Page 83 of My Boss

“Because I don’t have a carpentry workshop, and my boss makes me stay overtime every day, which leaves me no time for production,” I say firmly.

“The second aspect solves the first.”

“I don’t understand.”

“When was the last time you checked your bank balance?”

“December fifteenth,” I answer without needing to think about it. That’s when I make transfers for the previous month,set aside a fixed percentage for savings, and then go through a one-day nervous breakdown because my balance is a few measly pennies, which must be enough for grub until payday.

“Check it out now.”

My heart rate is accelerating.

I reach for my cell phone, go into the bank’s mobile app, enter my PIN and, the moment the dashboard appears, my heart leaps. My eyes are practically popping out of my head! I can’t believe it.

Available funds: PLN 42,850.

“Oh, Holy Mother of God.” I click on history, and there is a transfer for PLN 42,210 made by my employer, with the descriptionOvertime payment: January-December.Stunned, I look at Jan. “What is this?”

“Your overtime since the beginning of the year.”

Once again, I direct my gaze to the astronomical amount.

“But so much? That’s impossible.”

“If you have doubts, I’ll send you a file with the statement. It came out to exactly one thousand four hundred and seven hours.”

I lift my head.

“You counted all my overtime hours?”

“I did.”

“And you approved them as payment?”

“No. The company’s policy is that overtime is compensated in the form of additional days off.”

“Then where did the amount in my account come from?”

“You needed money to start a business, and I wasn’t going to give you days off.”

“And you decided to wait until the end of the year to pay the full amount? Why didn’t I get a salary increase every month?”

“I wanted to make sure you invest everything in the business. Large amounts motivate better than small amounts. It’s easierto avoid the temptation to spend the monthly income on the ongoing needs, and this way you have all of it to start the business. I already have buyers for the furniture I acquired from you. Several connoisseurs purchase watches from me and are my regular customers. I’ll give you the difference in the amount, from which I’ll deduct ten percent for myself. In total, your share is about PLN fifteen thousand. Oh, and I decided not to sell the wing armchair. I’m not sentimental, but you apparently have a soft spot for it. I must admit that I was impressed with your determination to acquire it.”

I sit with my mouth gaping wide and my thoughts in such a turmoil that I can’t gather my wits. What’s more, my heart is pounding so fast and hard that I might have a cardiac arrest soon. I’m trying to figure it all out. Overtime, paycheck, buying furniture…

“Does Tadeusz work for you?”

“Yes. He deals with customer contacts and shipping watches. Sometimes he substitutes as my courier. He also drives around pawn shops, flea markets, and bazaars looking for good bargains.”

I’m going to kill Tadeo! The bastard kept mum about working for my boss. I wonder if he repeated to Jan how much I badmouthed him during our meetings. I recall how I met him when he knocked on my door, accompanied by Ms. Ala and…

“Wait. My neighbor claimed that it was Tadeo who brought the wing armchair on the day you wouldn’t let me out of work.”

“That’s right.”

“So were you the one who sent Tadeo to Pilsudskiego Street to get the chair?