The Meeting

7:50 AM and I was walking in the door. I made it in before everyone else and looked down the hallway to Mr. Johnson’s office with the light glowing. I could not believe he was here anyways when I thought about it. Mr. Johnson was a great boss, very laid back, and rarely made it in himself before 9:00 AM. Mr. Johnson was very similar to a father to me and had seen my potential which I was forever grateful for and with him getting into his mid-50s and four of his five children graduating school and heading into college themselves I knew it was time for him to start considering me to be his partner. I’d saved every bit of my salary and spent time making wise investments so this moment could happen so quickly. This had been on me for a long time but when my parents died in a car accident right before I hit college, I was luckily able to save as much of their life insurance as possible and after the house sold, I put that away as well. I could do this, and Mr. Johnson wouldn’t want to turn me down. I really felt like this could be my moment to be a part of what I had been working on growing for 5 years ago I walked in. We would more than doubled our profits since that day and Mr. Johnson his chubby balding self could not seem happier! 

               I quickly went and set my stuff down and did a quick once over after my subway incident. I grabbed my notepad and pen in case I needed it and headed down to Mr. Johnson. Was that laughter? I heard another man’s voice as I got closer to the office. I could feel my steps slowing and heard a deep voice say “Mr. Johnson, I promise this is going to be good for you and your family. “I heard the voice start to quiet which told me they probably could hear me walking up with my black stilettos. Damnit, should have worn flats. 

               “Kate? Is that you? Come in please, Mr. Johnson stated.

               Deep Breath and I walk in. Walk into what? Mr. Johnson was sitting at his desk and right next to him with his hand on Mr. Johnson’s shoulder was Blake Sutton with that smile and brown eyes just gleaming at me. My entire body felt like someone had blown off my clothes and I was standing there naked in front of my fatherly boss and the one-night stand that still haunted me.

               “Hello Kate, it’s been a long time, too long,” he said with a smile.

               What the hell? Too long? Who the hell was he? Why is my damn face turning red hot in embarrassment? No, no….I just stared at him in confusion and shock.

               “Kate, are you alright you look like you saw a ghost?” Mr. Johnson says surprised. 

               Not wanting Blake to know it was him. “Sorry Mr. Johnson, I just had an incident getting off the subway and a gentleman tried to make a very inappropriate pass at me and there was a bit of an incident.

               Blake’s arm dropped and he said almost concerned, “What are you alright? Who was the guy? Did you get hurt?” Glancing all over my body making me feel uncomfortable and almost insulted he thought he could look at me like that and act concerned. I could feel the glare growing inside me and just snapped my mouth shut determined not to say anything to him. 

               “Kate, dear, are you alright?” Mr. Johnson pleaded to know.

               I had almost forgotten he was in the room with us for a minute. “Oh yes, that defense class paid off and I’m sure that guy is more uncomfortable than me at this moment.” I do my best to shrug and try to smile so Mr. Johnson can relax.

               I see him take a deep breath and I appreciate his concern but not the person standing over him. “I, uh, didn’t realize you two knew each other.” Mr. Johnson states more to change the subject and ease the tension.

               “Oh yes, Kate and I go way back to college. She was always showing me up in the marketing class we took together, remember that study group of ours, Kate?” Blake said gleaming and with a wink already making it seem like we had a secret only he and I knew.

               “Well, that is just wonderful!” Mr. Johnson exclaims. “This will be easier than I thought then.”

               “What will be easier Mr. Johnson?” I question, quickly looking over and glaring at Blake and then coming back to a smile with my boss. 

               I see Mr. Johnson look down with a worried face and he begins tapping on his desk nervously. “Kate, you know I appreciate you so much and think of you more as a daughter than anything. I know you have always had such big hopes for this company, and you are an essential part of its growth. I just told Mr. Sutton here the same thing.”

               “That’s true, Kate, he told me all about you and what you’ve been up to for the last seven years,” Blake smirks. 

               I could see in Mr. Johnson’s face how upset he was about what he was trying to say. Part of me wanted to walk up and give him a hug or a pat on the hand or something but with Blake still just hovering over him I couldn’t bare being that close to him, especially with how smug he was being. 

               “Mr. Johnson, is something wrong?” I question concerned.

               “Well Kate, as you know I have a lot of children, too many really,” he chuckles. “Mr. Sutton, here,” he motions “has offered a great deal, and well Kate, I’m trying to put all my kids through college, and well as you know little Susie wants to be a doctor. It’s just too much Kate for the company even with our profits to come up with,” as he puts his own unable to look at me and rubs his hand on his balding head. I can sweat slowly starting to build on his head and face.

               “Mr. Johnson, what are you trying to say? We have doubled our profits in the last five years and that was a great deal to do with me. I have worked hard for you, and we just landed this huge deal with the coffee chain. We have talked about this, and you know how much I’ve been saving, where I’ve been living, and what I was willing to do to be your partner in this company that should help both you and me….I just….” I pleaded.

               “Kate….” Mr. Johnson’s voice cracked out. “It is just Blake here has offered a more than fair offer, overly fair, more than you and I could imagine. More than even if you became a partner. I will have enough to pay for the kid’s college, vacations, and anything I would want, and he is still willing to keep me on as an advisor part-time so more time with the family. It just doesn’t make sense for me to go any other path. Kate sits down please, hear it all out. This can be good for all of us, but you just have to give it a chance.”

               I almost by instinct plopped in the chair, staring into space, trying somewhere in my mind to understand what was happening at this very moment. Watching as all my dreams crumble and Blake Sutton gobbling them up. 

               “Kate, we have big plans for this company, we want to integrate this entire advertising company into my building and this company has shown such promise that I believe we can have this company be the entire advertising company for all my many holdings. You and I will be working together one on one for years to come to truly build a larger advertising company than you could even imagine…...” Blake just barked out at me.

               I glanced up to see his now what I believed was an egotistical nothing but cocky smile and could feel my body heating up not in the way that smile used to. I thought back to the way he made me feel those days he used to put me on the spot in our study group and now devouring my dreams for his own. “You bastard!” I blurted out.  Taking both Mr. Johnson and him back.

               “Kate, now that isn’t how you want to talk to your new boss.” Mr. Johnson scolded. I didn’t listen.

               “Who the hell do you think you are? Walking in here and just taking over just like you always have. Taking my dreams, my entire work, and just standing there smiling like it means nothing. What kind of person are you?” I yelled. 

               Finally, his face went from some stupid smile to an open gapping mouth and furrowed brow. 

               “What’s wrong does the cocky rich boy have nothing to say now?” I bellowed. I had so much more to say to this wealthy pretty boy with obviously no actual sentiment for the people he just destroyed. 

               “KATE! Now that is enough!” Mr. Johnson barked. I clamped my mouth shut looking over at him trying to plead with him through my eyes. Mr. Johnson took a deep breath before talking “Kate, I’m sorry this deal was done last night, and it really does make sense for all of us. You will see this when you give it some time. I know this is not what we thought might happen, but it is happening and at this point, you need to accept that and work through this on your own, “he stressed. He took another breath looking pitiful at me. “I wanted to tell you one-on-one and I’m sorry Blake got here before to hammer out our way of announcing it so I didn’t get that chance. Kate, please give this a chance if anything for me.” 

               He just had to say that did not, for him, the man I’d poured all my effort, work, and energy into just to try and make him proud of me. Man, I have some daddy issues, I thought to myself. I could feel the tears welling up inside me, ready to pour out of me. No, don’t let him do this to you. You have cried enough over Blake Sutton for one lifetime. Just get up and walk away. Get up! “I understand Mr. Johnson. I will need some time.” I gulped doing my best not to make eye contact with either one of them. 

               “Thank you, Kate.” Mr. Johnson continued. “We are planning on announcing the meeting I scheduled at 9. I need you to be there with your game face so please go take some time in your office beforehand.” He stated more as an order. 

               I somehow willed myself to stand up still not making eye contact with anyone. Just get out of this office I told myself. I slowly moved to the door stopping for one moment, “Thank you.” I had never in the last five years since I graduated college and started at the agency had Mr. Johnson talk to me that way. It crushed something inside me.