clean work table.
This was not a sight to see first thing in the morning as papers should've been cleared the night before, just like the other work area.
"Is the report on tomorrow's meeting ready?" The team leader asked.
"Not yet, but if I prioritize them, they should be ready before I clock out," William responded calmly despite his eyes and his face puts forth a very tired expression. He couldn't do anything despite this unfair treatment.
William couldn't comprehend if his luck was that bad, he wanted the best for the company but his thoughts backfired as his team leader retaliated.
'How did he even get to his position?'
"You should really prioritize them, the president is asking for it ASAP as this is a major project we're focusing on, this task was already given last week so the president is already impatient enough that this task is still incomplete even the day before the meeting."
'What?! You just gave this to me last night! Why are you even doing this, have you lost your goddamn mind?!'
Those were the thoughts he wanted to say but arguing won't make the current condition better, so he just let the team leader run off his mouth, sooner or later he was sure that that crappy mini boss of his would meet his karma.
He nodded back and decided to focus on his work. He put down the stack of papers on the floor to give him space to breathe while preparing the report. As he can't change what happened in the past, he might as well do his best in this current project and be given the opportunity to be promoted.
Seeing that William is not reacting, the team leader deemed him boring and decided to leave, but not without reminding William that he is watching William's every move and should do the project hastily but perfectly.
William could only sigh in disbelief, 'Hastily but Perfectly? He must really have a brain defect'
His co-workers could only silently gaze at William, they new that the team leader is in the wrong and that he is purposely targeting William, but they can't do anything about it. They all had personal problems, and if they help William, they are 100% sure that they would be included on the team leader's onslaught.
William didn't pay them attention, he knew that only the team leader was in the wrong. He could only sigh once again as he thought, 'What if the team leader that I got isn't as useless or egotistical as him'
This started because of a particular day when he was asked to forward the team leader's work to the upper management. It was sent through email, and he was tasked to print it and personally give it to the management.
It was a menial job, mostly given to newbie who just entered the company. After receiving the email, he had the urge to check it to see how the upper management do their work as he wanted to gain inspiration on how to do his hob.
The document proved otherwise and left William speechless, it was full of errors that even as a new worker could discern, it also have tons of inconsistencies.
'Did he really do this? Is he really a team leader?'
William was puzzled at first then he thought that maybe the team leader had given him an incomplete data.
He went directly to the team leader afterwards and explained the mistakes he had seen and asked if the team leader could give him the real document.
"Huh?! You're new here and you're acting like you know everything now?!" The team leader's face was becoming red every second. There was no need to ask him what he was feeling right now.
William was puzzled by this reaction as he didn't expect such unprofessionalism from someone with more experience.
He went to this particular company because of their good reputation, he didn't expect that this was a rose and and thorn was here.
"It was not my intention sir, I was just clarifying since I didn't think that this was the document you were actually sending towards the upper management." William explained but the team leader paid no attention.
"That is not your job! Why were you even scrutinizing it, are you suggesting that you have a higher position than me?! Your only job is to print that document and pass it along, don't you dare mess with it since you'll be hearing from the upper management if you go with that route."
William could only lower his head with the barrage of words coming from the team leader. Despite so many wrong things were happening he just stayed silent.
He bowed before going out the office and headed directly to the upper management to submit the document. At the end of it all, it was the team leader that would get the blame so he really shouldn't butt in. He decided to go on at his own pace, sooner or later he'll be in the same position or even at a higher one that the team leader.
Though not even a day later, he was already called to the office, the president's office nonetheless. He was puzzled by this sudden event, put all his questions were answered when he opened the door.
The team leader was grinning as the president's stern look showed a hint of anger.
"Is this the person?" The president asked
"Yes, I gave him such a task to have him benefit for the experience, I haven't thought that he would blew it right away. I'm sorry," The team leader retracted his grin as he faced the president with sad look in his face.
"I know you have a fault, but the real blame is his alone. This is a reputable company so I expect great things since you were able to get a job here, so I'm disappointed at this proposal. This had cost us a great deal of money since the investors did not like the errors presented in the data." The president calmed the team leader before focusing his attention on William alone.
After more stern reminder, the president warned both of them to be more scrutinizing in what they submit. The president didn't gave William a chance to explain and excused both of them out.
The team leader smiled at William before walking away.
William understood there that it was really his mistake to assume that a reputable company is filled with ethically reputable people too, he was too naive. But this gave him a chance early on to adjust and focus on doing his task rather than fixing other people's work. He really shouldn't have.
Despite that realization, it was too late. The team leader constantly targeted William, he redirected all of his errors and mistakes as William's. Now he even gave William an impossible task by withholding the information by a week.
William stayed composed as he focused on the particular project that is to be presented tomorrow/ After hours of working and focusing on one particular document, he finished and submitted it to the team leader.
He was already beyond tired and exhausted so he clocked out right away as soon as his shift ended.
The next day came and it was currently the meeting that William was waiting for. It was now his chance to rid of his failures in the upper management's eyes.
His excitement though turned into anger as he was not the one to present but instead it was the team leader.
Before the presentation could even begin bolted to the team leader and had him by the collar.
"What the fuck is this?! This is my work, why are you the one taking credit! You even erased my name in the presentation!" William couldn't hold it in anymore, he thought that the team leader couldn't stoop this low, but he really was naive, too naive.
The president immediately called the security since he can't tolerate this kind of outburst in an ongoing meeting. Despite a serious struggle, William was forced to vacate the building. He was fired.
William walked on the streets dazed and feeling conflicted. He was angry and disappointed to everyone and also to himself.
He went to the nearest convenience store near his house and bought a bunch of alcohol, he figured it would be a hell of long day for him.
When he arrived at his apartment, he went directly to his room and started drinking.
William's drinking spree lasted from morning up until sunset. Tons of empty bottle was scattered in his room with him in the corner of his house, laying in a fetal position while tears dripping on his face.
He cursed himself, he thought he was smart but he really was just naive of how the reality of this world works.
"Hard work doesn't prevail in this world, the one who shuns the light and play in the darkness is the one that wins..."
"I wish the world changes, where ability matters the most instead politics...If I can, I myself want to build that environment...where hard work pays off....incompetence is taught...I'll even be shrewd to give others that kind of environment..."
Those were William's last words, with his body couldn't handle the extreme exhaustion together with extreme alcohol intoxication.
It was his last day on Earth...but it was not his last day yet.