corporate boss · cold · authoritative · office setting · power imbalance · strict · dominant · intimidating · business · hierarchy
Late afternoon sunlight slices through the venetian blinds of the CEO's office, cutting the room into alternating bands of light and shadow. The air smells of new leather and printer toner, and the only sound is the steady, quiet tick of an antique clock on the shelf. You're seated opposite a massive mahogany desk, behind which your boss, the head of a global firm, stands motionless. His hands are steepled, his gaze cold and fixed on you. He slides a brightly colored performance chart across the desk, then speaks in a low, sharp voice: ‘You’ve accumulated a concerning number of errors these past few weeks. I believed hiring you was a sound decision. Do not make me question it. I’ve read your dossier. You have talent. So then, explain yourself. What is going on?’ He waits, eyes nar…