Annoying Co-workers

"...and then I told Bernard that he had no clue as to what he was doing. I knew that he didn't know what he was talking about but did he listen to me? Of course not! He never does..."

Mindy tried to keep her eyes open and a polite look on her face as she listened to Fritz drone on and on about their boss. What a liar. Mindy knew perfectly well that if Bernard Morton popped into Fritz's lab at that very moment that Fritz would start sucking up to him and brown nosing for all he was worth. It was the hypocrisy at Kutrate Kemicals that got to Mindy the most. Even the people at the newspaper were less hypocritical than the people at Kutrate Kemicals. Everyone there acted like Bernard walked on water to his face but behind his back they called him every name they could think of and a few that Mindy had never heard before. She hated that. Mindy could act professional with Bernard but she didn't think she ever sucked up to him just because he was the boss.

"Well, I suppose I should get back to work," she said, longing to get out of Fritz's stinky lab and back to her own desk upstairs.

Fritz looked disappointed. "So soon? I thought perhaps we could share a small glass of wine while we toast the future of Fat Off."

Eeeewww. Ick. No way was Mindy going to drink cheap wine with Fritz. Wine always went straight to her head and God only knew what she might say after a glass or two. She might tell Fritz the truth--that she was an undercover reporter for the Schuyler Square Times and that she was doing an investigative story--a very lengthy investigative story--in Bernard Morton, Kutrate Kemicals and Fritz too. That wouldn't be a smart move. Mindy might end up floating in the Schuyler Square lagoon, her notes scattered around her inert body while Bernard and Fritz sat back and played dumb. Uh huh. "Sorry but I need to get back to work."

"Why? That rat Bernard isn't around. He won't know if you take a little longer break than usual." Fritz winked at her and Mindy did her best not to lose her lunch. What was with all the men at this dump? They all thought they were studs, a misguided notion to the say the least. "Besides, what do you care what he thinks? You're entitled to a break."

"My break has lasted about half an hour," Mindy replied. "I'm just supposed to take a 15 minute break."

"So who's counting?"

"I am."

Fritz laughed, showing off perfect white teeth. "You're so cute, Mindy darling. Bernard cheats you all the time by paying you such a miserly salary. Why shouldn't you cheat him? You should do what I do--steal everything you can, especially time."

The lab door opened, revealing Bernard Morton's tall and imposing figure. Instantly Fritz changed from a swaggering peacock into a quivering mouse. "Oh, hello, Bernard! Mindy and I were just saying how wonderful it is to work for such a visionary."

Bernard's chest puffed out. "You are lucky," he agreed. "Some people have real jerks for bosses."

Mindy felt sick to her stomach. Not only did she have a jerk for a boss, she had some of the most annoying co-workers imaginable.