CHAPTER 6
December 11, 2014
FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE
Dominic chuckled. “Well, well, well, aren’t you quite the scrapper. I have to tell you, Madison. I admire that in you. I called you to withdraw my interest in your representation and you told me that was unacceptable. All right, Madison. Get me the report and clean up your staff. Fair?”
Relieved the crisis was over, Madison said appreciatively, “Fair. Thank you.”
Returning the phone to the receiver, she yelled, “Heather, find Vicki. I want her in my office now!”
****
“Close the door behind you,” Madison snapped. She refused to call Vicki by her name. Such recognition would establish that each had a name and there was some sense of equality between them. Vicki was only an administrative assistant.
Shocked at Madison’s anger, Vicki asked, “Is there something wrong?”
“Is there something wrong?” Madison said in exasperation and threw a pencil down on the desk. It bounced onto the floor. “You better believe there is something wrong.”
Vicki stepped backwards toward the door trying to escape Madison’s wrath.
“Don’t you dare step away from me,” Madison warned. “Sit down!”
Eyes moist from fear, Vicki sat in front of the desk. A short plump woman, her face suggested that life had been difficult for her, and that she was older than forty-five. Her short, dull-brown hair revealed no evidence of any styling other than brushing. The little makeup she wore did not hide the wrinkles in the corners of her eyes.
Madison glared at Vicki and said, “For fourteen years, I worked on Wall Street. There was no one better than me. Do you know why I was the best?”
Vicki’s tears refused to be confined and her face showed confusion on how to answer the question. “No. . .ma’am.”
“Because I didn’t make mistakes,” Madison barked. “And I immediately fired anyone on my staff that did make a mistake. Do you understand me?”
Vicki swallowed hard and replied meekly, “Yes. . .ma’am.” She smudged her thin makeup when she tried to wipe away her tears.
“I just got off the phone with Dominic Rowlands from the Palmer Group. You ignored my specific instructions and failed to send the Taylor report. I—”
“I’m sorry,” Vicki said, appalled.
“Don’t you dare interrupt me. Your incompetence almost cost us the Palmer account. Now you go back to your desk and somewhere in that mess is that report. Find it and bring it to me immediately. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” Vicki said, hesitantly.
“And one last thing,” Madison said. “I will not tolerate mistakes. You’re off my team. I will not accept your unsatisfactory performance. If it were my decision, I’d fire you immediately. Now go find that report.”
TO BE CONTINUED