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CHAPTER ELEVEN
Wearing his other suit, Eddie stepped through the doors of the office building, carrying his briefcase and computer case.“ Good morning, Mr. Dodge,” the receptionist said, as he strolled past.“ Morning,” he said, barely acknowledging her, on his way toward his office. At the top of the stairs he was greeted by Tracy’ s cheery voice.“ Good morning. Mr. Melling wants to see you in his office,” she said.“ Good morning Tracy,” he said, continuing toward her station.“ Where is that located?” he asked quietly.“ I’ ll show you.” She stepped from behind her work area wearing a stylish black pantsuit and black pumps.
Tracy led the way down the stairs, to a door that had no name plate. She stepped inside and held the door for Eddie. A well dressed middle aged black woman sat behind a desk.“ Charlene this is Mr. Eddie Dodge. Eddie this is Mr. Melling’ s assistant Charlene,” Tracy said as Charlene stood.“ Charlie, please,” she said, extending her hand.“ Frank is waiting,” she whispered, nodding toward a door. Eddie shook her hand briefly and headed for the door.
The office was not much larger than his own, Eddie noticed. Frank’ s desk was a little more ornate and beautifully finished. There was room for a table and four chairs in a corner of the office. A canvas family portrait hung on the wall overlooking the extra seating. The family of five held a classic pose. Father with his arm around his wife, standing behind three beautiful young daughters. The oldest looked to be a couple of years younger than Justin.“ The middle one is a grade behind your son. The painting is five or six years old but I can’ t take it down,” Frank intoned.“ Your wife and girls are lovely,” Eddie said.“ My wife passed about a year after that was done,” Frank said and noticed Eddie glance at the wedding ring he still wore.“ My wife found this at an antique store. She was always going to flea markets and garage sales. I can’ t seem to take it off and God only knows what it says,” he said, showing Eddie the unusual design. The markings went all the way around the band and there was no stone.“ I’ m sorry for your loss,” Eddie lamented, and wondered if he would be able to take down a picture of Tanya, so beautifully done, if she were gone.“ Thank you. That is why I was at the school. I try to stay active in my daughter’ s lives.”“ Nicole is fifteen. I cannot imagine raising my children without Tanya.”“ Impossible tasks are what define us as men. I’ m sure you have already heard what you have taken on is an impossible task.”“ Right now it is probably more a subject of curiosity.”“ Any problems?” Frank asked.“ Minor things Rodney and I have handled,” Eddie said, taking a seat across from Frank.“ Such as?”“ I did not have a work space so I picked up a table and chairs.” The room suddenly felt smaller. Eddie knew Rodney would deal with Sam. He began to understand about playing chess with Frank. Eddie’ s words and body language were the moves Frank cataloged. He decided to become the man of few words if that was at all possible in this office.“ You mean purchased?” Frank asked. Eddie nodded.“ Do you have the receipt?” Eddie fished the bill from his wallet. Frank extended his hand and glanced at the items listed, opened his drawer and tossed the paper inside. He put two hundred dollar notes on the desk and slid them across the polished surface.“ That should cover your out of pocket expenditures. Don’ t worry about the three dollars change,” Frank smiled, and watched Eddie hesitate.“ Switch places with me,” Frank said, getting up from his chair. The heaviness in the air seemed to lift as Eddie took Frank’ s seat.“ At our kid’ s school we talked and acted as equals, parents on a mission for the children. We are still those same two guys.”“ You’ re the boss.”“ Wrong. We are partners. You came from a company with about forty thousand on the payroll. Including my onsite property managers I have less than a hundred. I know all the people who work here. The person, who started your last company, does not know you. He has probably never laid eyes on you and doesn’ t know you