~*~
Two days later Jim was back at his desk with a renewed purpose. He noticed that the office was rather thin with personnel. He put his laptop back on the docking station and pulled out his phone. He had watched his video of Kerri so many times, that he thought he may have ruined it. Each time, he watched, his heart raced with excitement to get her under contract. His plan today was to show the video to Fred to instill confidence back into his weary friend.
Just as he was about to get up, Megan came and sat down in his guest chair. “Hey old man, how was your trip?” She asked.
“It was good Megan, did you miss me?”
“Oh no, I was fine with you out of the office. As a matter of fact, while you were down there playing daddy, I had an interesting conversation with one of the talents you passed on. Do you remember Jeremy Sax?”
Jim’s expression changed to a more serious one. “Yes I do. What did he have to say?”
Megan stood up with her tall frame and put her hands on her hips. Jim always had admired her beauty and wondered what could possibly make her so spiteful.
“Oh he had a lot to say. He mentioned how you treated him like scum and he never wanted to work with you. He said you told him about the company and he was still intrigued. He was willing to come to Memphis for our little shindig, but he did not want to work with you,” she said with a devilish grin.
“And you said what Megan, that you would represent him?” Asked Jim.
“Well, someone should. See, I used this thing called YouTube. It plays videos of talent, so you don’t have to waste time driving all over the country. You should try it sometime before you retire in the next week.”
She began to walk away and then turned back to face him. “Before you go to Fred and cry foul, please know, I told him, and showed him the videos. He has already given me his blessing.”
“Good for you, Megan. I hope it works out,” said Jim.
“Yeah, I bet you do. Thanks for finding my ticket. I have already decided to take a vacation, so I won’t have to watch the rest of you scratch for you lives. See you later, old man,” she said as she turned around and headed for her office.
Jim sat in his chair and tried to understand his emotions. Jeremy was a real talent, but his gut told him he would be a problem. There was no video on YouTube that would show it, but he knew it, through and through. Ordinarily Fred would back his play, but this time he did not. Things were worse than he thought. Did he make the right decision to pass on him? Should he have bagged both Jeremy and Kerri?
“Lord you order my steps. I will trust in you,” he said quietly to himself.
Jim made his way down to Fred’s office. After knocking, he entered the room and found his friend sitting behind his desk with his hands on both sides of his head, elbows planted on the desktop as he stared into space. He didn’t move as Jim sat down in his usual chair.
“Hey Freddie, you looking stressed man, did something change?” Asked Jim.
“Everything has freaking changed Jim. I am getting sob stories left and right from staff, bills are plaguing my very existence, and the worst part is I hear my best scout is passing up on major talent. What were you thinking!” He yelled.
Jim had never seen Fred so worked up.
“Fred, I saw Jeremy in person, and I will tell you he is a major talent. There is something about him that I didn’t get and so yes I passed on him,” replied Jim.
“The young man had a horrible disposition, was heavy on the sauce, and most of all a horrible team player with his band,”
Fred finally looked up at his friend. All of a sudden in a rage, he knocked everything off his desk and stood up. He walked calmly over to his window overlooking downtown Memphis. “Jim, the boy could save us. It’s like you don’t see that we are sinking. I can’t deal with this right now. Please leave my office.”
Jim had his hand on his phone clip and was just about to show the video to Fred. “Look, we have been doing this a long time together and I would hope you would trust me.”
Fred turned abruptly and stared hard at Jim. “We? What do you mean we, Jim. I have been carrying you since day one! You brought great talent in here but it’s been years since you’ve done so. My kindness in retaining you is repaid by you getting on your high horse? You are turning away good talent right in your face because it doesn’t fit your mold!?! That’s a bunch of crap! Leave my office now. If you manage to scrounge up something between now and next week, then, bring them. Otherwise, I can’t stand to look at you. Use your vacation time until then, while you can,” said Fred vehemently.
Jim stood slowly and walked to the door. “Whatever you say boss.”
When he returned to his desk, Jim decided that it was time to pack his things. As hard as it was for him to believe, his friend of thirty plus years just told him to get lost. Well, that was what he was going to do. After everything was packed, he lifted the box and started for the elevator. As he stood waiting for the car to arrive, he felt a tap on his shoulder. When he turned back, Megan stood triumphantly in his view and handed him a stapler. “Don’t forget this,” she said with a grin.
“Thanks, Megan. Oh, by the way, I will tell you that one of the main mistakes I made with Jeremy Sax was I didn’t comp his drinks. He blew up at me, and I passed. Hope that helps. See you soon,” said Jim.
“Oh, you’re going to come back?” Said Megan. “I thought this was farewell.”
Jim smiled at her. “I don’t hear the fat lady singing, just yet.”
Write On Press Presents: The Ultimate Collection of Original Short Fiction, Volume II Page 4
