The Coin with the King's Severed Head

“What the hell did you do?”, demanded Ben to his former boss. They were in a typical upper-level office, with a polished desk, elegant chairs, computer, lamp, view of the city, all the proper paraphernalia. The former boss, Mr. Jacobs was sitting behind the desk, silently judging Ben’s posture as he stood before him.

“I was just honest”, replied Mr. Jacobs, not blinking.

“You cost me a great job, a real opportunity!”, exclaimed Ben, his fist clenched.

“Look”, began Mr. Jacobs as he stood, “When you left here, you came to me, asked me to be a reference. I told you I would be honest, and I was. I told them about your faults. Consulting firms only want the best of the best. Simple as that.”

“Faults you forced on me, overworking me half to death!”, snapped Ben.

Mr. Jacobs took a breath, readjusting his suit jacket, “I can see you’re upset. So we’ll stop there for now. We can talk about this more later when you’re calm. I’m going to ask you to leave now.”

Ben stood still, his hand shaking, his resume now toilet paper. He left. Ben wandered around the building for a while as different scenarios passed through him - Him asserting himself over Jacobs. Taking charge. Jacobs blood on his fists. Other similar alpha scenarios.

As the images faded Ben found himself in the cafe on the ground floor. Soon he was sitting at a small table, slouching, staring into a cup of black coffee like a soothsayer.

“Ben?”, came a familiar feminine voice.

Ben turned his head to see Laura, his former office mate. She looked the same. A kind face nestled between a pearl necklace above a woman’s business suit. He almost didn’t recognize her without her looped gold earrings.

Ben stood, “Laura?”

She hugged him, her warmth a welcome comfort. She smiled, asking, “What brings you back here? How are you? Did you get another job? Is it here? Sorry to ask so many questions, I’ve just been worried about you.”

He invited her to join him at the table.

“I’ve been trying to get some different jobs out there. But Jacobs has, well, royally screwed me over. He’s telling people how incompetent I am with deadlines and paperwork. Makes me sound like the village idiot.”

Laura shrugged, crossing her legs, “That’s not right. You were solid with all that, and more. You were a team player too, lifting others up, encouraging them. You really were the heart of the place. Things only got difficult when they kept putting more on your shoulders. More deadlines, projects. Then…you know.”

“Yeah”, said Ben.

“How’s your health?”

“Better. It was a tough recovery. I remember all those high school specials on stress in Health class, but it doesn’t quite compare to real life.”

“So, what are you going to do? I think you should demand that Jacobs give you a good reference”, said Laura with the fire of a protective maternal figure.

“I don’t know. I guess I’ll try again. It isn’t fair, but I did also make some mistakes.”

“Yes, but you learned from them, you did better.”

“True”, said Ben.

“Do you want me with you to see him?”

Ben shook his head, “No. But thanks for offering. Every company I apply for wants to hear from my former supervisor, but doesn't seem to care for the input of the people I actually worked closest with, otherwise I’d just put your name on my CV.”

Laura grinned. She opened her purse and pulled out an old coin. She handed it to Ben.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Take it. My brother collected antique coins. It is from France, before the Revolution. It has Louis XVI on it.”

Ben examined the coin. “Wow.”

Carved into the coin was the side profile of the doomed king.

“It’s fitting that it only depicts his head”, started Ben, “thanks to the guillotine and a million pissed off French peasants.” The back of the coin had some symbols of royalty and prestige.

“I can’t accept this. Why are you giving it to me?” asked Ben.

“My brother”, began Laura, “would flip antique coins. He believed which side they landed on was significant and gave you an answer on what you should do next.”

Ben felt the coin, feeling its silver history brushing against him, his eyes examining every detail of this piece of memorable metal.

“What’s this got to do with my situation?” asked Ben.

Laura smiled and touched Ben’s hand, “Ben, it comes down to chance. Choose what each side represents, then flip the coin. On one side, maybe you convince Jacobs to give you a good recommendation, or at least just try again. After all, this is all really on him. The other side, something else, whatever you choose. There are other possibilities, they’re just not easy. Neither side of the coin will be easy.”

Ben rolled the coin between his index finger and thumb, the king’s head now nodding at him.

“So...the coin is supposed to help me make a decision, take a chance?” asked Ben.

Laura nodded, “My brother always found this useful. Trust me. When he died, he left me his coins, and they have been very helpful.”

Ben sighed, “Why King Louis? Why antiques? Why not just use a quarter?”

Laura smiled, “Each situation offers a different destiny, each destiny requires a different coin.”

Ben put the coin in his jacket pocket.

“Uh…thanks Laura. I’ll do that.”

After some more catching up Ben and Laura said goodbye and parted company. Ben made his way back up to Mr. Jacobs office. Jacobs was in his chair talking on the phone. Upon seeing Ben, he wrapped up the conversation and hung up.

“Are you calmer now?”, Mr. Jacobs asked.

“Yes”, said Ben. “I am asking you formally and officially to change your recommendation. You know how hard I work. I support others, learn from my errors. I strive to perform my best. Your reference should reflect that, not a few bumps during strenuous times.”

Mr. Jacobs was silent. He didn't blink. He slowly stood, placing his fists on the desk.

“I’ll make you an offer”, said Mr. Jacobs. “Come back to work for me.”

“What?” asked Ben.

“Come back”, said Jacobs, “I’ll even up your salary.”

Ben stood still, silent, his amygdala flooded with scattered moments - the late nights, the tighter deadlines, the meetings, fast food, coffee runs, demands, lack of sleep, excessive emails, high blood pressure, chest pain, cough, fatigue, darkness.

In his mind was one coherent thought - Give me one good reason to trust you.

Ben shook his head, “No. I can’t go back to that. I need a place that doesn’t take advantage of me.”

Jacobs sat back down, “Then my decision hasn’t changed.”

Ben took a breath as the quiet air hung over the two men. Ben then sat across from Jacobs, his posture straight as he stared across the desk.

“Is there anything else?” asked Jacobs.

Ben removed the coin from his pocket. Once more he gazed upon the silver likeness of the dethroned king. Mr. Jacobs curiously watched as Ben placed the coin on the desk and spun it. Both men stared as the coin went round and round, round and round, a blur of shining light. The coin fell down, revealing the king's severed head. Ben’s focus went from the coin to Mr. Jacobs. He smiled.

“What is it?” asked Jacobs.

Ben stood, closed the blinds by the door he just locked.

“What are you doing?”, asked Jacobs as he stood.

Ben walked up to him, still smiling.

“Heads.”

He reached across the desk, grabbed Jacobs by the head, and forced it down onto the desk. The forehead collided with the dense wood. Ben flipped Jacobs onto his back and wrapped his arm around his neck. Jacobs kicked and fought, grabbing Ben’s arm. Ben growled as he pressed into Jacob’s neck, twisting it. Jacobs tried to plead, only making throat sounds as Ben squeezed his neck and face.

“Shhh…shhhh…”, breathed Ben.

Jacobs kicked the air, grabbing at Ben's face and hair. Papers and pens flew off the desk in the frenzy. The computer was knocked off the desk.

“Almost, almost”, whispered Ben.

Jacobs kept grabbing at him, his hands erratic. He reached for Ben’s face and eyes but couldn’t hold on for long.

Ben pressed harder, twisting, twisting. He roared.

He felt the snap.

Jacobs' arms fell limp. Ben breathed deep. He slowly let go. Jacob’s lifeless eyes peered up at him. He stared at the body for a moment, steadying his breath. He put his hand on his own chest, feeling his heartbeat. Fast. Fast. Deep Breath. Slowing down. Normal. Content.

Ben grabbed the coin from next to the corpse. He flicked it into the air and caught it, smiling, then put it back in his pocket. He unlocked the door and walked out into the hallway.