The boss’s book of lies

As Alexander lounged on a Bahamian beach sipping one of those tropical, fruity drinks with an umbrella in it, he took advantage of the relaxing calm to reflect on how and why his life had changed so drastically in the past few days. After all, at the beginning of this week the 23-year-old resided in a stuffy studio apartment in a city the cost way too much to live in and held a job he dreaded at the bottom rung of the corporate ladder at a Fortune 500 company. Now, he could travel the world and enjoy life, financially secure in the knowledge that each week his now substantial bank account would grow due to the fact that despite the fact that he never had to step foot in the office again — and wouldn't be welcome if he did — Alexander was now by far the highest paid person in the company. And all because he had stumbled upon that little black book.

As he stared at the ocean, his mind drifted back to a few days ago when it all began.

Alexander’s boss was a miserable soul who, instead of enjoying his own wealth and success, derived pleasure from making others miserable. He frequently berated and mocked employees over the smallest mistakes and discrepancies.

That was how this whole saga started. On the particular day in question, Alexander was summoned into his boss’s office because of a small and inconsequential error with some reports Alexander had written. However, even though the error was small and meaningless, that didn’t matter to his boss, who seized the opportunity to scold and shame Alexander until he wore himself out and left for lunch, leaving Alexander alone in his boss’s office.

This would turn out to be the biggest mistake the boss had ever made. You see, Alexander wanted to make some handwritten corrections on the paperwork, lest he forget what the changes were and he face his boss’s wrath yet again. However, he had neglected to bring a pen. So, he opened his boss’s desk drawer to grab a writing utensil. When he peered into the drawer, what stared back at him was a little black notebook.

Even though this book, which would change his life forever, appeared innocuous at first glance, something inside Alexander recognized that this book was out of place. So, after checking to make sure he was truly alone, he flipped it open. As soon as his brain made sense of the words and numbers that stared back at him from the pages, his eyes widened. He couldn’t believe it.

In his hands was a diary and a ledger depicting his boss’s many misdeeds, of both the moral and legal variety. Affairs, embezzlement, blackmail, shady deals, everything. It was all here! Alexander knew that if this ever became public, or fell into righteous hands, his boss, and many others, would be ruined.

He was about to put it back when he realized that this was his way out of his miserable life. This book, if he wasn’t killed for possessing it, would be his ticket to freedom and happiness. After a moment’s hesitation, he quickly pocketed it and left the building with haste, while at the same time formulating a plan to perfectly utilize his new tool.

Alexander’s boss tried to get the book back in many ways before ultimately buying it back, but all had failed. Alexander was smart enough to not go home, to pay cash for a hotel, and to use a burner phone. Further, he didn’t really have any close family or friends to use to get to him as he was from across the country and he mostly kept to himself. Nor did he have any big secrets to hold as leverage.

It was a harrowing couple days, but he managed to stay alive by staying one step ahead and by being lucky. Finally, right before the deadline Alwxander gave his boss, after which everything would be sent to various news outlets and law enforcement agencies, a deal was struck.

In exchange for fincancial stability and leaving town, Alexander turned over the book... well, most of it. He held on to just enough secrets to ensure his safety, and the safety of his future loved ones, until the end of time.

Alexander still had a hard time believing everything, all of it caused by a little black notebook. It all felt like something out of a suspense thriller, but for Alexander it was all too real. And life-changing.

Alexander was stirred from his daydream by the sound of a resort staff member.

"Sir, would you like another drink?"

Alexander smiled as he handed the young woman a handsome tip and eagerly replied, "Yes, please! Also, how about some oysters?"

She nodded as she pocketed the money, "Certainly, sir!"

As she walked off to get him his food and drink, he thought about the little black book one last time before lying back in his beach chair and focusing on the ocean.