Well, I was all in a mood of good morning, live and learn, jerks be gone, out with the old in with the new when BARRY, yes Barry, my desk mate, strolls past our row toward the vault with the Simons Jewel Co briefcase in hand, swinging it forward and back, a jaunt in his step.
I gave him the side eye. Why would he be putting the briefcase back in the vault at only 9:30 in the morning?
My line rings
“This is—“ I hear yelling and commotion.
“Hi- come to the Executive Lunch Room,” Cash says distractedly and I hear a Ranch utter “Where is she?” In the back room. The line hangs up.
I cringe and head toward the Executive Lunch Room.
I walk into an argument amongst both Ranches and Cash, entering the room as Ranch Jr declares, “The jewelry looked like shit, that’s why they didn’t buy it.” I bristle.
“Charli, have a seat,” Cash motions. “Did you put the jewelry away last night?”
“Yes,” I respond.
“And where did you put it?”
“In the vault.”
“From now on you gotta put it away nice, ok gal? You got that? You understand?” Ranch Sr demanded to me, in seething sarcasm.
“I’m sorry, did I—?”
“Charli, we had a very important sales meeting here at 8:30 this morning, a meeting that Cash and I arranged on behalf of Diggy, last night. A very important meeting, and it did not go well. So next time you put the jewelry away, do me a favor, okay? Take a look at it before you put it away? Okay? Make sure it looks nice? Because some of us, some of us are busy making connections with people out at clubs during the week for the advancement of this business. And if a meeting comes up, the jewelry needs to look good. You got that?”
“Yes,” I responded in confusion.
“Alright get outta here,” Ranch Sr ordered.
I went back to my desk and sat there, shaken, my nerves up.
deux mille six 