Designing Lives

By Crystal Tarling

This is the story of various people who work together and how their lives intertwine in amazing ways.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crystal Tarling
• Release date: Feb 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393408284

Crystal Tarling

I was adopted as young baby and had a wonderful life full of adventure and imagination.  Stories come naturally to me.

Book preview

Lexie

Well, you’ve sure screwed that one up. I berated myself as I drove along the road. Hell, what a way to go and what the hell am I going to do now? I replayed the last hour or so in my head.

Walking into the office early this morning had not been a good idea. Next time, just turn around and leave. They were so busy they did not even know you were there, but, no, you had to go and scream. They jumped up and tried to pull their clothes back on but were in shock and could not get them straight. The boss glared at me and demanded I see him in his office now. The fact that they were in his office had not dawned on him as he stormed out and then realised and stormed back.

She slipped out and went to her office with her face blood red. He ranted and raved at me about how dare I come to work early.  My hours are clear. So I turned on him: Do you think anyone can do all the work you press on them in those hours? How the hell do you think I have coped if I do not work the additional hours? You’re selfish and a bully and have no idea how to manage people, unless you are screwing more than just the secretarial pool. And that is not management but sexual abuse and misconduct. What if it was your wife that walked in and not me?

He screamed at me that I was fired and I better not expect a reference. I picked up my bag and walked out. I got in the car and drove home.  My cell was ringing as I got out the car and I saw it was the office but not his number. Lexie. I answered. Mmm, I’m afraid I no longer work there. ... No, Mark fired me this morning so I am at home now.

What? Why did he fire you? It was the big boss on the line.

I think you better ask him and then please let me know what he tells you. I laughed and ended the call.

An hour later there was a knock on my door and there was the big boss. I invited him in and made coffee. Well, young lady, you have surely put the cat amongst the pigeons in the office. After you left, he went and fired Lucy from the typing pool and she let rip at him.  The whole building probably heard her. Will you give me your version of this morning and I will reveal all that Lucy and Mark said?

I giggled: I would have loved to hear Lucy. Was Mark’s wife there?

Yes, she was right there and then she went for Mark with both guns blazing. I almost felt sorry for the guy. Joe smiled.

I went in early as I often have to in order to get all Mark’s work done and found them busy having sex on his desk.  I screamed and they both got such a fright that they could not dress properly.  He screamed at me to see him in his office immediately and stormed out only to realise that he had been in his office all along so he stormed back and Lucy crept out. He screamed at me ‘how dare I come to work early?’ and then fired me and told me I will never get a reference from the company. I let him have it. ‘Do you think anyone can do all the work you press on them in those hours? How the hell do you think I have coped if I do not work the additional hours? You’re selfish and a bully and have no idea how to manage people, unless you are screwing more than just the secretarial pool. What if it was your wife that walked in and not me?’ He went red and then white and I walked out and came home.

That is what I thought. He went straight to the typing pool and fired Lucy. Lucy screamed at him that if he fired her, she would tell his wife how they had been having an affair for 6 months and that he screwed others in the typing pool too. I think he knew his goose was cooked when he saw his wife standing there listening. She walked over to him and dragged him by the ear into his office and they closed the door.  I heard him screaming for help but we left them there. We never once heard her raise her voice but you could clearly hear what she said to him.  I told Lucy to take the rest of the week off and come back to work on Monday. Joe laughed. Mark came out his office with his shirt torn and his nose bleeding and left. Kim came out as if nothing had happened and told everyone to get back to work, the show is over.  She went to comfort Lucy and told her to go home. Lucy hiccupped and told her he threatened her if she did not have sex with him and she cannot afford to lose her job as she is a single mother. I had a long talk with Kim and have told her that Mark no longer works here. Lexie, as Mark’s assistant, can you keep the office going? I am sure that the bulk of the work he passed off as his was your work and not his. I want to relook at the whole office structure.

I’ll keep the office running with pleasure. Now that arsehole is gone, you will see how it will hum. I shook his hand. I will be there in an hour.

Take your time. Please come see me at 2. Joe left.

I left soon after him and went back to the office.  It was only 10. I got out all the outstanding work and prioritised it. Dean, the IT guy came in and said that Joe had told him to give me access to Mark’s work. We went into Mark’s office and changed the password so I had full access. I checked his inbox and went through all outstanding matters. He had not read or answered any e-mails for a week. It took me an hour to sort it all out. I looked at all the outstanding jobs on the scheduler and got to work.  By two, I had a fix on what was needed to be done and by when. I printed out the list of projects with due dates and % completion and went to Joe’s office. Sally told me to go straight in.

Joe was on the phone and signalled me to sit. When he finished his call, he thanked me for coming. Lexie, what I am about to tell you stays in this office. I am retiring soon, not willingly, but for my health, and my son, Bryson is coming in to take over. I want you to work closely with him and build this company back up to what it should be.  I have been slack and let Mark run his section and not been diligent in checking up on his work. Do you have a handle on what it still outstanding?

I nodded and handed him my list. His brows raised as he read. Half of these Mark told me were handed over complete. You have them down as half complete or not started. Who was handling these?

Mark himself handled all the unmarked ones.  The ones in yellow are the ones I handled and the blue were contracted out by Mark. I have got e-mails out to the contractors to ask for progress reports.  One came back, the third on the list in italics, to say that Mark e-mailed them to say it was not urgent and they could finish it next month. I said. "If I get it back from them, I can finish it over the weekend. They said they have other work now and cannot do it