"Well, it's often said that the higher-ups are difficult to deal with." I spoke from experience, a slight worry gnawing at me that he might be having a hard time, while also recalling the way my own employees tended to skirt around me. "They usually have personalities that are a bit of a handful. They aren't exactly common people."
"Nah, you're wrong." His voice was unwavering, dismissing my theory entirely. "He's just like anyone else. My coworkers see him the way you described, but I can't bring myself to see him that way. I still respect him, of course, but..."
"But?" He stared at me for a long moment. For a wild second, I thought he was talking about me, though I knew that was impossible.
"He's just like you and me. He puts up a front, but at the end of the day, he's just another guy. That's the vibe he gives me, anyway."
