Arriving at my company's new york branch, i step out of the car and walk straight in. My assistant was already waiting by the door, i should ask her how long she's been waiting but that shows concern and concern isn't obviously my thing.
As we walk up to my private elevator i call her.
"Charlotte"
"yes ma?"
"i need a new secretary, start looking"
i see her confusion but i pay no attention to it.
i start again;
"do you know what a shadow master is?"
"m-ma it's part of the new internship program,it's the staff that gets assigned to an intern. You approved it a month ago"
"why is the name shadow master? doesn't that sound archaic?
who's bright idea was this even?"
"it was glenda's ma, she said the company should get more involved in its intern as they are the core of the future"
"okay you'll be getting off at 36, i need you to meet tim to help me trace an intern. his name is charles lancaster, i'll be going up for the board meeting. Meet me in my office in an hour.
Charlotte gets off and i keep going off, honestly i have no interest whatsoever in this meeting but it's pretty mandatory.
Keeps the firm stable and calm, happy even.
i get off at 61 and walk straight to the boardroom. everyone stands up when i walk in, even glenn that just had a knee surgery musters up energy to stand.
obviously i'm used to this, it's normal at this point but they're still a slight sense of exhilaration i feel.
"Okay, Good day everyone"
i sit at the head seat, you could say it's a little hypocritical given how i was just complaining about archaic things but i love power, not just having it. I love the subtle gestures that remind others that i do.
We discuss the financial structures, our multiple holdings, an investment bank that made half a trillion dollars in profit this quarter. A junior presenter came to show a presentation about the four acquisitions i spearheaded and the projected earnings, puts autumn in the top 5 most valued companies in the world. I see the excitement from my board as much as they try to hide it, i catch a clear grin on CFO, he doesn't hide his pleasure. We speak about all this and more for exactly 57 minutes. We are about to close, then i remember charles.
"guys, wait"
they all look to me, i get up towering above everyone as people who got up previously take their seats back.
"i got a call this morning from an intern, who's bright idea was it include us in the new internship program"
Glenda squeamishly speaks "i thought exceptional minds of the interns should be able to interact with heads to further extend their knowledge and understanding of a corporate structure, now i see what a mistake on my part that is. I'll rectify it immediately."
"Alright, thank you glenda. If that'll be all i'll be leaving."
I step out and head straight to my elevator, go down to 55, my floor.
i look at jennifer's office and find it empty. I wonder whether charlotte has broken the news to her, i should tell charlotte to draw up a termination letter.
I walk across the floor past my lounge and then i see jennifer in the cafeteria brewing a coffee with the coffee maker. I'm really about to fire a girl for a simple mistake, a part of me feels like it's the right thing to do, in a corporate setting you need capable employees but she is capable.
fuck it. i'll have charlotte or one of my executive assistants speak with her, make sure shit like this doesn't happen again.
There's really no need to upend a young girl's life, my father would probably label this weak but in truth he was the weak one.
A weak little man.