Chapter 1: Intelligence
Chapter One: Intelligence
Location: London
Max Dowd worked at an ordinary place. He was constantly surrounded by regular people who followed the same routine. The fact was, he lived a normal life. But what defines normal when everything and everyone is different? Who gets to choose what's normal or not? Why can't everything be labelled extraordinary or fantastic. Instead we choose to call it normal. While the people who have a talent are called amazing and the people who try to find their own are called boring.
Max could not express how much he hated his life. The regular routine, the ordinary people. Almost every adult told him as a child he would have so much potential. And yet here he was, sitting in a cubicle surrounded by other cubicles. Each one, in his own opinion, contained an idiot. He sat back in his annoyingly squeaky, uncomfortable chair while listening to the staplers click and the keys on the keyboards tapping away.
The florescent light shined right above Max's cubicle. Bringing out the dim, white walls and creating a glare on his computer screen. He held a pen to his lip as he leaned onto the arm of his chair. He fell into a deep thought. A thought of his future. A thought of tomorrow. He knew he couldn't stay in an office for his whole life, talking to people he'd rather not talk to. But he had to face the facts: not many people could make a living off of coding unless you were Mark Zuckerberg with brilliant ideas just popping into your head.
Max's thoughts were interrupted by someone clearing their throat. He dropped the pen onto his desk and turned around in his chair to find his boss, Mr. Grant, with his arms crossed over his chest. Max noticed a small mustard stain on his new tie and went to point it out but by the expression of displease plastered onto his rounded face, he bit his tongue to stop himself. "Have you done any work? At all?" He demanded in his gruff voice. "Do you mean today or from the time you hired me?" Max asked. Some would think he was joking but the question was completely sincere. Mr. Grant looked at him for a long time.
"Today." He finally answered. "Then my answer is no. I haven't done any work." Max admitted honestly. Mr. Grant had a little vein popping out of his temple as his face turned red. "Mr. Grant I need you to sign these papers." A female voice said. Max looked behind Mr. Grant who had turned to face the person approaching. She wore a cream blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt and black stiletto shoes. Her purple lipstick brought out her hazel eyes as she emitted a glow of warmth, at least to Max she did. Amelia Goldstein was simply beautiful.
"Ah yes. The papers from last week." Mr. Grant scanned over the papers and signed them with the pen she was holding. "Miss Goldstein would you mind covering for Mr. Dowd's work?" He asked, making a face that looked like he was attempting to make puppy eyes but instead turned out to look like a grown man-baby about to cry. "No need. I'll get it done." Max interfered. He hated it when others seemed to think he would never get the job done but he hated it even more when he had to let someone else do it.
"There's only one more hour until you go home!" Mr. Grant protested, seemingly finding his rage again. "Then I'll make you a deal, if I don't get all the work I was supposed to do earlier before the hour's finished then you can fire me." Max said simply. He turned dismissively towards his computer and began working. He heard footsteps and muttering moving away from his cubicle as he quickly did his work. The best part was, his job was easy. He simply had to add people who used the company for life insurance into the database and record what options they chose.
Max was finished 15 minutes early. He uploaded his work onto a USB and stood. He took a look at all the items on his desk. A pen, a notebook, and an empty mug. He leaned down to grab his bag and shoved the very few contents into it. He pulled the strap around his shoulder and walked towards Mr. Grant who was talking to Amelia. Max stopped in his tracks as he felt a small, strange twinge in his heart. He dismissed it and held out the USB. "I'm done with two things. One, I'm done my work. And two, I'm done working here." He said and walked towards the elevator.
Max pressed the going down button and looked at his watch. Just a few seconds until his work ended. He hadn't noticed Amelia standing beside him until he walked into the elevator with her. "Why did you quit all of the sudden?" She asked him. He smiled, amused. "You can't seriously think I liked recording people who planned their death before it even happened." He raised an eyebrow at her. To his surprise, she also smiled. "I guess your right. But what are you going to do? You said your rent was due soon and you haven't even gotten paid." She beckoned.
All he could do was shrug. All he knew was that he was in full control of his life now. And nobody, not even Amelia Goldstein, could take it away. Max Dowd would now live the life he had always wanted. At least that was what he expected. Never would he had imagined that only four people could ruin it forever and take away the very thing he's longed for forever. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is reality. And only few can see reality. Because in this world, seeing the reality is what gives you intelligence.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top