Am I good enough? Can I do this? Will I be able to pretend I am serious and professional for a full eight hours?

It was my first day at my first job after grad school. The suspense was filling me with nerve-racking anticipation. Despite being unable to fall asleep all night and getting out of bed several times to check if my blouse was properly ironed, I was desperately trying to look calm. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, I muttered to myself looking at my twenty-three-year-old reflection in the metallic elevator door. I wore my only grownup suit that my mother helped me choose especially for this occasion. My aim was to look at least ten years older.

The elevator doors opened.

On the other side, a man stood staring directly at me. He was wearing an ink blue suit, brown moccasins, and a funky tie. Apart from his rather stylish appearance, he seemed to be relatively shy and formal. I suspected he was trying to achieve the complete opposite effect. He was aiming to look ten years younger. He gazed at me through his dark, round spectacles in a way that was both probing and awkward.

“Good morning, Ms. Zikova. Welcome!” he exclaimed, while also trying not to sound too excited. “I realized you wouldn’t have a key to access our hallway.” He tapped the inner pocket of his suit, as if he was trying to make sure that his key was still there. He shook my hand and invited me into his office. Fellow Monsters, let me introduce you to the Good Boss. My first boss.

Why the choice of name, you might ask? I might be biased, but he, in my opinion, wasn’t just good, but the best boss in the world. He was the first one who’d hired me. I am sure you remember how hard it was when you were looking for your first job out of school with no prior working experience. If you were like me, you were praying that somebody, anybody, would take you in. I am not exaggerating when I say that the Good Boss changed my life completely, simply because he took a chance on me.

Back in the office on my first day at work, the Good Boss seated my confused millennial self on a leather armchair. This was the nicest office space I had ever been in. Although it had the same furniture as every other room in the building, the Good Boss had made the space his own. There were oil paintings on the walls, colorful books on the shelves, and plants. Many plants. It was something between Botanical Garden meets the National Library vibe. He gave the room warmth, making me immediately lean back into the chair and relax. Instantly, the Good Boss took a bright orange leather notebook out of his drawer. I could see a few questions scrib- bled down.

“So, Ms. Zikova—” he said, clearing his throat, “where do you see yourself in five years?” He gave me a piercing gaze. “I didn’t ask you this at the interview, but I must ask you now. Because you are already hired, I expect that now you would consider giving me your honest answer.”

I was caught off guard. I thought I never had to answer such questions again. But I guess I was wrong.

Monsy, the sinister creature inside my head, was shout- ing in a high-pitched voice: In five years, I see myself in an office like this. An evil laugh echoed across my brain.

However, I did have a little bit of tact and replied, “Five years is a long time. I have no idea what might happen in five years. But . . . I could see myself in this company.”

The Good Boss exhaled with relief. His expression seemed relaxed and softer than a few seconds before.

“It makes me very happy to hear you say this,” said the Good Boss. “I will be retiring in a few years, and I am working to build a team that will take over after I am gone. I really need people who see themselves here in the long run.”

I nodded, but I could hear Monsy cracking up.

The Good Boss continued: “I am pleased to have you as a part of my legacy. You will fit so nicely with the others. This means so much to me.” He made an unexpectedly emotional gesture, dabbing the external pocket of his blazer, somewhere where his heart was supposed to be.

Meanwhile, Monsy was rolling on the floor laughing inside my head. It was clear that I wasn’t going to be there by the time the Good Boss retired. The Good Boss, on the other hand, stood in front of me in blissful ignorance.

Little did he know that he had just made the biggest mistake in his career, hiring this monster onto his team.