me: Hostage

Held hostage by my client today.

I was just going about my daily grind and I required some information that is only retrievable from my client’s computers. And so off I went to their office. In consideration of the current tension between my managers, bosses and the client, I made it quite clear to all parties before leaving to the client's office that I am only an executor and not a decision-maker of the project today and till forever.

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Snippets of conversation with my client at their office -

Me: (hard at work; hunched in front of the computer screen)

Client: (slams phone down after heated discussion with my manager)… So… How is Mr. XYZ as your manager? Is he always like this?

Me: (dazed; mumbling] ... The time line is really tight now, we are focusing on getting as much of the […] done within this week as possible

Client: So what’s your schedule like tomorrow?

Me: (mumbling; non-committal) Well, I might have some […] to do tomorrow, but that I would have to confirm because these […] are very crucial to our project

Client: But there are no […] as far as you know now right? So you will available at 3pm tomorrow?

Me: (firm) No as I know of yet, but I will have to confirm when I return to the office later.

Client: (back on the phone with my manager) [My name] can make it for the meeting tomorrow. I do not care if any one else is coming but she is… That is good enough.

Me: (jaw drops) … …

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Should I even thank my lucky stars that my managers did not respond in the following manner:

“Sure thing! We will just send [My name] alone to face off your team of 4-6 tomorrow then. If possible, we would appreciate if you could at least send us back the larger remaining pieces of [my name] by the end of the day. Her parents will be greatly comforted.”