Perpetuate

by K. C. Ale

  I was given the two-cent tour this morning by HR, but everything was kind of a blur. I can probably find my way to the kitchen and the women’s restroom, but those are about it. I know there’s a restaurant and a café in the lobby of the building, but Crazy Carlson had actually packed me a lunch this morning like I’m some kindergartener on the first day of school. I didn’t realize he’d done it until he was dropping me off at the front of the building. After pulling aside, he held out the small black tote with a muttered, “Lunch.” Then he took off to drop a snickering Brad off at his offsite meeting.

  I’m not sure what Carlson thought to stuff in the pretty insulated sack, but I just stuffed it in one of the desk drawers, slightly embarrassed.

  A light tap at the top of my workspace has me glancing up. The man hovering by my desk looks vaguely familiar. Early to mid-thirties, he’s quietly attractive without being in-your-face about it. Not someone I met this morning, but maybe the few times I visited my dad?

  “Gemma Warton?”

  I pop to my feet. “Yes, I’m Gemma Warton.”

  He holds out a hand. “Todd Jansky, Operations Manager. I’m sorry I missed you this morning. We have a marketing meeting every Monday,” he explains, releasing my hand quickly. “Are you finding everything you need?”

  I nod, appreciating his gesture. No one has really talked to me in the three hours I’ve been here. “I think so. I’m still feeling my way around.” HR mentioned that for the time being, I would be reporting to operations. Not Martin Perez, but someone reporting to him. “Thank you for asking,” I add quickly. “This is all new to me.”

  Why did I say that? My interim supervisor doesn’t need to be reminded I have no idea what I’m doing.

  His gaze falls on my computer monitor, where I have the department procedure manual open, then to the HC logo notepad I was using to jot down notes. “You got a few minutes, Ms. Warton?” he asks like my time is a question.

  “Of course, Mr. Jansky.”

  “Let’s chat in my office.”

  As I’m following him and we wind our way through the floor, prying eyes jab and track our every step. I get the feeling they’re not concerned with the operations manager. They’re either still curious about me or I’m about to be fired on my first day.

  Toddy Jansky’s office is at the opposite side of the expansive floor. Not far, but just enough so that he’s not breathing down procurement. It’s small compared to some of the other private offices I saw during the tour this morning, about the same size as my dad’s old space.

  He gestures to one of the upholstered guest chairs facing his desk as he gently closes the office door. To my surprise and disquiet, he doesn’t take the chair behind his desk but leans back against his desk facing me.

  “Ms. Warton. Gemma.” he begins but pauses. “May I call you Gemma?” Before I can respond he’s continuing. “I understand you were a server prior to joining us, and you’re currently a college student.”

  “A senior,” I clarify helpfully, hoping he understands why I can’t manage a full-time schedule at the moment. “I’ll be graduating in a couple of weeks.”

  He flicks out a dismissive wrist. “HC is a reputable firm, Gemma. We only hire the best people. Everyone under me works hard. We all have a part, and no job is too big or too small. That goes for new employees as well. That said,” his gaze dips briefly to my chest but immediately jerks back. “I expect you will not be using company time or equipment for school work again?”

  What? He thinks I was at my desk studying for exams?

  “Mr. Jansky, I wa—”

  “Thank you, Gemma.” He straightens, pulling at his shirtsleeves. “That’s all.”

  “Bu—”

  “And shoot me a weekly email with your schedule.” He rounds his desk, picking up his phone before he’s taken a seat. “I don’t have that many part-timers, and I like to be on top of these things,” he says while punching in numbers.

  I return to my desk in a jumbled daze, wondering what the hell just happened. Did my boss just give me a verbal warning within ten minutes of meeting me? I would understand if I had been taking advantage, using company time to do personal things, but I wasn’t.

  He didn’t even ask. A couple of passing glances and he pegged me for a slack off. Is that how Todd Jansky normally operates, or is that the company culture? If it’s the latter, I’m shocked anyone survives for more than a year here. How did my father make it for so long?

  As my boss commanded, I email my schedule to him. The hours might differ depending on the day, but they should remain the same from week to week. I won’t be part-time for long, but I wouldn’t want Mr. Jansky to find anymore fault than he already has.

  Unfortunately, it goes downhill from there.

  Within thirty minutes of my meeting with Todd Jansky, he sends me a note through the company’s instant messaging app.

  Need coffee in my office.

  I’m not his assistant, nor am I a hop from his office. Brad hadn’t mentioned anything about the procurement specialist having to play to the operations manager’s every demand, but I know better than to voice any objections or excuses.

  Mr. Jansky did remind me there was no job too big or too small. Maybe he tests all his new staff this way.

  With that in mind, I grab one of the HC mugs in the kitchen and proceed to make Todd Jansky the best coffee he’s ever tasted.

  His office door is ajar, but I rap lightly against it anyway to let him know I’m here. Gaze focused on his monitor, he vaguely gestures at his desk. I catch the hint and set the steaming mug on it.

  No acknowledgment. Not even a grunt.

  Awkwardly, I stand there with my hands clasp in front of me, waiting for his next order, when he snaps, “You expecting a tip?”

  I flinch but manage to say, “No, sir.”

  No sooner am I back at my desk then my new boss is calling me. Hastily I pick up the receiver. “Yes, Mr. Jansky?”

  “Upstairs need you to help setup for a lunch meeting.”

  That was it. He disconnected.

  Pushing to my feet, I glimpse over at Tiffani. With the phone perched between her ear and shoulder, her hand is scrolling nonstop on the mouse. Her small desk is littered with paperwork, orders, and samples. She’s clearly busy doing what procurement specialists do, while my desk is as clean and barren as the first time I laid eyes on it.

  By upstairs, I assumed Mr. Jansky meant the executive floor. I opt for the one flight walk instead of the elevator, needing the extra time to gather myself. It’s not that I don’t like to work or help out in any way needed. On the contrary, I’d rather be busy than bored. I just thought there would be more to this position than… well, glorified waitressing.

  The stairwell ends near the elevator lobby, and I see iBuilt 3000 as soon as I push through the steel door. She does a double take when she sees me, her suspicious gaze zeroing in on the photo badge hanging around my neck.

  “You’re the new procurement specialist?” She said the first part like it was vile. Her narrowed eyes rake over me from my button blouse to simple skirt to the high mileage flats. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  At this point, I wish it is a joke. “Gemma Warton,” I tell her least she forgot, ignoring the spite she’s not making any efforts to tone down. “I’m the new procurement specialist.” That’s what they’re calling it anyway.

  “Peter Warton is your old man. Looks like nepotism is alive and well.”

  If this is nepotism, it’s highly overrated. I don’t remind her my father no longer works here. “There’s a lunch meeting that needs to be setup?”

  A look of disgust passes over her plastic features before she waves a hand down a walkway. “In the conference room. The food is already there.”

  Twenty-one

  Gemma

  The conference room isn’t hard to find. All I have to do is follow the delicious aroma. If I have an appetite, this would be the place I want to be. Only I don’t, and the smell act
ually makes me a little nauseous as I round the hallway and come to a dead stop.

  “Wow,” leaks out of my mouth as I take in the incredible view on full display. The room is long and wide with bright windows on two sides. I can actually see birds soaring around the top of other skyscrapers.

  “I know! I never get sick of looking at it.”

  It’s then I realize there’s someone in the conference room. She’s petite – shorter than me – with short black hair and looks to be around my age or younger than me. Dressed in a V-neck top and ankle-length skirt, she grins at me and approaches me with an extended hand.

  “I’m Suzy. I work in admin.”

  “Gemma,” I say, accepting her hand. “Procurement.”

  A flash of confusion. “Are you a part of the meeting?”

  “I’m supposed to help setup.”

  “Oh.” Black brows crease above uncertain brown eyes. “Really?”

  “It’s my first day,” I explain. Maybe that makes more sense? I don’t know either. “What can I do?”

  She hesitates. “Um… well, I guess you can help me bring out the drinks?” A large wooden tray with all manners of beverages sits on top of a dark credenza. “The kitchen isn’t far, but I wish they would just keep a fridge in here. I know it would look weird, but it sure would make my life easier.”

  I begin transferring the cold bottles to the top of the credenza. “You brought them here with this tray?” She looks barely strong enough to carry a sandwich, must less all this. I know from experience this isn’t a light load. “By yourself?”

  She shrugs, working alongside me. “No biggie. I don’t usually get any help. Certainly not from Melissa the Office Witch.”

  I choke back a laugh. “Who?”

  Wide eyed, Suzy slaps a palm to her mouth, obviously chagrinned at her outburst. Her gaze anxiously jumps to the doorway and back to me. “Please don’t repeat that,” she pleads through her fingers. “I’ll get fired.”

  Gently, I ease down her arm. “First of all, I have no intentions of discussing this conversation with anyone. Second, it’s my first day, and you’re the only person who’s been friendly to me so far. And last…” I’m shaking my head and laughing. “I don’t even know who you’re talking about.”

  She chews on her lip, debating, before hiking a thumb towards the elevators. “Melissa is the one at the front.”

  “You mean iBuilt 3000?”

  A burst of giggle and she nods her head vigorously. “Yup, that sounds like her alright. She’s a piece of work. Miss I’m All That who looks down her perfect nose at everyone.”

  “She is terrible, but that’s not going to get you fired.”

  Suzy rolls her eyes, going back to arranging the bottles just so. “She’s not as important as she likes to think, but she’s sleeping with someone in management. One word and I’d be gone.”

  My fingers freeze over the empty tray.

  No. No. No.

  “Who?” I stare at her, willing her to say any name but the CEO’s.

  She takes the tray herself and sets it aside, oblivious to the tense blood gushing to my head. Opening the credenza, she retrieves utensils and napkins and begin preparing them for convenient access. “Todd Jansky.”

  My chest collapses in relief. “Wait… management is okay with this?” Okay, I know I slept with the CEO so I shouldn’t talk, but Suzy doesn’t know that. In my defense, I fucked him before he was my boss twice removed.

  “I don’t think Mr. Perez knows. For sure Mr. Hawkes has no idea.”

  “How did you know?”

  “Oh, please. Melissa makes sure everyone beneath Mr. Jansky is aware of it. I’m surprised she didn’t blurt it out to you.”

  “Only because she was too busy sneering at me.”

  “I’d watch out, if I were you. She’s been trying to get into procurement for a while, only the former procurement manager kept denying the promotion. Now that he’s gone, she’ll probably do whatever she can to get her foot in.”

  Skeptical, I ask, “But why? It’s not like it’s some glamorous division.”

  “Free samples,” Suzy expounds. “Sometimes really good free samples. I heard Tiffani once received a brand new, state of the art tablet worth a couple of grand. HC allows the staff to keep the samples from vendors. Plus,” she goes on, “rumor has it Mr. Hawkes gives that division his special attention, more so than one would expect.” She shrugs. “Not sure why, but that’s what people are saying. And everyone in the company vies for Mr. Hawkes’s attention.”

  This place is like a soap opera. Seriously, my dad must have turned a blind eye and ear to all this craziness. He might be an alcoholic, but he has little patience for drama.

  We finish prepping the conference room while chatting up a storm and promise to meet up for lunch tomorrow. I learn Suzy has been with the company as a clerical assistant for a year and is a part-time student at a nearby community college.

  At least today hasn’t been a total disaster.

  Brad had an offsite meeting this morning, but he did mention he’d be back in the office for a lunch meeting, which would allow Carlson to pick me up and drop me off at school for my afternoon classes. That means this conference we’re setting up is probably for him.

  That also means I need to get and get fast. The last thing I want is to run into him in the office. Not that I don’t think I can control myself – that might be debatable – but I wouldn’t want to test that theory. Certainly not with colleagues around.

  The meeting is scheduled to start at noon, and it’s already eleven fifty. Tossing a quick goodbye to Suzy, I scramble out of there in my sensible flats. Melissa is at her desk seemingly in a debate with Brad’s assistant. Linda? Good, that means the office witch won’t get a chance to hassle me.

  I’m practically hugging the wall, trying to be as far from her as possible, and am about ten feet from the stairwell door when she snaps out, “Gemma Warton.”

  The air deflates out of me in resignation. I was so close.

  “Linda here,” Melissa begins smugly when I half turn, “says Mr. Hawkes needs a package delivered ASAP. Since I know you’re not busy…” She snorts at that. “You can do the honors.”

  Linda looks surprised at the suggestion and abruptly uneasy. “You’re Gemma Warton?” she asks quizzically, her gaze taking me in as though trying to place someone she’d seen before but doesn’t quite succeed.

  Gemma Warton, procurement specialist, waitress, and errand girl. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Confounded eyes sharpen in an instant. “Mr. Hawkes mentioned you were starting today, but I didn’t realize you’d be placed on this floor.” The mellow smile she flashes me is one of recognition.

  “I’m not.” My gaze briefly darts to Melissa, who’s now frowning. “I’m just helping out. I was about to go back downstairs.”

  “I see. Well, welcome, Gemma.” She turns back to Melissa. “As I was saying, Mr. Hawkes wants it couriered ASAP. Make sure it’s done before you head out to lunch.”

  Melissa’s back goes up. “If Mr. Hawkes wants it there quickly, then Gemma should do it. She’s already here. We wouldn’t have to wait for the courier to arrive.”

  Leaning over her desk, Linda says, “Consider this a friendly advice, you wouldn’t want me to inform Mr. Hawkes you had Gemma deliver the package. Believe me, it wouldn’t go well for you.”

  “Why?” Melissa argues. “What’s the big deal?”

  “Trust me on this. The name on your speed dial isn’t going to compare to the one on hers.”

  “Um…“I’ll just be at my desk,” I tell no one in particular, because no one is paying me any attention.

  Melissa bristles. “Peter Warton doesn’t have any influence here anymore.”

  Linda snickers just as the elevator chimes.

  My stomach dips.

  Shit!

  Dipping my head, I veer back to the stairwell entrance and slip out.

  Just as the elevator doors slide open.

 
I hear, “Good afternoon, Mr. Hawkes,” before the steel door clicks shut behind me.

  My first afternoon class doesn’t start until two, which means I have to leave at one. I’m supposed to meet Carlson at the same spot where he dropped me off this morning, yet as I’m passing the kitchen on my way to my desk, I find him in it, helping himself to the employee snacks.

  “Carlson,” I hiss. “What are you doing here?” I’m sure he has security clearance, but I don’t want my co-workers to start whispering about the CEO’s personal driver and security waiting around for the new procurement specialist. It’s bad enough Linda has some inkling of who I am.

  He jerks a muscled shoulder. “Lunch break.”

  “Can’t you break somewhere else? People are going to know you’re waiting for me.”

  He waves that off with a jumbo hand. “Who cares?”

  “I care. I don’t want to fuel the gossip mill.”

  “Then you might want to lower your voice.”

  Ugh! “I’m on the clock for another hour. I’ll just meet you downstairs as planned.”

  “Fine with me,” he says and pulls out a chair at the small table, getting comfortable in the absurdly tiny chair for his massive frame. “I’ll be here. Don’t forget your lunch.”

  I sigh. I guess he means well, even if it’s obvious he doesn’t trust me. He’s protective of Brad, and I’m grateful for that. “Thanks for that, by the way. You didn’t ha…” I trail off, riveted to the blush suddenly creeping over the big man’s cheeks.

  What in the…?

  “Gemma?”

  I turn, spotting my new friend hovering just inside of the kitchen gazing wistfully at Carlson. “Hi, Suzy.” The same bright color tainting Carlson is also on her face. Interesting. “What’s up?”

  A clumsy arm juts out with a paper box, the kind we were busy displaying upstairs. “This is yours.”

  Puzzled, I shake my head. “That’s for the lunch meeting.”

  “I was just leaving when Mr. Hawkes walked in. He said to bring one down to Gemma in procurement. Maybe because it’s your first day?” She giggles nervously. “He didn’t know you were just there.”