Trigger (2 page)

“This is better.” He pushes it back toward her.
“Maybe you’re too busy?”

“No such thing, Steven. It’s good. You don’t have to
worry about me.”

“You’re beautiful and smart and I think the world of
you, but I don’t want to see you get hurt or sick. It’ll undo all
the good work you’ve been doing.”

“I’m fine.”

The crease between his eyes deepens. It always means
he’s unhappy with her. She hates that damn crease.

“We’ve been working together for four years. I think
I know you pretty well. What’s going on? If you can’t tell me then
I’m not doing you any good. I need to adjust your routine and if I
don’t know what’s going on with you, I can’t do judge what best for
you.”

“I’ve got some heavy stuff at work. A big project is
going to hit in a few days. I’m stressing some over it.” She leans
in and he mirrors her action. “My company will double in size
overnight.”

“So you’ll work twice as hard as you do now?” He
leans back and glares at her unimpressed. “You’re twenty five years
old, Judy. You should be having fun, traveling and getting laid – a
lot!”

“Well it doesn’t seem to help you any. You were too
worn out to spar with me.” She teases. The crease in his forehead
yells at her.

“I don’t know why you pay me, if you aren’t going to
be honest with me. I’m on your side, remember? I’m glad your
company is doing well, but work is not your problem. I was looking
over your records before you came in today. Every year at this
time, you take a nose dive. What gives?”

She wants to tell him it’s none of his business. She
wants to stand up, walk away and never come back. There are other
clubs that aren’t so nosy and will let her train without getting
personal. She pays her membership but she will make her own
decisions. She stares at him. He stares back. She’s shocked that
she looks away first. She likes him. She needs him.

“My Mom was beaten to death eight years ago
tomorrow.”

He doesn’t flinch. Gratefully he doesn’t touch her
hand or have a sickening look of sympathy on his face. He nods
understanding.

“You’d think time would make it less painful . . .
that I would miss her less . . .” She’s never spoken to anyone
about her Mom. Ever! And she doesn’t like that Steven made her
tell. She tosses the last of the gray/green sludge down her throat
and moves on.

“Tomorrow. Lunch. We’ll spar.” He throws out at her
retreating back.

Judy’s only indulgence is
her car. It’s used but it still has a new car smell. Dark silver
gray Jaguar, she barely touches the gas and BB peals out of
Steven’s athletic club into traffic. Driving BB thrills her. She
feels the familiar excitement deep in the pit of her stomach.
“Yea!” She screams. “Let’s go kick ass Big Boy!”

She weaves and flies through lunchtime traffic
totally focused on driving and visualizes the city lanes as their
favorite race track. If a driver is skilled enough you can cut
through traffic like butter and the cops won’t get attitude. She’s
not speeding. She’s driving efficiently.

BB is her first car and she used all her savings and
most of three year profit-draw from her company to pay for him.
Most people would have moved into a nicer apartment or bought some
clothes, but she didn’t. She doesn’t mind her one-room flat that
hasn’t been updated since the 50s. Except to sleep, she’s never
there anyway. As for clothes her navy blue suits still look good
after four years and they don’t need to be ironed or dry
cleaned.

Pulling into the office parking garage, she promises
Big Boy that she’ll take him to the trace track in Southwest
Virginia soon and let him stretch his legs.

The track is where she learned to drive better than
most drivers on the streets and where she got to know her best
friend. BB likes it there. He’s good to her. He believes in
her.

“Maybe after this deal goes through Big Boy.”

They’re both excited.

Driving from the club to
her office has been the best part of her day. And now even the
smell of gun powder has faded. She’s rocked with Franklin’s news
that someone has stepped up to save or interfere, depending on
perspective, her newest acquisition.

“Who?”

“I haven’t been able to get that information, Judy.
The offer to invest and rebuild has come out of the woodwork. I
suspect Simon Perry.”

Franklin is pacing. He looks older than he usually
does. It makes her sad. Working with her was supposed to be fun.
She grabs the phone in anger but her voice is calm and
friendly.

“DeShaun, its Judy. How are you? How’s your
Mom?”

He laughs. DeShaun was her second P.A. and one of
the sharpest. He’s now finance manager for a company that has a
long history with her desired acquisition. Herbert Wade and his
friend, Ben Shockley built their businesses at the same time.

“I’ve been expecting to hear from you, it’s about
time you called. Mom’s suffering from a bad sinus infection, but
she’s got some sinus medicine and working it through. She misses
you. When can I tell her you’ll come over for Sunday dinner?”

“I’m really busy with a project. It needs all my
time right now. I miss Semone too.”

“Yes. You’ll work it through because you are the
best at making good things happen.”

“Are you putting the schmooze on me DeShaun? Do you
want to come back and work with me again?”

“No. I like it here. Ben’s great to work for and
this place has lots of potential. I’ve met a girl.”

“Is it serious?”

“She’s amazing.”

“I expect to be invited to the wedding. Tell Semone
that I’ll call her tomorrow.”

“Yes. That’ll work.

She stares at the phone for as long as Franklin can
stand it.

“It’s Simon.”

“So DeShaun’s mother’s name isn’t Semone?”

She smiles at Franklin.

“Why does Simon want this? It isn’t anything he
needs.” Franklin is puzzled.

She calls for Charles and tells him everything. Part
of her P.A. training is a promise that they are included in
everything that goes on. It’s also insures that the best want to
work for her. Their first requirement is to hire their own
assistant.“You, Franklin and I will build scenarios now. Everything
else can wait.”

It’s five-thirty when she pulls into Herbert Wade’s
parking lot. She sees him getting into this car. Big Boy whips in
next to him. Mr. Wade jumps back and she’s out the door in a
second.

“Sorry Mr. Wade. I didn’t mean to scare you. My car
has a mind of his own sometimes.”

She’s at least three inches taller than Herbert Wade
and that intimidates some men. She doesn’t want to intimidate him.
She wants to be his friend. She slowly walks around Big Boy and
stops three feet in front of him.

“You’re rethinking our deal.” She keeps her voice
soft and calm.

He’s startled and then looks at his feet.

“I understand Mr. Wade. It is your responsibility to
do what is best for your company and employees. I respect
that.”

She waits exactly ten seconds during which he opens
his mouth and then closes it.

“I’m sure Simon offered you everything you wanted
and more. But you know that as soon as he is in control, he’ll
merge what he wants into his own company and sell off the rest. You
know that I won’t. Please tell me how I can help you.”

“It’s not just me, Judy.”

The light goes off. This news has even blindsided
DeShaun. Shockley wants to sell too. Simon has put together a two
for one deal.

She’s not big enough. Buying out Mr. Wade will
stretch Stalwart Company the max, there’s no way she can leverage
Shockley too. If she tries, she’ll be vulnerable and Simon will
wipe her out or force her to sell to him and then he’ll make her
work for him. She’ll be at his mercy.

That thought triggers deep anger and resentment. Her
knees try to buckle. Thank God for Steven’s relentless
training.

“Mr. Wade, do you want to sell to me?” She leans a
tiny bit toward him.

“You are my first choice Judy . . . but I have to
think of what’s best for everyone.”

She doesn’t have any friends, never did and doesn’t
want any that aren’t part of her business, but she understands
loyalty. She doesn’t trust it, but she understands it.

“Give me time, Mr. Wade. Set up a meeting between
you, Mr. Shockley, me and Franklin. Will you do that much?”

He hesitates.

“Since our arrangement was nearly finalized, you owe
me the chance to try and work this out. Simon isn’t going to back
down on his offer. It’s me he’s after, Mr. Wade, not you.”

She’s seen plenty of fights break out with fists
flying intending to hurt and smash someone’s face in. What she
remembers most vividly is what a face looks like as it gets
smashed. That’s how Mr. Wade looks right now.

In her softest voice firmly in control, “It’ll be
all right Mr. Wade. I’ll make it all right.”

“I’ll set up a meeting.” Herbert Wade gets into his
car, buckles up and backs out and leaving her standing and
watching. She nods a thank you as he glances at her and drives
away.

Texting DeShaun’s personal cell:
Call me on a
secure phone and away from your office.

She’s sure Simon already knows she’s onto him. She’s
also sure he’s paying attention. Protect the information. She needs
to be extra careful.

Franklin and Charles are waiting for her in the
parking garage.

“Judy you don’t have that kind of money and even if
you did, we’re not set up for something this big. It’s insane to
even consider it. Let’s drop it and find something else.” Franklin
is such a dear. He really wants to see her succeed and not get
hurt.

“Franklin, if we let Simon do this, do you really
think there will be something else to find?”

“We’ll be picked to pieces.” Charles nearly yells.
His bright blue eyes light up in revelation.

“Very good, Charles, I knew you had potential.”

“But why does Simon Perry want to do this? I’ve been
checking Perry out while you were gone. We’re way too small for
him. We don’t have anything he could use. I don’t understand Miss
Mason.” Charles looks like he’s eight years old and was just told
there isn’t a Santa.

“He asked me out on a date and I told him no.”

My cell rings, it’s DeShaun. She puts the call on
speaker and tells him everything. He didn’t take it well.

“He was here when you texted me. Simon Perry was
here. How did you know? I’m supposed to be preparing our financials
to turn over to Simon. He’ll tear us apart Judy. Rosie and I will
be out of jobs along with everyone else.”

He groans. “To get this chance to talk to you, I had
to call Mom and get her to call me and say I was needed at home. I
have to go back to work in a little while to finish the financials.
What do I do?”

“Do what you’re told and do it well. I expect
nothing less from you. Don’t say anything, not even to Rosie. Be
the executive I trained and do your job. Mr. Wade will be calling
Mr. Shockley for a meeting with me. Let me know if a problem comes
up about it. I need that meeting. Also you can use your free time
to think of a way to resolve this in everyone’s favor, including
Ben’s. I’ll be interested to hear what you come up with. You are
always very clever.”

He laughs. “Where are you Judy? You sound like
you’re in a tunnel.”

“I’ve moved my office to the parking garage.”

“Smart.” He hangs up.

“Who was that?” Charles asks.

“DeShaun was a former P.A. He moved up quickly in
the Shockley organization. He’s Ben Shockley’s finance manager and
he really likes working for Ben.”

“Isn’t that unethical . . . spying?”

“He’s trying to save the company he works for and
his job. I don’t see anything unethical about that. Do you?”

Judy squares up to face Charles. Right here, right
now, he makes it or doesn’t. He’ll either cross the line to be
someone significant or he’ll blend in with all the others who are
afraid to be special and successful. They are the wanderers in this
world, who are hollow with empty lives and lost dreams. It happens
to all of us, whether we want to be successful business people, or
a ballerina or a cashier at grocery store. We all have to
choose.

She knows his fear. She waits with Franklin.

“No.” Charles voice is firm and sure.

Franklin puts his hand on my shoulder. “You always
pick good people, Judy.”

“I know. I picked you Franklin.”

“Wait a minute. I picked you Judy.”

“Well, okay, if that’s what you really want to
believe.”

She kicked Renzo’s butt in her nine-thirty
Kempo-Karate class. She marked the date and time in her head
because she’s never beat him before. Usually she’s the one who is
bruised and sore for the next twenty-four hours. Her motivation to
take it up a notch was easy to figure. She saw Simon’s face
plastered over Renzo’s.

She said goodnight to BB and set the alarm in the
garage rents two blocks from her flat. The elderly couple, who
didn’t use it because it was falling apart, was surprised when she
knocked on their door asking if she could rent their garage. But
they happily accept her money and she visits with the cute couple
for awhile when she pays the monthly rent in cash.

She had to mostly rebuild the garage, replace the
barely hanging wooden door with a modern automatic door and broke
her budget installing a killer alarm system. BB’s home is more
secure than her own. It doesn’t matter. She can take care of
herself, but BB is vulnerable.

Her flat is grubby and usually it doesn’t bother
her. That’s how she grew up, but tonight a Mom vision looks up from
the two burner stove top and she can’t bear it.