THE MOMENT
"What memo?" Greg asked. His boss, a short, portly man, chuckled from the other side of his large wooden desk.
"The same one that goes out at the beginning of every month; surely you've noticed. How long have you worked here at Chroma Corp?"
"This is still my first week," Greg replied.
"Today's already Thursday," his boss replied. His voice sounded almost disappointed as he shook his head. "That explains why I don't recognize you yet," he said. "Where have you been? You're supposed to come to meet me after your orientation on the first day."
"Oh, I didn't know," Greg said.
"You didn't know!?" his boss seemed personally offended. "How could you not know? Did you walk out of orientation? I'm afraid that's not a great look for you as a new employee...,"
"I haven't been to orientation yet!" Greg tried not to raise his voice at his boss; but, he only half-succeeded.
"What exactly have you been doing all week? There's no place at Chroma Corp for slackers and buck-passers," his boss said.
"I've been waiting outside MUNDO'S OFFICE!" Greg reached his maximum incompetence limit. He rose to his feet and spoke louder. "I ASKED people every day! 'Where's Mundo?' The only answer I ever got was 'Mundo will be back soon.' So, I finally come to you and you're no help either. You're referring me to a memo that came out before I even started!"
"Huh...," his boss said. He had the tone of someone mildly surprised. "There must have been a miscommunication somewhere; you shouldn't have been hired if Mundo wasn't going to be here this week."
"Well, I was!" Greg replied. He was annoyed at the poor management already and technically he hadn't even started yet. He still wanted to work there; but, for the moment he wasn't worried about losing his job. "What kind of idiots are running this place?" he asked.
"That's a very good question," A new voice spoke up from the office window. They were on the 15th floor; but, a short tan woman with aquamarine stubble on her head was climbing in through the window.
"Meredith!" Greg's boss immediately sat up straighter. Then, seemingly thinking better of it, he went the extra mile and stood to greet her. He rushed to her side at the window; but, she held a hand out to keep him back. Then, she waved someone forward through the window. Both, with a physical gesture and also literally. A wave of water crested forward to the edge of the window and a tall, portly, older man walked in.
"Dean, this is Professor Salazar," Meredith introduced the newcomer. "He'll be your replacement; be gone by the end of the day," she said.
"What?!?" Dean, Greg's boss, opened his eyes and mouth wide. "You can't be serious!"
"I am," Meredith nodded. "He was going to be your assistant until I heard your conversation on the way here," she said. The short woman turned and made eye contact with Greg long enough to nod at him in appreciation.
"Mundo and the other two employees that went to the Corporate retreat this week had quite a bit to say about your shortcomings as a manager. If Chroma Corp. is ever going to be as good as Sharp Development...," Meredith eyed Dean up and down. "...we're going to need better people." She immediately turned and focused on Greg again.
"I hope you'll reconsider staying with us, especially under new management," she added with a glance at Professor Salazar.
"I'm supposed to get orientation from Mundo...," Greg shrugged. Meredith nodded and smiled warmly.
"I'm a Mundo," she said, "I'll get you caught up."
"Please! I have to stay! This is the easiest job I've ever had!" Dean begged. Meredith giggled.
"That's pretty much why you're getting fired," she said. But, Meredith had a soft spot for pathetic creatures. A grown, chubby, balding man in a toupee giving her puppy dog eyes was definitely tugging at her emotions. "But, I suppose Professor Salazar would benefit from an assistant; but, I'll leave that up to him," she said. The other older man in the room smiled at Dean and nodded.
"I think that's a great idea; it would be very helpful," he said.
"Yes! I'll be happy to help!" Dean rushed to the man's side. "I'll be the best assistant!"
"No...," Professor Salazar shook his head. It was enough to stop Meredith from leaving the room with Greg. She turned to see what was wrong and saw a broad smile on Professor Salazar's face.
"'Assistant is too informal, too vague. Let's clarify your role; you're now my secretary," he said. Meredith grinned and continued out of the office.
"Now then, we should let everyone know about the change in management," he said. "Secretary, take a memo..."