Marc Prestosa
Stories (2/0)
Workplace bullying . Content Warning.
Max sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the computer screen in front of him. The office chatter and the hum of the air conditioning filled the room, but none of it could drown out the taunts and jeers from his coworkers. "Hey, Max, why don't you do our work for us? You're good at being a doormat, after all," one of them sneered. Max clenched his jaw, willing himself to ignore the jibe. He had put up with this for far too long, but today was going to be different. As the day wore on, the pressure built inside Max like a coiled spring. He could hear the laughter and gossip behind his back, and it was all he could do to keep his temper in check. "What's the matter, Max? Can't take a joke?" another coworker taunted. Max shot him a tight-lipped smile, but inside, a storm was brewing. He knew he couldn't take it anymore. When the clock struck five, signaling the end of the workday, Max gathered his things and made his way to the parking lot. His footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, and a sense of determination settled over him. "Max, wait up!" a voice called out behind him. It was Lisa, the only colleague who had ever treated him with kindness. "Hey, Lisa. What's up?" Max asked, trying to mask the turmoil simmering beneath the surface. "Are you okay? You seem really tense today," Lisa remarked, concern etched in her brow. "I'm fine, really. Just tired," Max replied, offering her a weak smile before excusing himself. Alone in the parking lot, Max took a deep breath and made a decision. He wasn't going to let them push him around anymore. The next morning, Max arrived at the office early. His coworkers were oblivious as they chatted and sipped on their morning coffees. "Hey, Max, where's your morning coffee? Going to fetch it for us too?" someone called out, eliciting laughter from the others. Instead of reacting, Max went straight to his desk and booted up his computer. Today was the day he would take control of his life. As the morning progressed, Max meticulously executed his plan. He subtly sabotaged his coworkers' work, making sure it wouldn't be traced back to him. "What's going on with this report? It's a total mess!" one of his colleagues exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice. Max fought to suppress a grin as he pretended to be just as confused as the others. The office was in chaos by lunchtime, and Max reveled in the mayhem he had orchestrated. "This is a disaster! We're going to have to redo everything!" someone shouted, their voice rising in panic. Max's heart pounded with a mix of exhilaration and satisfaction. He had finally turned the tables on his tormentors. However, as the day wore on, the consequences of his actions began to sink in. He started to question whether revenge was truly the answer. "Max, do you know anything about what happened to the reports this morning?" Lisa asked, her eyes searching his for answers. Max's resolve wavered as he met her concerned gaze. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, his guilt gnawing at him. Just then, the boss stormed into the office, demanding an explanation for the chaos that had unfolded. "I want answers, and I want them now!" the boss bellowed, his face red with anger. Max's coworkers pointed accusing fingers at each other, casting suspicious glances in his direction. "Max, what's going on here? Did you have anything to do with this?" the boss interrogated, his voice laced with suspicion. Max felt the weight of guilt crushing down on him. "I... I'm sorry. I just wanted to make them stop..." he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. The office fell silent, the air heavy with tension and disbelief. Max had sought violent revenge, but in the end, it was he who was left feeling defeated amidst the echoes of screams and moans.
By Marc Prestosa8 months ago in Fiction