You're Not Alone

by Shanade White

  “Thank you father, for giving me too much information yet again, I did not need to know that…”

  The screen had already faded to a familiar blue, indicating he had disappeared in pursuit of pleasure, leaving Richard alone to ponder his fate.

  Never visiting the office more than twice a week had its advantages; it allowed him time to write the novel he had pondered over for years, and dote over the apple of his eye; Jasmine. Alternately, the disadvantages included resolving the many company issues that would arise in the boss’s absence.

  Today was no exception, and as he thought about his father and his senior escapades, the door knocked announcing the most pressing challenge of the day. The Human Resources Manager had something to discuss with him as a matter of urgency and he couldn’t delay it any longer.

  As he entered the office and took his place in the vacant chair, Richard could tell he would be in for a difficult one.

  “Good morning Richard. You know I wouldn’t usually bother you if I could help it, but with the unsteady climate in the marketplace I thought it best we handle this matter as soon as possible.

  “Go on Alvin, I’m listening.”

  “The company lawyer, Travis Swindley… he has been missing for a few days now, and then a messenger arrived this morning with a letter of resignation. It appears he feels overwhelmed with this last lawsuit, and is no longer interested in being a member of Tabletop Industries. He specifically asked that we arrange his separation package before Friday. He’s also asking that we don’t call him, as he has no desire to engage in discussions about retaining his position.”

  “Please tell me you are joking! This is the worse time he could possibly choose to pull this act! As the internal lawyer, he was the only one dealing with this shit… this can’t be happening.”

  “I totally agree with you and I always think it best to have a contingency plan for situations like this one so, anticipating the backlash, I’ve already gone ahead and placed an advertisement for suitably qualified corporate lawyers. The emails began coming in from this morning, and I should have a short list by tomorrow. I can start to interview Wednesday and once we find the right one, they can start on Monday… that is, if it’s fine with you.”

  “Fix it Alvin, do whatever needs to be done to get us back on track.”

  As the door clicked close, Richard’s head felt as though it would combust and that was never a good thing. The plush carpet and intricate carvings that decorated his office brought no solace in times like these.

  The cool water from the faucet helped him wash away the frustration of being lonely, and the sting of what he considered to be insubordination from the lawyer. At twenty nine years old, Richard was certain he could see bags under his eyes, and everyday he searched for grays in his silken black mane.

  Of course, none were ever there, but inside, Richard felt fatigued from his failed marriage and the burden of managing this company. He forced a smile, and his reflection in the mirror complied. Richard was kind to the eyes, the old secretary in the sales department had said. Too old to be flirting, but still young enough to notice, Marge chided him on his handsomeness every chance she could.

  If old Marge could see it, where were all the women who should be knocking down his door? It seemed that after ‘The Richest’ magazine published his net worth, every single woman in America wanted him, but after hearing about how his marriage died due to neglect, they all fell into the background and he was once again very alone.

  He liked designer clothes, but never dressed up; an oxymoron to say the least, but it was Richard plain and simple. The shirts were all button down and the slacks looked like they could be rolled up for a surfing expedition any moment. His haircut was sleek, but allowed enough length for him to look mysterious; something he enjoyed.

  Barbara had said his sad brown eyes were what attracted her to him, but when they became cold, she could no longer stay. It wasn’t his fault; he simply couldn’t handle the weight of managing his business and a family at the same time. Ultimately, his family life died a slow and painful death.

  He came home to an empty house, and no dinner one evening two years ago; things had never been the same since. Barbara was never nasty during the divorce and never fought him when he petitioned for joint custody of Jasmine. It was a pity the marriage could never be mended, but his daughter was the torchlight in the darkness of their union, and she was the primary reason he, and his ex-wife were friends today.

  Jasmine was learning dance and they often practiced together after school. A natural artist, just like her father who had designed many of the products for what was now his furniture company, she excelled in most artistic things she did.

  It was in the weeks that Barbra took Jasmine that he was especially bored and lonely. It was getting to be overbearing and burdensome to watch TV alone, sipping expensive wine.

  Walking back to his desk and plopping down on the sofa, Richard pondered a prolific statement running through his head, ‘money can’t buy love.’

  *****

  Kimberly was thinking that maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to cuss out the secretary and leave her well paying job, but there was no time to lament over the past now. She was relishing in the liberty of waking up and doing nothing, and doing it all the way until bedtime.

  As a woman who spared no time for fun and adventure before, she now found herself in the awkward position of not having many friends or extracurricular activities to participate in. She had already been to the spa for two facials, and her nails were just fine as well; what was a girl to do now?

  The yoga class she passed in the park looked inviting; it was the only new activity she committed to, and she was glad she did. Who knew the grass was this green or that birds chirped so loudly when you were caged in an office all day? Granted, it was a nice office and all of that, but with so many people acting like commanding soldiers, she could no longer force herself to continue working there.

  Yoga poses looked easier than they actually were to perform, and as Kimberly recuperated from the deceptive exercise, sipping her water bottle, she wondered how she ever lived without enjoying nature’s gifts. Ruining the moment, a sneaky gust of wind swept by in a flurry of plastic cups and newspapers, discarded by people who obviously had no care for the environment.

  Detangling a particularly dirty blanket of paper from her feet, she did her duty as a good citizen, and balled up the mess in her fist, heading for the nearest trash can. As she deposited the once strewn refuse into the bin, she saw the words ‘lawyer wanted’ on another sheet that had already made its way into the can.

  Swapping one handful of paper for the other, she read carefully. The vacancy for a lawyer needed to be filled urgently and the qualifications required all spelled her name. There was only a two day window for application and she felt moved to apply.

  Picking up a tip for a vacancy in a garbage can wasn’t exactly the norm for Kimberly, but sometimes the most valuable things were found in the oddest of places. Tearing along the frame of the ad, she removed it and jogged to her apartment to try her luck with the treasure of the trash bin.

  *****

  The building was shinier than the law office Kimberly had worked at, and for some reason, she didn’t associate it with a furniture company. As she approached the reception area, she reminded herself that this wasn’t the industrial age, and that main offices and factories no longer had to share the same quarters.

  She was definitely confused as to the type of furniture this company made because the lobby was beautifully decorated with pieces that looked antique, contrary to the plastic Lego like contraptions she thought it produced.

  The response to her application was almost immediate. Sending off her particulars before washing away the sweat from yoga and her rummage in the bin, Kimberly remained optimistic that things may go in her favor. Seconds after emerging from the bathroom, her laptop alerted her to new mail. The interview would be at three in the afternoon to be precise and rus
hing to make it across the city prevented her from doing in depth research on her prospective employer.

  Alvin Petterkin was the man who would determine her fate with this company, and even though she had no idea of the salary scale or what exactly they were offering, she had a positive feeling about her possible success.

  Kimberly declined the coffee the secretary had prepared and sat, staring at the hallway in anticipation of getting the matter over with. A naturally confident woman, she still got butterflies when answering questions from strangers while they jotted notes on yellow legal pads.

  A short African American man sauntered up to the receptionist and whispered in private tones, while a slender man of Hispanic decent walked past with his head dropped in disappointment. She could only assume he was unsuccessful.

  Motioning in Kimberly’s direction, he summoned her to his side and the two shook hands vigorously as introductions were exchanged. Walking to the office in silence, Kimberly peeked through several open doors at employees who seemed content.

  The office they entered looked a lot like the others and in courtesy, she was invited to have a seat in one of the chairs adjacent Mr. Peterkin while he assumed his position.Typical interview questions were wielded in her direction, and she was honest in her responses about ambition and career goals. Personally, admitting at twenty seven that she was childless and unattached to any man, was somewhat of a sore point for many reasons that were inappropriate to discuss in a business setting such as this.

  Mr. Peterkin was asking about her time management skills and her strategy for managing stress. Considering the working conditions at Goldman & Parks, as well as her dramatic exit, she answered with a confident half truth.

  Painting a story of a woman who was able to carry the entire legal load of a company with finesse and accuracy, Kimberly hoped her explanation was convincing enough.

  As Kimberly finished her sentence, the heavy oak door, she had entered through cracked open, and footsteps silently moved in their direction. Not wanting to interrupt, a voice said, “Please continue Alvin, I am just here to observe.” And so they did.

  Resisting the urge to look around at the visitor, Kimberly responded to the most recent question about her availability, stating jokingly, that she could move into her office immediately.

  The deep voice behind her chuckled, and curiosity overtook her train of thought as she finally twisted in the chair to meet the deep blue eyes and bow tie mouth laughing at her comedic attempt. He sauntered forward to the Manager’s desk and authoritatively picked up her file.

  Reading for what seemed like an eternity; the man nodded and made pensive sounds before he spoke again. There was something interesting about this person and she sensed he was higher ranked in the company than the man conducting the interview.

  “Kimberly Walsh… that’s you, am I right? You seem pretty accomplished for a lady your age and I can see you are headed for greatness. I hope Alvin here doesn’t feel too horribly that I intruded on his interview, but I would like to offer you the position. If you like, we can go straight to your new office and I can brief you on the details. I trust you’ve been told of our generous remuneration package?”

  Unintentionally foregoing professionalism by nodding her head, she communicated that she had been briefed on what the company had to offer but his eyes trapped her and she was rendered speechless. The Human Resources Manager cleared his throat and her head jerked around.

  “Ms. Walsh? Do you want to accept the position? It seems it is yours after all!”

  “Yes… yes… I would be more than pleased to accept your offer, thank you.”

  The visitor, who was yet to introduce himself, shook her hand with vigor, welcoming her to the family of Tabletop Industries, and she grinned in circles while still contemplating what about this man was so magnetic.

  Following his lead to the office in the corner, she reminded herself that it probably wasn’t best to view your new boss in an attractive light, and switched back to a business persona by the time they reached the door.

  *****

  Was he staring? Richard wondered this as he watched her lower half fill out the chair and taper into a neat waist. He didn’t mean to interject, but her smooth voice left him no option. He never conducted interviews, but in this instance, he felt drawn to interrupt Alvin’s process.

  Why would he offer a job to a woman they didn’t even do a background check on? It was too late to consider these things now as he had already spoken out of turn and the company would have to live with any possible consequences.

  Her palms were smooth as Richard closed his fingers around hers in a congratulatory handshake and he thought he saw the tiniest flame of interest in her eyes as she accepted her new position.

  What was it about her? Her hair was in a neat braid behind her head and though he was no expert, she didn’t seem to wear much make up. Her round face and full lips were pretty without any alteration and he secretly approved of this.

  Kimberly’s dress was a bit more flamboyant than the other female employees usually wore, and he was intrigued by the prospect of adding a splash of color to the pale landscape of Tabletop Industries. It wouldn’t be appropriate for a new boss to stare at new employees’ breasts so he chose to focus on her sparkling brown eyes, keeping the pert globes in his peripheral vision.

  Casing open the door of the recently cleaned and dusted office, Richard stepped aside, allowing her to admire the envied view of the skyline, while he enjoyed looking at her without interruption. She was speaking and he had to put his carnal thoughts in his pocket to focus on her conversation.

  “Thank you so much for the opportunity sir. I assure you; you made a good decision in hiring me. You never told me your name though.”

  “We are glad to have you here Ms. Walsh, my name is Richard and I’m the CEO.”

  Another slow handshake followed as boss and employee assessed each other, both keeping thoughts that had nothing to do with business to themselves.

  Chapter 2

  The matter of Mr. Swindley’s disappearance was troubling, even though he had been replaced. Why would a man who had been with the organization, almost from inception, suddenly up and leave? Richard pondered this as he nibbled at the stale bagel on his counter. Jasmine was with her mom this week and the cook was given the day off. The fridge was full of options, but since the divorce, the smell of bacon in the morning gave him bad memories and hence it was no longer prepared in his family kitchen.

  Thoughts drifted from his business to his family life, or lack thereof and then back to business. The lawsuit they were facing would not put Tabletop in financial ruin, but it certainly would dent the company image. Products were still being churned out at the factory and flying off shelves, but when all the details were revealed in open court it would surely impact their steady following of economy customers who relied on them for affordable furnishings.

  Tabletop produced plastic and resin furniture that resembled the finest of hand carved wooden tables, chairs and any other item usually made of hardwood. The pieces usually snapped and locked together like children’s blocks, but with much more security. Patents filed in the US and most developed countries, secured their leadership position in the marketplace and also satisfied the company mandate to save trees with every furniture piece produced.

  Richard gazed at the clock on the wall, monogrammed with the company seal of an oak tree with a chair carved into its trunk. The motto engraved along the bottom said ‘Sitting in the present and standing for the future.’ As he considered the timepiece also made of Eco friendly resin from his factory, he wondered how long the pending case would loom for. Fatigue from worrying about every aspect of his life was becoming overwhelming and he was exhausted from the weight.

  There was a flutter in the kitchen, distracting Richard from his depressing thoughts and his head snapped around, a blue jay had gotten lost en route to his destination and after circling the kitchen several times he settled for a perch on the
stack of fruit near one of the many open windows. Cocking his head to a side as if inspecting Richard, the bird sang and cooed while his human audience looked on. As Richard observed the small creature, it took flight, drifting to the window sill glancing back before floating into the breeze that would take it to his destination-if there was any. For a moment, Richard wished he could join the bird on his adventures where he would no longer have to worry about menial things like money and law suits. He knew he couldn’t fly, but if he died, at least he wouldn’t have to think about such earthly matters again.

  *****

  The sleek, black entertainment cabinet was flung open and the iPod connected. A selection of the loudest and most abrasive music was chosen and Kimberly hosted a private party for one. A fourth glass of wine down, she held no reservation in pouring another. Celebratory drinks were in order and she would be the one to both celebrate and drink on this momentous occasion.

  The quest of finding the ever elusive dream job was over and she was the one with the prize. The package Tabletop offered her was one hundred percent better than her last job and if the Human Resources Manager and CEO were any indication of company culture, she would be joining a warm corporate family.

  Speaking of family, Kimberly needed to call her aunt. Yes, she was an independent modern woman in many ways, but the traditions of family and upbringing dictated that she check in at least once a week with her. An older woman, Audrey was still very active and appeared combative to most who met her.

  It was this warrior spirit that helped her survive the civil unrests in the south and then discrimination in New Jersey, where she now resided with her youngest daughter, Maya and regal cat, Ebony.

  This was Aunt Audrey’s hundredth cat and each one bore the same name. They were the Albino looking variety with pink eyes and almost transparent skin. Maya hated it and paused mid cuss word to answer the phone.

  “Hey Maya, what’s up? It’s Kimberly.”