The Borrowed Time System

Chapter 2 – Welcome to Hell

The tension in the office after Derrick’s public execution of Richard Kline lingered like a bad smell that no amount of air freshener could erase. By mid-afternoon, the whispers had evolved from fearful rumors into dark, gallows humor among the desperate.

Lena Brooks sat at her assigned cubicle in the marketing corner, trying to focus on the brand guideline document she had been given. Her arm still tingled where Derrick had grabbed her earlier. The memory made her skin crawl.

She had heard stories about toxic bosses during university, but nothing prepared her for the reality of Horizon Dynamics. The moment she arrived, the receptionist had given her a pitying look and whispered, “Good luck.”

Now she understood why.

From across the floor, Derrick’s voice boomed again. He had summoned another victim — this time, Emily Torres from the admin team.

“Emily!” he called without leaving his office. “Get in here!”

The young woman, barely twenty-six and already looking exhausted, hurried inside. The glass walls allowed everyone to witness the carnage.

“You approved overtime for the support team last week?” Derrick demanded, holding up a timesheet like it was evidence of a crime.

“Yes, sir. They stayed until 10 PM to finish the client presentation you wanted first thing Monday.”

Derrick laughed — a cold, humorless sound. “And who told you that you had the authority to approve overtime pay? I see three employees billed at time-and-a-half. That’s coming out of your next paycheck.”

Emily’s voice cracked. “But Mr. Stones, it was for the project you demanded be completed—”

“Excuses!” Derrick slammed his hand on the desk. The sound echoed across the silent floor. “If they can’t meet deadlines during normal hours, they don’t deserve extra money for their incompetence. Cut all overtime pay for last week. And inform the team that future overtime will only be compensated if I personally approve it in advance.”

Tears welled in Emily’s eyes, but she held them back. “Yes, sir.”

As she left the office, head down, the gossip mill kicked into high gear near the water cooler — just out of Derrick’s direct line of sight.

One of the older employees, Marcus, muttered, “He’s not human.”

A woman next to him snorted softly. “No… humans blink. I’ve been watching. He doesn’t blink when he’s destroying lives.”

Quiet chuckles rippled through the small group, the only form of rebellion they could afford. Another intern whispered, “I heard he once made a pregnant woman work until midnight and then docked her pay when she went on maternity leave early.”

“Someone needs to stand up to him,” a third voice said. “Before he breaks all of us.”

But no one volunteered. They all had reasons. Bills. Loans. Families who depended on them. Derrick had built his empire on exactly that vulnerability.

Lena pretended to focus on her screen, but her blood was boiling. She had taken this internship to gain real experience, not to become another cog in a fear machine. As the only intern in marketing, she had already been assigned three major campaigns to support — work that should have been spread across a team.

At 6:30 PM, most employees began packing up. Derrick emerged from his office like a predator sensing weakness.

“Going somewhere?” he asked loudly, stopping a group near the elevator. “The client presentation is tomorrow. If it’s not perfect, none of you are leaving until it is. Interns especially — consider this your orientation by fire.”

Lena’s stomach dropped. She had plans to study for her upcoming exams, but clearly that didn’t matter here.

Derrick’s eyes scanned the room and landed on her. A slow smile spread across his face.

“Brooks. My office. Now.”

She followed him, notebook in hand. Inside, he closed the door — not fully, but enough to feel private.

“You’re staying late tonight. I want full research on our top three competitors by 10 PM. Summaries, weaknesses, opportunities. And make it detailed. I don’t accept half-effort.”

Lena met his gaze steadily. “Mr. Stones, I’m happy to contribute, but I have university commitments tomorrow morning.”

Derrick leaned against his desk, crossing his arms. “University commitments? How cute. Let me make something clear, Lena. This internship is a privilege. One phone call from me and your university program gets a very different report about your performance. Do you understand?”

The threat hung heavy in the air.

“Yes, sir,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Good girl.” He reached out and patted her shoulder, letting his hand linger. “You’re smart. You could go far here if you learn to… accommodate. We can discuss your future over dinner sometime. My treat.”

Lena stepped back, removing his hand firmly. “I’ll get started on the research.”

She left his office, heart pounding with anger. Back at her desk, she opened her laptop and began working, but her mind raced. How did people survive working here? How had no one reported him?

The hours dragged on. By 9 PM, only a handful of people remained. Derrick walked the floor periodically, criticizing drafts and making impossible demands. At one point he rejected an entire leave request for a dying parent in front of everyone, calling it “poor planning.”

The office gossip reached new heights in the break room during a brief coffee run.

“He’s going to push the wrong person one day,” Marcus said, stirring sugar into his cup with unnecessary violence. “And when that happens, I hope I’m there to watch.”

“Pray it’s not one of us who snaps,” Emily replied, eyes red. “I can’t afford to lose this job.”

Lena listened quietly, adding her own observations. Derrick wasn’t just a bad boss. He was a bully who got off on power. The kind of man who believed his intelligence and ambition justified every cruelty.

At 10:15 PM, Derrick finally released most of the staff but kept Lena behind for “final revisions.” As she worked alone under the harsh fluorescent lights, she glanced toward his office. He was watching her through the glass, a satisfied smirk on his face.

She shivered.

This place wasn’t just toxic. It was hell.

And she had just started her first day.

As Lena finally packed up near midnight, exhausted and furious, she bumped into Derrick again near the elevator. This time it wasn’t accidental — he had positioned himself there deliberately.

“Careful,” he said, steadying her with both hands on her waist. His voice dropped. “We wouldn’t want you to get hurt on your first day… would we?”

Lena pulled away sharply, but the look in his eyes told her this was only the beginning.