The Headhunter Chapter 3

The Headhunter

Chapter 3

Whose Side Is Barb On?

That evening, after interviewing with Randolph, Barb came whirling into her and Jack's kitchen. It seemed the back door had opened to allow her access then closed behind her of its own volition. She tossed her purse in a chair by the wall with more force than wise, while calling for her husband, "Jack! Where are you? I'm calling a family conference."

Barb saw motion to her side and turned to see a very confused Jack standing up from placing a frozen casserole in the oven. His face asked questions. He was right there, why didn't Barb see him? Why was she yelling? Why was she calling a family conference when there were only two of them in the family? What was wrong?

Barb read those questions and began answering with a sharp determined singular nod of her head. "This job thing has gotten tangled. I need your input. Forget cooking or take out, I'm not sure either of us are going to want to eat."

Jack looked back at the frozen meal he'd just placed in the oven. He decided discretion was best until he knew more. He simply closed the oven door on the lonely casserole and turned off the heat. He turned questioning, "Wow, that bad?"

Through gritted teeth Barb replied, "Just this side of nuclear."

"You didn't get the job?"

"Much worse: I did."

Jack tried not to smile at the somewhat silly situation, "Oh, that does sound twisted."

"Just wait, I'm angry enough to chew nails. But keep it under your hat for now."

"Will do," Jack answered, looking around to verify the two of them were as alone as he thought they were.

Jack had left his job as early as possible to finish the house and dinner chores so they could concentrate on Barb's meeting. He knew Barb was going to go back to her regular job after her appointment with her possible future boss today as she still hadn't informed her current job she may be leaving. He figured one way or the other she shouldn't be cooking for them tonight, so he'd pick up the slack.

Only now did he process that the "whump" he'd heard before turning around was Barb tossing her purse to the wall under the coat hooks. That was eyebrow raising. There were a number of important items in that purse. She now took off her jacket and threw it towards the back of a chair. Also, eyebrow raising. As was her atrocious aim: she missed by at least a yard. Barb was precise; sloppy and careless weren't part of her make-up.

Barb stood there looking down and rubbing her forehead as she announced, "Jack baby, I think we have a sizable problem and it's going to take both of us to fix it. It's about my new job. My turning them down won't fix the larger issue we have to deal with."

He was immediately concerned for her, asking, "Are you okay?"

Barb had no idea what exact worries were coming to him, she just loved that his first instinct concerned her well-being. Somehow that made it sting even more that she was about to inform him just how screwed-up his world was.

"I was offered the job and found out who I'd be working for. It's not good. Although, I've pieced together something worse." Barb stood there immobile, except for tapping one foot fast enough to churn butter.

"What is it?"

Suddenly Barb seemed to melt, "Jack," she started softly, "The company that hired the headhunter to find someone outside their regular staff is ... your company."

He was shocked.

Barb was trying to be soft although her anger was palpable, "Yeah. What a time to change policy on you. It gets worse, it's not just the timing, it's the proximity. Jack, the title is a little different, they aren't going with the structure they have in place now, some things are being folded into others. But ..." she sighed. "Jack, I'm all but positive they just offered me the job you've created and applied for." She looked very upset as she restated, "Jack, they've offered me what's supposed to be your new job!"

At first Jack seemed numb. Then he sorted what she'd said. Before going off half-cocked he fed what he'd been experiencing at work lately, and the lack of any substantive news on his promotion, through Barb's revelation as a filter. Instead of calming down he saw way too many correlations. Dammit! Jack wasn't going to go off halfcocked. He was now fully cocked; he was going to go ballistic!

Barb shook with rage, lining up beside him for liftoff.

Knowing he was probably shaking Jack spoke thorough clenched teeth now too, "Did you tell them to shove it?"

"No, but I have a plan."

Though Jack was happy Barb was in sync with him, he surmised something more, "You knew yesterday." It was a question packed with certainty.

Barb's head hung for a second before she started shaking it back and forth angrily, "No, not all of it. But I suspected it strongly. Why upset the apple cart before I knew for certain? I could've been wrong."

"You've been withholding a lot recently."

She thought of sucking the stripper in the past and her activity with the headhunter recently.

"Yes, but I didn't have the information we needed. As soon as I suspected, I worked to confirm. As soon as I could confirm, I did. This conversation, right here, right now, is as soon as I could talk to you about it. I know you're upset - you should be! I'm trying to figure out what's best for us."

"For us, not for you?"

Barb was stung by the accusation though she understood where it came from. Whether intended or not, she'd been the cause of a lot of bad news for her husband lately. She tried to be soft again, "No, and you may not see the big picture yet."

That stalled him. Jack was venting and Barb hadn't said anything to counter him. She saw him cook himself off.

"What's the big picture?" Jack asked almost malevolently.

Barb took a big breath. "They think what they're doing is right and wise. Just as you said, they can't get out of their own way. But baby, you were right about what's going on with you too. Based on what you look like, regardless of what we decide I should do -- even if I don't take the job, they're STILL going to do this to you. You have NO future there! We have to come up with your best exit strategy."

That brought Jack up short, it was a devastating way to abate anger. He was silent standing bolt upright completely lost in thought as Barb brought the meaning home to him.

"I get it, Jack. I really do. There's no sugar coating it. Years of diligence and fighting for their best interests, your career, a way of life, all gone. Up in smoke. Just like that."

Jack peered up at Barb hearing her voice break. She didn't miss a beat in her dissertation though, "It's all too much like finding out the woman you love sucked another man' cock. Your life has turned against you and I'm at the center of every part of the insurrection!" Barb's eyes bulged with anger as they filled with tears of shame. "I get it, Jack. This is the worst time of your life. And I'm so tied to all the bad stuff I'm petrified you won't let me stand with you or help you through this. I'll understand if you want to brave this without me, but I've been trying to strategically find a way forward for us together."

Jack stood not sure what to do or which direction to head in. His wife was offering one. Jack had married wisely. He'd chosen a good woman despite everything that was falling apart lately. Barb was decisive, though not to his levels. She walked right up to him, as close as she could without touching him, her eyes asked permission. Finally, having no place to turn, Jack decided Barb was the best direction to invest in. Barb threw her arms around his back and pressed her cheek to his chest, telling him, "We'll make it through this Jack. I've been thinking about it. I don't have it all figured yet, but even if we just cut bait, quit everything, and blow out of town, we can still make it work for ourselves starting over somewhere. I know that's daunting and certainly a major setback, but I'll cherish every moment if I'm with you."

Barb pulled back to look reassuringly in his eyes. She fought the urge to gasp. She'd never seen the like: Jack was lost. He always knew what to do. He was on top of things. He was decisive. Now he was cut off at every juncture. The career he'd poured so much into was effectively gone. He wasn't being fired but his bright future had vanished. The wife he loved so much had cheated on him. No matter how hard he'd worked, no matter how true he'd been, what he loved betrayed him. What he served so diligently wasn't there for him in the ways he'd been led to believe.

Jack wasn't on top of this situation. He didn't have a fallback position because he'd been all in. He didn't have an alternative because he'd forged ahead in the direction he'd wanted. He couldn't form a new plan because the foundations he based everything on had crumbled. He didn't know what to do; he'd just found out everything he knew was wrong!

But Jack was still decisive. He'd been offered a direction. It may be short term, but it was there. He was used to leading but for now being led was the only option. The alternative was staying in the quicksand he'd found himself in. For now, he'd have to let himself be pulled out.

Against some strong reservations Jack decided to wrap his arms around his wife. He felt Barb buckle, then strengthen to stand for him. She was thankful he was going to let her stay with him to help him. Now that Jack had chosen, Barb was in mission mode to make his life better. They clung to each other for a long while, then she broke their clench and led him to the family room. That was a real departure, the kitchen table was the normal place for strategy. But unusual circumstances called for extraordinary measures.

Barb sat beside shellshocked Jack on the couch and softly yet firmly laid out their situation for him. She concluded that if he made waves at work immediately, things might be far worse. He did have options. In fact, he could even stay at his current job. The pay was good, if not what he deserved, the benefits were tremendous, and the retirement was excellent. But staying under these circumstances precluded any sort of fulfilling career. It would be tough; he would never get his due. She waited for him to see it.

"Shit. I've wasted our time working there." Jack was about to be extremely hard on himself for hurting his wife with his mistake.

First, Barb thanked her lucky stars he said "our" instead of "my." Then she answered him, "No, you haven't. We've made better money there than elsewhere, especially at this level. You could make good money by staying, but you'll be miserable. You won't get to give your all, you won't be valued for your worth, you'll never get to use your talents or especially your leadership as those skills merit. And you won't make near what you should have with the new glass ceiling they've installed to stop you."

Jack was quiet, his lips pursed. He saw it all too clearly. He asked directly, "So, that's our situation. You mentioned a plan to deal with it."

Barb nodded, "More like options really. Once we choose one, we can design a plan to implement. We probably need to push off having kids a few more years, too."

Jack looked up angry and saw how heartbroken his mate was about it. She wanted them even more than he did. Barb not thinking twice about her decision because she was completely in with Jack took the sword from his hand.

He nodded to her, "Tell me your plan."

There were several alternatives. Dispassionately they worked to find the one best for them. They knew well their companies didn't have their best interests at heart. Barb and Jack would be as mercenary as those corporations.

It was Jack who suggested the one option Barb had been dead set against suggesting: that Barb take the job.

"I just couldn't make that suggestion, Jack. I'm glad you see it that way too."

He paused, "I'm not on my game." He peered at her more intensely, "You know that. Did you maneuver me there?" He was both angry and wary.

Barb cringed, "Maneuvered perhaps. Manipulated no. It was important that you saw all the possibilities you had to choose from. But that was all. The decision was always going to be yours. I just didn't want us to be irrevocably married to one course of action before you realized you had other choices. That's a recipe for regret."

Hearing her own words Barb froze as she realized they applied to his decision to say with her as well.

Jack saw and understood her reaction. He pursed his lips. "That's a fine line and you pulled it off well with someone who knows you." He nodded approvingly, "That ability will serve you well with both employees and in corporate politics."

Still nervous Barb drank in his praise. Her silence let Jack work things through a bit further. He added, "Letting me see the possibility for myself adds credence to it."

"Barb offered quietly, "I pray that it being your choice will give you confidence through the dark times ahead that I'm in this for you, despite the picture that can and has been painted." She lowered her head.

Jack rubbed his chin and pronounced, "You taking the job is the fastest way for us to reach "escape velocity.""

Barb calmed down. If Jack was using ridiculous business tactical terminology, he was in control of his faculties. She glanced up to see his condition. Jack was staring at the wall. His head cocked to one side as he thought. His gaze dropped to the floor before he looked up again with a disgusted stare. She thanked goodness he wasn't looking at her with that expression. His head tilted to the side again before he silently mouthed the word, "Damn." His mind was made up. Though it was obvious he didn't like the conclusion he'd come to, Jack was showing some of his famous decisiveness again.

He started to swear aloud but caught sight of his wife. She watched as his expression changed. She was watching him modify his original action based on how she'd be affected by it. He still cared about her!

"Before we commit, let's hash this out some more. Let's use our imaginations as a crystal ball to see how things may play out and how to make them go where we want."

Still quiet Barb ventured, "I want to be with you. That's where I want to go. The question is where do you want to go, Jack? Don't tell me this is an equal decision; you decide where we're going. I just want to go with you."

He glanced up at her with a quick smile. "You know me too well. You're directing me again but only to give me the lead after taking away so many of my former expectations." He held up his hand, "That was only an acknowledgement of your prowess not a rebuke. I need that prowess now. I'm still ... diminished." He looked at her directly, "I'm not capable of doing what I'd normally do. I mean my own plans and work brought me here. I thought I was standing on very solid ground. This isn't even quicksand; this is being adrift in stormy seas. Barb, this is simultaneously the last thing I want to say and the first thing you need to hear: I'm leaning on you to guide me. I need you to look out for our best. I need something simple and unemotional that I can concentrate on while I fix all the circuits that have blown in my head over the last week. I'm counting on you, Barb."

Barb didn't wait for permission she negated the space between them to wrap him in her arms, clinging to him as if they truly were "adrift in stormy seas."

* * * * *

Barb did her best. She asked Jack to make either/or decisions, eventually distilling the answers into a direction they'd travel. From there she formulated a map to get them to their desired destination. She walked Jack through it one step at a time.

The basic plan was simple. Barb would take the job. Initially Jack would stay on working under Barb. They'd grab as much cash as they could, eventually pivoting to go into business for themselves.

There were three different businesses they felt they could make hay with. One option was stood out. Jack had graduated with a degree in landscape architecture. He showed great promise in school and internships. His designs were beautiful yet sound, with detailed realistic plans for build-out. He could design either soaring or small. He'd begun to work in the corporate world as a management trainee because the corporation helped him with college tuition. As a result, Jack owed them two years after college which he served splendidly. At the end of that time, they offered him a higher rank, salary, and management trajectory than he'd imagined. Jack and Barb discussed the offer when it was made, and Jack took the corporate career in hand, instead of pursuing dreams that were still in the bush.

Their new plan would take time. Jack was already familiar with modern indentured servitude. All three options required land which they wanted upfront, not wanting to move a growing business later, or be beholden to a landlord. They also needed growth to the point where Barb could draw an honest salary for running the financial side while raising their children.

Jack and Barb were hard working people that had just seen their best efforts go sideways through no fault of their own. Setting up their future, they both acknowledged being workaholics. However, they wanted time to live and love together. Working and pursuing goals together allowed them more time with each other. They also wanted time to be a loving couple, not just co-workers. They could remain workaholics making their marriage and family the main thing they worked on. They charted the details to achieve their dream.

Jack would be first to leave his corporate job when they could swing it financially. Barb would be making more than him so they would keep her larger salary while Jack established their new venture. Besides, the company hadn't betrayed her, Jack leaving first made sense for several reasons. When they started their business, Barb would own most of stock making in their fledgling company a woman-owned-business, bringing lower interest loans and state incentives. They would start having kids while Barb was still covered by her corporate health insurance. The icing on the cake was Jack would end up staying long enough before he could leave that he'd accidentally earn a modest retirement pension. Jack and Barb had no issue with any of it.

After all, the corporation was doing what was best for itself, and excusing itself for stabbing Jack between the shoulders. Jack planned to work hard while there, implementing his plan for saving the company's future. But while he saved them, he planned to save his family from their treachery. Jack was only taking advantage of what they offered.

Jack wasn't one to pine away thinking "if only" thoughts, or a man to throw good money after bad. He saw the plan could buy them a bright future. Jack wasn't a man to give his loyalty easily, once he did however, he was committed. He knew his corporation, Global Priority, wasn't perfect. Instead of complaining he'd worked hard to improve it. He bled the corporate colors. Now they were happy to bleed him dry. Jack didn't hold his breath hoping for some sort of reconcilement he knew wouldn't come. He added up the minimum amount of time he thought he would have to work under ridiculous conditions. In similar circumstances he gave most people three months before they'd move on. Jack thought this plan would take a minimum of three years before he could leave and probably two more before Barb could join him.

He told Barb his conclusion. She looked back at him. "They treated you so well you gave up your original life plans to stay with them. Now they've pulled out the carpet. I think your timeline is correct, but you'd have to be superhuman to achieve it."

"You don't think I can do it?" It was an honest question and he trusted Barb's appraisal.

She blushed, "Jack, I think you ARE superhuman." She paused, "I also think doing what we've said, in the order we've set, will give you a bright happy future and a clear win over those who sold you out."

Jack nodded. "What about you? Can you pull it off?"

"What do you mean?"

Jack explained as kindly as he could manage, "You'll have to hide all specifics about your home life. That you're married to me, possibly that your married at all, because they'll want you to bring your spouse to family functions. If you're going to be their poster girl, they'll want to be chummy with your family. Yet they're the people who sold out the husband that you must keep secret. A secret they are causing you to keep. And as their poster girl you will be the face of their future and proof they can change. They'll bend over backwards to keep you happy - as long as they think you're loyal to them, and that they're pulling your strings."

"You make a good point, Jack. It will be hard being "chummy" with them knowing what they're really like."

"At least you'll never know their sting of betrayal. Besides as their poster girl of the future they won't want to betray you."

Barb wanted to scream and curse. She forced herself to calm by thinking of her husband, "Jack, you need this. I'll make it work!"

Jack nodded grimly letting her see there was still a layer that needed to be peeled back, "Then know they'll make it easy on you, too easy. You'll still need to get results. But they'll basically treat you with Kidd gloves."

"So, it shouldn't be as hard as it seems then."

Jack hesitated. "Don't hate me for saying it, Barb. We have to be perfectly honest, or our partnership won't work. I'm talking about being all in on this plan."

"Yeah?"

"They will treat you so well it will be positively seductive."

"I'm used to false compliments."

"Except they really will roll out the red carpet. None of what they promise will be an illusion. The roses and rewards will be real. It's what they want in return that will be at odds with our plan and us as a couple. Part of what they expect will be easy to give them. They will expect results, which you can deliver on your own, but you also have an ace in the hole: me. I wrote the blueprint; I really can change the theoretical to actual."

"Yes Jack, I appreciate that. Frankly, you should have the opportunity to build your magnificent machine." She looked at him, "I'm missing the point, aren't I?"

"Yeah. You must trust me, so It's my responsibility to be honest. I'm sorry Barb, but here it is. You're about to have your career dreams come true. You're about to become a super-manager beyond even your own dreams. It's going to play out on a national stage. It will be real and mostly on your own merits. It won't be fake. And they will love you for it. Many will try to bed you. Many will want to claim you for themselves. The only one I'm worried about seducing you is the corporation itself."

"What?" Barb said both surprised and confused.

"You want this scenario, but haven't been dedicated to getting it because you wanted children even more. Now they're going to give you access to your business dream and make it easy. Too easy to deny."

"What are you saying, Jack?"

"They'll set the hooks in you hard. When the time comes for you to leave your world-ranked corporation, the pay, the perks, and the accolades, may make becoming a small business owner look more like being an office clerk. When you leave, they'll be no one to bow, fetch your coffee, and toss compliments at your feet like rose petals. Having to do every job no matter how menial yourself, while children cry around your feet, is going to pale in comparison to the corporate limelight they're going to bathe you in. Hero status with pay to match is going to feel very warm and very secure compared to battling the world on your own. It's one thing to have minions cheering your name hoping to touch your hem and another to have kids crying "mom" expectantly."

Jack looked deep into Barb's eyes, "I just need you to be honest. I don't want to embark on this journey unless we face all the hazards and are committed to seeing it through."

Not sure she was drawing the entire conclusion her husband wanted, Barb asked plaintively, "Please Jack, say it."

"When the time comes for you to leave the lover's embrace of a full-on fortune-fifty hug, will you be able to do it? Or will you leave me high and dry to stay with them after I've wasted years working in humiliation to give us our shot?"

Barb was horrified, "Jack, how can you think that?"

Jack closed his eyes, hating what he was about to say, "Because you've done it before. You wanted that dancer. You wanted him in a particular way. It was easy, right there, all you had to do was reach out and have what you wanted. When the time came for you to make the decision, you chose yourself over me."

Barb was speechless and breathless. It was all the worse because Jack hadn't been nasty, or harsh, or bitter with his explanation. This was what he believed and there wasn't much she could do to argue the point. And he was still trying to explain it to her.

"Barb, the corporation will offer you a tremendous amount more than that bloated cockhead you just had to savor. It will be like nothing you've ever seen. And so far, every time out, as far as I can see, your pattern is not choosing me."

She looked sick, "J-Jack, I don't know how to convince you otherwise. And I dare not withhold anything if you feel like that. So, I'm about to lay another big problem at your feet. I told you they offered me the job. The only thing I had to offer back to pull Global Priority's identity out of them was ... my acceptance."

Jack stared at Barb. They were in the midst of discussing exactly this subject. Her taking the job was now part of the plan. But they had just formulated the plan. In fact, Jack was still going over the fine points before giving his blessing. Now Jack found the discussion was unnecessary. Additionally, even if they decided Barb should take the job, Jack thought there'd be another chance to discuss it before they made the move. He'd hoped there was still some way to avoid the train that was barreling down on them. He'd still hoped he may win the job he'd designed. Suddenly he felt locked into traveling a road he didn't want to be on.

Jack felt like he hadn't really had his say. He felt like Barb had just taken away his options. By accepting the position, Barb had removed any reason Global Priority might have to reevaluate their options and take another look at him. Jack had a dark thought, 'Recently Barb doesn't offer me options, I just have to deal with the aftermath. The only decision left for me is whether to suck it up of not. Damned, if this doesn't seem like that all over again.'

He thought further: Barb had done it; she'd made the choice and told them. Jack didn't have a chair at the table. No matter if she pulled out now or not, his future was cast in stone anyway. His company, his upper management group, had done it: pulled the trigger on the execution of his career. His fate was sealed. All that work, all that promise, all ... gone.

Jack looked up exclaiming, "You ... You took the job?"

Barb didn't try to hide her desperation, "Baby think. I had to say yes to confirm that they really weren't going to give it to you. I'm convinced from what they said and how they said it, they will not promote you to implement your own plan. Instead, they expect you to still do it for whatever fool they put over you. Then they'll give that tool the glory. I can back out, but they're trying to make social points and modernize their image. You, ah, aren't the right demographic. How do you think I feel about them considering my gender my best qualification? As a youngish woman they were happy to have me."

Jack glared at her choice of words; Barb had set off more hurtful buzzers in his head. That was the only sort of stimuli he was getting lately. She'd taken him right back to her dalliance with the stripper. Any notion of extramarital sex concerning her was a dagger to him, intended or not.

Seeing exactly what had transpired Barb cursed herself. She remarked softly,

"You know what I mean, Jack."

Why did we have this conversation? The matter was already decided."

"I can back out. We still had to decide. I got the information, but we still had to make the decision. And if we decided for me to keep the job there were many points we still had to plan, and we just did."

"Did we? I hadn't given my final check off yet. I guess I don't get to now. You acted unilaterally - again. I'm the last one to know -- again."

"We just discussed it!" Barb blurted concerned.

"Then how did you not hear that I was still discussing it? I hadn't signed off yet. I was still asking if you could keep from making a unilateral decision against me, yet again, when I was preempted by finding out you already had."

"Jack please, you came to the same sad conclusion I did." The desperation was clear in Barb's voice.

"Did I? Remember earlier I complimented how deftly you navigated motivation? Well, THIS feels a whole lot like manipulation instead. There's no reason for me to stay in a conversation that was over before it started."

Jack stood; his tension so thick it felt like iron bars surrounding him. Barb thought he was angry enough to bend steel bars with his bare hands. He didn't look at Barb as he marched out of the room.

Barb tried to swallow but couldn't. She was rooted in place. The dancer hadn't had her, but she'd had what she wanted from him, and betrayed Jack to get it. She'd just made an accidental double entendre about penetrative sex. She hadn't done that with the stripper, but Jack saw her actions as adultery. For him in for a penny in for a pound. Barb wanted to put Jack at ease by telling him that she'd never go that far. But Jack never thought she would have gone as far as she did. Instead of being calmed, he'd wonder just how far she was willing to betray him. She'd destroyed part of her ability to soothe her husband. This was terrible.

Barb continued to think it through. Surely, he wouldn't think she'd keep the job now. Or did he think she was betraying him serially? Perhaps he felt the entire world was out to get him. The dancer, signing with the headhunter, using her maiden name, and taking the job before talking it out with him, his wife was up to her fourth surprising infraction - that he knew of. All coming to light in the past week!

Barb continued to tally the awful scorecard. There was no way to provide any sort of happy ending for Jack if she didn't take the job. They couldn't finance a start-up without the money she'd make. But Jack would have to pay for that start up capitol with a completely changed life, taking humiliation as a constant companion.

Barb had a terrible notion. Jack's life had already changed. Humiliation was already tethered to him. It came as an unexpected landslide the night she told him of the headhunter and her dark secret emerged. His wife had been unfaithful. Global Priority had made him crawl for two years for a chance to implement a plan that should have been obvious from the first few conversations. When he finally convinced them by giving them a virtual blueprint, they decided to take the concept away from him. In fact, Jack may have accidentally convinced them to make the move that undermined him.

Jack's expected future had vanished with his happiness.

Was there any direction Jack wasn't under attack from?

* * * * * *

Just a couple weeks later, as he always did first thing on Monday mornings, Jack walked the plant building surveying his unofficial kingdom. Jack didn't outrank several other managers who had been there longer, though it was a foregone conclusion he would outrank them someday soon. With the exception of Randolph, the Regional Director, Jack already wielded more power than anyone one else in the huge complex, including those who technically outranked him. He held sway over every work group in the large industrial plant building, even those of the other managers. Monday mornings were when others spoke to him how a project should be implemented. Jack always listened, sometimes going with their plan, sometimes with his own, and sometimes with a hybrid. But when the action started, things were done how Jack directed.

The shop floor was immense, acres of level concrete broken up by cinderblock structures towards the interior. Conveyor belts ran from the center of the building to both ends. One entire side of the building was lined with bay door that could be opened to bring in, or ship out, products of almost any size. Excepting the structured areas and shipping dock area, the large shop floor could be configured to meet the needs of the project. Several project groups ran several projects concurrently, though independently, on different portions of the floor. The building felt like the inner hanger decks of an aircraft carrier. There was more than enough room for the rare assembly of all personnel. What was unusual was that Jack had just found out that Randolph was about to hold one. Normally Jack called those rare meetings together.

Randolph had a way of making you think he was talking to you more than the rest of the group. He could also tell you your car was on fire and make you think it was good news. But when you walked up to your car to see the smoldering wreckage the shock of the reality more than offset his exuberant delivery.

Randolph addressed the large group with the energy of a gameshow host or recently elected public official. People looked at Jack as Randolph began. Jack was in the middle of the workers. Usually, management stood in front of them, and normally Jack made the presentation. Stranger yet, Randolph and Jack were normally side by side. They were one of the most successful duos in the entire corporation. Randolph stated what Corporate wanted and Jack figured out how to do it. Everything about this meeting was odd.

Randolph took point in front of the group speaking from a raised conveyor belt platform. He rolled out a huge change in company policy. The company was about to change how they performed day-to-day processes. They were going to embrace more modern automation as well as altering many of their traditional standard operating procedures. Randolph addressed the key fears associated with large changes: that the company was losing its identity, that they were throwing away time-proven techniques for some flash-in-the-pan process to generate higher yet temporary production numbers for stock valuation, or that they were replacing old faithful employees with robots. Randolph assured the assembled workers none of that was happening.

He said, "We are trying to make your lives easier while improving the efficiently of the corporation as a whole. You guys and gals are so efficient, the only way to improve is to take a serious look at how we've always done things and how the new upstarts are doing things to evaluate if we can improve. To be honest, we still think we're far superior to most of our competition but that doesn't mean we can't improve, and in this rapidly changing world we must or be left behind."

As Randolph reinforced they didn't have to fear this change, the assembled group nodded their collective heads.

Randolph waxed about how the new processes would make their lives easier and how the entire corporation may follow their lead if the improvement was substantial. He suggested that if they pulled this retooling off that corporate would consider everyone who worked in the facility heroes, saying it as if it had already happened. He mentioned the makeover would include upgrades to the physical plant, automation, and processes. But for all his charisma even Randolph met with a hush when subtlety mentioning hiring practices were changing too, adding the company would now look outside for people with experience with the new devices and processes.

Faces in the crowd looked back and forth at each other. The hard rule had always been once you were hired, the company would train you, or hammer on you, until you fit the niche they needed. All managerial hiring was done internally; everyone came in as a worker bee. Where you went from there depended on your skills and being willing to go where the corporation needed those skills. The change was mentioned like it was inconsequential, practically an item to be glossed over. But it was a sea-change for the corporation, and they all knew it.

"In fact," Randolph added with gleeful authority, "we've already hired the perfect person to oversee the implementation and buildout of the new plan." Randolph talked over the silence that followed, "She'll be talking to each of you in time and rolling out the specifics at the project team level. For now, please welcome, Barbara Morgan. We're sending her on a crash course learning about our company and exploring exactly how to implement our new plan."

Barb stepped out of the group standing behind Randolph and gave a quick smile and sharp business salute to the assembly then stepped back into the group.

Fortunately, no one saw their job at immediate peril. Then someone made a connection.

Some looked over to Jack saying, "This sounds like your plan."

He simply said, "Yeah, it does."

"Weren't YOU going to implement your plan?"

The group looked at him for a while realizing he was as out in left field for information as they were. They'd always looked to Jack for answers because he always had them. Not this time. It was eyebrow raising that Jack didn't have any answers or direction. Then some made the observation that Jack wasn't standing with the management group.

One asked Jack knowing his close relationship with Randolph, "What does this mean for you?"

Jack looked back trying not to seem completely out of the loop. He decided honesty was the best policy. "I really don't know."

Another asked worriedly, "What have they said to you?"

Jack grit his teeth, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

Now there was astonishment. "Wait, are you saying the first inkling you had that you weren't getting the director's job was the introduction of this Barb woman just now?"

Jack squinted as if thinking hard, "No, the first inkling was that they hadn't given me the position yet." He shrugged, "If I was getting it, I should have had it by now." Before they could ask another question, Jack added, "The second inkling was the introduction of Barb just now."

The group was stunned. Much more so when he added, "Uh, now that they have her, I have no idea if they'll keep me."

The group went dead silent. Jack added, "I wouldn't worry too much about your positions. This Barb seems to have her head on straight, she didn't stand up there and pander or brag. Maybe she has a ton of experience doing this sort of thing. Anyway, this isn't her fault. Apparently Corporate HQ wanted to go in a new direction, and they found her. I guess what's damning is that they decided they didn't want me so much they didn't give me a clue I wasn't getting the job. Nor a clue if they still want me where I am. That stings: I thought I would have merited a closed-door heads up, but I assure you that didn't happen. No one said a word to me."

Jack hated admitting personal feelings to the group. It wasn't something good management did often. This was an exceptional time and he wanted to make sure that Barb was painted with the same brush as himself. The natural inclination would be to blame the usurper, Jack wanted to avoid that.

"That sucks," came the reply, mirrored by most of the group, more or less in unison.

Jack rubbed his chin with his palm. "I've always prided myself that we do what we do better than anyone in the world. I know how we can do it even better. If they still want me then I need you, because you folks will make it happen. If they let me go, this Barb will need you more than ever."

"What about you?"

Jack's eyebrows raised as he shook his head. "I guess they'll get around to telling me eventually." He moved off leaving a group of less worried, yet more astonished, people behind him. He was astonished himself. He had no idea Barb was being introduced today. It seemed unlikely she didn't know. Why hadn't she told him?

* * * * *

Barb got home late after her first day on the job. Jack was sitting at this kitchen table with a bottle of bourbon and a glass. Apparently, it had been too much trouble to grab an ice cube.

"Can I have one of those or do you want to drink alone?" Barb asked sincerely.

Jack's answer was to slide the bottle across the table to Barb. She nodded; fixing her own drink was not as awful as Jack telling her he preferred to drink alone.

"That bad?" she asked.

"I've spent all day fending off questions I don't have the answers for: Why didn't I get the job? When did Corporate decide to go in this direction? What does it mean the company will now hire more from outside? Was I still their boss? Was I leaving?"

Barb decided to sit down and delay her drink. "You knew my two weeks were up."

"You told me they were still deciding whether to intro you on Friday or next Monday."

Yes, but they were having me in today to do all the HR stuff, introduce me to management, and get me on some of the web-based meetings. Randolph decided there would be questions and resulting rumors as soon as anyone saw me wondering who I was, especially since they were going to introduce me to the managers in the building. So, he decided on the spur of the moment to introduce me today. I saw you weren't with the mangers. Most of them didn't know yet either. I guess he moved so fast there wasn't time."

Jack swished his drink, "He made the right call on introducing you. Always get out in front when you can. He was also sending a message." Jack glanced at Barb to see if she understood. He decided to be proactive, "He did it on purpose to devalue me to the group."

"Oh no Jack, I think you have that wrong." Barb stopped dead seeing his reaction.

"I know Randolph. I don't have anything wrong."

"Honestly Jack, I saw him make the decision. He made it on the fly. The other managers were caught off guard too."

I don't have a persecution complex Barb. I really am persecuted." He smiled. "It was no accident. Randolph never bothered to explain it to me. He's never told me directly I wasn't getting the job. He didn't even tell me we were having the assembly. He left me in the assembled workers and took every other manager with him to introduce you. I was always more important than any of the other mangers. I usually explained things to them as a subtle hint as to my having more power than the people who technically outranked me. This was putting me in my new place. Randolph didn't do that by accident. If he had he would've said something in front of the group and made a beeline for me afterwards. After all, he was announced the person who got the job everyone in the building thought I was getting."

Barb was silent as Jack looked out the window and reached back for the bottle to take a long, measured, pull of its contents.

Barb took stock. Now that Jack had mentioned it he was the lone manager she had not been introduced to today. The day had been such a whirlwind she hadn't made the connection. She'd done the whole HR thing, then been introduced to what seemed like dozens of management level people she'd be working with. Much of the early morning was HR explaining what a wonderful benefit package and salary she was receiving. They'd never seen the like for a new hire.

Everyone who met her today at least pretended to be happy. Meanwhile Jack had worked with people scared for their jobs, knowing he'd just lost his. Barb had a starkly different day than her husband. She marveled that he'd endeavored to help those around him in the midst of his own deep personal loss.

Barb sniffed something strange realizing the windows were open.

Jack saw her and explained, "To top it off, when I came home there was a terrible smell in here. A real stench when I opened the door to the oven."

Barb looked confused.

"Remember that casserole we didn't eat the night you explained to me that your job offer was from my company?"

It took a couple of seconds then Barb's hand shot over her mouth. She whispered conspiratorially, "It's been there all this time?"

"So long it not only became a living thing but evolved sentience."

Barb tried not to but began to snicker. Then she laughed heartily.

Jack shook his head beginning to laugh too.

The two of them threw off waves of tension in laughter. Barb got up, slipping around the table to sit in Jack's lap. "I'm sorry Baby, it was destined to be a terrible day for you. Forget that casserole in the face you got today and let me take you upstairs and give you a classic roll in the hay instead."

Jack appeared downtrodden yet unbeaten, "That's the best thing anyone has said to me all day."

Barb wrapped her arms around his neck putting her forehead to his, "How about this: I wish this hadn't happened."

Jack managed a faint smile.

"I love you, Jack. Let me show you that I appreciate you more than anyone else in the world."

Barb waited to see if her husband would accept. To her great relief he did. She stood dropping her skirt. She made a quick show of pulling down her panties, then pulled him up, dragging him upstairs, where she did indeed show him her appreciation.

* * * * *

The next morning Barb noticed a buzz on the shop floor. Several groups were engaged in frantic discussion. Barb was sure it wasn't the norm. The first vibe was obvious: she wasn't only the "new girl", she was also the new boss. The mostly male environs weren't sure how to approach her. Generally, they were cordial while distant.

Eventually one told her directly they were used to working for Jack, explaining, "He's been the real operational chief here for a long while."

Barb started to ask a question, but the man continued. As he spoke others nodded their heads in agreement. "Ma'am, you ought to know we think how they've handled Jack is awful. Jack says that's not your fault, that you're as swept up in this thing as he is, or we are."

Barb thought, 'God bless him, Jack's cleared the road for me.'

The same man leaned in a little closer to her, like he was sharing a secret between them and the two hundred people around them. "Jack's been fair to us. He's being fair to you, but he doesn't even know if he's being fired. And that doesn't seem fair at all!"

Barb put up her hands reassuringly, "I can tell you that Jack is not being fired. He's going to head the actual buildout of the project. I understand he's the one that came up with the the plans to both build and implement the changes. This is his baby."

The man looked at Barb wearily, "No offense Ma'am, but what are you doing then?"

Barb didn't hesitate, "Clearing the way for Jack and you. I'm not bad hands-on either, but I also clear the road with corporate. This roll out is a new way of doing business, not just the installation of new tech. I'll make this work across the board with other departments. If it does what I expect, we'll eventually integrate it into the whole worldwide corporate infrastructure. While I have no doubt the project will prove it's worth, I'm here to ensure it will!" She smiled, confident in them.

That met with a positive response. Then another asked. "So, Jack's not getting fired?"

Barb shook her head, "No, absolutely not."

The man looked confused. "Have you talked to Jack yet?"

"No, I haven't had a chance. I haven't even been introduced."

"Well, he doesn't know any of that."

Barb paused, "Are you saying Randolph STILL hasn't talked to him?"

"Exactly."

Barb was obviously incredulous, "But Randolph introduced me to the whole building as well as a ton of folks from other corporate locations over Zoom. I'm already on site and in place!"

"Yeah!" the man returned almost defiantly.

"Holy shit!" Barb exclaimed, which ingratiated her to the crowd. She began to walk off.

Someone called to her, "Pardon me Ma'am, but where are you going?"

"To see Randolph, then Jack."

Barb thought she heard quiet cheers as she stalked off.

Barb saw Randolph near a computer room. All the personal should be out on the floor with the scanners now, leaving the room empty. Randolph saw her walking towards him with authority. She made eye contact nodding towards the vacant room. He turned and opened the door holding it open for her. She sailed in and turned, waiting for the door to close. The click of the latch wasn't finished before she was asking, "Why hasn't anyone spoken to Jack yet?" He hasn't been told - anything. Not even that he didn't get the position I already have. I would've thought out of professional courtesy someone might have clued him in before I was introduced yesterday morning. This is damn mess!"

Randolph looked glum, "I thought HR was going to handle it."

Barb wasn't having any of it, "Randolph, you give HR their marching orders. If you told them to, they would've done it." She shook her head in dismay, "I can't imagine the sort of message you're trying to send to Jack, but damn it, we need him to start this project. I'm sure I can eventually pull it through with a lot of slow feeling around in the dark if he leaves prematurely, but we're worlds ahead if he can at least launch us."

The corner of Randolph's lip puckered, "Barb, there are some economies of scale to consider here. Those people on the floor are loyal to Jack, not you."

"Let me guess, if he resigns you think it clears the way for me. Damn it Randolph, they'll think he was forced out. The way this has gone down they're already in full sympathy with Jack. This is now an uphill climb where it could have been clear sailing. Building this monster without the star architect on board is not what you promised me. Now I have a mess to clean up before I can do anything positive."

Randolph didn't try to hide his smile. He liked her spirit and that she wasn't hinting she was leaving. She was going to see it through, but she was pissed things weren't as promised and she was holding people accountable.

For her part, Barb noted Randolph hadn't just tossed this to HR, he was genuinely reluctant. Wow, that could be good or bad.

"I'll move to keep Jack now. We have enough budget and latitude to keep him, but higher ups aren't sure it's a good idea."

Barb's face became a mask of curious concern, "Are they having cold feet about the change? Would they be just as happy to not go through with it? Have they roped me in here on false pretense?"

"No Barb, this is my mess. Believe me, that's the first thing HQ would tell you."

Barb's tone was firm encouragement, "Then deal with it, Randolph. The sooner the better."

He nodded unconvincingly, though she didn't get the idea he was trying to duck out on his duty. Barb took another chance, "I mentioned during my interviews that I'd worked with Jack on civic volunteer efforts in the past. He has a reputation."

Randolph's eyebrows lifted, "What are you saying, Barb?"

Barb couldn't believe she was going to do this, "I think Jack wants to build his machine Randolph. He's poured himself into it. It will revolutionize how you operate and make this corporation untouchable again. Hell, Jack should be on his way to a board seat when he pulls this off, instead it appears you can't throw him out with the garbage fast enough."

Randolph loved her passion and that she seemed to be thinking of the company's best interest, not just Jack's. He wondered how far that went. "Pull it together for me, Barb. Make the sale."

"Apparently, Jack walked in here yesterday with no prior warning, to find his future had been given to someone else. He's pissed and hurt and after my introduction. People say he doesn't know if he's being fired. Forgetting his humiliation for a moment Randolph, it must have also occurred to him that someone else is going to get to build his baby. We can use that. You were going to pay him more but keep him to buildout the project. That's the carrot to leverage against the humiliation you poured on him yesterday. Use it! After all, that's exactly what you told me was going to happen. And..." Barb hesitated, "I'm going out on a limb here. Tell HQ I'll find a way to keep him here with his nose to the grindstone. Tell them he'll deliver the project for us. But Randolph, I might need some considerations pulling that off."

Randolph was enthralled. This was the perfect reaction. It was like Barb knew exactly how the corporation worked, and this was only her second day! Randolph wondered if they really hadn't been making a mistake not hiring from outside all this time. He shook his head, no, the chances were too remote. They'd simply struck gold with Barb. She was exactly what Corporate was hoping for.

"Like what?" he asked concerning the "considerations" she might need.

She looked at him open faced, "I don't know yet. I'm flying by the seat of my pants. Nothing illegal, and nothing you shouldn't be able to okay without asking HQ."

That made him brighten; Barb really did understand how things worked. For a few moments Randolph had seen everything unravel. Though she didn't know it, Corporate expected much of Barb. Randolph had been put on the hot seat to make the "Jack situation" work out, but the lynchpin was Barb, she was to be the face of Global Priority's new direction. Corporate had decreed Jack would never be the public front of the new direction he'd made the case for. Randolph signed his name to HQ's mandate because he had no choice. Corporate preferred execution; they wanted Jack out entirely.

Then fate produced the candidate Barb from a direction that might allow Randolph to keep control instead of Corporate finding their own candidate and pushing them on him. So, he'd put on a good face and waited for the situation with Jack to detonate.

Randolph knew Jack wouldn't go quietly. Randolph hadn't been given permission to give Jack the pay raise everyone, including Jack, had expected. Corporate had a hardon for Jack precisely because he was right, and they wanted him fucked but good. Randolph had watched as the cards turned back against Jack. Jack had a presented a case that the board couldn't ignore. Except it proved the direction they'd been pursuing was wrong. There was a price for that.

Resultingly, there was nothing Randolph could offer Jack to stay. What should have been great, had an ugly side too. Randolph saw Barb not only understood the company but Jack too. Which very likely meant when Jack was screwed, Barb would quit too, mistakenly seeing Jack's fate as what she'd eventually face. Corporate would then fire Randolph and be done with entire initiative. They sure knew how to play chess at HQ. Except the entire corporation would suffer if they snuffed out this new direction, and they seemed to know it.

Randolph had delayed going to Jack thinking Jack would resign as soon as they spoke. But now the worm turned again. Barb apparently also knew how to manipulate Jack and was willing to do it. Business had a dirty side which could also be benevolent: the coveted win-win. Jack could get something he wanted: to build out his beautiful monster. Barb could get everything promised her. The company would get what it truly needed.

And Randolph would come out smelling like a rose, most likely with an enhanced retirement package and stock prices at a peak. He could save the corporation and sail away in five years. He loved command, though it had been weighing especially heavily since this thing with Jack. Randolph never had a better partner until Corporate decided to execute Jack. Randolph could either pull the lever killing Jack to prove his loyalty or share Jack's fate. Incredibly Barb showed the same promise as Jack! Randolph may still have a partner he could rely on. Perhaps his plans for succession weren't dead. All the disparate threads were coming back together to sew things up better than he ever could have planned. Randolph may even end up with a non-voting seat on the board with plenty of additional checks and benefits.

Barb watched as Randolph seemed completely in control again. "You're on!" He flashed a brilliant smile as he reached to open the door and sailed out into the hallway. Barb decided to trail him, following a few discrete strides behind.

Randolph walked out to an area where he could see the entire shop floor. He found Jack in the crowd quickly. Randolph proved to be more aware than Barb thought, saying over his shoulder, "In a few minutes Jack will move off towards the west wall to check some of the readouts there. It's a perfect place for me to talk to him." Barb didn't think Randolph knew she was there.

Randolph was making a point of showing Barb he was in control. He seemed like a new man, like the man she'd initially met. Randolph had the corporate game all dialed in and he knew it. Barb wondered if she'd been played. Jack would hate how she'd spoken about him, even knowing it was subterfuge to gain Randolph's support to save Jack's job.

Barb winced knowing Jack would never "help" someone by denigrating them, pretend or not. She also knew he wouldn't think much of her enlisting Randolph's help. Was she really helping Jack or playing into the hands of his betrayers. She asked herself, was she doing the right thing. Would her actions make Jack wonder whose side was she on?