run in with the boss's boss's boss's boss

yesterday i decided to leave work a little early so i could go home to catch up on some apartment cleaning that i have been putting off for a little too long.  i kept debating the appropriate departure time internally and finally decided that 3 pm was an okay time to leave.  see, i'm not even assigned to a client right now and i'm not technically required to be doing anything right now, so what's the harm in leavingi a little early?  especially when leaving early, cleaning my apartment, and getting my life in order is only intended to make me a happier person....and therefore a happier employee.

well, when i decided to leave it was actually only about 2:15.  i packed up my stuff as quietly as possible and darted for the stairs.  i'm on the 12th floor, but i'm deathly afraid of being seen getting on the elevators to go home at only 2:15.  i went down 2 floors, to the 10th, then pushed the "down" arrow to take the elevator the rest of the way down.  lo-and-behold, who was on the elevator?  none other than the boss's boss's boss's boss.  THE most important person in this building.  and here i was, bags packed, empty lunch bag in hand.  uuuughhhh this is awkward.

so i tried to act cool.  when he asked "so, what are you up to today?" i pointed to the portfolio folder thingie i was carrying and said "oh, you know.  client stuff".  and he pried, asking what client i was on and who was my boss.  oh, it was terrible.  i wanted to die RIGHT THERE.

on the way home, i festered.  i had lost all motivation to actually do any cleaning.  i wanted to go home and lie in bed in the darkness until the humiliation went away.

but by the time i got some starburst jelly beans i was in the cleaning mood again.  damned if HE is going to ruin my day (except he really did kind of ruin any feeling of self-worth that i had been building up over the past few months).