Under My Boss's Control

“I need you to type up an announcement to the whole company letting everyone know that we will be closing for the foreseeable future due to the Coronavirus outbreak,” he says, indicating the papers he’s just put down.

I nod immediately and take the notes.

“This is important and must go out to everyone right away. They’re saying it is serious, so everyone will need to self-quarantine at home. No one can be here,” he states, his tone serious, before turning and walking back into his office.

I had heard from my friends and the news that it was getting bad, and that a lot of people were losing their jobs. I never imagined it would happen here though. Ben and a lot of the other shareholders here are workaholics. I thought nothing could stop them from working.

As I start to type up everything he gave me, it finally hits. Not only will I not have the safety of my job to distract me – and I guess I won’t even have a paycheck? – but I don’t have a home to go to.

Why did I fight with my landlord? Now I have nowhere to go and no money to pay a new security deposit and first month’s rent.

But it’s not like I was going to stay anywhere where I couldn’t have my dog.

The good mood I had been feeling quickly disappears. I wasn’t sure my life could get any worse, but it appears that it has.

I hurriedly type out the announcement, telling myself to concentrate on the task at hand and not get too emotional. I try to act like I’m a robot as I type. After proofreading and double-checking it against his notes, it’s ready to be printed and sent out.

I take a quick bathroom break and try not to have a panic attack. I tell myself to breathe, that I need to remain calm if I’m going to figure out a place to stay. I try to call a few of the other places that I looked at when I was searching for my new apartment, but none of the ones that I can afford will be available quickly enough.

I hang up my phone and dig through my purse. I don’t think I even have enough money for a hotel for the night. They probably wouldn’t let me bring my dog anyways.

I quickly call my friend Sue to let her know what’s going on and see if maybe I can stay with her. I’m disappointed to hear that she’s in the same situation and is going to have to stay with her family.

That’s great. That means Mr. Barker and I are both homeless now.

“You okay?” Sue asks, when she hears me sniffling.

“Yes.”

She’s worried about me, but I assure her I’ll be fine, then hang up. I sniffle a few more times, then go back out to the office to work. It’s a slow day because of the closing, so I spend a lot of time typing of emails to clients and informing people of what’s going on.

Ben stays in his office, busy with the other partners as they prepare for the closure. From the snippets of conversation I overhear, it sounds as if they’re planning to take work home with them. Some will be asking assistants to work remotely for them, from home.

I wonder if I’ll be asked to do that. It would be nice to still have some money coming in. Except then I remember that I have no home from which to work remotely.

Lunch passes quickly. I eat at my desk, then spend more time in the bathroom calling people and trying to find a place to stay. By the time my lunch is over, I’m feeling even more depressed.

I sit quietly at my desk, trying to drag out my last few hours of work. Thankfully no one here knows about my situation, and I’d like to keep it that way. I mean, sure, I blurted it out at the meeting, but everyone was too busy worrying about stuff to hear me. And only the shareholders were in there – not my fellow assistants.

The workload picks up a little, as it’s nearing the end of the day. Everyone is in a hurry to finish up and get home to their families. This virus sure has everyone scared and in a panic. I’m glad I only have my dog to worry about. I know he’s safe, but I kind of him miss him right now. He comforts me when I’m feeling down.

I sit at my desk and I can tell people are getting antsy and watching the clock. I am as well, but for a different reason. So far, my only plan is to stay at the office as long as I can without anyone knowing what I am doing.