“No I didn’t hear her say any of that. Oh my god Paolo, Shane Tanner is coming here? How am I supposed to work with him? Do you know how awkward that’s going to be?” Danielle was on the verge of panic.
“I’m starting to get a pretty good idea. That’s exactly why I’m prying like this. As manager I have a responsibility to make sure the transition goes as smoothly and seamlessly as possible. As marketing director you’re going to be working very closely with him and I’d like to keep everyone’s embarrassment and discomfort to an absolute minimum. Did the two of you part ways amicably?”
Paolo listened with great concern as Danielle revealed the details of what was obviously an unrequited love and a painful betrayal. It was apparent to him that it was all still brewing in her dangerously close to the surface and that was surely going to be problematic once Tanner arrived.
“Oh Paolo it was so wonderful. The whole damn summer was. Why did he have to ruin it? We had so much fun together. I’ve never laughed more in my life with anyone. I fell so hard for him and he said he felt the same way about me. At the end of summer break I woke up one morning and found him gone, with only a single red rose on my pillow. I never saw nor heard from him again; not even a note. It was like he vanished without a trace. Then today when I saw his picture it felt like someone punched me hard in the stomach. So many painful emotions came flooding back, not to mention the obvious confusion about his identity. Paolo it took me forever to get over that bastard. I don’t know how I’m going to face him.”
Paolo scratched his bald head while he searched in vain for just the right words to comfort his friend. But try as he might he could only come up with “Well shit..……this sounds like a fucking disaster waiting to happen.”
Four
The corporate jet was just about ready to take off for the island of Maui. Shane Tanner fastened his seatbelt and looked stoically out the window at the Orange County Airport tarmac expecting the plane to start taxiing at any moment. Instead he saw a most peculiar sight; his father’s secretary, Marguarite Grummond, was waving franticly and running toward the plane with a large duffle bag slung over her shoulder. Shane was dumbfounded. What the fuck does she want? Did I forget something? The elderly woman somehow managed to make it up the plane’s stairs before they were raised, boarding the aircraft completely out of breath.
Shane instantly hopped up and took the overstuffed bag from her. “What’s this all about Miss Grummond?”
“Phew! I’m so glad I made it. I’m going to Maui with you. Didn’t your dad tell you?” She took a seat across the aisle from him and buckled the seatbelt strap across her lap.
“What the hell are you talking about? Are you out of your mind? There’s obviously been a mistake.”
“Your father assigned me to be your assistant while you’re in Hawaii. Wasn’t that nice of him? It was a last minute decision. Can you believe my good fortune Shane?”
Shane wasn’t about to hurt Miss Grummond’s feelings but the truth was he was completely and utterly appalled by her sudden appearance and announcement. He thought it best to say nothing at all so he summoned up a weak smile and simply nodded in stunned agreement with her. He figured he’d get to the bottom of the situation once he got to Hawaii. Why burst the old gal’s bubble? She could probably use a weekend in Maui. I’ll send her back home on Monday. He tossed her duffle bag into an overhead bin and slammed the door down tightly.
It wasn’t exactly a company secret that Tanner International had more than its fair share of young hot-looking secretaries; Shane had hired most of them. So he wondered why the hell his father would send Miss Grummond along. Maybe it was to keep him focused. Miss Grummond had worked for his father for such a long time that two of them even jokingly referred to her as his second wife.
Marguarite Grummond was a perfectionist who prided herself on her extreme efficiency and attention to detail. Her dedication and loyalty to her long-time boss, Grant Tanner was unquestioning and unfaltering. Shane Tanner had always had a hard time looking past the woman’s offbeat appearance, for she bore no actual physical resemblance to that of any corporate secretary he’d ever seen, but rather to that of an aging ‘60’s flower child. Her long gray hair, Birkenstock sandals and colorful long skirts were a sharp contrast to the stylish designer business suits worn by most professional women. She definitely didn’t reflect the polished corporate image Shane had in mind but he knew he had to pick his battles with his father carefully and Marguarite Grummond sure as hell wasn’t one of them.
Once the plane leveled off and it was safe to get up, he went over to the bar and poured himself a Scotch. He resigned himself to the fact that he was stuck with an uninvited guest and decided to make the best of it. He decided she may not be his first choice for travel secretary (or even his second, third or fourth) but she was still a woman deserving of his respect.
“Forgive me Miss Grummond, where are my manners? Can I get you anything? Would you like a drink? I can make you whatever you want.” He said flatly but politely.
“Oh yes thank you Shane. I’d love a Pink Squirrel.”
Shane looked at her quizzically and replied, “Except for that. A Pink Squirrel? I’m sorry, I have no idea what’s in that.”
“That’s okay I don’t know either. Never mind. I’ll just have a Screwdriver then. And by the way, that’s Ms. Grummond. ”
“Ms.?”
“Yeah. You know the title women use which doesn’t denote marital status? Remember the women’s lib movement of the ‘70’s? Oh yeah I guess you weren’t born yet huh?”
Shane poured some vodka and orange juice into a glass and stirred it lightly.
“Yes. Ms. I’m familiar with it. I’m sorry…. Ms. Grummond, I was being presumptuous. Here you go. I hope this drink is to your liking.”
“Hard to go wrong with a Screwdriver. Cheers!”
To his surprise she downed the cocktail in one gulp followed by a large belch. Then she laughed and covered her mouth in embarrassment.
“I’ll tell ya, it sucks getting older. You wouldn’t believe the noises that start coming out of you! Ha!”
Her entire demeanor left Shane momentarily speechless but eventually he thought of something to say that wouldn’t be rude. “Well I’m glad the drink was satisfactory.”
“Shane you don’t need to be so formal you know. It’s not like we’re at the office. We’re traveling business companions now. Please call me Margie won’t you?”
He thought it best not to ask her why she bothered to correct him on the Ms. bullshit if she simply wanted him to call her Margie.
“Sure Margie if you insist. I’m just trying to show some respect..”
Margie threw back her gray mane of hair and laughed. “Well sometimes I like to forget I’m everyone’s elder. How about you respectfully making me another Screwdriver?”
Shane marveled at her drinking ability and wasn’t sure if it was the Scotch or if he was honestly starting to get a kick out of the eccentric woman. Wow she can really put it away. He had heard his dad describe her as a “live wire” many times over the years and he was finally starting to see exactly what he meant by that.