BOOK ONE: DECEPTIONS
Chapters One to Twenty Six
Vignettes 1 - 140

BOOK TWO: YESTERDAY ECHOES
Chapters 27 to
Vignettes 141 -

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Vignette #45: Power

It was difficult to keep the barely controlled energy from his foot on the accelerator of the car on the way to work, but he managed to keep the speedometer at the posted limit. Well maybe a little over…most of the time.

He was distracted enough to not really be listening to the desk clerks latest story about his grand daughter, but paid enough attention to smile and laugh appropriately at the right times. He remembered the correct button to push this time when he got in the elevator, and leaned against the back wall as it took off.

“Good morning.” Someone chimed happily from the other end.

He looked back up and noticed he was sharing the elevator car with David Turner. Turner was leaned back on the corner, cane over his arm for a change and both hands behind his back. “Good morning, sir.”

Turner cleared his throat. “I’m anxious to hear what you have in mind for fixing the daytime sched, Young Justyn.”

“We’ve been brainstorming, and I think maybe we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve.”

“I’m sure you do.” David Turner grinned.

“Just trying to keep up with you, Mr. Turner.”

“That can’t be difficult. I sit at my desk, prop myself up with this damned thing and try to remember why the hell everyone thinks I’m so important.”

The elevator stopped at Ian’s floor and he started to get out. “Well, have a good day sir.”

“You, too.”

Ian took a step forward and caught the doors just as they were closing. “Forgive me if I overstep my bounds, or my place in space…whatever, but would you like to join my team and I? Thursday mornings we have a combined power meeting and breakfast.”

“A power…breakfast?”

“We toss ideas around and stuff ourselves with really bad, but really delicious food.”

Ian smiled and nodded, and let go of the doors. Turner whipped out the cane to stop them from closing again. “Sausage and Egg McMuffins? I haven’t had one in years. Would you be talking about those?”

Ian smiled. “With Cheese.”

“You wouldn’t tell my secretary? She thinks she’s my mother, and God knows everyone else I know is dead, so someone has to keep me in line.”

“I wouldn’t know your secretary if she peed on my shoes.”

Turner smiled and stepped forward with Ian. “I like you, my boy. I really like you.”

“My company yesterday morning had the opposite to say.” As they strode towards his office, they approached the reception desk, Ian whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “Okay, keep calm and act professional…we’re halfway home.”

“Good morning, Haley.”

“Good morning, Ian…Mr. Turner.”

“Haley, do you know Mr. Turner’s secretary?”

“Well, yes.”

“Do you think you could call her and let her know that Mr. Turner and I are having a meeting in my office this morning and he requests that she clear his schedule?

“I think that could be arranged.”

“And Haley…”

“Yes, Ian…do you think…”

Haley smiled and held up a finger, punching some buttons with the other hand. “Good morning, this is Haley, Ian Justyn’s receptionist. Mr. Turner is here for a meeting this morning about the daytime schedule…yes it was last minute. He asked that you clear his schedule. Yes…We’d like to order some breakfast for him, and I was unsure if he had any dietary restrictions. Is an egg white omelet on dry toast points alright?…I’ll contact you if we need to order lunch. Good day.” Haley looked at the men and smiled.

“Oh, she’s good.” Turner said. “Very good, a keeper.”

“Thank you, Mr. Turner.” Haley nodded to him.

Ian motioned toward to main office. “Shall we…”

“By all means.” Turner took several steps forward and stopped. “Young Justyn, Ian. Is this a good idea? I don’t want my intrusion to put a damper on…”

Ian didn’t let him finish. “Team, look what the cat dragged in…”

Wella beamed. “Mr, Turner! Welcome! Welcome!” Wella must have been channeling Tippy that morning, as she whisked him from Ian without further ado, and made sure that everyone on the floor had been personally introduced.

The team was crowded around, and certainly in awe. The place fell silent. Ian thought that maybe they should go in his private office for a few minutes, and give them all time to process the fact the legend had indeed entered the building.

“So Mr. Turner would you like to…”

Turner simply cut him off and said, “Have you decided what to do about Sybil’s Manners?”

The staff looked at each other. Ian looked at Turner. “Sebastian Manor?”

Turner stopped and draped the cane back over his arm. “It’s a piece of shit. Who cares what it’s called?”

It was exactly what the team needed to lighten up and act normal. There was definitely a reason he was the top of his field. Ian turned to Turner. “Shall we go into my office, sir?”

“Lead the way.” They turned to take the last few steps to the office door.

Ian called out before he shut the door to his office, “Blake, let us know when the food’s here.”

Once the door got closed, Turner laughed and Ian smiled. “I understand now why you are the legend you are.”

“Flattery, Young Justyn, flattery. Bullshit is the best degree to have in this business.” Turner said taking a comfortable chair that Ian shoved closer to the desk.

Turner smiled. “So, Kent?”

“Kent?” Ian asked.

“Simon Kent giving you a hard time?”

“He thinks he is, but he’s just wasting his time and energy.”

“He thinks you are after his position.”

“I have one thank you.” Ian started rummaging through his backpack. “Two as a matter of fact.”

“No, no. Head of the Entertainment division, Tolan’s job.”

Ian shut the flap on his backpack and looked at Turner. “Mr. Turner, maybe I should be flattered, but I am oh so the new guy here, and all I want to do is earn my place. I’ll worry about cutting throats for that position when I’m his age, and have put in the time he has.”

Turner sat back in his chair and smiled. “Let’s let him think you are. I’m having fun sitting back and watching him squirm.” Turner was like a kid. “Let’s call him and invite him to breakfast.”

Ian pointed his finger at him and went back to pulling things out of his briefcase. “You are a mean old man. Shame on you.”

“We’ve told my secretary, I’m sure the whole building will know within the hour.” Turner scanned the walls of Ian’s office. “There’s not a chance in hell, he’ll get the job, you know.”

“Actually, Mr. Turner, it’s not really my worry. That’s for the board to decide. My only hope is if Tallulah Belle does get the position, I’ve earned enough respect to get a job somewhere after he fires my what was it he called it?”

“Wiggly fanny?”

“Yes…I believe it was.”

“It’s not the board’s decision, you know.” Turner seemed confident. “Oh the board will be there, and I always let them have their say, but it’s my vote that counts. My vote counts 51%.”

“I heard that rumor.”

“It’s not true.”

“I didn’t think it was.”

“My vote counts 63%, as long as I hold all the proxies.” He seemed amused that he wasn’t able to shock Ian. “It was 51 until Elizabeth Elysian retired and I hold her proxy until she names a successor.”

“Elizabeth Elysian?”

“Yes.”

“She was a share holder slash board member here?”

“Of course. She was one of the original share holders, that’s why she had such a large piece of the pie.” Turner looked at Ian. “You know of her?”

“I bought her house.” Ian couldn’t help but notice that David Turner got oddly silent. “I thought she was a sweet old lady, but now I understand why she didn’t care about the financial aspect of the deal.”

“Elizabeth Elysian is a valkyre in old biddy clothing.”

“I take it you didn’t care for her.”

“In a sense she was my Simon Kent, but I adored her. Our sparing kept us going strong for years. She and Herman were dear friends. I mourn both of them every day.”

“Interesting.”

Turner continued to look around the office, and pointed with his cane. “You need something up there, on the wall.”

Ian turned to look. “I’ll find something eventually, right now I’m just trying to get from Point A to Point B.”

“Good man, stay focused.”

There was a knock at the door. Wella stuck her head in. “Gentlemen, everyone is ready.”

“Now, let’s go have some real fun.” Ian stood.

David Turner was escorted to a comfortable chair Blake had pulled out of Wella’s office. Ian scooted a place on a desktop beside him clear and had a seat.

“As you can see, Mr. Turner. We eat healthy around here.” Wella handed him an Egg McMuffin and a napkin. "You wanna Coke with that?”

“You won’t tell my secretary?”

“Honey, if she finds out, Blake held you down on the floor and force fed you.”

He smiled. “I’d like a Dr. Pepper.”

“You got it.”

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