Office Sprint

​"...and if follow these steps we should see a noticeable rise in..."
​The CEO wasn't the most charismatic in the world. He droned like an animal in pain. The other board members all hated the idea of talking to him and it was unavoidable. Each one planned their escape, strategically getting ahead of the others and making their way to the lobby. The mumbling continued in a monotone fashion and I fought all my instincts to blink so close to the end of the day. I noticed the others weren't as careful, which is why they will lose.

I wasn't going to fall for the same trick again anyway, there are only so many times you can let the other employees push you around before you push back. I was sitting at his right hand, doodling on my hand because we were trying to save paper. I wasn't worried that he would see me, because he couldn't see further than his nose. He pretended he didn't have eye problems, but we all knew. I guess pride plays a big factor even when you're that old. He was an old man and his sprinting days were long past him, but I heard he was a legend. I saw a picture of him actually hurdling cubicles, making it out of the building fast than someone can pull the fire alarm.
There it was, that clicking noise from the clock that was louder than most as the hour hand clicked onto six o'clock. The time came and every one made a dash to their office to collect their things and escape. Fast and subtle were the go words and man did they go. I could almost feel the burst of energy throughout the building. I could hear every chair scrape and roll back on the floor as every employee stood and tied the final not on their running shoes. I could do this, I was one of the healthiest employees, but suddenly a handicap called out to me.
"Johnson, I would you to deliver these files to my office," the boss coughed as he collected his jacket.
The boss asked me to do something. Not to talk, that was good. Still, it meant I had to make a detour to include his office on my route. In an almost robotic fashion I adjusted my inner GPS and positioned myself. He grabbed his suitcase, he was about to leave. I was feeling pretty good. The building emptied while i sprinted to the elevator. No, it was too slow, quickly cutting to the left of it I climbed a set of narrow steps, practically running along the walls in a circular motion as I climbed. I ignored the secretary and tackled the door, bursting through into the boss's empty office. It was fancy, but there was no time to admire it. I flicked the files onto the desk and continued my dash, leaping through the window into the night. I was forty-six floors above a pavement, reaching out for the window cleaners lift. I caught the cable just in time and hit the down button. I descended fast enough, watching the employees dash around cubicles and collect what they needed for home.
There was a limit to the lift. It soon clunked reaching its limit at the twentieth floor. I was stuck and left with little choice. Resting my back on the edge of the left I lifted my legs and kicked both feet together against the pane of glass. It shattered into small fragments. I was ahead of the regular employees, but only just. I could break a record here. I must not falter now, especially as I could see a distant colleague turn a corner and see me. It was the eye contact of rivals and I darted ahead of him. The fool took the elevator, but I had another plan that would help me reach the ground floor before anyone else.
I rested a palm on the guard rail, spun over it, sliding myself under the steps towards the next set, clutching the lower guard rail with my other hand. I saw this on a gymnastics show three days ago and stayed up all night perfecting the practice. I began to repeat the maneuver, getting faster and faster as my momentum increased. Soon I was on a new floor every 0.7 seconds. Perfect.
I soon reached the second floor and ran ahead towards the stairs that led down towards the double door exits. The offices were a war zone. Papers flew into the air, my colleagues tackling each other out of the way to reach the offices. Total devastation. They saw me and grew jealous of my head start on them. Their cheap cunning took the better of them and they tried to hand me favors.
"Johnson, I need you to..."
"Johnson, here's the..."
It was like a horrible melody with my name in it. It shattered my ears and tore at my soul. I ducked under papers and avoided hands. Stevenson made an illegal slide tackle, but I was expecting it. It was the same story every floor, I knew that, but it felt a lot more violent on the ground floor. I'm pretty sure someone bit my leg, but I had to wait till I reached home to check. Ducking under a fast punch I vaulted over a guard rail.
My feet hit the lobby floor. The resounding click of formal shoes on cheap tile. They shattered into different pieces that scattered within a five-meter radius. Those that were smart took cover, those that didn't were pelted with cheap stone that slowed them down greatly or blinded them enough to bash into each other. Everyone joined me in a mass sprint towards the sliding doors. I led the way as the formal stamped pursued. I lunged sideways through the narrow gap the doors created as they slid open. Cheers rang out, champagne was popped and music blared. Cars rang with the sound of being unlocked. The revs of the engines warmed my heart. I heard fireworks in the distance, but I focused on my car, getting it into gear and leaving the company parking lot, tires screeching and skid marks burning into the tar. I did it, I left the boundary and I looked back towards the company. Along the top of the entrance was an LED board that flash my name and the words 'NEW RECORD' with my time. I smiled and my heart pumped adrenaline. Not only did I succeed, but I excelled, beating the record by a solid three seconds.
​I felt my freedom.