The Demotion

I hate this job ... Things would be better if I were in charge.

Lucian huffed as he entered the office of the General Operations Director for what felt like the millionth time in the last week. The Boss was half sitting, half leaning on his desk looking through a manilla folder. Without glancing up, he waved to the seat in front of him. With another unsubtle sigh, Lucian sat down in a slump.

‘Acts like these are what will drive this company forward,’ said the Boss, placing the portfolio on desk with a soft chortle.

‘That boy of mine; he really is the future of this whole operation.’

‘Sure, just smells of nepotism to me,’ scoffed Lucian under his breath without thinking.

With a subtle eyebrow raise, the Boss picked up another folder from the desk.

‘Now, these ideas of yours Lucian, how can I put this?...’

‘Not your cup of tea ey?’

‘Oh no, that’s my cup of tea,’ said the Boss, as he lifted a mug from the desk that had “Universe’s Greatest Dad” printed on it. He waited for Lucian to laugh, but feeling it wasn’t coming he placed it back down with a sigh.

‘Lucian, dear. It’s not that all your ideas are bad, per say. In fact there are quite a few good ones; casual Fridays would be fantastic, give the team a bit of fun!’

The Boss continued to read through the list with some nods and small laughs as he read them.

‘A TV in the lunchroom! Now that’s a delicious idea. Also I like some of these ideas for making the waiting room more comfy, like having music, wonderful … but I’m not sure about your choices, I mean, Slayer – God Hates Us All.'

After a pause the Boss continued. ‘Now you know that’s not true…’

He moved past Lucian patting him on the back before sitting at his desk, piled high with design plans and lists of flora and fauna.

‘I know! What about that Michael Bubbly chap? He’ll be wonderful with his cool jazz, funk stuff!'

Ignoring this, Lucian stood defiantly.

‘So is there anything else, or should I just go think of more bad ideas?’

With a gasp that Lucian could swear almost sounded like the Boss was hurt by the comment, he stood, seeming taller than usual, more serious.

‘Now, Lucian! That’s not fair. You know what we’re all about here and what the big no-nos are, this is a warning, but if this pattern continues we’ll have to have another little talk, now off you trot. We’ve got a busy day today … near the end of the first work week and all that! First clients are ready to go!'

Lucian left the office, as he did the Boss pressed his intercom and spoke into it.

‘Marjorie my love, can you bring me the minutes from the last week and all the approved works in order please ...'

Lucian stepped out of the office mumbling to himself about being better suited to being in charge, the Boss's voice became faint and harder to hear. Lucian soon entered his own office and stood motionless in front of his desk for a moment.

With a loud scream of anger he violently upturned his desk, sending all the neatly stacked papers and files flying throughout the room, one of the design plans for a community garden landed in front of him, which he stared at for some time.

‘That’s it!’

The next day Lucian arrived at the office, confident in his new found plan. Tired from staying up making calls and talking to other workers all evening about the idea before presenting it.

He entered the communications office. Someone was sitting at the desk, the chair facing a motivational poster on the wall that says “That’s the Spirit!” and their back was turned to the entrance as Lucian walked in.

‘I need to lodge a complaint against management.’

‘Well what can I do to help?’ said the person at the desk, calmly.

‘For a start you can look at me! This is a serious complaint!’

‘You gotta meet me halfway mate, I’m trying my best here.’ they replied in a playful tone.

‘What are you talking about! You’re just sitting there like a prat! I’m trying to tell you I’m trying to change things around here and you don’t even have the decency to look at me!’

Lucian’s face glowed red in anger.

‘Where do you get off! Look at me!’ Lucian started yelling, spit flying from his mouth as he shouted. Where do you get off! look at me!

The person in the chair turned, realising Lucian is speaking to him. It is a young man with a slicked back ponytail, a wispy goatee, and in one ear is a headset. He covered the earpiece and mouthed to Lucian “I’m on the phone.”

Confused to see the Boss’s kid sitting in this office, Lucian is almost lost for words.

‘What!... you’re not… where is…’

The young man finished his phone call and directly addressed Lucian.

‘They are at lunch, I was just using their office.’

‘But, why are you in their office?’

‘Well, you know … perks of who I am I guess, what’s theirs in mine.’ the young man said with a small chuckle of self importance.

Lucian turned to leave when the young man called him back.

‘Whoa, whoa … What’s this about changing things around here? I happen to like the way the old man runs this place. But you’re not happy are you? Is that the problem … Lucy?’

Lucian’s face glowed even deeper red, and he unleashed all his anger.

‘Listen, you snot-nosed punk, just because your dad runs this place doesn’t mean you can boss me around. I worked my butt off to get where I am, unlike you.’

‘My work will come.’

‘What? What does that mean? You and your dad are finished, you hear! I’m taking over, and I’m not alone!’

Lucian marched out of the communications office, still red and furious, veins in his forehead about to burst, cursing under his breath. He returned to his office where his secretary is tidying up the mess he made earlier. Seeing her on the floor cleaning up his things, the red in his face lessens and the rage in his voice softens. He bent down to help.

‘Lily, dear. Don’t worry about this … I’m finished here now, I’ve just had a run in with the son. I’m going to take over this place Lily, I know you were passed over for the role you wanted because of Adam, I’m sorry. If you want to join me in this hostile takeover, we’ll run the place together …

Lily stared at him for a few beats then took his hand with a soft smile.

I’ve spoken to the others, there’s enough disgruntled staff for this to work, Lily. It’s time for me to run things. Go gather the others and bring them to the Boss’s office. I’ll meet you there.

She pulled him in for a tender kiss on the lips before softly pushing him away.

‘Go get ‘em … be fierce like the dragon I know you can be!’

The night after enacting his plan to sign over the new clients of the Boss, Lucian marched boldly into the Boss’s office.

‘Listen old man, I’m taking over! Now -’

He trailed off, there was no one in the office, the desk has been tidied and all the files and papers stacked in a large box labeled “GEN V1”. There is a small folder on the desk with a photo of the son paper-clipped to the front and underneath it the words “PR NIGHTMARE - THE ANSWER”.

As Lucian looked around, Lily came running into the office in a panic

‘Lucian! All the workers that backed you are outside, security is kicking them all out one by one.’

‘What!? How could they have acted so fast? It’s like he saw it coming ... of course he did! Quickly, back to my office, there’s important files I need to destroy before the Boss finds them.’

Lucian ran back to his office hand in hand with Lily, Lucian huffed loudly as they reached his door, only to see the General Operations Director sitting behind his desk, looking through the file he wanted to destroy.

‘Ah! There you are Lucian! I was beginning to think you’d left without saying goodbye. I have to say this outline for a new type of company is somewhat disappointing. I can’t say I wish you luck with it. How anyone will be dim-witted enough to fall for your policies, I don’t know. You always loved your fine-print and trap clauses didn’t you, you slithery scamp!

He stood up, tossed the file onto the desk and headed out of the office, smiling gently at the two, still holding hands.

‘I best go see that we create some sort of insurance against it ... Tootle-oo.’

A hand slapped Lucian on the shoulder, it is Michael, the head of security.

‘Come on, time for you to go … both of you.’

As they are led out, Lucian saw the Boss in his office and overheard him speaking to someone on the phone.

‘Yes well I’m afraid we’re in quite the Public Relations nightmare here aren’t we. That’s where you shine! I’m just the General Operations Director, you’ll be far better suited to this field work than taking over the G.O.D stuff. But you’re going to have a long tough road ahead of you to sort this out… How long? …Well, a few years … actually, three decades … Yes I know my boy, but how else we all have our cross to bear … oh, don’t worry, just a little joke, you’ll get it one day. Goodbye my Son, I’m very proud of you!’

Being cast out of the Office felt like such a fall, Lucian walked with Lily for what felt like a thousand years, until he found the place he felt could be a new base of operations, Lucian stared out at the decaying world before him. He knew things were only beginning …

“Is this the region?, this the soil, the clime” said then the lost Archangel, “Is this the seat that we must change for heaven, this mournful gloom for that celestial light?”

Of man’s first disobedience, and the fruit of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste brought death into the world, and all our woe, with loss of Eden, till one greater man restore us, and regain the blissful seat…

(Paradise Lost, Book I, Lines 221–224 & Book I, Lines 1 - 5)

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Written for the 'Legends Rewritten' Challenge. This work of fiction is a retelling of events based on Christian Mythology - I use 'mythology' as a broad term to cover the stories and tales both canon and non-canon in Biblical history and narrative.