“Well, it’s complete bullshit!”
Isaac’s voice grew louder with each passing moment as the meeting dragged on. Typically, Isaac was a fairly laid-back dude. He didn’t like to rock the boat, and he certainly didn’t want to be the center of attention—especially not while all of his coworkers gathered around, watching the three of them point fingers and bicker back and forth.
His manager, Brent, was a tall, skinny man. He dwarfed Isaac, despite Isaac standing just shy of six feet tall but depending on who you asked. Isaac online dating profiles all claimed he was six foot one.
Brent wore a finely tailored suit. The kind you only bought after you started winning. He’d taken the top sales position at the store last month, and that—of course—was what had started this whole argument. Isaac was beyond pissed that, once again, during his day off, another coworker had sniped a huge sale he’d been lining up for weeks.
Brent wasn’t an overly assertive individual. Direct conflict was something he usually avoided like the plague—but not this time. Losing that sale had cost Isaac the prize in last month’s competition. Not that he really cared about being at the top of the leaderboards, or the vacation that came as a reward for outperforming your peers.
At least, that’s what he told himself.
A strange, uncomfortable pang of jealousy hit Isaac when he thought about Derrick—about how he would now be taking that trip after closing the deal Isaac had poured so much time and effort into.
Derrick, of course, had remained completely silent throughout the exchange. Other coworkers lingered nearby, pretending not to stare while very clearly staring. It wasn’t a secret what had happened—this was just the first time quiet, dependable Isaac had actually snapped and done something about it.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
He’d been at this job for three years. It wasn’t the career he’d planned, but after a brutal breakup with his long-term girlfriend, he’d found himself moving back to his hometown with no real plan at all.
He’d fired off applications everywhere, not caring much what he did. He just needed a break from reality, and his quiet hometown seemed like it might offer exactly that.
After accepting the job as a Cell Phone Consultant—which was really just used car salesman, but for electronics—Isaac had quickly learned something about himself.
He was good at this.
Persuasion came naturally. Getting people to do what he wanted felt effortless, almost instinctive. Over the past few months, he’d started to push harder at work—not because he was motivated by money. He made more than enough to support his single lifestyle in a small one-bedroom apartment.
No, this time it was about her.
The new girl.
He wanted her to see that he was the hot shit at the store. Wanted her to notice him. Maybe tag along for drinks after a closing shift.
And now this prick, Brent, was letting the weasel that was Derrick swoop in and steal the most important sale of his career.
Not going to happen.
Neither Brent nor Derrick seemed eager to continue the conversation. They stood there awkwardly, letting Isaac vent.
“Here’s how this is going to play out,” Isaac said. “I’m going on that vacation next month. And if either of you wants to make a fuss about it, I’ll flip this store upside down and go straight to Chad Bruttish.”
Isaac hated name-dropping. People who did it always felt desperate—pick me energy. But Isaac knew one thing: Chad didn’t tolerate corruption. Straight-laced. Mormon. Straight out of Salt Lake City. Isaac let a lot of small things slide.
Not this.
“So, yeah,” Isaac said, exhaling sharply. “Fuck you, Brent. And fuck you, Derrick. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He didn’t wait for a response.
Isaac turned and walked out of the store, a small smile tugging at his lips. A clean mic drop. Perfect execution.
Tomorrow morning, he’d deal with the consequences of his little outburst.
But Isaac was confident.
He always got his way.
