The Return
The air was a crisp chill as the breeze roared behind a black Chevy Suburban that sped through the hilly roads of the countryside. It was a cloudy afternoon as autumn was making it’s presence known with the leaves turning color, and the people of the town wearing jackets to keep warm.
Maxwell glanced at the Rolex on his wrist, then sighed as he drove past the silos and livestock. He soon pulled into a small parking lot where the town’s apple orchard stood overlooking the hills of what seemed like a beautiful painting. The Italian shiney brown leather shoes met the gravel on the ground as he stood wearing a black suit, then closed the truck door behind him. A farmer, sitting inside the small house next to the orchard, was in the middle of a conversation and drinking a beer with his wife when he noticed Maxwell getting out of the black truck.
Farmer’s Wife: “Bob, who’s that?”
Bob placed his beer on the old worn out table as he grabbed his straw hat, then made his way out the door to meet with Maxwell.
Bob: “Wasn’t expectin to see ya today.”
Maxwell removing his black sunglasses stood facing him.
Maxwell: “I need a favor.”
Bob placed a cigarette in his mouth as he struck the lighter then let out the first long puff.
Bob: “It’s been a while.”
Maxwell: “It won’t be for today.”
Maxwell handed Bob an envelope containing a fresh stack of hundred-dollar bills, then paused as they both remained silent. He then turned around returning to the black truck and briefly froze after opening the door. He reached inside his suit to pull out a small black pistol. Bob’s wife was standing outside the door of the little farm house from a distance.
Maxwell: “Has Ms. Bryan received fresh apples this week?”
Bob flicked his cigarette bud to the ground then crushed it with his boot.
Bob: “I drove some to her yesterday.”
Maxwell pulled back the slide of the gun chambering a round, then returning his black sunglasses to his eyes.
Maxwell: “Good.”
Before he could get back into the truck, Bob called for him.
Bob: “Wait!”
Maxwell turned to face him.
Bob: “I don’t know how much longer I could keep doing this for you.”
Taking a deep breath and looking up at the gray sky, Maxwell then gave Bob a sharp look as he aimed the pistol towards the old farmer’s head, when his wife lead out a loud cry.
Bob’s Wife: “No! Please don’t!”
She remained at distance as she pleaded with Maxwell. Bob calmly stood his ground. Maxwell then pointed the gun at Bob’s wife breaking the old man’s silence.
Bob: “Leave my family out of this and you have a deal.”
The pistol met the inside of the black suit once more.
Maxwell: “For as long as you’ve got a family to feed, Bob. You’ll keep doing what I ask of you.”
He quickly climbed into the black truck and drove off as he noticed Bob from his rearview mirror. The poor farmer stood watching the black SUV disappear into the road.
Bob: “I’ll be waiting.”
A vintage dairy building in town that was converted and renovated into apartments, awaited Maxwell’s arrival. Parked out front was the black SUV, as Maxwell got out and walked towards the entrance of the building. He rushed inside and made his way through the hallway then knocked on the first door he met. Impatiently standing and glancing again at his Rolex, he gave the door a second round of knocks. The door soon opened from the inside and the entrance remained cracked. Maxwell slowly pushed the door wide open and made his way inside as he closed it behind him.
Elizabeth: “You’re early.”
Maxwell: “It’s good to see you too.”
Elizabeth Bryan was still wearing her bath robe. Her makeup was freshly done as she walked back into the bedroom of the small apartment to complete the finishing touches of her hair.
Maxwell: “I’ll start loading your things.”
Elizabeth: “I’ve got a suitcase ready next to the bed. I’m working on the other one.”
She was spritzing hairspray on her hair as she pointed to the suitcase next to the bed. Maxwell grabbed the suitcase and then paused.
Maxwell: “And your medication?”
Elizabeth: “I don’t need it.”
He abruptly put the suitcase down then faced her.
Maxwell: “You don’t know that.”
Elizabeth: “Max. I’m fine.”
His voice grew firm.
Maxwell: “Ms. Bryan, where is your medication?”
Her cellphone rang as she quickly answered.
Elizabeth: “Bryan.”
She heard a familiar voice on the line.
Jared: “I have a buyer.”
Elizabeth: “That quick? Look, I don’t know if—“
He quickly cut her in mid-sentence.
Jared: “Listen, it’s an OLD dairy dump in the middle of NOWHERE. The nearest gas station is a half hour away. You’re lucky to even have someone interested in negotiating on a price.”
Elizabeth: “I need more time.”
Jared: “Of course you need more time. I told you you’re not ready to leave. Just stay put, away from everybody and everything. Less hassle for you, less headache for me. You are such a pain in my ass—“
Elizabeth: “I have to come back.”
Jared: “Back to pushing me to the migraine pills.”
She rolled her eyes.
Elizabeth: “Don’t think you’ll be so lucky. ”
Jared’s tone became sarcastic as Maxwell opened the drawer to Elizabeth’s nightstand, and noticed the prescription bottle.
Jared: “Wonderful! Then let’s get that hideous place sold! I still get paid and you move on with your life. Elizabeth, when you get back, I swear you better stay out of trouble—”
It was a custom of Jared to call at the very moment that things seemed to be going so well and peaceful. His disruption in Elizabeth’s routine would always end with her explosive temper.
Elizabeth: “I will sell this building on my terms! And I will do whatever the hell I want!”
She abruptly hung up the phone as she turned to notice Maxwell holding a glass of water in one hand and a pill in another.
Elizabeth: “No thanks, Max.”
He spoke calmly.
Maxwell: “It wasn’t a request.”
She sighed glancing down at her cellphone, then took the pill chasing it with a glass of water. She sarcastically opened her mouth and showed her tongue to Maxwell.
Elizabeth: “Done.”
He turned around to gather her belongings.
Maxwell: “The staff at the Bryan Mansion are looking forward to your return, and I assured Margaret that you’d be home in time for dinner. Everyone has missed you...”’
She spoke softly.
Elizabeth: “That’s hard to believe...”
With a concerned look on his face, he placed his hand on her shoulder.
Maxwell: “Are you sure you want to do this?”
She picked up a silver pocket mirror that laid on the dresser. Glancing at her reflection, she quickly snapped the mirror shut.
Elizabeth: “No.”
Necks turned and voices traveled as the sound of Elizabeth’s heals tapped on the marble tile floor of the Bryan Building. It was as if she were walking in slow motion and time was slowing down as she noticed familiar faces and offices. There were a few employees that greeted her as she walked past them, but there were some whom she had never met since they were hired during her absence. Suddenly, time caught up to speed as she arrived to her office door and attempted to unlock it, but forgot which key was needed.
Male Voice: “That’s not your office. You must be new.”
She turned to face the stranger’s voice and noticed a man wearing a navy blue suit with his hands in his pockets standing behind her.
Elizabeth: “And who are you?”
Todd: “I’m Todd. Todd McGuire.”
He extended his hand out and gave a firm handshake.
Todd: “I’m head of the finance department and the Vice President’s right hand man. I can assure you that is not your office. Your office shouldn’t even be on this floor. Are you an intern?”
Elizabeth: “No.”
Giving one last key a try through the keyhole, at last she turned the doorknob.
Elizabeth: “I’m Elizabeth Bryan.”
She was finally able to open the door to her office. The office that stood on the top level of the Bryan Building with an aerial view of the city of Blue Mountain in Tennessee. The same office that stood out from the rest with its wood grain French doors and white marble floors.
Elizabeth: “I’m the owner of this company.”
Stepping inside, she flipped on the light switch that lit up the ceiling lights glazing down on an executive’s desk, wet bar, sitting area, and fireplace. She then turned back to face Todd as he remained standing in the hallway.
Elizabeth: “And I own this entire building.”
She slammed the office door shut then found herself sitting at her desk with her back facing the floor-to-ceiling high windows. Her desktop computer remained just where she had left it and beside it was her office telephone. Reaching over to the receiver, she dialed for the secretary.
Four secretaries sat at the long horseshoe desk on the ground floor of the Bryan Building. They all looked at each other in disbelief as they saw Elizabeth’s extension appear on their ringing telephones.
Secretary 1: “I’m definitely not getting that.”
Secretary 2: “This has to be a joke.”
Secretary 1: “It’s not a joke. I saw her this morning.”
Secretary 3: “Will somebody just fucking answer, so we don’t lose our jobs!”
Secretary 4: “Fine. I’ll do it.”
Rolling her eyes, the secretary quickly picked up the phone to answer Elizabeth’s call.
Secretary 4: “Yes Ms. Bryan?”
Elizabeth spun around in her seat to look out the window. She clearly wasn’t happy about the time that it took for her call to be answered.
Elizabeth: “What took you so long?”
The secretary responded in a shaken up hesitant voice. She absolutely hated dealing with Elizabeth.
Secretary 4: “I do apologize. All of the lines were busy when you called—“
Elizabeth: “How long have you been working here?”
Secretary 4: “Well, uh. Um. I believe I’ve been here for—”
She was immediately interrupted by a snapping Elizabeth.
Elizabeth: “Long enough to know that when you see my name on that caller id, you better answer that fucking phone! I don’t give a shit who’s on the other line! There’s fucking four of you down there!”
Secretary 4: “Yes mam.”
Elizabeth: “Ms. Bryan!”
Secretary 4: “Yes, Ms. Bryan.”
Spinning around on her seat to face her computer again, Elizabeth noticed Jared sitting on one of the sofas in the lounge area in the middle of the room.
Elizabeth: “Put me down for every executive meeting that I haven’t already been included in on, which I’m assuming is all of them.”
Secretary 4: “Yes Ms. Bryan. There’s one scheduled for today in about ten minutes.”
Elizabeth: “Perfect.”
She slammed the phone down and folded her arms as she leaned back in her seat facing Jared.
Jared: “You know what they say about honey and vinegar?”
Elizabeth: “Fuck what they say.”
She stood up and walked out of her office door that was left open by him. In the hallway, there was a large jug of water sitting alongside the wall with plastic cups on a small table next to it. Pouring herself a cup of water she noticed a female employee that had just delivered coffee to the office down the hall from hers.
Elizabeth: “Hey! Come here!”
Of course Elizabeth had no clue who this employee was and quite frankly didn’t care. She pulled out her medicine bottle, tossed a pill in her mouth, and took a sip of the ice cold water as the female employee approached her.
Female Employee: “Yes?”
Wearing a black pencil skirt with a white long sleeve collar shirt, the employee seemed confused at the manner Elizabeth called for her not knowing who she was.
Elizabeth: “Make sure there is a jug of water in my office with cups. It should be replaced immediately once running low without me having to tell you. I also need fresh coffee brewed everyday and readily available at all times. It’s the office at the very end of the hallway to your left. Do you understand?”
The employee snickered.
Female Employee: “I’m sorry, but I know all of the people that work on this floor—“
Elizabeth: “Do you understand? Yes or no?”
Rubbing her temples in aggravation, she rolled her eyes at Elizabeth.
Female Employee: “Okay, so I’m just going to be blunt with you. Who are you?! And who the hell do you think I am?! Your damn servant?!”
Taking the last sip of the ice cold water, Elizabeth tossed the cup into the trash bin next to the small table as she calmly spoke.
Elizabeth: “I shouldn’t have to wear a fucking name tag for you to know who I am.”
Gerald: “Elizabeth Bryan!”
A male voice called for her as she turned around to notice Gerald walking off the elevator, and pacing towards the both of them.
Gerald: “I see you’re back.”
Wearing a black suit, a white smile, and gel in his brown combed hair, she realized he hasn’t aged a day. They firmly shook hands as the unknown female employee remained standing with her arms now folded.
Elizabeth: “Gerald.”
Gerald: “We’ve gotta talk. A lot has changed.”
Elizabeth: “One moment.”
Tossing her index finger in the air to pause her brief conversation with Gerald, she turned to face the now nervous female employee.
Elizabeth: “Now that you know who I am, I know who you are.”
The once before snickered-face employee was now a blank ball of nerves as she responded in a shaken up tone.
Female Employee: “You do?”
Elizabeth: “Yes. You’re the first person I have fired since my return. Get your things and get the hell out of my building.”
Gerald: “Oh come on Elizabeth. She’s a single parent and a student. She does great work—“
Elizabeth: “Don’t you dare!”
Giving Gerald a glare, he knew not to cross Elizabeth. He sighed as they both looked at the female employee slowly walking off with tears running down her face.
Elizabeth: “Oh and before you go.”
Pressing the button for the elevator, she turned around to once again look at Elizabeth with a broken heart.
Elizabeth: “Tell everyone else I’ve returned.”
Turning around and with a brisk walk, Elizabeth was returning to her office as Gerald followed her.
Gerald: “I see you still have zero patience, Elizabeth.”
He walked into his office as she made her way to the end of the hallway and froze just before walking into hers. She turned around to glance at the double doors of the twin office directly across the hallway from her office. They were the same wood grain doors as hers, but were closed shut. She walked over to pull down on the doorknob realizing it was still locked.
Jared: “You’re the only one with the key.”
She looked over her shoulder to notice Jared standing behind her.
Elizabeth: “And I’m making sure it stays that way.”
Thomas was in the middle of giving a presentation in the conference room when Elizabeth walked through the door. The men sitting at the long conference room table began to stand up after noticing her.
Elizabeth: “Gentlemen, sit.”
Gerald had remained silent as he was seated and raised an eyebrow as Thomas shook his head. She sat down in the back corner with her arms folded staring at the blonde businessman in the front of the room, sipping his black coffee before proceeding.
Thomas: “May I?”
Elizabeth: “Go on.”
He irritably nodded his head as he returned his attention to the white board.
Thomas: “The numbers speak for themselves; we will be pursuing with the purchase of Smith & Richards plus Bernie Oil Corp—”
Elizabeth: “Stop right there.”
He paused looking down in aggravation and back up at Elizabeth.
Thomas: “What?”
Elizabeth: “Since when?”
Thomas: “Since I said so and we are all in favor of this decision plus more to cover.”
Elizabeth: “Absolutely not.”
He threw his pen down as he sat down on the end seat of the table.
Thomas: “Okay. WHY?”
His irritation with Elizabeth was long before the meeting had ever started, and it was the reunion that neither one of them cared to enjoy.
Elizabeth: “There’s no money in acquiring those companies.”
He laughed sarcastically.
Thomas: “Oh, is that right? And what would you know about making money? Remind us how your last fuck up went with the trucking companies—”
She shook her head as she rolled her eyes.
Elizabeth: “Don’t do this Tom.”
Thomas: “We had the feds stuck up our asses for weeks!”
Elizabeth: “That happened on your watch.”
Thomas: “And it was your call.”
Elizabeth: “I did what needed to be done.”
Thomas: “You cost us a fortune Liz!”
The atmosphere in the room shifted to a thick black cloud of an uneasy group that sensed the wrath between Thomas and Elizabeth.
Thomas: “And then... of course, you left.”
He threw his hands up as she sensed his mocking.
Gerald: “We will not discuss that here nor now. Tom, the three of us should sit down and fill her in on new business.”
Thomas laughed then sharply responded.
Thomas: “What for?”
In an effort to calm the tension in the room, Todd opened his laptop in front of him, and typed in his password to log in.
Todd: “Uhh... I can send her copies of all of the drafted proposals. I’ll get those to her right now.”
Thomas snapped.
Thomas: “No! Don’t send her shit!”
Elizabeth immediately got up from her seat as she shouted from across the room.
Elizabeth: “Who the hell are you!”
Thomas: “The fucking President of the company!”
Gerald slammed his fist down on the table as he stood up.
Gerald:
“That’s enough! Both of you! Stop!”
She slid into bed next to him, laid on her side, and was fast asleep.
