The C. E. O.

Teresa Brody entered the Raleigh, North Carolina nursing home as she usually did on Tuesdays and Fridays, every now and then, she'd show up on a Sunday as well. Her visits were so regular, the nurses and attendants there knew which day it was, and what time, by her appearance.

"Hey Gloria." She spoke to one of the nurses at the station. Gloria looked up smiling, "How you doing today?" She asked, going over charts and schedules.

"I do alright, where's my papah?" Teresa asked.

"He out in the garden, they'll be coming in soon. Been out there long enough, gurrrl, they get to fussin' you bring'em in too soon. 'Specially yo' granddad - that man love to be outside." Gloria laughed as Teresa smiled and headed on to her destination. It was balmy, a bit muggy - with just enough breeze to stir up a little breathing air if one didn't exert themselves with too much outdoor activity. Teresa headed on down the corridor of the nursing home, past several rooms, then the large communal area, some older ones were indoors watching T.V. in the cool air conditioning - and not even remotely interested in stepping outside. She waved to a few on the way to the large patio doors that led outside. Opening that door was a no no... she could only chuckle and apologize as they shouted.

"Close dat' dough GUL! Lett'in our cool out!"

"Sorry." She apologized and made quick work of getting out of there, hearing a few mumble and shake their heads as the door was shut. She turned on the patio deck looking out at the paradise like courtyard. It was a top nursing home in the area, and it helped her to know how well her granddad was treated there, as well as how much they put into making the home as comfortable and attractive to the older ones spending their last remaining years there.

She walked through the grass area looking for him, knowing him, he would be in his favorite spot, by the mighty weeping willow with a duck pond as its focal attraction. Yep... there he was, feeding the ducks, talking to them and laughing at a few who were just too greedy.

"I'm he - ere!" She sang out coming up behind him to put her arms around him from behind, planting an adoring kiss to his cheek. He chuckled and patted her arm, this too was the highlight of his weeks. To have his granddaughter visiting him regular like clock work. Nothing told an older person they were loved more than the regular visits. Visits that were scheduled in, and a joy for them both. Dorsy Brown's heart bled for the many older folks there, who had been dumped by their family and many, never to be seen again until they collected them at death. This was not the case with his Teresa, she adored him and made it her priority to be there for him, just as he had always been there for her, since she was a young girl of six, following the death of her mother, she never knew who her father was. Her grandfather had come and retrieved her from the child welfare agency, he'd had to prove he could take care of a little girl, being a widower himself. Well he had proven it, and Teresa couldn't have asked for a better parent. Her grandfather had taken over the raising her, and he'd done a good job - there was no one in her life that she loved more.

"Well now, so you are. Come on sit down right here... got'cha chair." He tapped the lawn chair next to him. "Tell papah 'bout yo' week? That C.E.O. man come yet?" He asked right away. Their visits were usually comprised of the events going on in Teresa's life. If there were any fears, need of advice, or need of reassurance, Dorsy was quick to provide it. Teresa always came to her grandfather when she needed to get a clear perspective of anything, he was the balance in her life. He kept things well laid out and clear concerning any matters she was willing to share with him.

"Yep papah... he came yesterday... we had a meeting, and a lay-off is certain. Everyone at the office and at the manufacturing plant are a bundle of nerves. We all knew it was bound to happen."

"You thank your job gonna be in jeopardy?" He asked.

"It's too soon to tell papah, but its a possibility. They've been hiring a lot of temps as well-..."

"Temps? What's temps?" He asked.

"They are people hired in from local employment agencies, they are hired for temporary work, that's why they're called temps. They usually come in and help get things cleaned up, learn various jobs and assist those who've been working there regular and permanent."

"Em, I bet they don't like that." He put in.

"Noooo, most don't. I feel sorry for the temps, they get put through a lot from the regular employees. Whether that be in the plant or in the offices, they are seen as a threat, with the possibility of taking someone's job at a lower pay rate."

"Ah I see, they get these temps in - they learn the job, and they pay them at base rate and get rid of the ones who been doing it - and earning more than the company wanna pay."

Teresa chuckled, "Yep... you got it papah, cut backs...and because of that, the temps get put through hell. But you know, they're people too - just trying to make it like anyone else."

"They got one of them temps working with you?" He asked.

"Well - yeah - she's not working with me - but she works back and forth between our office and then to the plants. And miss super-yella - treats her like crap. Excuse me papah - but she is a bitch! She thinks her stuff don't stink, that she is a goddess of perfection and that everyone wants her. Now she's set her plans on the new C.E.O."

"I sho' hope you don't act that way. You always been a pretty girl, but what I tell you?"

"I know papah... there's no way I could be that way. You raised me right. And yes, I know that as long as black people don't know how to treat each other, we'll always be on the bottom and other races rising over us, because we spend too much time cutting each other down."

"That's right! There was a time, when all we had was each other, we stood strong and fought to have the right to be counted as equal. Now - black folks could be equal - but instead, we back stabbing and killin' each other. Our young men - they make me shame to be a black man. Use to be a time, when only nekkid women you saw showing they tail was white women. Now days, black women done lost they mind! See'im on they videos - dancin' as nasty as they can imagine being. They make me sick! Can't stand to watch'em."

Teresa smiled, "Not all black women are that way papah, there's still some good ones left."

"May be - but the white man snatching all them up!! You know why? Cause the white man has always been ready, to make the right move, at the right time. When all he could do was sneak and get'em a good black woman - you bes' believe he snuck and got him one. Then when the world say, 'It's okay now - you can have one for all to see now - marry her to if'n' you want.' White man did it! That's why - white man gone always be on top."

"Time to come in Mr. Brown sir... you've been out long enough." Roy-Lee - his assigned attendant said. Teresa looked up and smiled at Roy-Lee - he was probably the only black man her grandfather liked out of them all. He carried himself with a sense of pride, he was well spoken, hard working and considerate.

"Why I got to come in already?" Dorsy grumbled.

"Come on now Mr. Brown - know I got to take care of you sir. It's hot out here - come on in the lounge where it's cool - you can finish talking to your granddaughter in there." He replied easily, smiling back at Teresa.

"I guess... you hear what we talkin' bout?" Dorsy asked, getting to his feet, Roy-Lee reaching to help him.

"Some of it sir." Roy-Lee admitted.

"Granddaughter gone probably be laid off soon. They got them a new C.E.O. at her job. Some white man. Got one of our hi'yella's after'em like maggots on a dead cat." He mumbled walking between the two younger people. Teresa laughed, "Papah - the things you say!"

"Its true! What you think about that Roy-Lee? White men gettin' our good black women?"

"Sir, its every man for himself ain't it? If black men don't have enough sense to get their priorities in order so they can offer what a good woman needs, they have no one to blame but themselves. That's what I think."

That stopped Dorsy and Teresa. Roy-Lee winked at Teresa over her grandfather's head, she gulped and looked away blushing.

"Now that make some sense! Boy you know you got good things coming to you." Dorsy said grinning as they finally passed through the doors into the lounge. Once he was made comfortable, Roy-Lee left them to carry on.

"Anyway - I'll see what happens throughout the rest of the week at work. The new C.E.O. is there to look over our entire operations, he'll spend the next three weeks observing and then, we'll have another big meeting telling us of his plans for the future of the company and basically - who goes - who stays."

"Em hm, you watch out for Miss hi'mighty hi'yella!"

"I know papah. Sad thing is - she doesn't mess with me so much as she does this one temp we have in the office. She's really dark brown, overweight and you can tell she's struggling each day, her clothes aren't the best - no doubt goodwill - but - she's always clean! Her hair is always neat and well done. You know what papah, she may be overweight - you know - really heavy - but she carries it well, and I personally feel that she's very pretty - the kind of eyes that you know there's a lot going on in there - but she keeps it to herself. To tell you the truth, being as big as she is, she has a figure... big hips and butt - and smaller at the top, nice legs and she wears her heels let me tell you."

"Good for her." Dorsy announced.

"Yeah... but Stephanie puts her through it."

"What you mean, put her through it?" Dorsy asked.

"Talks about her behind her back - about her weight. Cuts her down at every opportunity she gets. She rolls her eyes at her, just nasty stuff."

"What this temp do?"

"Desiree Dupree is her name. I call her Desi for short, she um, she just ignores her. She goes on about her day - and gets done what she was brought in to do. She pretty much stays to herself, eats lunch by herself. Walks around the plant outside sometimes on her breaks... by herself. She's like the rest of us, needing this job - she's not about to do anything to jeopardize it. I heard she's got three or four boys."

"Single parent no doubt."

"Yeah... I think so too. And anyone who can deal with Stephanie breathing down their neck deserves to keep her job. Oh well - we'll see. I better get going papah - gotta be at work first thing in the morning... another day leading to maybe the last day."

"Maybe not - you just keep doing good and being kind to all those around, that C.E.O. will see - you're a keeper!"

Teresa grinned and bent kissing her grandfather's cheek. "I love you papah - I'm so lucky to have always had you."

*   *   *

James T. Lorenz pulled into the company's parking lot - stepping out of his Lexus RX SUV, he adjusted his suit jacket, bent his tall frame, grabbed his briefcase from the back seat floor and closed both doors, clicking his alarm with his key remote. Taking a deep breath, he headed in for another day. One thing that made his position difficult - was the knowledge that in the end, many people would be out of work. Thankfully, he was part of a team that had set the goal of getting rid of employees from the top down, not from the bottom up. Production and operations were important to keeping the company on top. While all thought the layoff's would be across the board, it was not so - but he would keep that to himself. The top of the company was too heavy - top heavy with execs - it was time to rectify that. In production some would experience the layoff - but they wouldn't be hit as hard as the main offices. That was the teams little secret. Just as he was reaching to pull the door open, he looked up and saw Desiree Dupree approaching cautiously, ever the gentlemen, he held the door open for her.

From within the office, Teresa looked up while standing next to the receptionist, to see the C.E.O. entering with the temp Desiree. She'd been there at the office since 6am to get the production orders done for that days build, all the parts were finally in from the various suppliers and they could get their overtime lines up and going now. Times like these worried her, to have two production lines coming in on overtime to start building when they were absent three parts from suppliers was not good, with everyone's department under scrutiny. She noticed that while Desiree gave him not a glance or a thought, he had a look on his face that she couldn't understand, a look that followed Desiree out of sight. He must have realized that he was being watched because he turned to her and smiled.

"Good Morning Ms. Brody, how's your day?" He asked as he smiled and strolled towards the hall that led to his office.

"To be honest, it's hectic already. Getting the production orders ready to be faxed over to the plant so they can get started building."

"Did they come in on overtime this morning?" He asked.

Teresa gulped. "Yes - umm - the parts were supposed to come in last night, they didn't. By the time I heard, it was too late to notify the supervisors, and too late for them to notify those on assembly. But - they're here now so they can get to building."

James T. only nodded, smiled at her and walked down the corridor.

Teresa wilted.

"Girl, that man's presence is going to give me a nervous breakdown."

"For once, I am happy to be just the front office's administration assistant. Builds please - so I can fax them - I have to stay busy... I don't need the axe right now." Ruthie informed her, reaching for the building orders  to fax to manufacturing.

Teresa shook her head, it was gonna be a long day, and a long week. An hour and a half after that the C.E.O. called a meeting for all the department heads. Even the ones from manufacturing had to be present. He wanted heads of, Operations - Maintenance - Advertising and Marketing - Sales - Service - Systems - Engineers - Accounting - Safety - Shipping & Receiving and the H.R. department. He called them in and made it quick and sweet. "Don't sit down - this won't take long. I want a compiled data report on all processes or procedures for each department. I want a flow chart of how each department handles their workload and sees to the matters surrounding it. I'm going to let you know now - I'll be reading them carefully and then I'll be checking to see which works, which doesn't. I also wish for you all to know, that because you hand me impressive data - I'm not going to let it sway my inspection of this company. Tomorrow and the next day - I'm going to go and have a talk with production. I want to hear from the people in assembly what they think is wrong that this company has slipped from a strong position of 2nd place down to 3rd and courting dangerously with 4th. I want you to know, I find that completely unacceptable - and I feel strongly that its due to management. If any of you feel stressed by your jobs or are unable to cope - now is the time to tell me why. Not before everyone here - but in my office. Buzz my pager, ask me what my plans are, if I'm not in the middle of anything - I'll invite you in. Basically speaking - in the next three weeks, I'll be gathering pieces of the jigsaw for the completion of the big picture. That's it - I'm on my way to the warehouse to look at stores and all the building material we have stored there, Don Becker - that's your department, you're on... let's go." He announced as Don made his way toward the C.E.O.

That was the running theme, that was the atmosphere - that was the tone that was set. If a person didn't have anything to do - they pretended to. 

As the first and second week went by, the C.E.O. was spotted everywhere. True to his promise, everyone had a chance to get to know him. He spent a great deal of time listening to the assembly line workers, and their complaints about inferior parts, about their end line inspector being taken away, so that as they built - they had to remember everyone's else job as well their own. They felt a template should be fashioned for each station to have to check the previous stations work to make sure what they did was done right. Especially in the case of new persons added to the line who weren't cross trained, knowing the station before and after them. Main point, they needed their end line inspector back. That person who's job it was to check over everything - then spot who the error belonged to and to give them reminders of their neglect, this way the line wasn't slowed down with each person having to check it, take it back and fix it. The inspector could just pull it off the line and hold it for reworking later. They had many ideas, the C.E.O.'s secretary assistant followed him around and made notes of everything that was said to him, all the ideas that the workers had that made perfect sense. From the manufacturing area he went to the stores warehouse area where all the parts that were received sat on the shelves waiting to be ordered by the line and thus delivered by the line feeders.

From them, he was shown all the parts that were sitting on the shelves, gathering dust and being damaged from being shuffled around because they weren't being used for whatever reason. They'd been ordered in plenty, yet for some reason, whomever was in charge of that line and unit - never saw to getting the parts reworked or swapped with the supplier in a timely manner - now there they sat. The C.E.O. was shown an entire warehouse of such parts - now made obsolete. Money sitting in a warehouse being chipped, dented and not used. The workers were abuzz - they could see it on his face, things were going to change now. This was the first time that a C.E.O. had actually slowly walked the operations area, stopping and listening to those whom no one on the top end had ever listened to before.

Back at the office building - which was along the same business strip, five city blocks from the three warehouse buildings of the "Best Power & Surge Protection Company" everyone was talking. Everyone was trying to come up with their reasons for why things were the way they were when he called a meeting with them. Teresa felt the strain, all she could think of was that at the end of the day she could visit her grandfather, he had a way with just putting everything into perspective and re-energizing her motivation. She walked into the ladies room and went into one of the stalls rustling with her clothes after having waited most of her day to use the washroom. There was a lot on her mind, she was the scheduler-planner for the Gibraltar unit line. There was so much happening wrong with that unit, and she knew there were parts in the warehouse for it that wouldn't be used - she knew that she should have traded those parts back in and had meant to, but in the hustle of everything - they'd been forgotten. At least there wasn't as much of her parts in the warehouse as was sitting and wasting from the Forger unit. That unit line belonged to Stephanie Dennis. Two other people entered the washroom, one went in a stall next to her and the other must have been at the sink and  the mirror. Finishing, Teresa flushed and made her exit - seeing Stephanie at the sink, fixing her makeup, unruffled without a care in the world so it seemed.

"Hey." Stephanie spoke to her, while checking her reflection, cleaning up her eyeliner.

"Hey back." Teresa replied watching Stephanie as she washed her hands.

"Have you heard that he's been in the warehouse all week, looking over the stock that's there, and has been for a while?" Teresa asked.

"Girl, I'm not thinking about that shit! Besides, I'm going for a new position...hey hey hey - baby!" She did a little sashay dance, winking her eye at Teresa.

"What new position?"

"Gurl - the C.E.O. his fine ass. He a bit on the skinny side with his tall en' - but that's okay. He healthy. Daphne said she was walking with him through one of the warehouse aisles and some sheet metal fell and ripped the back of his shirt and scratched his ass, right down his back, he took his shirt off and she said - his shit was tone! Tight - lean and nice. One of them whipcord strong ass men." She grinned, "I'm after his ass - the word is he single... got no ring on his finger." 

"Girl you can forget that - that man ain't looking for nobody. He got his mind on getting this place together."

"Look here, a man is a man. Understand? An look at my fine ass... I know how to play the game baby... just set my shit up right, and I will be rockin' with his ass."

"Yeah... whatever - you need to be worrying about all that material you have laid up in that warehouse - company profit sitting in stale and stagnant water, rusting away."

"Well - I'm putting in for advertising and marketing. I do better-..."

"WHAT?! Excuse me, if I'm not mistaken, I told you I was putting in for that. Now all of a sudden, you applying for it."

"Girls gotta do, what a girls gotta do-..." Stephanie started to say something more, then stopped as the toilet flushed in the stall. Stephanie got quiet and made a bloated cheek gesture nodding her head towards the bathroom stall - making fun and laughing as Desiree came out, glanced at them both and went to the sink and washed her hands.

"Hey Desi." Teresa spoke.

"Hi." She returned nicely.

Stephanie stood with her hip cocked eyeing her down like she was from another planet, then shook her head, boldly saying, "I bet the heat getting to you. I couldn't be as big as you are and feel comfortable and clean." She shuddered and looked back in the mirror fixing her makeup.

"Well I guess it's a good thing you're not, huh?" Desiree returned finishing with the washing of her hands, pulled drying napkins and left the room.

"You wrong! That was totally wrong!" Teresa blasted her after Desiree left.

"I'm sorry - one thing I cannot tolerate is fat ass people! And even worse, fat - black ass people! Her big ass! Aunt Jemimah looking butt - makes me embarrassed to be a black woman! Ain't no excuse for being that big! She need to lay off some of that peach cobbler!"

"Girl you need to check that attitude. And anyway... I think the C.E.O. got a thing for her." Teresa was delighted to inform her.

"WHAT?! You must be crazy! How you figure that?"

"Because, every time she's around when he's in the room - I see him cutting glances her way."

"What do you mean cutting glances her way?"

"Just like I said - he opens doors for her if she's coming. If we're all leaving and he encounters her, he looks into her face trying to encourage a smile out of her."

"Emm... you don't think he one of them men that like big women do you?"

"I don't know... but I haven't seen him give you the time of day."

Ever since that day in the washroom - Teresa had regretted sharing her observation with Stephanie, because she started treating Desiree worse. Making snide, rude remarks every chance she got. Ugly, nasty remarks that made Teresa snap in defence of Desiree a couple of times, until she pulled her aside one time.

"Look... why do you take that from her? Tell her to kiss your ass!"

"I can't afford to compromise my position - my job - besides, at the end of the day - I don't have to see her anymore... I'm on my way home."

"Yeah but you have to come back the next day! Report her! Tell HR that she's harassing you. I'll be a witness to it!"

"Naaaw, I'm alright, don't worry about me... thank you though, for being so kind - I won't forget it."

"Hey, if you ever need anything - just dial my extension... #7225 - whatever I can do, I mean that."

Teresa left work and visited her grandfather.

"Papah... ugliness runs deep in that girl! She is just mean - really mean! Today at lunch, the temp Desi was sitting to eat her lunch, and Stephanie walked by her making pig noises. Oh my god! She upsets me... I can't stand to see someone picked on like that."

"Why don't you go and report her... this Stephanie."

"You know what, I should papah. I think I will."

"Good for you."

"You know she got her sights set on the C.E.O. now... that Stephanie - if she think she got a chance in the world with that man she's insane, I think she bit off more than she can chew too, I heard through the office grapevine that she tried to flirt with the C.E.O. and he just looked at her as if she spoke a different language - the girl is asking for it. Wanna hear something funny?"

"All the time." He answered.

"I think he's got a thing for the temp and today when we were leaving work, you know it rained hard this morning?" She asked as if to verify that he knew.

"Yeah."

"Well that Desi was standing at the bus stop, and that sorry piece of work, deliberately drove through this puddle at the curb and splashed that muddy water on her skirt and legs. I couldn't believe she did something so mean. I was like the third car going to turn right at the light behind the C.E.O. and she, Stephanie was in front of him. Well when he saw her splash Desi - he pulled over and asked her was she okay and if she needed a ride, I'm assuming that's what he was doing. She shook her head and backed away from him - you could see she was humiliated. She looked like she had tears in her eyes. Stephanie did it to be spiteful because he can see she's nothing but a shallow stupid cow! You know, I wish Desi would realize that he's got a thing for her!"

"Maybe he don't... maybe he just a nice man."

"True - but I feel there's something there. If she would just take a chance and talk back to him. She won't... I think she's afraid. Maybe because of her weight she thinks he's just playing games with her or something."

"Hmmm... never know do you?"

"Nooo, you never know."

Just then Roy-Lee walked up.

"I swear Mr. Dorsy, why I have to always come out here and get you out of the sun... come on now - it's too muggy, let's get you inside."

"I ain't afraid of no sun! Sun good for you!"

"He's right papah... enough for today." Teresa gently backed Roy-Lee, helping her eighty-eight year old grandfather to his feet. She thought about the fact that he had been sixty-one when he'd stepped up and taken her on, a little girl of six. She had lacked nothing while with him. He gave her his all, time, entertainment, walks, talks and indulged all of her little girl fancies and dreams. Her grandmother had died of cancer before she was born, so all she knew of her came from the stories he would tell and the pictures she used to look at as a young girl, as well pictures of her mother.

Back inside - in the cool of the air conditioning, Teresa went on to tell him of the other things going on with work and her ideas for marketing for the company, he listened patiently and then blurted out suddenly.

"When you gone get you a man?!"

"Huh?" She asked a bit stumped by the sudden question.

"You hear me! When you gone come here and tell me 'bout a man! You thirty-three years old now - ain't it time for you to settle in with a man and have you some babies?"

"I don't have time for a man papah... between work, and things I do for myself. There's no time. Besides, I got you - what do I need a man for?" She grinned and flirted. Dorsy chuckled and patted her cheek lovingly. "Little woman, don't know what I'mo do with you. I ain't gonna be here fo'ever you know... I'm gettin' old."

Just to hear him talking that way made her eyes flood with moisture, "Yes you will papah! I don't wanna hear that - I need you to be here for me." She swallowed back about to cry.

"Aaah now, come here... I'mo be here as long as the lord lets me be." He said, pulling her to his shoulder for a pat and a hug. "But even papah got to go one day."

"Nope... 'cause I ain't never gonna let you go... not ever!" She declared with her heart pounding. "Now - enough of that talk. Tomorrow's the big meeting, when we all hear from the C.E.O. and his plans for the company. Everyone will be at this meeting, and I'll make a special visit with you tomorrow to tell you about it." She promised.

Dorsy smiled and nodded.

The Big Meeting...

All were gathered in the main cafeteria lunch room - the only place large enough to hold all the employees of Best Power & Surge Protection in building 3b. Teresa took her place in the center of all the seats that the maintenance crew had been setting up all morning to accommodate all, removing the long lunch tables to make space. The room was filling steadily, Teresa had a ton of things on her mind, on one hand, she had been preparing her presentation for the marketing position, while on the other, she'd been talking with the suppliers to make a deal on getting rid of her overstock to have it recycled for use on her new units. The cost to recycle would run them a bit, but they would make the money back from the parts once they were recycled and not just sitting on the racks deteriorating. She'd encountered Desi that morning in the women's washroom, they'd talked a bit. Teresa realized that the lady was smart and very kind and encouraging. She told her about her desire to be in marketing and why, that she had incredible commercial ideas that would make various businesses sit up and take a second look at Best Power & Surge Protection. She was just unloading about what she'd had to do to get her line's overstock taken care of. Desi was a good listener.

"You'll be all right, once you present that, the powers that be will take notice of you. Those kind of commercials people will remember." Desi had said.

"You think so? I've been working on it for some time, I just hope I'll get a chance to present my ideas... if that is, I don't get laid off."

"You just have to have faith I guess, and pray that the lord is with you." She advised.

"Yeah... I suppose so. Hey - let me ask you something? Have you noticed that the C.E.O. has been trying to get your attention?"

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

"Yes he has... if you would look up and pay attention. What, you don't like white men?"

Desi had only shrugged and smiled, walking away from the topic, saying nothing more.

More people were filing in, the buzz of talk was all around her as they found seats next to a co-worker friend. All of manufacturing sat together, all of the maintenance guys took up the back wall, shipping and receiving grouped together and so on and so on. Teresa glanced over and found the temps grouped up as well - standing against the wall... was Desi, she looked at her and smiled. There was something different about her that Teresa couldn't put her finger on, her mind being on so many things, she stared a bit more and then looked towards the front as two of the maintenance guys fussed to get the podium and microphones right. Teresa turned sideways, moving her legs to let three women pass her to the empty seats next to her, one of them, Stephanie,  sat next to her. Teresa could tell she wasn't in a good mood.

"Girl... I been updating my resume. I'm not gonna be continuing to work for this crap ass company!" She mumbled next to Teresa.

"I thought you were going for the marketing position."

"I decided to let you go for it." She charitably informed Teresa, who chuckled shaking her head.

"Yeah... thank you ever so much. Couldn't come up with no ideas for your presentation hm?"

"Whatever!" She returned looking dead ahead.

Teresa sat trying not to laugh, she'd heard that Stephanie had been approached about all the merchandise that was sitting and going to waste in the stores warehouse area, she wasn't sure about how accurate the hearsay was, that all of her old merchandise was inventoried and added up to over $125,000.00 just sitting and wasting away. Stephanie's good looks weren't paying off for her after all.

The room was filled and the meeting was about to begin.

James T. Lorenz stepped up to the podium and called everyone to attention.

"Good afternoon everyone."

Almost everyone returned the greeting.

"To start off, considering the length of this meeting, I'm not gonna keep you long. What I would like to say is this, I've enjoyed my time touring all the facilities, getting to know the people, the different units we build and supply - which gives me even more encouragement in knowing we went about this matter correctly. You see, this company has gone through a lot. Exchanging various owners, some singular, some global partners. The one new owner was determined that this investment be one of success. He was determined that he would succeed in bringing it up out of the slump that its fallen into due to - being brutally honest - poor management. Many of you managers and department heads have not been paying attention to what's been happening here. Too many of you have become complacent - relaxed - comfortable. That has to change. A layoff is certain. However, we felt it crucial to make this layoff - a wise move, not just a money cut move. There are key employees here that are vital to this businesses survival... to this businesses, success. So - how does a C.E.O. come in, and know who to cut, who to keep? Does the C.E.O. just read charts, reports and claims? Is that the wise course to take when its about the livelihood of hundreds of employees?" He paused for them to consider his words.

"No... we've all seen it happen. New ownership takes over, layoffs and chops happen, the company flounders, and in no time - shut down is eminent, consigning hundreds to un-employment adding to our weakening economy. Your new owner wanted a better way, so he hired one hell of a C.E.O. That C.E.O. needed to be sure, to be certain. So without further ado - I'm going to step down now - let her have her say. Sh sh sh - quiet please... give me a minute here-..."

Mr. Lorenz had to give all a moment as the room was suddenly abuzz.

"I suppose I should explain a bit first - you see, once upon a time, I was a C.E.O. however, my wife and I had to make a decision. With four boys at home, not getting the attention that was needed, we had to come down to what was best for our family. Since she made more money than I did - I volunteered to stay at home with the kids."

More gasps ensued.

"I guess I'll let her explain the rest - so - I'm going to step back now, and let you all get to know your, real - C.E.O. Honey, they're all yours now." He announced and stepped back as all looked to the left to see, Desiree Dupree Lorenz moving towards the podium.

Teresa's mouth fell open as did Stephanie's beside her.

Teresa's head snapped to the right to look at Stephanie, and it was an ongoing fight from that moment on not to laugh out loud at the look that crossed her face. Her head rotated on her neck so rapidly, looking back and forth from the front podium to Stephanie - she couldn't decide which was more interesting to watch. All around her were shocked cries of disbelief. No one had been prepared for this revelation. No one ever gave a thought to a temp. Especially a black, overweight struggling woman, who wore clothing that everyone was certain came from goodwill if they gave it a thought. Now Teresa understood what was different about her. She'd changed clothes since that morning. Now - she was dressed in a sharp, expensively tailored Italian suit. Her hair was not pulled back so drastically, but now flowed onto her shoulders, giving her a softer, much more attractive look.

She settled herself at the podium after she smiled up at her white husband. Teresa knew that this day would be talked about for years to come, especially by her. Because there was a lesson to be learned that no one could deny. He smiled down at her, kissed her brow, walked over to his seat, picked up his jacket, put it on, then came back to the podium to stand beside his wife. The onlookers were still reeling from shock and surprise. Most of them from the offices felt a surge of fear as they tried to remember, what they may have said in front of her, around her, near her - to her. Had they ignored her, treated her with disrespect or disdain?

"I cannot - believe this shit." Stephanie murmured.

"Believe it baby... and it is sweet....he-he." Teresa chortled in her ear, she couldn't help herself.

"Fuck you." Stephanie whispered to her out the side of her mouth.

"Life is a bitch ain't it?" Teresa teased un-phased by her rude return. Then spent the next few moments chewing on her tongue to keep from laughing out loud.

"Well everyone - as I said, it's been nice... but I have three boys to pick up from school, and one from nursery, if I'm a moment late, I'll have to beg his pardon for the rest of the night." Said J.T.Lorenz.

Some chuckled at the honest comment as he whispered to his wife.

"See you later, now knock'em dead." She smiled and winked at him as he made his exit.

The secretary that followed him around, was now there with her giving her various paperwork as she prepared herself before the audience. Teresa sat in disbelief, the two women smiled at each other familiarly. The contrast was there yet encouraging for the many white employees present. To see her at ease with her slender, white business like, female secretary. She was stalling to give everyone a chance to get a look at her, to give them a chance to accept that they all now sat in audience to their new C.E.O. She looked up and out at everyone and put on the most dazzling smile, one that made Teresa sit back and smile with so much pride she was moved by it.

"Okay everyone, I'm going to start off by first introducing myself and telling you a little bit about me. I'm Desiree Dupree Lorenz. Wife, mother and your C.E.O. To qualify for that position, I finished school as an honor student. Went on to attend college taking on several courses, all that would direct me towards business and management. There is where I met my husband. You see, we often went head to head in school debates, talks and presentations, one thing led to another, a night out with the girls found us at the same club, I'm not a drinker... but I drank too much that night, and to make a long story short, I woke up the next day married to him. And somewhere along the way, we fell in love. That night of drinking resulted in our first son, one of four while we were both still in college. So that's how we came to be. Next - I will apologize to you all for the shock of learning that I am the C.E.O. and not he. My job - my position - my responsibility to the man whom hired me to do a job, is paramount in that I do this, and do it right. The only way to do it right, is to observe people who are unaware that they're being observed. It may be an under-handed move, but it is a necessary one. You see, if you come to work, and do what it is you were hired to do... you have nothing to worry about. It will not matter if you are being watched or not - because you clock in and you then become the best that you can be, for the Best Power & Surge Protection Company."

She stopped and paused looking around to let that sink in. Walking from behind the podium she continued on, pacing as she spoke, relaxed, in control, confident and in charge.

"You see... the type of people, who will be here next week, next month... and in the years to come. The ones that will retire from here - are the ones that, observed secretly or not, are doing the job they were hired to do...and doing it well. For those of you who are not doing it well, you need to be asking someone, how can I do this better? More efficiently? More affectively? More productively? And, Cost effectively? For the better growth and success of this company... you will be given assistance. While I worked as a temp, filing, running errands, faxing, assisting - I was able to see, who of you... love this job. Who of you take pride in what you do, who wish to see this company back up into a top position and possibly - number one position! I saw you... I listened to you. I heard your frustration and anger at the laziness and lack of attention from others who should feel and work as you do. I saw... believe me I did."

She paused to look around. You could have heard a pin drop it was so quiet.

"Each night I left here, took the bus out there, rode it to a certain spot and was picked up by my husband. And for the rest of the night, we discussed what I saw and learned. What he - saw and learned. I'm pretty certain, we have all the pieces to the puzzle. We have the big picture. And so, I will say this. Some of you will be let go. You'll be getting your notices tomorrow. Some of you will be given another position, one perhaps below the one you now hold... whether you take it or not is up to you. Should you decline, should you quit, that cancels any un-employment compensation. Some of you will be offered another position, one in which is better suited to your talents and what you can offer the company as we reclaim our rightful place in the power protection field. I want each and every one of you to know.... we will be number one - no ifs, ands or buts about it - we will succeed in reaching that top spot."

She stopped in the center and looked over everyone there. They could see it in her eyes, she was a fighter, and her aim was to win.

"Now..." She stepped over to the overhead projector, clicked it on, and said, "...these are our plans for the future, so everyone listen up."

*   *   *

"Come on now! You got to be kiddin' me... is you serious?!" Dorsy asked stunned.

"Papah, I'm telling you... you should have seen the look on everyone's face. It was one of the most glorious, memorable moments I've ever witnessed. After the meeting, she called me into her office, the one her husband had been occupying, and told me right out I wasn't going to be among those getting laid off. She also told me she expected a dazzling presentation from me about my advertising ideas. That she had to give others the chance as well as me and that she would judge all fairly. So - in other words, I may not - get the marketing position, but at least I still have my other job."

"Well now now - don't be so quick to dismiss it - you may get it. You just have to give it your best."

"Yeah... I plan to."

"What miss cow patty do now?"

Teresa started laughing. "The fool quit! Heard that she was one of the ones that was demoted. They offered her a position in the company post office."

Dorsy threw his head back and laughed. "She should'ah kept it, jobs ain't so easy to find now."

"Oh well, that's her problem. Serves her right, Desiree Dupree Lorenz is not stupid, she wasn't about to pay her unemployment after the way she'd treated her. So that was a power move, subtle and sweet, it was up to her to take it... and because she didn't... she can't claim a severance or anything. She has profit sharing, so at least she'll get that."

"Lord lord lord... well you know them two celebrating now."

"Yes, they must be, oh would I love to be a fly on the wall there papah. Anyway, I'll be back again after I put up my presentation, to let you know if I get the marketing position or not."

"You'll get it. No doubts - just give'em your best."

*   *   *

"Emmm, that feels so good, ooooh yeah... rub right there... yep... that's the spot." Desi moaned as she reclined in her bubble bath, her husband sitting next to her on the seating edge of the large square sunken bath. She had a glass of wine, he was sipping his whiskey sour.

"Aaah honey, I'm just glad its over. You know there were many times when I just wanted to say enough! I couldn't stand to see you being treated that way." James informed her softly, rubbing across her shoulders, up her neck, and at the base of her head. Her hair was pulled up to the top of her head with little strands dangling and getting wet from the bubbles.

"I know... but sweety, I had to do it that way. I could not be responsible for laying off hard working people who need their jobs and deserve to have them. It was worth whatever I had to go through to make it right. You know where I came from, and have seen the heartache of seeing people gutted, being stripped of all their dreams to be plunged into the hell of trying to eke out a living. I cannot, nor will not be responsible for doing that to people."

"I know. It took everything I had to walk out and leave you there. I wasn't so sure how they would all respond to you."

"I'm a big girl... you know I can take care of myself."

"Emmm, well hurry up and finish this bath, big girl... I have plans for us this night. The boys are already in bed-..."

No sooner had he said that when a loud crash interrupted. Desiree started grinning, "And you were saying?"

James sighed, "I'll be back...you just come out of there and let me find you wearing something sexy." He flexed his brows up and down and winked, leaving her alone.

Desiree sat forward thinking, going over the meeting in her mind. While the whole strategy was indeed her idea, meeting with the approval of Phillip Bankston - it left her hurt in ways she would never tell James. She stood from the bath and grabbed her towel to dry off, taking a look at herself in the linen closet mirror. Their master bath was massive off of their master bedroom. She was surrounded by beautiful things, her home decor was magazine quality. She was living the American dream. With an incredible man to love her as she was.

"I have to lose this weight. I just have to." She thought looking away, did her lotions, creams and dabbed on her favorite perfume. Went into their bedroom and donned one of her favorite gowns and laid down on their king bed, positioned in the center of their room. Even though she said goodnight to her boys already, she was tempted to get up and go to them again. She was in the battle of decision. While she loved what she did, knew the benefit of it all, there were times when she longed to be just a stay at home mother. Running her home, playing a bigger part in her sons lives and maybe even trying one more time for a girl.

She clicked her remote and their 32 inch flat screen T.V. rose up from the end of their bed, where it was stored away in the foot board on a bracket with a small hydraulic lift. She was watching CNN when James re-entered the room climbing in bed next to her.

"Emmm, you smell wonderful and look delicious enough to eat." He stated right off, removing the remote from her hand and rolling her to her back to look down at her. She looked up at him and then suddenly burst into tears.

"Aaah honey, what's the matter...aaah - why are you crying. Aaaah sweetheart." He gathered her close to him, trying to take her hand from over her eyes, where she hid, trying to get control of herself.

"Come on... tell me, what's wrong?" He coaxed gently.

"I don't understand how you can stand me being like this."

"Like what?"

"You know... fat!"

"You let that shallow piece of shit bitch get to you."

"I'm going on a diet." She declared.

"Have I ever asked you to go on a diet? Have I?"

"No."

"Were you not heavy from the very beginning? I mean you've never been skinny - smaller than you are now, yes - but never skinny. Have I complained?"

"No."

"Do you think I love you less?"

"No."

"Do you think if you're skinny - I'll love you more?"

"Maybe... just a bit more."

"Wrong... wrong... wrong... wrong. You shine... like no one I've ever known. Your heart is so full that everything you do is based on the knowledge you've gained from your education, and the experience you had in your early life. You make me proud...do you know that... I left there today... feeling ten feet tall. My wife... that's you. Because of you, my life is what I've always dreamed of it being. All those things, what we have... is based on the quality of person that you are. You my wife, are worth far more ... than your weight in gold."

Desi started crying, and he hugged her close, "Aaah don't cry...come on... where's that powerful C.E.O.? Hm? Where is she?"

"James... she's just a person I need to be to get the job done... but... sometimes... I just wanna be a woman. I just want to be taken care of... sometimes, I don't want to be responsible for so many, I just want to be responsible for what's mine... you and the boys. Sometimes, I feel as though I've bitten off more than I can chew. I can handle it - but - I don't always want to."

"I see... well, you know that whichever decision, or conclusion you come to... I'm behind you."

"What if... after things are straightened out at the power company, I decided that I want to be just a stay at home mom... would you mind being the one to go to work?"

"My wife... I am fine in either place. What matters to me, is the smile I can depend on to show up on your face." He caressed her smooth cheek, admiring everything about her.

"I don't know what I'm going to do yet. But I must finish what I started."

"You do that... and when you're ready with your decision... we'll roll on from there." He bent down and kissed her softly, and soon switched gears to making love to his wife, touching her, kissing her, treasuring and reassuring her - that she was perfect just the way she was... and told her so. Desi felt it and prayed as he entered her, that a little girl was in their future.

*   *   *

The rest of the week, Teresa prepared for her presentation, she called her grandfather the night before, talking to him, telling him all that she did to prepare herself. He once again told her to go for it. She brought in her ideas and took her turn laying them out before all present. Giving her ideas for each line, and the last one was for the personal home generator line.

"Picture this if you will... it's late at night, there's a powerful storm. Thunder, lighting... the camera moves back away from a window to show a viewpoint from a little girls bedroom. As it moves back, there she is, knees up as she sits back against the head board in the semi-dark room, only light there to see, is from her night light plugged into the wall. She's crying, her father comes in and checks on her, "Daddy, I'm scared... are the lights gonna go out? I'm afraid of the dark." She cries... he sits next to her, shushing her, assuring her, "No honey... the lights won't go off, sleep, everything is okay-..."

"Daddy they always go out when it storms... I'm scared." She cries, he smiles... "Not this time, sleep tight." He soothes and she trusts her father and lays back down... because  his word, she believes in. He leaves her room, walks down to the basement and just to be sure, while listening to the thunder roll and the lighting crash, he flicks on a flash light, hearing the hum in the background... his home's power is gone, but the one thing he invested in, if only for his little girl, delivers. His Best Power, Home Guard unit... is on the job, true to our promise... his power is backed, and his little girl... can sleep on...no black outs for them." Smiling, he turns and walks back up the steps. The basement door closes, plunging the basement into darkness, with only a little red light to be seen flashing, and a soft humming, and then a very masculine, baritone voice will say, "Best Power - Home Guard - Sleep tight, we're here for you... day or night - to help you weather the storm."

*   *   *

Teresa was on top of the world as she parked her car and rushed into the nursing home, she went looking for her grandfather to tell him the good news. She'd done it... she'd been given the position as head of marketing. One of the nurses looked up and saw her coming, the bright smile on her face. "Um Teresa, can you come here please?"

"Okay, in a bit... I have to go tell my papah the good news! I got the position!" She cried out jubilantly and dashed on.

The nurse Gloria gulped and rushed from the back of her counter after her.

Teresa checked the lounge, he wasn't there and she made a quick dash for outside to his favorite spot, he wasn't there.

She looked around the grounds searching for him, then looked towards the patio to see two nurses, a doctor and Roy-Lee coming towards her.

She felt it then, the punch to her stomach.

"Em, Teresa - we need to talk to you." The nurse started.

"Where's my papah?" She asked with her soul beginning to shake.

"He's gone Teresa, we found him this morning, he passed away in his sleep, we've been trying to reach-..."

"NOOOO NO NO NO NOOOOO!"

*   *   *

Teresa stood over the grave of her grandfather as various persons that knew him slowly parted leaving her alone.

"Hey... we're here for you? You know that don't you?" Desi said, with James by her side.

Teresa gave a sad smile... "Yeah, I know... umm, I just need a few days... I'll have all of the scripts written-..."

"Hey... don't you worry about that! Work can wait!"

"No but I'm head of marketing and we have a deadline to meet-..."

"Did you hear what I said? It will wait... cause I said so... and you know who I am." Desi gave a sad smile and stroked her cheek kindly.

Teresa nodded her head, sniffed, unable to talk at that moment.

The Lorenz's couple walked away and left her to say her goodbye.

Teresa stood for quite some time, not realizing how much time had passed.

"You could have at least waited for me papah... to tell you I made it. I wanted you to know I made it. I wanted you to know, that you did everything right. That you are the reason for my success, I wanted you to know that." She sobbed softly.

"He did know." Roy-Lee spoke up from behind her.

She turned to look at him, as he stood watching her.

"How long have you been here?" She asked.

"Ten minutes... I've been watching you from over there. How long are you going to stand here by yourself?"

She looked away, back down at her grandfather's coffin, waiting to be covered with soil.

"I - I don't - I don't know what to do. I don't know where I'm gonna go - I - don't wanna leave him here." She choked.

Roy-Lee stepped up and lifted her face by the chin. "Trust me, like he trusted me. Come on, let's go talk about Dorsy Brown. I can tell you all the wonderful things, he always knew about you."

Teresa stared at him, unsure of what to do.

"Come on... everything will be okay from now on. I promised him it would be, now I'm promising you. Just as he knew I was a man of my word, you'll find that out too."

Teresa sniffed and looked down again, nervously - but not wanting to be alone right then, she knelt and finally laid her flowers down on his coffin. "I'll be back later papah... promise, I'll always be here to visit you... tell you what's happening next. I love you."

The End