Not Pizza Club

by Den Warren



  TechCorpEx Series #1

  Not Pizza Club

  ©2016 by Den Warren

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Twitter@D3NWARR3N

  Follow Den Warren on Goodreads.com

  None of the characters in this book are real people.

  Published by Richard Warren, USA

  Chapter 1

  Ava, the young exuberant blonde, sat together at a table in the TechCorpEx Company cafeteria with her Human Resources Department co-workers. With her was Abigail, a smart, professional looking, forty-something human resources manager, and Ethan, a nerd in his thirties.

  Ava said, “And then they brought that Steve guy into the office to write him up for sexually harassing that what’s-her-name, Bridget, Brenda, or whatever. I think he grabbed her butt or something, but I’m not sure. Anyway, so then I was like, ‘really?’ and he was all like acting like he didn’t know why he was in there.” Then Ava looked to her side and interrupted her own story and said, “Hey look, that new accounting girl Olivia is looking for a place to sit. She seems real nice.”

  It was Olivia’s first day with the Company. She wandered aimlessly holding her tray and looked around and saw her fellow Accounting Department co-workers, who were all sitting together, but staring at their phones.

  “That’s real sad,” Ava said. “What’s with that accounting bunch?”

  Ethan said, “They’re introverts. It’s pretty normal.”

  Abigail said to Ava, “Tell her to come over here then.”

  Ava said, “Okay. Everyone wave to her.” Ava started flapping her arm.

  Abigail also waved to Olivia, who immediately saw them. They motioned for her to join them at their table. She smiled and went over to join them, putting her salad and drink on the table.

  “Thanks,” Olivia said. She looked at Abigail, “Oh, I remember you, from the interview. How are you guys doing?”

  “Great,” Ava said in a sarcastic manner. “I’ve been changing all these people’s diapers all morning. But I’m sure that you are going to have it a lot worse than we do at this time of year, you being in accounting and all.”

  Olivia said, “Yeah, we’re pretty busy. Those numbers aren’t going to crunch themselves, you know. I’m sure I’ll catch on soon to the system here.”

  Ethan said, “So how does a woman like you decide to go into the accounting field.”

  Ava said, “Oh, here we go. Really, who asks anyone that at their very first lunch time? You sound like a training video. Olivia, do not answer any of his questions, unless you like being psychoanalyzed.”

  “Huh?” Olivia looked worried.

  Ava said, “Before you know it, he will tell you that you are some kind of a neurotic and need help, or you’ll be bored to death”

  “That’s not true,” Ethan said. “I’m just making conversation.”

  Ava looked at Abigail, “Tell me I’m wrong, Abbey. She made a gun out of her finger and figuratively shot her brains out.”

  “I’m staying out of this one. See what I have to deal with all day?”

  Ethan said, “Okay, Olivia, I promise I will not make you feel uncomfortable. Let’s start over.”

  “Thank you. Um . . . I guess my reasons for going into the accounting field are not a secret. I suppose it offers good job security, you know. That’s really important, I think.”

  Ethan said, “But do you love numbers?”

  “Love numbers?”

  Ava said, “Yeah, do you have a numbers fetish, or are you here just to meet guys?”

  Abigail said, “Let’s not go there already. She just got here.”

  “Go where?” Olivia said.

  Ava said, “I was just kidding. I was just imitating Ethan. After you get to know this guy, you’ll understand.”

  “Again,” Ethan said, “I’m not as bad as they are saying. I’m just very passionate about my field. I love the psychological side of human resources. That’s all. Olivia, the only reason they aren’t sticking their noses into your business is because they already know you are single and they read your background check.”

  Ava told Ethan, “I think you are the one wanting to stick your nose into her business.”

  Ethan started coughing, and glanced up at Ava.

  Abigail shook her head and asked Olivia, “Are you thinking about going for Loretta’s job?”

  “Her job? I’m not sure I understand why anyone would you ask me if I am going for my boss’s job on my first day?”

  “It’s not like that,” Ava said, “She’s retiring in a couple of months. That’s the main reason you got hired.”

  “Oh . . . I don’t really think so. I just got here.”

  Ethan said, “You forget, we’ve seen your resume. We know you have the qualifications. Their system over at American Springworks can’t really be that different, right?”

  “I don’t think so.” Everyone at the table knew that Olivia had spent the last four years over at TechCorpEx’s business rival in their Accounting Department.

  Ethan said, “So really, what everyone else thinks is not the issue, what you need to consider is do you want to go for it, or not?”

  Ava said, “Seth is the only other one going for it so far.”

  Abigail asked Ava, “How do you know?”

  Ava sighed and looked at Abigail with duck lips and her head tilted with raised brows as if to say, “How could I not know?

  Olivia said, “I’m not saying that I am interested in the job, but just out of curiosity, who’s Seth?”

  Both of the women said in unison, “The hot one.” Then they looked at each other.

  “I’m not sure I know who you mean,” Olivia said.

  Ava said, “Really? Look over at that accountant table. Who else is hot over there that you could possibly confuse Seth with?”

  Ethan said, “Seth’s hotness aside, we are of course, impartial as to who gets that job. But now might be a good time for you to make a bold move, if you are up to it.”

  Abigail asked Ethan, “Are you going to make a bold move and take my job?”

  “I might.” Then he looked at the clock and gathered up his lunch trash. “See ya around, Olivia. I gotta run.”

  “Yeah. See ya around,” Olivia said.

  Ava and Abigail left and gave their best wishes as well.

  Olivia found immersion into the new TechCorpEx environment and meeting new people emotionally draining. It felt good to have a few minutes of quiet time.

 

  Chapter 2

  Olivia was pretty well tied down to her desk inside her cubicle in Accounting. The cubicle was both a prison and a refuge. She was staring blankly at the patches on the cubicle wall outlined by faded material where the previous tenant had pictures posted for years. She pondered whether she would also be there for a lot of years. Would she post pictures on the wall? Who and what would be in the pictures? What would happen during her occupancy there?

  She was startled by the annoying ring tone her phone. That cartoonish taunting sound would have to be changed. The name on the display read “Ethan”.

  Olivia said, “Hi Ethan.”

  “Hello. Um . . . I called because I wanted to see if you wanted to discuss your career and going for the Accounting Manager Position.”

  “Sure. But I’m a little surprised that you are taking such a personal interest in it.”

  “To be real, you know, I do that a lot. I just want everyone to be the best they can be. It’s my thing. Anyhow, I figured it would be more private if we would discuss it down at the corner café . . . after work.”

  “So . . . is this some kind of date or something?”

  “You could call it a business date, maybe.
You know TechCorpEx doesn’t have a policy against fraternization. Besides, does that really matter?”

  “Yeah, kind of. I mean, if this is a date, that takes on a whole different, like, reference point .”

  “Okay. I don’t even know what that means, but I know about certain things, and I thought I could help you out with your career. If you aren’t available . . .”

  “No, no. Let’ make it a business date at four.” Olivia could not get past the idea that Ethan was probably setting up the ambiguously intentioned business date as a way to avoid rejection and still have a real date of sorts. What she knew about him so far is that it seemed like he had the tendency to be annoying and intrusive, and not overly visually appealing. She questioned her own judgment in agreeing to the meeting. But at least he wasn’t trying to get her drunk in a bar.

  *******

  During the short two minute walk to the corner café, Olivia was nervous about who among her fellow departing coworkers would see her walking with Ethan, and then go on social media and declare them as a “thing”. Would their name for the couple be Ethlivia? Olivithan? None of that worked. No doubt the destiny side of it was not working out for a reason.

  They stood in line and purchased their overpriced beverages, then found a seat. Olivia wanted to be inconspicuous to random acquaintances by sitting off to a side, but not send a signal to Ethan that it was some sort of romantic rendezvous. She wondered if other women on dates dealt with such simple decisions in such an agonizingly complex way.

  Ethan went straight for a seat at the front window. “How’s this?”

  “Fine.”

  Ethan said, “I just wanted to talk to you about that possible promotion. Have you thought about it?”

  Olivia said, “I have. It would be a good thing for me, I think. That much of a salary increase over my entire career could make a huge total difference throughout my working years.”

  Ethan said, “So, it’s about the money?”

  “Isn’t that why we work, to pay the bills?” She wanted to add to pay for kids, but didn’t want to send the wrong message to Ethan.

  Ethan asked, “Yeah, but don’t you think we ought to enjoy our jobs?”

  Olivia said, “They aren’t really supposed to be fun, right? That’s why they call it ‘work’. You do your job to make money to support your outside activities.”

  Ethan said, “What if you could have fun at work? If you had the chance, what would it be worth to you?”

  “A lot, I guess. But what’s the point of thinking about it?”

  “How did you choose accounting?”

  “I’m good at it, and it’s a secure job. Companies will always need us, you know, to keep track of their profits and losses.”

  “You never thought about doing something else that interested you more?” Ethan asked.

  “I did. But sometimes you have to be realistic. Not everyone can be a dancer.”

  “Accounting and dancing. Wow, those two things are not at all the same. Okay, let me ask you this; would you like being a manager better than what you do now?”

  “I think I would, actually. I would like to be the manager, but I don’t know if they would want me. They already have Seth. Plus I don’t interview all that well.”

  Ethan said, “I like to make things simple in my mind. In my way of thinking, people are successful based on three things; Technical competence, which you have loads of. Intellectual honesty; which we don’t know each other that well, but I have no reason to think you don’t have it. And boldness; which I am guessing you struggle with.”

  Olivia started to realize that Ethan did have some exceptional abilities in working with people. She put aside the idea that the business date was all just Ethan’s sophisticated ruse to get into her pants. “So what do you think I should do?”

  “If I was you, I would apply for Accounting Manager.”

  “Tell me,” She said, “how do I get the boldness you suspect I need?”

  Ethan glanced downward, then back at Olivia. He said, “That’s not so simple, because if I am right, something happened along the way to convince you that being bold was not a good idea. But never mind that. What you can do is you ask yourself, what you would do if you were bold, then just do it.”

  “Is that what you do?”

  “All the time. I called you up, right? Sometimes people don’t like it when you stick your neck out and threaten their comfort zone, but that’s how things get done.”

  “You know, I think I will apply. You never know. Thanks Ethan. Thanks for being my friend.”

  Ethan smiled. “I’m happy to do it. See, I’m not nearly as bad as Ava says.”

  They both chuckled.

  Olivia was much less tense and said, “You know, those pastries over there smell really good.”

  Ethan said, “Funny you mentioned that. Let’s check them out. It’s on me.”

  “Nope, you got the coffee, I got it.” She didn’t want the boundary of friendship and romance muddled by the price of a couple of Danishes.

  They were eating their dainties, when Ethan said, “Have you seen that new movie, “Gangster Ghost Train?”

  “Can’t say that I have.”

  “It’s about them building a subway line that happens to go under a prison that has a cemetery out back. So all these ghosts of these dead criminals start killing passengers who are on the train at midnight. Anyway, now that we are friends, I just wondered if you wanted to go to it. You know, you and I.”

  Olivia picked at her pastry with her fingers and said, “Are you using your boldness skill again?”

  “Absolutely. And here’s the part about my intellectual honesty; I know that you are a very attractive woman, and you could easily get a date from anyone. I’m like anyone else. I fear rejection. So I told myself that if you say no, that you probably are already involved with someone, or you have to babysit your nephew, or you are gay.”

  “Ethan, you are a weird one. And I would really hate that movie.” Olivia thought Ethan had a remarkable way of thinking. But he certainly must have a serious, yet to be discovered personality flaw. She knew she did not know him well enough yet to get any more involved with him. Part of her thinking was to stay away from him. He’s too unpredictable. But his uniqueness was very compelling.

  Ethan’s face could not hide the serious disappointment of the rejection.

  What if he was so . . . right for her? She said, “I wouldn’t refuse a great meal in a nice restaurant.”

  “Tonight at eight?”

  “Nope. I gotta babysit my nephew.”

  Ethan’s shoulders slumped at a second seemingly harsh rejection.

  “How about Friday at six?”

  Ethan chuckled and said, “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Chapter 3

  Olivia was at her apartment watching television when the phone rang. It was her mother.

  “Hi Liv; just checking in. How’s the new job going?”

  “Hi Mom. It’s going real well. I’m learning the job and making some new friends.”

  “That’s really great. Next we have to work on finding you a man.”

  “No, we don’t.”

  “Of course we do.”

  “Why?”

  “You have to think about your security, Liv.”

  “I thought that is why I went to school for accounting, then graduated and took the job. Accounting was supposed to provide me security. Isn’t that enough security? How much do I need?” Olivia realized she was coming across as unexpectedly confrontational. She knew her motivation was coming from the new perspective she got with her talk with Ethan, both because of his logic, and also because she didn’t want to settle for someone she was not ecstatic with. She had to examine her own motives. Was she being too unreasonable?

  “What if you want to have children? You will need a man with a good income to support you.”

  “Mom, I’m not
really worried about that right now. It seems like I am always doing things that I don’t really want to.”

  “I only bring these things up because I want what is best for you. No one said life would be easy.”

  “Did they also say that life was supposed to be unhappy?”

  “What? I thought you would be happy with this new job.”

  “Never mind, Mom. The job is fine. I am going for a promotion already.

  “Really? You have to be kidding.”

  “I have an interview next week. But I don’t know if I have a chance to get the job, so don’t go bragging me up or anything yet.”

  “Even if you don’t get the job, that means they must think a lot of you. I knew that American Springworks was just taking you for granted. That’s really great. Look how successful you are. That is something to be happy about, right?”

  “Yeah, I suppose so. Just don’t brag me up please.” Then Olivia changed the subject of the conversation to her mother’s shoulder, which was the most recent ailment in a long line of hereditary joint issues that plagued many of the family members. This family trait was both a blessing in flexibility, giving Olivia the natural dancing ability, and a scourge, because a couple of times her sister had dislocated her knees and had chronic hip problems.

  *******

  Abigail, the human resources manager; and Alfredo, the production manager; were with Steve, a production worker, in a meeting room with the door closed.

  Abigail told Steve, “We have a report that you were up on the platform with Brittany, am I right?”

  Steve said, “Yeah. So what? That’s where we work.”

  Abigail said, “Were you touching her inappropriately?”

  “No.”

  Abigail said, “We had a report that you were up there with your hand down her pants. Is that true?”

  “If I was, she wouldn’t be complaining.”

  Abigail said, “Come on, Steve, you can’t do that!”

  “Why not?! What business is it of yours?!”

  Abigail said, “Anything you do here is my business Steve, as long as you are on Company property.”

  Steve said, “Oh, okay, so if I wipe my ass, I’m supposed to show it to you?!”

  Alfredo said, “God! Steve, that’s so stupid!”

  Steve said, “I am trying to make a point, and you are calling me names.”

  Abigail said, “Okay Steve, what is your point? We are listening.”

  Steve said, “That makes no sense. If your husband worked here, he couldn’t give you a little pat?”