Page 75 of My Boss

“At the ER at Czerniaków Hospital.”

It’s at the other end of the city. Doesn’t matter. I have to get there.

“I will be there as soon as possible. If anything happens, give me a call.”

“Bye.” My father hangs up, resigned, and in a split second I jump to my feet, grab my bag and run to Jan’s office.

“My mother had a heart attack. I have to go to the hospital.” I throw a hasty explanation from the threshold. Jan doesn’t react, just arranges something in a black attaché case—the same one I stumbled over when I left my notice on his desk a few months ago.

“Jan?”

He looks like he is in another reality. He lifts his gaze to me and slowly returns to the here and now.

“Oh, there you are. I have something for you.” He reaches into the suitcase.

“Can we hold off on it until later? My mother is in the hospital. Will you drive me there?”

“Now?”

“No, yesterday. What’s with you?

“Nothing. I just didn’t plan it.” He looks at the inside of the suitcase. What the hell does he keep in there?

“Such things are not planned, Jan. They happen on their own.” I come closer, glance at the contents of the suitcase, and there’s a box of items that look as if they are used for dental torture. “What on earth is this?” I am puzzled because, seriously, this is the first time I’ve seen such a case.

“A watchmaker’s kit,” he replies.

“What?”

He takes a gray plastic lump, cut lengthwise and crosswise in his hand.

“A cube for shortening bracelets.” He puts the instrument down on the desk and reaches for something that resembles an eyelash curler. “Hand tip puller.” He places it back in the attaché case, then picks up a metal tool that looks like a circular cube with the face of a little green man. “A wrench for opening lids. Incredibly precise. I don’t understand how some people can use a caliper.” He looks at the piece of metal as if it were a miracle of nature.

Jesus, what is he talking to me about? I don’t have time for that.

“Okay, Jan, I’d love to see the rest of your toys, but another time. I have to go to my mother. It’s Christmas Eve, and she’s in the hospital.”

He raises his eyes at me.

“Right.” He puts down the instrument. “Speaking of Christmas Eve, I have something for you.” He reaches into his attaché case for an elegant light wooden box and hands it to me.

“What is it?” I ask, surprised.

“See for yourself.”

Damn, I really don’t have time for this, but curiosity gets the better of me… I open the heavy lid and hold my breath. A stunning ladies’ watch sits on velour black material, and I am literally struck by its beauty. A small, silver-plated square dial, a bracelet composed of dozens of tiny pearls. I know absolutely nothing about watches, but this one looks exclusive and extremely expensive.

“Jan, this is…” Words fail me.

“Chanel Mademoiselle. Eighteen-carat white gold bracelet set with one hundred and twenty-two pearls, weight: fifty-seven grams, dial dimensions: point seven by point seven of an inch; envelope dimensions: point nine by point nine of an inch; bracelet circumference: six point three inches, width: point two of an inch. I was not able to resize it until today. You have a very slim wrist.

“What?” I look at him, confused.

“Your wrist.” He reaches out and embraces it with his fingers. “It is slim. I had to shorten the bracelet.” I look at his hand and am reminded of the exact same way he grabbed my hand in the employee lounge when I wanted to take his Panthenol. And when he stopped me at the window when I wanted to leave to hide my tears from him. Holy shit. My head is swimming. This is too much.

“I can’t accept it.”

“Why?”

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