by Laura Domino
The image of Adam was in her head again. He had called her beautiful. It seemed like he was being genuine, not just trying to schedule a date so he could have a one-nighter.
She finished off the rest of her coffee and threw the paper cup away.
This was not the time to think about this morning’s conversation. She couldn’t afford the distraction. No one was going to win the promotion for her. Benita had to figure out a way to send a clear message up the corporate ladder that she was the only one for the job. Her work was always good, but now she had to be excellent.
The ring of her office phone stalled her effort. “This is Benita.”
“Hi. Stop what you’re doing and take twenty-five minutes to come up with a report of all the fresh ideas you’ve been wanting to suggest but were too busy doing all the work I ask you to do.” There was a weird optimistic tone in Casey’s voice.
“Fresh ideas?” Benita couldn’t figure out where he was going with this.
“Let’s call this a pop quiz. You and Robert are in a contest for the job in Spain. The two of you are trying to get through the door, but both of you can’t go through at the same time. Right? It won’t work. You’re blocking each other. Only one of you can get through at a time. Who will be first? Will it be you? Or him? If you’re going to get through the door first, you have to grease the door frame a little with some proof that you can solve client problems. If a time pressure is too much for you, maybe the promotion isn’t for you.”
“I see. Sounds like a pop quiz to me.”
“Give me your best ideas. You’re helping the company. You’re helping me. And you’re helping yourself.”
“So you’re saying I can’t lose, basically.”
“Didn’t say that. Twenty-five minutes. In my office. Don’t be late.”
“I’ll be there.” No time to lose, she opened a new document on her computer screen and started an outline of ideas.
The ideas were coming fast, probably because she heard from Gail and Dee about what would make their jobs easier. She also heard complaints from others on her floor about things that didn’t make sense. She could suggest changes that would generate money for the company and generate smiles for employees.
After a quick proofread, she printed the three pages and the cover page.
Benita checked the time on the computer screen. She had a minute and a half to get down the hall. Swiveling her chair, she stepped into her shoes, and walked to Dee’s desk. “Did something print just now?”
Dee reached for a file folder and handed it to her. “You’re all set.
One minute left to take a deep, relaxing breath and start walking.
She walked slowly so no one could tell how much adrenaline flowed into her brain. The report she held was going to show she could handle whatever Spain could throw at her.
Robert was already in Casey’s office when she arrived. She could see him in the doorway.
“Come in. Sit down, Benita. Join us.” Casey’s voice was unusually happy. Like he had arrived at the theater, ready to be entertained.
Benita sat in the chair beside Robert as Casey took his place behind his desk.
“Robert, you got here first. You get to go first. Overwhelm me.” Casey’s smile, subdued and without any false gleam, lasted until Robert started talking.
“I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity. So let me begin. What are we? Not a software company but a corporation of magicians. We wave our wand and make the magic happen for the clients. So what makes us special? Not the magic.”
Casey did a silent eye roll. No groan. No yelling. But he was not impressed. Yet. Robert was still hopeful in spite of Casey’s response.
“What makes us special is the personal touch we give every client. Why do clients stay with us? Our careful handling of every—”
“Robert! Get to the point. What’s the idea you brought me?”
Robert put a card on Casey’s desk. “Handwritten thank-you notes. When our clients agree to sign a contract with us, I’ve been sending out a thank-you note like the one there to all of the clients with whom I’ve worked. And I think everyone…” He sent a half-second stare to Benita. “…should include this practice to warm clients up to the idea of a long and happy business relationship. This is something the clients appreciate, and not everyone is doing this.”
After Robert sat down, Casey gave a silent nod to Benita.
“Our company already uses customer care chat bots and marketing bots. I want to expand that idea and put a little more automation in our system. My idea is advocating customer care via the personal touch but without a handwritten note. I want my very smart intern Gail to work with Bob in IT to set up Meeting Planner Bots. Of course, I’ll be giving the parameters, overseeing the meetings, and giving input along the way. Like Robert, I also think we can take care of personalized messages for each person in our client meetings. But let the bots learn specific info about each member of the client group and give them a customized and more intimate customer care experience.”
Casey squinted. “Go on.”
“Imagine our clients using their phone app to send a voice-to-text message to the computer. The computer converts the data to voice and responds in real time, according to their personal likes and dislikes. We can set up notifications that would remind all meeting attendees of the preparation steps and provide the agreed-upon next steps after the meeting. I’d like to integrate the Meeting Planner Bots with automated reminders that cover everything from snacks to sales info. The notifications will help everyone arrive on time and in a calmer state of mind so everyone is more prepared and productive. If it can be automated, why isn’t it? If we create the system, use it, and tweak it to perfection, then we can sell it to clients who, like us, don’t have time to contact each individual person with a handwritten note that has to be mailed. This is as welcoming as a handwritten note but saves the cost of personnel, paper, and postage.” She nodded to Casey’s clock and the sign under it: “If time is money, why aren’t we spending less and getting more?”
Casey stood. “First let me congratulate both of you for bringing something to the meeting. Now, let me cut to the chase. Robert, really? Handwritten note? I realize your handwriting is almost calligraphy, but come on. This is a software company, not a stationery store.”
Robert’s face seemed a little redder than normal.
“And now, Benita.”
She sat up a little taller, leaning forward, ready to hear how to move on this new project.
“This is tricky. You’ll have to come up with the secret sauce first.”
“Sorry. Lost you. Secret sauce?” He was headed to a solution for the unnamed problem, but she couldn’t guess what it was.
“Terrific plan, but what if our secretaries heard rumors that you were putting them out of a job?”
“We don’t want to put people out of a job. If implemented well, the bots should make everyone happier.”
“The secretaries won’t see it that way. They’re thinking about how to look busy. They’re looking for additional work to do at their desks so they don’t come to work and file their nails all day. They have to be here while the new program gets implemented. They’ll be part of working out all the bugs in the system. And then, we just pull the rug out from under them?”
Robert turned and gave a smile that turned from sarcastically sad to smug. His head was turned enough away from the boss man that he probably thought Casey couldn’t see that competitive display.
“They are already overloaded. Some will finally be able to go home on time, and others will learn new skills. It’s about enhancing their jobs, not taking their jobs.” Benita couldn’t see how the higher-ups wouldn’t go for a project like this one. This should put her in the lead.
“In this office, just like in Spain, a manager has to think ahead and communicate to prevent people from guessing the wrong thing. We need to present the idea with all of the bases covered so the higher-ups can’t think of any pos
sible problems. Rumors happen. Prevention by communication is the key.”
“Okay. I see how widespread rumors of displacing people could be a problem.” Benita didn’t immediately have a solution, but she’d had minimal preparation time.
“So the score at the end of Round One is… Robert, you get a negative half point for making it all about you.”
“No, it was about the client. Sir, I—”
“And Benita, you get a half point for coming up with half of a solution.”
“Thanks, I guess.”
Casey smirked. “And now back to our regularly scheduled work program. Thanks for coming.” He stood and put his hands in his pockets.
“Thank you, sir.” Robert left at a hurried pace.
“When do you want me to give you the other half?”
“Whenever.” Casey shrugged.
“So maybe I’ll work on this by myself without telling Gail or Dee or anyone. Right? Because you didn’t assign me the project. And no one can get mad at you for trying to get rid of secretaries. I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Whatever.”
“Thought so. I’ll let you know when the other half of the solution is ready.” Benita walked to his door and looked back for his response.
No words. Just a gleam in his eye. He stood behind his desk with hands still in his pockets and gave a quick nod.
Chapter 8
Adam shaved, dressed, and went to the kitchen for breakfast. No coffee this morning. Three days in a row was enough for now.
Yesterday, he’d timed it perfectly. He somehow had entered the cafe just seconds after she had ordered. She had waved at him while she waited for her cup. He smiled and nodded with interest, but he didn’t get out of the line to visit. If he was sure about anything, he was sure women didn’t like to be hounded. He didn’t want to kill the romance with suffocation. He knew he’d made the right decision when she smiled at him again with her cup in her hand and walked out without a word. Wouldn’t it be great if she acted like she missed him when he saw her again?
Today was Thursday, the day to start making a plan. It would require thinking, not luck. That meant no more drinking.
Beautiful Benita. She made him want to be sober and clear-thinking. He could see that moving on from his grief over his brother’s death was a good thing. He could actually do it. He could start living again.
The sound of footsteps behind him told him he might not have to make his own breakfast this morning. “You’re here? You might as well move out of the way. I’ll make breakfast.”
“Thanks, Mom. Good morning to you too.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything. Afraid I’d spoil it. But…” She put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
“I don’t know where you’ve been the last few mornings.” She grabbed eggs out of the fridge. “But you weren’t in bed sleeping off a hangover. So I’m happy for you. You’re finally stepping out into the real world again.”
“I met someone.”
Her eyes showed fascination, but her voice feigned disinterest as she pulled together more ingredients for their meal. “Really, honey?” She closed the refrigerator. “Who?”
He watched his mom calmly cracking eggs into the skillet, knowing she’d rather be shouting praises to God over his change of attitude. “A girl.” He watched her closely.
“Who’s that, Adam? A girl?” She carefully put the egg carton back into the fridge and brought out some shredded cheese.
“You told me to make a new friend. I’m trying, Mom.”
“You’re such an awesome person.” She stopped and turned to him. “Make sure she’s not a frequent flier before you get serious. Okay?”
“Okay.” His mom’s words of warning had been repeated to him and his brother many times through the years. Make sure she isn’t a love-him-and-leave-him kind of girl. Make sure she isn’t using you to get over someone else. She had a million of them. Frequent flier was a new one. She could have heard the term watching one of the many TV shows that present love triangles and adultery as if it was a normal part of life.
Her phone rang in the pocket of her floral cotton dress. She looked at the screen to see who was calling. “Adam, would you turn those eggs? I’ve got to take this.” She walked into her dining room, away from the distractions of cooking.
He checked the eggs in the skillet. Still needed a little more time.
He’d like some more time with Benita. Coffee tomorrow morning would taste a lot better if he saw her at the cafe. He needed time with her to find out more about her. All he knew was her name. It was as beautiful as she was, but it was just her first name.
Of course, he knew which building she worked in. The enormous black Chaymer Building. It shined even on overcast days, reflecting the bright lights of their humble town. It dominated their little town’s skyline. He could go there after work and wait for her to come out. Maybe ask her to dinner. But that might be something he could do later on. Too early and it could be misinterpreted as aggressive, rather than interested.
His mom came back into the kitchen and took a seat at the table. She wasn’t checking the eggs. She wasn’t fixing a cup of coffee. Her eyes had that look of tragedy again.
He flipped the eggs over, turned the heat off, and sat with her. “What happened?”
“Do you remember Dan the Man?” She looked down at her hands in her lap.
“Partying Dan?” Dan was his dad’s best friend, the one who livened up any gathering. “Yeah. Why?” He hated asking. Her face was a warning of bad news. “Did he…?”
“No. Not yet. He’s in the hospital.” She shook her head. “I can’t go.”
“I’ll go.” Dan probably had the nurses in stitches with his stories.
XOXO
Benita scrolled through recent emails to find something her boss sent an hour ago. The search was slow because her mind kept losing focus. She missed seeing Adam at the coffee shop. He could’ve come and gone before she got there. Or maybe he was late.
Was he in town on a business trip? Did he live in town? She didn’t know anything about him, except his name.
Adam didn’t say where he worked, but his clothes were casual. So maybe he worked at home and lived nearby. A lot of people worked at home around here.
He was so cute and a nice guy. If the whole doing-a-good-deed thing was just a pick-up line, at least it showed what a nice guy he was. Why can’t all men be that nice? Was he too good to be true?
Maybe he had a girlfriend. Maybe he was trying to find another girlfriend because he was about to break up with his current girlfriend. She’d have to be a freak. No girl in her right mind would let him get away.
Benita wished she could focus on her job. But she couldn’t get his face out of her mind. Too bad Adam wasn’t there this morning.
Dee and Gail popped into Benita’s office. Gail spoke first, flipping her hair behind her shoulder, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you. Or will it?”
Benita turned to Dee, the positive good girl, who would always be the one to give her the information straight. “What happened?”
Dee shrugged. “We don’t know. We heard in the elevator that the new girl got fired.”
“That’s sad,” Benita said. “And why is spreading this rumor a part of your job?”
Gail elbowed Dee. “See? I told you not to bother her with your feeble-minded gossip.”
Dee’s eyebrows shot up as her head turned to give Gail an open-mouthed stare.
“Girls.” Benita waited.
Dee faced her again. “We heard it had to do with Robert, so Gail insisted on finding out what you knew. If there isn’t any truth to it, we need to know so we can respond better to the rumors.”
“Thanks, Dee. I don’t know anything about it. Let’s not start anything. The best thing to do is to ignore all rumors. And always remember that you never look good when you lie. Okay?”
“Then I guess you plan to win the competition on mer
it alone?”
“Really, Gail? You think I can’t win by my skill? You think I can’t earn the promotion without trickery?”
Dee’s eyes widened as she watched the conversation getting tense.
“Benita, wait.” Gail’s tone softened. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to do something to help you.”
“Undermining my efforts by starting rumors is not helping. I can find other interns.” Benita hated saying that. Gail was the best intern she’d had, but she needed to be taken down a notch.
“Yes. I’m sure I can improve my methods, starting right now. You can trust me.” Gail headed for the door, having made the last comment.
Dee shook her head and followed.
A secretary strode past Benita’s office door, making small talk with one of the other secretaries as she passed by. The distraction made Benita aware of her time-wasting thoughts. There was too much to do to be distracted by her lack of a boyfriend or her intern’s idle gossip. She grabbed the mouse on her desk, clicked open a document, and made sure it wasn’t a full screen display. The browser window still had a photo of a Spanish beach from her image search this morning.
She stared at the sand. It was probably different than the Galveston sand she stuck her feet into last summer. The Mediterranean Sea. The photo on her browser was unbelievably blue. She scrolled through the images in her search results and found a beach scene at sunset. But when she saw the photo someone took of the billowing blue clouds over the deep, dark Mediterranean waters, she had to smile. Spain in the evening was going to be gorgeous.
Even though work beckoned, she cheered herself up with a little mental vacation to Spain. The promotion would surely go to her. She couldn’t wait to get to sunny Spain. In the morning, she could enjoy the beautiful art and architecture. In the evening, she could take a stroll on the beach.
After opening a browser window, she Googled and clicked on the website for a hotel where she would probably stay until she was able to find a suitable apartment near work. Her work friends there would be able to give her suggestions on restaurants and shopping.
