Chapter Four - Tom
I saw all of these blank faces around the table. They were listening to my every word about the next projected fiscal year. Their expressions told the story of how they were seeing dollar signs in their eyes. The table was surrounded by those with the intellectual know-how to get things done. The one plainly in his own world was Logan.
He was the pretty-boy blond surfer able to weasel his way into any woman’s pants. His dimples made girls fawn all over him. I tried my best to separate him from those I was interested in. He never took things too far, but he came dangerously close to the invisible line drawn in the sand.
“I think you can all agree this next year is shaping up to be a good one. If we all play our cards right there might even be bonuses at Christmas.”
The new car coming off the showroom floor was getting rave reviews from those in the industry. It took a few years to complete the design, but it was ready to become a household name.
I kept thinking about the girl with those eyes that burned right into my soul. One look was enough for me to want to know more about her. I was ready to find out if she would be the best fit. I was hoping there was more to her than her casual appearance. She didn’t look like a pin-up model, but I loved how she carried herself.
The atmosphere changed with relief exploding from the faces of my personal collection of the best minds sitting around the table. The mood shifted from foreboding to one of exhilaration. They were congratulating each other. Their self-importance was galling.
“I have to say I was skeptical, but you changed my opinion,” said Logan. “The name didn’t exactly jump off the page when I first heard it. I was worried we were putting our eggs into one basket. It was a risk, but it appears to be paying off in big dividends. I was instrumental in the design phase. I’m glad we waited until we could iron out the bugs. It would’ve been premature to introduce this car a year ago.”
Logan had a keen insight, but his priorities were mainly on which woman was going to find their mark on his headboard. I had no interest in taking a survey to find out how many women in my employment had dipped into the company well. I wasn’t comfortable with his philandering ways, but he was the perfect wingman when I was looking to score. I had no designs on the white picket fence and the happily ever after.
“This has been a team effort, Logan.” I pulled my thoughts together. “We’ve all done our part to give this new automobile the respect it deserves. We’ve already had several pre-ordered, with some from around the world. This is the next step in the evolution of how we perceive transportation.”
I kept looking at the clock on the wall wondering how I was going to make a discreet departure. I had several interviews for a new receptionist on a temporary basis leading to full-time potential. I had seen some of them on my way into the boardroom. There was not one of them in the bunch that screamed a passion for the business.
I was going to have to pick, but I was quite selective in who I was willing to work with. The one with the kind eyes kept coming back like this wonderful mirage.
One of my department heads was saying, “I know the future looks bright for the company. We have you to thank for keeping us from losing our heads. It’s been a long couple of years with a lot of hiccups along the way. We need to give you a round of applause for how you have never lost faith. This has always been your baby.” They all literally stood up and made me feel like I was being singled out.
They smiled, but I knew from personal experience each one was looking to stab me in the back when the first opportunity presented itself. The only one I could trust was Logan. He was charismatic and funny. He was my Trojan horse within the group.
“You are embarrassing me. Get out of this room before I find a reason to fire each and every one of you.” I was only teasing and the smirk on my face gave them a reason to walk away still basking in the afterglow of this year’s projections.
Logan stood and headed over to Jessica and Angela from the accounts department. He was making them giggle like schoolgirls. I couldn’t help but notice the way they were sizing him up. He wasn’t shy about sharing his affections with others.
He gave them both a light tap on the butt on the way out. It was a wonder he hadn’t been issued a warning from the human resources department on sexual harassment. He made it seem perfectly natural. The girls liked the attention more than they wanted to admit.
“I hope you were taking notes. Mark my words. They will both be lying in my bed before the end of the night. I’m going to be having a few drinks with them and you’re more than happy to come along. I will say my curiosity for having a threesome with them has been piqued.” I suspected his motives were purely selfish. The one button open on his shirt was enough to draw them to him.
“I have no doubt they will easily submit to whatever nasty thought is brewing in your head. I’m going to pass on this one occasion. I still have a lot of work to do. I need some help to deal with the monotony of running the day-to-day of this business. It would help to have some pretty young thing to motivate me.” I had seen a couple of guys and I was willing to go along with the farce of the interview for the sake of appearances.
“It’s not exactly a sausage fest out there. There are many with the fake credentials and the flotation devices to go along with the superficial look.” He was able to cut through the crap. “Don’t be fooled by those bending over to give you more than an eye full. I don’t want you to be saddled with someone who doesn’t have a sense of humor.”
“Damn it. I almost forgot about the conference call with Greece. They are very interested in investing. The company is well respected. I know what I’m willing to give up for the chance to bolster our self-image.” The black eye of one of our cars having to be recalled was still very much something I was trying to live down.
“I know we don’t need their money, but grabbing onto the coattails of their reputation would do wonders… I was meaning to ask how last night turned out. I probably already know the answer, but there’s going to come a time when you will be smiling.” Logan was exactly like me except that he could control the bear during the times when the full moon wasn’t present.
“I will have to play back the tape, but the blackout and fuzzy recollection of events are the same. The day I find a woman I can be with, body and soul, is the day I finally open my eyes to the possibilities. It’s lucky the bear tries not to hurt them during moments of sweet and torturous release.” Even now, it was still hard to focus with the remainder of the bear’s adrenaline burning off in my veins.
“Tom, I wish I could tell you it was going to get easier, but I can’t do that. I may put on a brave face, but I worry for the day when you call me in the middle of the night begging for my help again.” The blood on the sheets and the self-recrimination was hard to ignore. “There haven’t been any unfortunate accidents in this city, but it’s only a matter of time. We’ve already seen it happen in Chicago, New Orleans, Texas, London, and the list goes on.”
I remembered each time like it was yesterday. Logan was there each and every time to sweep it under the rug. I never asked him how he got rid of the bodies. I really didn’t want to know. It was a matter of plausible deniability. “It does seem like a growing exercise in futility. Every time we get comfortable things unravel in front of our eyes. I’ve been given two warnings already from the Alpha. There won’t be a third. He doesn’t know half of the things we have covered up in the name of self-preservation.”
He was getting good at using bleach to cover the stench of blood in the room. “We have talked about this for long enough. You have some things to do and I’m going to try to catch up with those two girls.” Nothing short of a ball-peen hammer to the top of his head was going to prevent him from letting his inner beast play outside the darkness of his soul.
I gazed longingly at the woman sitting uncomfortably and looking around like she didn’t belong. I could see she was close to leaving without saying one word. There had to be a way for me to keep her there for a few more minutes until I was able to conduct my business with Greece. I walked out while at the same time clapping for their attention. They all looked up expectantly like little children in a classroom. I was going to break the tension.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, but business stops for no one. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about. I’m going to need a few more moments, but I will be back shortly to conduct these interviews personally. Mrs. Wilson will be there, but ultimately it is my decision whether or not to hire the proper candidate. Be patient a little while longer. These kinds of opportunities don’t come up often.” I was purposely looking at the one who had grabbed me by the throat, metaphorically speaking.
I rushed down the hallway without running to find Constantine waiting on the phone. He was quite anxious and we discussed how we were going to bring him into the fold.
“I have high hopes for this merger. I have been watching you closely for some time and you have my deepest respect. Tom, this is really an easy decision and I’m practically throwing myself at you. We have hammered out the details and the last thing to do is to sign the papers. I will get 10% in exchange for my expertise and influx of cash. This will help you to maneuver yourself to be one of the bigger players in the game.” Constantine was never going to know the true purpose for this merger. Time did heal old wounds, but it was better to surround myself with those with stellar reputations. I wanted to take full advantage of their PR department.
“I feel we have only begun to reach our full potential. Two cars are nothing compared to what I have in mind for the future. I want you there to revel in the revenue of millions a year. That isn’t an exaggeration. It’s a fact.” I was giving him no reason to back out at the last minute.
“It’s never been about the company. I value the person behind the name. My business is family owned and operated. I know nepotism is frowned upon, but I need to look after my family.” His dedication to his family wasn’t an issue. I could find a use for the family component.
“I think I mentioned I don’t have any need for money. I’m giving you 10% because you bring a lot to the table. This company can flourish underneath the both of us.” I breathed a sigh of relief. Things were going according to plan.
It was time to hire someone to join this little family. I was hopefully going to start with the one who was out of her league.