by David Allen
A minute slowly ticked by and then another. Steve was starting to think that the worst was over. Maybe she went to bed, he thought.
Steve remained still and quiet. He thought he heard something. His heart pounded. It was the sound of Christy’s high-heeled shoes clicking against the marble floor. The sounds got louder and closer. She was walking toward the guest room. Steve closed his eyes and envisioned the worst.
Christy gave a gentle knock on the bedroom door. “Steve, are you awake? Are you alright in there?” asked Christy softly.
Steve froze. Thoughts raced about inside his head as he wondered what to do. If he didn’t respond she might come in. He paused for a few seconds before deciding to respond.
“Yes Christy. I am doing OK. I think I might have the flu. You better not come in here. I wouldn’t want you to catch it,” Steve said, in his best sickly sounding voice.
“Steve, I read your note that you put on the door,” said Christy with a more vigorous tone of voice. “I want to know exactly what they said to you down at Saks. When did they say that the bag was going to be in? Did they give you a date? I already told the girls at work that I was getting it and I really can’t believe that you weren’t able to get me the bag today. I am very annoyed Steve, I am annoyed at you. Especially since the bag was supposed to be my anniversary gift.”
Steve cringed at Christy’s contemptuous tone. How could I have thought I loved her, he wondered. He took a deep breath and tried to hide his true feelings. He continued on with his act.
“They didn’t give me an exact date Christy,” he started. “They just said that it would be coming in soon. No longer than a day or two.”
“Well I really hoped that I would have it for tomorrow. I am very disappointed in you Steve. Did you even try to find one at any other store?” Christy asked coldly. “I am sure I could find one at another store if I have to. And I am sure that I could have found one today.”
“I’ll call them first thing in the morning and ask them for a specific date,” said Steve as he maintained his sick sounding but civil tone in his voice.
“OK, but it has to be available tomorrow or I want you to get one from another store. This is getting ridiculous. I’m going to bed,” Christy announced.
The clicking sound of Christy’s shoes grew faint and then finally disappeared as she rounded the corner into the kitchen. Steve waited and listened until he was sure she was not going to return. He started to feel a little bit of relief from the stress. I think she believed me, he thought.
Steve leaned back and tried to relax. Thoughts of Christy and Tim flooded in. He wondered how he could have been so blind. He thought back to Joe’s words earlier in the day. Joe tried to tell me, he thought. But I wouldn’t listen.
It was not very long before Steve realized that he was not going to be able to fall asleep. His mind needed some answers. He needed to know how and he needed to know why. He needed to start his plan.
Steve reached down alongside the bed and felt around for the handle of his briefcase. He pulled it up and slid it over to the other side of the large bed. The case contained a folder that held copies of all of the paperwork that dealt with the proposed plan to bring the senior staff in as part owners of Peterson Software.
The folder was removed and all of the memos and documents were unloaded onto the bed. Steve started to look for anything that might offer a clue as to what Tim and the group of senior vice presidents might be up to.
The first few documents offered little to answer any of Steve’s many questions. He grabbed up another handful and started through them. The memo on top was from Tim to Steve. It was issued the day after Steve informed Tim of his plan to offer the senior staff partial ownership of the company. The topic of the memo was the need to update the company voting procedure. The memo hit a nerve with Steve.
Steve quickly spread out the pile of unread documents around on the bed. He searched through the jumble of papers for the final version of the new company bylaws that recently came back from the legal department.
“There it is,” he announced aloud. Steve pulled the document out from under several other papers. As Steve reviewed the cover page, he noticed that the original staple had been removed and a new staple put in next to the holes from the original staple.
In that moment, Steve knew that he was holding the document that he was looking for. He also knew that Christy had already gotten a copy of it and sold it to Tim.
Steve scanned through the pages. As he read over the last page he found the wording that would allow the group to carry out their plan. Now he knew how the group was going to be able to pull off their plan, but he still had no idea about what they were going to try to do.
Steve knew he needed to get some advice from someone he could rely on. Someone who’s opinion he could trust and someone he could be absolutely certain was not part of Tim’s plot. He quickly dialed the home phone number of Joe Jackson.
Joe was already in bed. He was tossing and turning and having trouble falling asleep just like Steve. The rumors that swirled around the office during the day were now whirling about through Joe’s mind.
At first, Joe had dismissed Margo’s stories about the sale of Peterson Software as pure fiction and the product of idle gossip. But, as he lay in bed he began to go through the odd set of circumstances that occurred throughout the day.
The longer Joe thought about Margo’s stories, the more his imagination took over. Soon his imagination was running wild and doubts were setting in. In spite of everything that he and Steve had been through and everything he knew about Steve’s character and integrity, the stories about the sale of the company started to sound somewhat reasonable.
Joe was contemplating how he was going to approach Steve about the stories when the phone beside the bed started to ring. Joe rolled over and checked the caller-id. Well, no time like the present, Joe thought to himself.
“So, you finally decided to call me?” asked Joe as he picked up Steve’s call. “You can’t call me all day, but you can call now at ten thirty,” he added. Joe was sounding very much like an overbearing father.
“Joe is something wrong?” asked Steve.
“So you can’t tell me what you are up to? I have to hear about it from Margo?”
Steve was taken aback from the line of questioning from Joe. “Hear what Joe?” asked Steve.
“Don’t play dumb with me. The word has already spread all over the office. Everybody knows about the sale of the company. So when were you finally going to tell me about it?”
“Everybody knows about what sale Joe?” asked Steve. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“I am talking about the sale of Peterson Software. The rumor is that you are getting a hundred million for it. I would take the money too but I thought you would at least tell me about it,” said Joe.
“Joe, I am not selling the company. Why did Margo tell you I was selling the company?”
“You’re not selling the company?”
“No Joe, I called you to tell you that I found out what the early morning meeting in the board room was about and that I need to talk to you about it.”
“The meeting wasn’t about the sale of Peterson Software?” asked Joe, who was now the one who sounded a little confused.
“No. And for the last time, I am not selling the company. I wasn’t even invited to that boardroom meeting. The meeting was called as part of a plot against me and we need to talk about it.”
“You want to talk about it now?” asked Joe sounding a bit embarrassed.
“No Joe, we better do it tomorrow morning. I don’t want to chance Christy hearing me talk about this. We’ll talk in the morning. Don’t go into the office. Just come over here to the condo,” Steve said.
“Sure Steve that sounds fine. What time do you want me to come over?” asked Joe.
“Better not come too early. Maybe get here around ten. I want to be sure that Christy is long gone before you arrive.”
“OK Steve, I’ll see you then. Sorry about the confusion.”
“No problem Joe. But hey, if you hear of someone who wants to buy the company for one hundred million dollars, you let me know,” said Steve jokingly. “I think that would be a pretty good deal.”
“Good night Steve. I won’t mention the sale again.
“Good night Joe.”
“I think everyone is going nuts,” said Steve to himself as he hung up the phone. He shook his head at the thought of Joe believing that he was selling the company.
The odd topic of the call with Joe actually helped to ease Steve’s nerves. He leaned over and started to collect all of the unread memos and documents into a single stack. He pulled the briefcase over and emptied out another folder that was full of internal memos from Steve’s senior staff.
Steve still needed to know what the group was going to try to do. He wondered what type of scheme would allow Tim to get at the amount of money that was implied in the note he found. He figured the answer might be buried in one of the many documents that lay before him. Steve leaned back onto the pillows and started to read.
Chapter 28 - New Game
Christy rolled over and stretched her arms out above her head. She felt very well rested and attributed the splendid night’s sleep to Steve’s absence from the bedroom. Just a few more months and I can have the whole place to myself every night, she thought.
The morning sunlight had spread throughout the room. Christy knew it was about time to get up and get ready for work. She glanced across to the clock on Steve’s nightstand. It read eight twenty two. Christy had overslept.
“Oh shit, I never set the alarm,” said Christy aloud as she swiftly threw aside the covers.
Christy began to wonder why Steve did not wake her earlier. She cursed him under her breath as she hurriedly jumped out of the bed. Breakfast was out of the question. I’ll just grab a cup of coffee at work, she thought as she headed directly to the shower.
Christy loved the large glassed in shower in the master bath and would usually linger for extended periods under the hot and soothing massage setting of the multiple showerheads. This morning, the shower lasted just long enough to accomplish the basics. Christy reached for a towel and again cursed Steve.
The morning primping session in front of the mirror had to be almost cut in half as Christy attempted to make up the lost time. After quickly applying her makeup and styling her hair she made up another ten minutes and was back on schedule.
Luckily Christy had selected her outfit the night before. She dressed and raced out of the master bedroom while still tucking in the last bit of her powder blue silk blouse into her short dark blue mini-skirt. When she reached the kitchen she was amazed to find that Steve was not there.
Christy looked around the kitchen and noticed that Steve had never even made the morning coffee. She realized that he must still be asleep in the guest bedroom. This is very strange, she thought.
Christy had never known Steve to be sick. She also knew that he had never taken a sick day from work. Not one sick day in fifteen years. It was hard enough to get him to take a regular vacation day. She began to suspect that something might be up with Steve.
Steve was awakened to the sound of Christy opening the door to the guest room. “Hey Steve, it’s time for you to get up and go to work. Are you doing OK in here?” she asked.
Steve remained still and spoke into his pillow. He put on his best attempt at sounding as sick as possible. “I am not feeling well at all Christy. Just let me sleep,” he said in a barely audible low tone.
“Steve, you sound horrible. Are you going to be staying home from work?” asked Christy.
“Yes. I am staying home from work. I am going to take a sick day. I am still sick,” came the muffled response.
“Well, if you aren’t going to work today can you just tell me where the Gucci bag is so I can return it. I looked all over and can’t find it anywhere. I decided that I just have to have the Jackie O bag today. I already told all the girls at the office about it.”
“Saks doesn’t have the Jackie O bag in stock Christy. You will have to wait for a few days. I will get you the bag when I feel better.”
“No I can’t wait any longer Steve. I’ll return the wrong bag at Saks myself and then use the refund to get the new bag at the Mall by the airport. I know that one of those stores will have it. I will do it on my lunch break and then you don’t have to worry about it. Just tell me where you put the wrong bag so I can get it.”
“I don’t have the bag here Christy,” said Steve.
Christy’s morning aggravation was starting to come to a boil. “What the hell do you mean you don’t have the bag? If you don’t have the bag then who the hell does?” asked Christy. Her tone was harsh and accusing.
“I returned the bag when I ordered the new one. It is back at the store. They applied the refund as a credit toward the new bag,” said Steve. His mind developed the story on the fly.
“Well then just give me the money for the bag and I will get it myself. You can just cancel the other order at Saks,” said Christy, as she sneered at Steve. “I still can’t believe that you weren’t able to get the new bag yesterday after you said that you would. I am very disappointed in you Steve.”
The tone of Christy’s words was harsh. It was the tone that Christy always took with Steve when things were not going her way. It was a tone that Steve had become immune to. But now, for the first time he heard her true voice. Steve heard her words for what they were. He heard the heartlessness and the hostility and felt only contempt for Christy.
In that clarified moment, Steve also came to the realization that he did not truly love Christy. He realized he never really loved her. The feelings he felt were for the idea of a loving relationship and the idea of someone to share his life with.
Steve’s heart was broken but it was not broken by Christy. It was broken by the thought of loneliness and the thought of having no one to spend his life with. Steve tried to hide his true feelings for Christy in his response. He did not want her to get suspicious. Not yet.
“No Christy. I will get the bag at Saks when it comes in. Now please let me get back to sleep. I really do not feel well at all,” said Steve rather firmly.
It was a response that was totally out of character for Steve and it was a response Christy had never expected. She could no longer hold back her anger.
“Well that’s fine. That is just fine,” she yelled. “That was some anniversary gift Steve. That is really some goddamn nice anniversary gift,” shouted Christy loudly. She started to walk away from the guest room door.
Steve rolled his eyes at Christy’s response. He raised his head slightly off the pillow and turned toward the door. “Christy,” he called out.
Christy heard the call. She fully expected Steve to have changed his mind. Just like all the other times, he was about to give in and turn over some cash. She turned back toward the guest room door expecting to get her way.
“Yes Steve?” she called out. The response was a little more pleasant than her last outburst.
“Christy, can you please close the door?” requested Steve. “It is too light in here.”
The simple request threw Christy into a near rage. She was fuming and pulled the door closed with a loud slam. Steve could hear the heels of her shoes clicking loudly on the marble floor as she walked away in a huff.
A slight contented smile appeared on Steve’s face. He licked the tip of his right index finger and made a slight slash in the air above his head. “Steve one, Christy nothing,” he said softly, as he snuggled back into the pillow.
Christy stormed back into the master bedroom. The game had suddenly taken an unexpected turn. Her anger raged as she thought about Steve’s words. She was going to get the Gucci bag today and Steve Peterson was going to be paying for it. She picked up his wallet from the dresser and rifled through the various compartments. She ripped out all of the cash and threw it onto the bed.
To Christy, the loot from the wallet was meager. The total take came to just under three hundred dollars. It was not nearly enough cash for the Gucci bag. Christy rummaged through Steve’s dresser and located his checkbook. She ripped out several checks and scooped up the cash.
“If you want to play games, you better get ready because I can play games,” she announced aloud. “And you are going to lose every time Mister Steve Peterson.”
Steve could hear the door slam as Christy left the condo. He raised his head up and took a quick look at the clock. The glowing red numbers read nine-nineteen. Joe would be arriving within the hour, he thought.
Steve rolled over to the side of the bed and let out a huge gapping yawn. He had only slept a few short hours during the night and was still tired. Most of the night was spent going over the paperwork on the plan to split the ownership of the company and reviewing the stack of internal memos.
Even though he was tired, Steve thought the time spent reviewing the documents was time well spent. Several of the internal memos revealed important clues. Steve knew he was getting close to understanding what Tim and the group were up to.
The rest of the late night hours were spent tossing and turning and wondering what could have caused Tim and Christy to pursue such an extreme plot against him. Steve started out the night in a sad and depressed state. As he thought more about Christy and Tim and their acts of betrayal, he became less miserable and more and more infuriated. By morning, his depression and his sadness was mostly gone. He was now ready to begin his day by fighting back.
Several sheets of paper fell to the bedroom floor as Steve pushed the covers aside and sat upright on the side of the bed. He looked down at his left foot and could see that most of the swelling had gone down. The foot felt pretty good.
Steve applied some pressure to the foot to test it out. Not bad, he thought. He stood and put his weight on the foot. The pain was minimal. I guess Laura did a pretty good job fixing it up, thought Steve.