3 – The Office
Halverson, Smith, Berglund and Associates had their offices in a building on the island of Manhattan. Two company receptionists sat behind a great semi-circular desk, where they efficiently greeted clients and answered the phone. Both were women. The older one, Hannah, was a company veteran while the younger woman was new to the job.
The phone rang. Hannah answered, “Hello. Halverson, Smith, Berglund and Associates. Oh, Mr. Dee. Yes, she’s in. I’ll put you through.” She put the line on hold and punched up a number. “Ms. Dee?” she said in a pleasant tone, “Your husband on line four.”
Hannah hung up and turned to her trainee. She leaned in close and talked in a gossipy tone, “It’s only ten past nine and Jody has already called twice. That woman is a saint to put up with a nag like that!”
The younger women hung on every word and nodded sympathetically.
The sign on Ann’s office door read: Ms. Ann Dee, Project Manager. She was an important person at Halverson, Smith, Berglund and Associates. Her desk was littered with files and reports.
“I’ve been busy this morning, Joe.” She had picked up line four to talk with Joe. “No, I haven’t been able to take care of the problem.
“Look dear, Mark Holt and I have a major presentation to deliver this afternoon with Mr. Halverson, and if I don’t get cracking, I’m going to have a rough time of it… yes… that’s right… I should be home on time… yes, I’ll try to call if I get hung up.
“Goodbye.”
Ann hung up and shook her head sadly, then sighed deeply before returning to her papers. She had work to do before the big meeting.
It was night before Mark, Ann, and Mr. Halverson stepped off the elevator into the lobby of their offices. Mr. Halverson was smiling broadly as he gave Ann a congratulatory slap on the back.
“Good work, Andy!” he said. Then he addressed Ann’s assistant. “That’s how you handle old Steinbach, Mark—firm but gentle, eh, Andy? Build a strong presentation and back it up with talent and conviction, that’s what Andy does. You watch her, Mark—learn from her!”
They were standing before the door to Ann’s office.
“I sure will, Mr. Halverson,” said Mark. “You can count on it.” He watched Mr. Halverson walk away, the happy bounce of success in his step. “Anything else, Ann?”
“No, nothing. You did good, Mark. Thanks. Now shoo! Get on home.” After dismissing her assistant, Ann quickly entered her office. I’ll never make the train, the thought. She was starting to throw some papers in her briefcase when she noticed a stack of pink “While you were out” memos lying on her desk. She picked the memos up and shuffled through them.
2:15 — Joe called, said to remind you about the pest problem.
2:47 — Joe called back.
3:09 — T. Howell III called. Please return call tomorrow, a.m.
3:34 — Joe again — 4:10, 4:41, 5:12.
Ann sighed and seated herself at her desk. She picked up the phone and punched in a number. After a few rings Joe answered. “Hello dear,” she began, “I’m… I was just going to tell you—I’m still at the office… I know I missed the train…yes dear…I am calling now… No dear, I couldn’t call sooner…but I didn’t know that the presentation would take so long!
“No, I didn’t take care of that yet… How could I? I was busy all day… I know that I said I would... Now just calm down, dear… Okay, okay! I’ll find something on my way back! Yes dear, I promise—cross my heart… That’s right, I’ll catch the next train... Don’t bother picking me up... No... I said no, Joe... I’ll get a cab… Yes, dear… Goodbye."
Ann checked her watch again then she pulled open a desk drawer, retrieved a Yellow Pages book, and flipped through it to “Pest Control.” She dialed a number and let it ring. No answer. Ann scratched through the name in the book with a red felt tip. She dialed another—again, no answer. She repeated this process until she scratched through “X-pert Pest Removal,” the last listing in the book. She leaned back dejectedly in her chair and tossed the felt tip onto her desk.
– End Chapter Three –
