Title: Madison CHAPTER 4
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Blog Entry: CHAPTER 4 He slapped the desk so hard that the ceramic pencil holder bounced on the polished mahogany desk. Shocked, Madison pushed her chair back from the front of the desk. Grandson of the founder, eighty-two years had taken nothing away from Lawrence Kenner. His mind was as sharp as it ever had been, and he could outlast them all in a fourteen-hour day. A short thin man with a shiny-bald head, and a bow tie from an era long past, he could still slap a desk with the best of them Lawrence barked, “I made you, Madison Belmont. I took you in and made you the tiger on Wall Street. There isn’t a person on The Street that doesn’t know and fear you. You’re the best. And what do you do? What’s the gratitude you show? Do you thank me? Kiss my foot? No! Not the Madison Belmont” he said sarcastically. “No, she comes waltzing into my office, and tells me she’s going to apply for another job.” Madison sat up in the chair. She refused to accept Lawrence’s attack without a devastating counterattack. Years in the boardroom had taught her that valuable lesson. Speaking forcefully, she said, “Lawrence, you’re misinterpreting—” Lawrence slapped his hand on the desk again, but softer. “Don’t you dare interrupt me, Madison Belmont.” Shocked at the intensity of his anger, Madison begun to wonder if she was about to be fired. Lawrence leaned into Madison and warned in an unusually flat voice, “I’m still Chairman of the Board. I should fire you on the spot for ingratitude and making me mad,” His bow tie jumped up when he gulped in some air. Madison’s sudden anger matched Lawrence’s outburst. If she was about to be fired, so be it. Lawrence was chairman of the board. He was also speaking with only half of the facts. That was not acceptable. Lawrence would make a decision on her future, but only after he had heard all of the facts. Madison knew she was tough. She surprised herself that day by showing just how tough Wall Street had made her. Leaning forward and planting both hands on the desk, she spoke with a commanding voice. “I will not allow you, Lawrence, for one minute to misrepresent my intentions. First of all, I appreciate all that you have done for me. I really do. Any success I have achieved is because of your support. I know that. But Lawrence Kenner, I’ve ignored my family for too long. I can’t do that anymore. Mom is alone and getting older every day. I need to be with her while she is still in good health. Surely, you aren’t going to deny me my family?” Lawrence suddenly laughed and leaned back in his chair. There was another shocked expression on Madison’s face. She had thrown her best argument at him, and he laughed. Pushing herself away from the desk, and settling back into her chair, Madison asked. “What’s so funny?” “You are,” he said with a smile. “You’re funny.” With a touch of agitation in her voice, Madison said warily, “I don’t understand.” Continuing to smile as he sat up in the chair, Lawrence said. “You’re good, Madison. You’re very good. I wanted to fire you because you were ungrateful and made me mad. Then you throw your mother into the mix. Now, how can I fire you when you want to spend time you’re your mother? It was Madison’s turn to smile with a small chuckle. “Good, huh.” Relaxed, Lawrence said, “So, tell me about this firm in Ohio.” His name is Peter Marshall. He’s a very successful attorney in Hillsdale. He is expanding his practice and is looking for a business development manager. Lawrence, it’s an exciting opportunity. Peter is looking for someone to build the program from the ground floor up. I’ve never done that. It’s a challenge and I want to it. And an added bonus, it’s close to Mom. Lawrence, I’ve got a shot and I want to grab it” Becoming serious as he slowly twirled a pencil on the desk, Lawrence asked, “So where do you go from here?” “Peter asked me to submit a resume.” “And you’re asking me for my blessing?” Anxiously, Madison replied, “Yes.” “And if you fail, you want your job back.” “Yes.” Standing up, both hands in his pockets, Lawrence said with a warm expression, “Madison, you need to get out of my office. You have taken too much of my time. And if you come back here with your tail between your legs, your old job will be waiting for you.” “Thank you, Lawrence. Thank you very much.” As she reached for the door to leave, Lawrence added, “And good luck to you, Madison Belmont. I hope you make it.” Later that night, curled up on her bed, Madison once again examined her resume on the laptop. Perfect. She could feel her body tense with excitement and anticipation. She tapped the send button. Next, The Interview.
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