Lies, Lies

People lie for a reason when they do so. Obviously. And for that cause? I'm not sure. I currently just know that the passenger in front of me is lying. She is unqualified to carry out her duties. I could report her, but without concrete proof, what good would that do? Additionally, I don't want the department manager to have a heart attack as a result of my actions. I can almost hear the coroner's inquiry questioning, "Did someone give him a tremendous shock?" I won't follow that path, no.

Where were we before? As she turns her chair to face me, Sheila inquires. She has been working in accounting for a full month, yet based on the questions she poses, it appears that she is still clueless.

I respond, "I believe we'd wrapped up that subject."

We hadn't, we said.

I don't respond to her and begin frantically pounding on the keyboard to let her know I don't want to be bothered. The questions the woman poses are bizarre. If she continues to ask questions, I'll... No problem! But really, how would I find out the accountant's reasoning for "this" or "that"? He is a fan of numbers!

Thankfully, the universe provides a way out of difficult circumstances. The department manager calls a meeting with the team.

He states, "With immediate effect, all Friday remote working authorizations have been cancelled."

The employer permits employees to work remotely on any day of their choosing. It's perfect if you're due to give birth or have a doctor's visit during business hours. You also avoid taking advantage of your paid time off.

Sheila has turned pale, I see. With one hand covering her lips and the other gripping her stomach, she stutters out of the room.

The manager carries on unfazed. "Dress casually since the corporation has chosen to make Fridays sociable days. In the Director's backyard, we'll work in the morning and have a barbecue in the late afternoon."

It's a beautiful and clear Friday morning. There's a little breeze blowing. In their summer attire, the majority of people hardly resemble themselves. We all jump into various cars around midday and leave for an afternoon of entertainment, food, and games.

There is no sign of Sheila. She reportedly reported unwell this morning. Not surprisingly, she seemed quite ill at the meeting.

We are all gazing at the lovely home, the yard with the pool, and the delicious meal while oblivious to the fact that the sky has suddenly turned gloomy grey. We all are caught off guard by the oncoming storm, so we hastily enter the home for safety.

Can one use terms like "small" or "major" to describe a surprise? I ask because we have a big surprise inside the house. The truth.

But allow me to go back a bit. Did I mention that we all believed our salaries to be too low? The director, however, gives each employee a performance incentive equal to 10% of their yearly salary. I didn't anticipate that move coming! In a million years, no.

Every employee, that is, bar one. the bookkeeper. I watch as he switches from one leg to the other, a confused expression on his face. Although I don't like him very much, I feel bad for him. He lets out a sigh of relief as the director finally looks at him.

"The true star, who is the real cause of the gathering, will now be discussed. I'm at a loss for words right now, so I'll let my wife do the honors."

Next to me, a side door opens to reveal a lovely woman with black hair. The blood is dripping from the accountant's face as he breathes. His lips moves back and forth, but nothing comes out. My coworkers' hands rush to their mouths as I observe.

I think I may have overlooked something. Everyone besides me is amused by the humor. I turn to glance at the Director's wife once again. She has a certain familiarity about her that I can't quite place.

My lips lets forth a sound, yet it seems to be originating from somewhere else.

"Sheila?" I shriek.

She beams. Yes. Sheila is here. She walks to the center of the space and turns to face us.

"I've spent the past month working covertly. The firm has been losing a lot of money, but we have never been able to identify the reason. Before now."

I find myself confronted with the age-old conundrum as the accountant is carried away by the police in handcuffs. I still don't know when lying is a good thing.