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have a son who is about to turn fourteen, a daughter who is going to be getting her driver’ s license soon and a wife who is a junior high teacher.”
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“ Conglomerates are killing this country. They make rules to control the masses they employ. They are no different than our monolithic federal government. This country was founded and fought to preserve the individual’ s freedom to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am a happy man. I do what I enjoy. That is why I show up every day. If I walk into your office and present you with a bill for ninety-six dollars and change and you set a C-note on the desk, I’ m going to pick it up and we are cool.” Frank finished.“ I got it,” Eddie said, picking up the cash.“ Good. Get out of my chair,” Frank laughed.“ Cool,” Eddie said, exchanging seats again.“ We may put on our game face outside this office, but in here, if it’ s just you, me and Rodney, then we are just‘ hanging out’ in the teachers lounge. Okay?”“ Cool,” Eddie said.” I see Rodney’ s‘ chill’ is polishing your vocabulary.” Eddie laughed and agreed.
The discussion turned back to the“ Fear Factory” and the topic of advertising. Billboards, a website and weekend radio spots would be the norm. Eddie wanted to give away t-shirts with fluorescent markings. The reason was three-fold. Security, safety and directly targeting your audience. The price of admission was considered and Frank thought he could sell the liability issue to the insurance company and help defer some of the cost of the shirts. The price of fifteen dollars was set as the target. A twenty dollar cost might push the limit, even with the bonus shirt. Frank took notes on a large legal pad, and looked at the slideshow of the building’ s transformation.“ I know I told you we generally work a four day week, but we have a meeting with an architect and an engineer tomorrow. Be here at eight and I’ ll buy lunch. Since the masons and cleanup crew have finished, after today’ s meeting you are done for the day,” Frank said, pushing a paycheck across the desk top. Eddie nodded, took the check and exited the office.
The conference room door was open and Eddie saw no one seated. He took his things to his office and deposited them inside. At five minutes to ten he put on his game face and went to the meeting. Taking the empty chair next to Rodney, Eddie nodded to the other associates. Sam entered and sat next to Eddie without a word or a glance. Frank entered and began by saying he was sure there was a great deal of curiosity about the project at“ Golden Estates.” He assured everyone it was in good hands and moving right on schedule. He moved on to other business. Eddie started to understand why he needed to be there. Frank wanted him to learn the language of the business. It was not any different than knowing your CDL and DOT card had to be in order for P & D. In the trucking industry everyone knew what that meant. A CDL was a commercial drivers license and a DOT card was the medical card for the Department of Transportation. P & D was simply pickup and delivery.
It took Eddie a while to figure out, when he overheard a conversation at one of the stops on his old truck route. Someone referred to the need to“ cut shrinkage.” He asked what was“ shrinkage?” The answer was shit that disappeared, out the back door, from the store. Eddie had offered a solution to the problem. Call it stealing. Thou shalt not“ shrink” does not have the same effect. The meeting ended with Frank thanking everyone for their hard work, especially in this tough economy. The ability of the associates surrounding him to produce profit, and those who managed to dam the flow of loss, had shown amazing creativity. Eddie went to his office to collect his computer and briefcase.
“ May I have a word with you?” Sam asked, as he reached for the handle.“ I have an appointment,” he said.“ It will only take a minute,” she said. He held the door for her and she took a seat in one of the chairs facing his desk. Eddie took his chair.“ I’ ve decided not to pursue your attention. If you choose to explore outside your marital bed, I hope I am your first choice. In the meantime, I don’ t want you to forget about me,” she said, placing a flash drive on his desk and leaving. The desk top computer allowed him to quickly open the images stored on the tiny stick. There were twenty pictures of Sam and not exactly as he expected. The images reminded him of pictures from an old Playboy magazine. She was obviously nude but showed absolutely nothing, whether standing, sitting or prone. All you saw were the curves and swells of her shapely, female form. The images were captivating, tasteful and incredibly