The Morrisons Ch. 10

Beth said, "After you left on Friday the news spread through the office like wild fire that you are being promoted, this morning, at the meeting." I sat quietly for a moment trying to think of what position I was being promoted to; I was clueless.

Beth said, "I'll get your coffee and cheese Danish so you can snack before your meeting."

I thanked Beth and once she was out of the office I called Kim. Her secretary said she was unavailable but she would have her call me as soon as she was finished. I hung up the phone and sat in my chair trying to remember all the conversations of the past week or month. Nothing I came up with gave me any clue. Beth came back with my coffee and my cheese Danish and put them on the edge of my desk. Then she said, "The papers you wanted me to complete are in that folder on your desk and ready for your signature." I thanked Beth and she walked out of the office.

I had about a half an hour before my meeting so I opened the folder and reviewed the letters and files. One by one I signed everything and placed them back in the folder then pressed the intercom to inform Beth the papers were ready to be sent out. Beth came in and picked up the folder saying, "You need to leave for your meeting soon."

I smiled and said, "My schedule says the meeting is in board room number four."

Beth said, "That's correct, sir."

As I walked into the board room there were already a number of people there and many of them came up to me and shook my hand and smiled at me. A couple of the guys, who I recommended for promotion, shook my hand a little longer than normal.

As the time of the meeting grew nearer, I walked down the table to my normal seat and placed my portfolio on the table. I stood near my chair and greeted some of my other colleagues. About a minute before the meeting was scheduled to start I took my seat and opened my portfolio and prepared for the meeting. Tom Banks, our CEO walked into the room and everyone grew quiet. Tom took his place at the head of the table and he started with all the meeting preliminaries. Once all that was out of the way, he dropped the gavel and started the meeting. Anyone who has attended a corporate meeting knows there is a procedure that must be followed. When the reports were finished we went into the unfinished business before we started into the new business.

At the top of the new business was the corporate restructuring due to an upcoming Initial Public Offering - Tom has decided to go public and sell shares of the company. The IPO will make Tom a very rich man, and Chairman of the new Board of Directors.

Tom called a couple of guys and their spouses, one at a time, to the front of the room and introduced them before announcing the new position to which each was promoted. One of the guys was given my position before I even left it. I thought it was strange, but I waited. Then Tom called me up to the front of the room and when I stood up I buttoned my jacket and walked up and shook hands with Tom and smiled at him.

I saw Tom signal with his head and I looked around and saw Kim being escorted up the side of the room towards us; Kim was smiling broadly at me. Tom shook hands with Kim and without a script Tom summarized a little information about both of us.

Finally the big moment came when Tom said, "Because of Dan Morrison's programs which have saved the company plenty of money and his leadership in the company, the Board of Directors and I have chosen Mr. Morrison to be our new Chief Executive Officer because we believe the Board of Directors needs someone like him with the hands on experience sitting at the head of the table. As of this moment, Dan Morrison is being promoted to that position."

There was a loud round of applause and Kim pulled my face to hers and kissed me passionately right in front of everyone. For the first time my mind went blank, I couldn't think and my body was on autopilot, even when I raised my hand and smiled at my colleagues. When everyone quieted down I stood in front of them then turned to Tom Banks asking, "What makes you think I want to take the position of CEO?"

Tom was smiling from ear to ear until he heard me and then he frowned at me asking, "Do you want me to hire your wife as CEO?"

I smiled at Tom saying, "No, that's ok, Kim has her hands full where she is, so I guess I'll take the position. But we will have to talk about the benefits once the surprise wears off."

I looked around then asked, "Is my secretary, Beth Thompson, in the room?"

Sitting in the chair at the back of the room I saw Beth wave at me. I said, "Beth, please come up here for a few seconds."

Beth made her way up the side of the packed room until she was standing next to me. I turned to Tom and said, "Beth Thompson has to be part of the package."

Jerry Wilber, the guy who took my old job was sitting in chair behind me so I asked Jerry to stand up and step forward. He was smiling until I said, "Beth Thompson has been my secretary for six years and although you were promoted to my old position, I want you to know I'm taking Beth with me as I move up. In other words, you'll have to find your own "gal Friday" who knows you as well as Beth knows me."

Beth reached up and hugged me as she whispered in my ear, "Thank you, Dan."

Tom picked up the gavel and banged it on the table and in a rough voice said, "I recess this meeting for thirty minutes. Please take the time to congratulate our new management staff."

I turned to Kim and immediately asked, "When did you find out about this?"

Kim looked at me saying, "A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call asking me to be here this morning. I forgot all about it until last Thursday when my secretary reminded me. Then over the weekend we had so much going on I forgot to mention it. I had to have a company car bring me over here this morning after I walked into my office and Trudy reminded me about this appointment. I didn't know what it was about, honest, Dan."

Suddenly Kim and I were busy shaking hands and we didn't get any more time to talk. Then Tom banged his gavel and said, "Five minutes we are going to start our meeting." I told Beth I wanted her to stay. I hugged Kim and told her I loved her before she left the room.

I looked at Tom and said, "I hope it's ok that I bring along the one person who has helped me tremendously. Beth is an asset to me that I'm not ready to give up."

Tom smiled saying, "That's part of the reason you were given this new position without any other upper management person even being considered. Dan, you've always taken care of your people and we respect that. It's a plus in our book."

Tom continued by saying, "Over the last couple of weeks we have had a crew working night and day preparing your new office. They finished it over the weekend and I'll have a crew start moving you to your new office this afternoon."

Tom looked at Beth and said, "We are ahead of Dan knowing that he wouldn't leave you behind, so you will be moved to your new office this afternoon as well. However, there are some things that you will have to do to become an executive secretary. I have all the confidence in the world that you will be able to meet the requirements."

Beth thanked both Tom and me, and then Tom said, "Take a seat right up here on this side of the table for the rest of the meeting."

Beth and I took the seats that Tom had indicated we sit in. To say that I was stunned by the recent developments is an understatement. Physically I was at the meeting and I knew what went on, but my mind wandered and the possibilities seemed endless. When the meeting was finished Tom came over to me and said, "We are going to have a Board of Directors meeting at eleven thirty in board room two. The meeting will extend through lunch time so we will have it served in the board room. I want you to take Beth to my office and see my Ms. Summers because both of you have some papers to fill out. A local police officer is coming in about fifteen minutes and he or she will fingerprint both of you. The board wants to double check to make sure neither of you have any history. We will be running your prints through the FBI as well as a couple other agencies."

As Beth and I turned to leave Tom asked, "Oh by the way, do both of you have valid passports?"

I turned and said, "I have my passport."

Beth replied, "I have my passport also."

When Tom let the subject drop, Beth and I walked out of the board room and headed towards Tom's office. The now former CEO and Chairman of the Board of our company had two levels before we were able to reach the office of his executive secretary Brenda Summers. When we walked into the office she stood and came around her big mahogany desk and shook our hands. Brenda Summers looked at both of us and talked to us with a very surly attitude but I let it pass.

Beth and I were still filling out some paperwork when Brenda informed us the officer was there to take our fingerprints. He came into the office and set up him electronic fingerprint scanner. After each of us cleaned our finger tips with alcohol wipes he scanned our prints and then had us fill out and sign some forms.

Once the officer left and we were finished filling out our paperwork, Brenda asked us to follow her with the same strange tone of voice she used when we arrived. We walked out in the hall and turned to the right. Brenda stopped short and said to Beth, "Ms. Thompson, we have a short list of secretaries for you and Mr. Morrison to review."

Brenda turned again and walked through the first door and said, "Ms. Thompson, this office will be used by the secretary you choose."

We walked through a second door and Brenda walked to the big mahogany desk which was the same size as the one in her office. Again Brenda turned and looked at us saying, "Ms. Thompson, this is your office. Your desk is equipped with everything you will need to start. Your personal items will be moved up here this afternoon from your old office. You will be given a chance later today to go to your old desk and clean out any other items which the movers leave behind. I will remind you there will be meetings for both of you the rest of the afternoon. I have taken the privilege of making your calendar through tomorrow. Do either of you have any questions?"

I looked Beth and asked her if she would step out of the office for a second and I would call her back in when I needed her. Beth looked at me, and then walked through the door which we had entered moments before. Looking Brenda straight in the eye I said, "I have been in management most of my life and have never treated any of my employees the way you've treated Ms. Thompson and me since we arrived in your office. I'm not sure what the problem is, but it seems you resent Ms. Thompson moving up so rapidly. Less than an hour ago I was promoted to Chief Executive Officer for this company and my secretary was part of the package deal to which Tom agreed. I realize your boss, Tom Banks, is my superior, but I will tell you that your condescending attitude towards me and Ms. Thompson should change and change at this moment. If it doesn't, then you are dismissed and Ms. Thompson and I will finish the tour on our own and I will have a talk with Tom before the next meeting. The choice is yours, Ms. Summers, what's it going to be?"

I watched as Brenda's facial expressions change immediately and she opened her mouth to say something to me but I held up my hand and stopped her. Looking over her shoulder towards the door I said, "Ms. Summers would you kindly go to the door and ask Ms. Thompson to come back in here."

Beth walked back into the room and when she was standing near me I nodded to Brenda and she said, "Please accept my apologies for my previous attitude. I am accustomed to working alone. I will make the adjustment because we will be working closely together. Thank you for your understanding."

I smiled at Brenda and she attempted a small smile back. Walking to one of the doors in Beth's new office, Brenda opened it and stepped inside a beautifully decorated bathroom equipped with a very large glass enclosed shower. Brenda looked at Beth saying, "Ms Thompson, you will need to bring in some of your personal items and keep them in your bathroom, along with a small travel kit of personal bath items. There will be times when we will need to rush to catch a flight, so having some personal items in a travel pack will be handy. Over here is a small walk in closet where you can keep a few business suits and leisure clothes. We have some drawers built in for you to keep your under clothes. You will need a small travel bag to keep in the closet for those times when we will have to travel. You won't have to worry about the liquid limits of the TSA because when we fly we will be doing so on a corporate jet and won't have to go through the lines."

Brenda paused and asked again, "Do either of you have any questions which I can answer at this time?"

Beth asked, "How often will we be flying straight out of the office without notice?"

Brenda smiled saying, "It will depend on the type of business trip you will be going on really."

Beth asked, "May I look at what you have in your bathroom and closet so I will have some idea what I should have in mine?"

Brenda replied, "Yes, I will show you right after we tour Mr. Morrison's office. If both of you will follow me, I will show you his office now."

"Mr. Morrison, you should have some personal bath items for your bathroom, plus a small travel kit with those items in it as well. Each of you should have at least three days worth of clothes, both business and leisure, hanging in your closet. Like Ms. Thompson's closet, there are drawers for you to put some underwear and socks in. You will also need to keep a small travel bag in your closet. Mr. Banks, for example, keeps four suits and four pair of shoes in his closet at all times.

Turning to Beth, Brenda smiled saying, "Ms. Thompson, I don't want to sound like I am getting personal but you will need to know what Mr. Morrison wears and doesn't wear because most of the time you will be the one who packs his travel bag for him along with your own. I have to do that for Mr. Banks all the time so it's no big deal."

Beth looked up at me and with a smile she said, "Ms. Summers, may I call you Brenda and you can call me Beth?"

Brenda looked at Beth and said, "I guess it would be fine as long as we are in private like this, but Mr. Banks prefers we refer to each other and Mr. or Ms. when we are in public or at a meeting."

Beth smiled and said, "I understand and that will be fine. Tell me Brenda, you said you have to pack Mr. Banks's travel bag when you get ready to travel and I will have to do the same thing for Dan? What exactly do we pack for them?"

Brenda smiled while looking at me and then back at Beth saying, "Most times they will be in a meeting right up until it is time to walk out the door and go to the airport, so it will be our responsibility to make sure we have our bags packed, and then we will have to do the same for them. That's why I said it will be important for you to know how Mr. Morrison dresses and what he wears or doesn't wear from suits to pajamas. You are now an executive secretary and you won't just be shuffling papers any more. Your secretary will be the paper shuffler and you will be keeping Mr. Morrison's calendar and making sure he has what he needs for the meeting. When both of you are traveling, it is important you make sure Mr. Morrison is dressed to impress. I suggest you and Mr. Morrison get together so you can find out more about him, because on business trips it will be your responsibility to make sure he is ready. There is a lap top on your desk with all the important information on it. I suggest you take that home with you tonight and familiarize yourself with the programs and the information contained in it. You can make your own personal files, but you will find there is a calendar already started with a link on the desktop. There is also a company cell phone with all the latest features and attachments on your desk. You will need to familiarize yourself with all the features and apps on that as well. You will need to set up a corporate email address. I can help you with all this as we move through the rest of today and into tomorrow."

Beth was a little wide eyed as she listened to Brenda speak but she seemed to take it all in stride. Beth couldn't get over the fact that she will be responsible for packing my travel bag and handling my underwear. Finally Beth said, "Let's go in and tour Dan's office."

Brenda pushed open the double wooden doors and both Beth and I stood looking into what most would call a small apartment. There was a desk over by the windows in the corner of the room. I looked at all the leather chairs and couches then I saw the bar on one side of the room. Beth stepped in and said, "WOW! This certainly isn't like your old office, Dan."

Although my heart was trying to leap out of my chest, I kept a straight face and said, "Brenda, would you be so kind and give us a tour?"

Brenda said, "I've been in and out of here over the past couple of weeks while they were working to get this ready for you so I know where everything is. On that wall over there is a Murphy bed and that door over there leads to your private entrance. Your bathroom is over here."

Brenda opened a door to my bathroom and all three of us stepped inside then Beth almost fainted when she saw the hot tub in the corner and a glass shower as big as hers on the other back corner. The walk in closet door was in the wall, near the sink. I walked into the closet see how much room I had for clothes then pulled out some of the built-in drawers to see how big they were.

I walked out of the closet into the bathroom then back into my office with Brenda and Beth closely behind me. I walked over to the bar and found out it was a fully stocked wet bar with a small refrigerator full of beer. Some of the beer was imported. I walked around my new desk and by the time I got behind it Brenda and Beth had caught up with me. Brenda took over and showed me my new laptop and cell phone and suggested I take them home and get familiar with them because I had a full schedule of meetings for the next two days. I sat down in my chair and Brenda showed both of us the phone system and said it will take some getting used to but a list of numbers were under the phone. Brenda showed both of us that my desk was equipped with a digital voice recording device. She demonstrated how it worked and showed me where my supply of CDs was located. Brenda picked up the remote control on my desk and pushed a couple of buttons and a panel on the wall near the bar opened up and a very large flat screen TV appeared. She handed me the control and showed me the buttons. I closed the panel and said I would check that out later.

I looked at my watch and we had about fifteen minutes to get to board room two for our next meeting. Brenda said, "Beth, if you want to sit near me during the next meeting, I can show you what you will need to know and do for Mr. Morrison."

If both of you are interested, I would like to set up appointments starting early tomorrow morning for both of you to interview the perspective candidates for secretary. "I will leave their personnel folders on your desk, Mr. Morrison."

I looked at Brenda and asked, "Am I limited to the short list of secretaries you have compiled or is the list open so can I add some of my own candidates to that list?"

Benda looked at me and said, "We complied the short list of more experienced secretaries so you can get up and running faster, but if you have other secretaries in mind that you would like to interview, please leave a list of names with my secretary and we will pull their folders for your review."