IMAGINATION'S PLACE
FICTION

PROMOTION
By; Gerald A. Polley

All rights reserved.

    Mary McClain had been an executive secretary for fifteen years, but had never run into a problem like she had run into now.  Again, she spoke very strongly to her employer, the CEO of Allied Industries. 
    "Mr. Harrison, you have to stop smoking that stuff in front of me!  It's completely illegal now.  I can get a serious prison term for covering up you're using it.  If you continue to use it in the office I will have to take action!"
    "You bother me in any way," the CEO snapped, "again, and you won't work anywhere!  I don't care about the god damned laws!  If I wanna smoke a little pot and relax a little bit, I'll smoke it!  And if I tell you to hold my calls and hold any visitors you'll do so!  Now, get out!"
    Mary quickly went out to her office.  She knew it would be useless to call building security.  They would simply escort her off the premises.  So she dialed a special number at the office of their main company. 
    "Violations hotline!" a very pleasant woman's voice answered. 
    "This is Mary McClain," Mary announced.  "I'm the executive secretary of Allied Industries.  I have to report that our CEO is smoking marijuana every afternoon in total violation of company regulations.  He has told me that if I report it I will be fired.  But I believe the current drive to stop the use of this crap is important."
    "Hold on, dear!" the woman's voice remarked.  Some very pleasant music came on and Mary waited.  A few minutes later a very strong male voice came on the line. 
   "Good afternoon, Mary!"  it began, "Mr. Hayes, here!  What time in the afternoon does your superior commit this offense?"
    "Right around two o'clock every day," Mary answered.
    "Very good!" the voice continued.  "It will be taken care of tomorrow.  If you are in any way bothered, call this number again, immediately!"
    "Thank you!" Mary snapped.  She continued her regular routine, left at the usual time, came back the next day, and began her regular routine.  She had no idea what was happening downstairs a little before two.  Two police officers in uniform and two detectives walked up to the desk.  One of the police officers immediately went into the security room just behind the receptionist and ordered the men there to do absolutely nothing.  The receptionist was also told not to summon anyone.  The two detectives immediately went to the elevator that went up to the executives' offices, produced an executive's key, opened the elevator, and used it.   They reached the lobby of the executive offices, and immediately made their way to Mary's office, showing their badges. 
    "Will you be so kind," one of them snapped, "as to open The CEO's door?"
    Mary did so, leaving it open. The two detectives walked in, took the material The CEO had on his desk and put it in a container.  They then took the joint that he was smoking, put it out, and put it in another container.  They then made him stand up and put handcuffs on him.  At this time the elevator doors opened, and three of the building's security men came in. 
    "What's going on here?" one of them screamed. 
   "We're making an arrest," one of the detectives answered.  "This gentleman has just been given his rights.  But with the evidence we have here, he will be going to jail for at least ten years.  Do not interfere or you will be charged!"
    Mary's phone rang and she picked it up.  "Hello, Mary," came the strong male voice.  "Are the police there?"
    "Yes, sir!" Mary answered.  "They have just arrested the CEO."
   "Is Mr. Falls there?" the voice answered. 
    "Yes!" Mary replied. 
   "Put him on the line!" the voice continued.
    Mary motioned the chief executive over. He took the phone and listened for a few minutes, then said "Yes sir, I understand. I'm in temporary charge now. Yes sir, thank you. I'll take care of things!"  He hung up the phone and looked at Mary.  "Clean out your desk," he snapped, "get out!  I won't have a snitch working for me."  He turned to the security guard.  "Get her out of the building!  Now!"
    He walked into the CEO's office and the door shut.  The security guard snapped "Hurry up!"
    "One moment," Mary snapped.  She pressed the redial button, knowing it would automatically go to the last number that had called in.  In a moment the man's voice came back on the line. 
   "Mary?" he asked.
    "Yes sir," Mary answered.  "I've just been fired.  The new CEO says he won't have a snitch working for him."
    "He does, does he?" the man answered.  "Tell me, Mary, could you do the CEO's job?"  
    Mary was taken back. "Well, I think so, sir! I've practically done it most of the time. I know all the people, friends with most of them."
     "Good!" the man snapped.  "Give me the security guard."
    Mary handed the man the phone.  The man listened for a few moments and said "What?  That's not right, sir!  Yes, I'll do it, but I tender my resignation. This is ridiculous!  These are good men.  I know sir, I know. It's the law!  Yes sir!"  He hung up the phone.   "Open the door!" he snapped.
    He went into the CEO's office and  in a few moments came out with the former CEO.  "What do you," mean he was screaming, "my services with this company are concluded?  I'm to vacate my office?"
    "Go!" the security guard answered, shoving him to another officer.  "Everyone," he snapped, "listen up!  Mary's now the boss.  She's now the head of the company.  Anybody that's got a problem with it can tender his resignation.  Let's get back to work!"
    "Frances!" Mary screamed, "As your boss has become among the unemployed, you're now my secretary!   Mr. Way," she snapped at the security guard, "a moment in my office?"
    The security guard hesitated a moment then said "Yes ma'am!"
    They went into the office and the door shut behind them.  "Mr. Way," Mary began, "I wish very much that you would reconsider your resignation.  I know things are changing, but your son and my daughter are already acquainted, and we are both widowers.  I had been in hopes that I could strike up a conversation with you, and we could enjoy some evenings together.  I am not a person that is bothered by race.  I hope you are not, also.  I would very much like you to stay with the company."
    The security guard stared at her for some time, then smiled.  "I'll give it a few months!" he managed. 
    Mary returned his smile then gave a sigh and sat down behind the desk.  "Oooh!" she remarked, "Gotta have this thing deodorized!  Woah!" 
    The security guard smiled.  "I'll send somebody right up!" he snapped. 
    The phone rang and Mary picked it up.  "CEO," she managed.  "Oh, hello, Ben! Yes, I'm in charge now. What do you need?"  She waved the security guard out, and routine took over.  Hours passed into days.  There was a marriage. Two years later, another one.  There were three babies, one quite a surprise!  Fifteen years later Mary walked into the nursery followed by her daughter, they picked up their babies and started to nurse them. 
    "I don't know if I can handle it, mother," her daughter was saying.  "Everybody's gonna say it's privilege.  I'm only getting the job because I'm your daughter.  Why don't you just retire?  Why do you have to go to The Spiritist Republic Of Arabia?"
   "Because they need somebody!" Mary answered.  "And look at everything they gave me because I did what was supposed to be done.  I think I can  give them three or four more years!  Anyway, it sounds like fun.  You're gonna be great!"
    Her daughter sighed.  "But CEO!" she managed.   Her mother smiled again and looked at a picture on the wall.
    "He always liked to have his picture in the nurseries. They were his favorite places."  Mary noticed the black border was getting a little frayed. "Have that replaced," Mary sighed.     
    Her daughter looked to where she was looking and said "Of course!" 
    "I'm gonna miss this place!"  Mary sighed.  "Not many of these old skyscrapers left.  Covered cities are replacing them.  This building's going to go some day."  She sighed again, put the baby back in its bassinet, waited for her daughter and they returned to her office.  There were a few more things to do.  Tomorrow morning she'd be half way around the world, starting a new adventure!  However, the time she had spent here had been interesting, and she knew it had been copied around the world.  Things were very different now.  Fifteen years had changed a lot.  Dreams were coming true.  Prophecies were being fulfilled, she was a part of it, a great part of it.  She was proud of it! 

THE END

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