Chapter 3
Gretchen avoided Tony for the next two days. She was hard at work the morning of the third day when she was summoned to the vice president's office. She remembered with dread Tony's warning that she would regret her decision not to fuck Bruce Crane.
Crane looked up as she entered his office. "We're reorganizing," he said brusquely. "You no longer fit in. Report to the personnel office, then clear out your desk and leave. I expect you to be out of the building before noon."
He dismissed her by picking up the phone and telling his secretary to send in the next person.
"Good morning to you, too," she drawled. "And you have a nice day, asshole."
She met Tony in the hall on her way to the personnel office.
"I warned you," he said. "In case you're interested, your old office has been merged with mine, and I'm now the chief."
"Don't gloat, Tony. It doesn't become you.
Well, yes, I guess it does. Anything and everything sleazy fits you perfectly. Since you got what you wanted, I assume you pimped another woman for him."
"Yeah. A girl from the steno pool. Betty Goodnight. Appropriate name, don't you think?"
"For God's sake, Tony, she's so young!"
"Over eighteen," he replied smugly. "That's all that counts. What's even better, she's had it only once. I got her cherry day before yesterday."
"Tony, you are despicable."
He grinned and shrugged. "She gets something out of it. She's going to be my new secretary."
"Jesus," Gretchen muttered. "What did I ever see in you? I can't believe that I was so stupid, and so mistaken about you. You aren't a nice guy with a big cock. You're a big prick."
She brushed past him and went on her way. Oddly, she felt relieved. Without knowing it, Tony did her a favor. He showed his true colors before she got in too deep. And getting her fired gave her a reason to do something she had long wanted to. She gave the personnel office her father's address as a place to send her final check and refund of her pension account. She completed the few forms necessary, cleaned out her desk, and left.
Her father's answering machine clicked in on the fourth ring. "Pick up, Daddy, it's me," she said.
"Hi, honey," he said. "Has the week passed so quickly?"
"Okay," she laughed. "So I'm predictable and call you every Wednesday. At least I call you."
"You sure do," he replied. "The highlight of my week, too. What's up?"
"I got fired. Well, they said they were reorganizing and I no longer fit in, but it comes out the same way. Is it okay if I move back home for a while? I'll.. . "
"You know you don't have to ask," he said quickly. "This is your home. Want to tell me what really happened?"
"When I get there," she said. "You don't have to support me, Daddy. I've got enough saved to keep me going for a couple of years, if necessary. I just don't want to go through the hassle of finding an apartment."
"Stay as long as you like. Want me to put out some feelers for a job? Lots of people owe me favors."
"No, I've got something else in mind. I'll tell you about it when I get there."
"Want me to come get you?"
"Daddy, you can barely get one suitcase in that tin can you drive. I'll rent a trailer."
"How big a trailer can you pull?"
"As big as I need. I drive a big Bronco, remember. I don't have that much stuff anyway. I rent a furnished apartment."
"I don't drive a tin can now," he said proudly. "I bought a new Lincoln Town Car."
"Well, good for you. It's about time you started driving something safe and that befits your success. Now, I've got a lot to do. I'll see you tomorrow."
Larry gave his daughter a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and helped her unload the trailer. He wrestled the large mirror on a stand into her bedroom.
"Quite a piece," he said. "How did you load it?"
"I'm stronger than I look," she laughed. "It's an antique. I have this thing about mirrors."
"What kind of thing?"
"Maybe I'll tell you one of these days. May I take you to dinner tonight?"
"I'll have to break my date," he said.
"No, don't," she said quickly. "I'm glad you aren't sitting home alone all the time. We'll do it some other time. Knowing you, there's a pot of fresh coffee. Come on, pour me a cup, and I'll tell you what happened."
They sat in the kitchen and drank coffee as she brought him up to date. She told him everything in simple, but tactful detail.
"Are you going to sue?" he asked.
"No. It would be my word against theirs. Besides, they used the cover of reorganization. I don't have a leg to stand on. I don't want the hassle anyway. I'm going to take some courses at the junior college and open an auto repair shop that caters to women. Everyone who works there will be female."
"Sounds good to me. You probably couldn't find a job around here anyway. Unemployment is sky-high."
"Then I shouldn't have any trouble finding mechanics."
Larry shook his head. "Mechanics, no. Female mechanics, now that's another story."
"They're out there, Daddy. I just have to look. I'll run ads in the two big papers in Denver. Between them, they cover the whole state. I'll pay moving expenses if I have to. Whatever it takes. I'm going to make this thing work, Daddy, or die trying."
"I'll put my money on you, honey," he said. "I've never known you to fail at anything you set your mind to."
"Which reminds me. I've got to call Jennifer. She's in real estate now. I want her to start looking for some place to set up shop." She looked at her watch. "What time is your date?"
"Seven."
"Then you'd better get moving. Girls hate it when their dates are late. I'll grab a bite to eat somewhere and go to a movie."
"You sure you don't mind? It is your first night back home."
"Probably only one night of many, Daddy," she laughed. "Before you know it, you'll be asking me when I'm going to get a place of my own and move out."
"That will be the day," he said.
"Is that little pasta joint on the corner of Palmer Park and Academy still there? The one you used to take me to?"
"Still there. Same owners."
"Good. I'll see you later. Have fun." She got up and started out of the kitchen. "By the way, do I know her?"
"Annette Harper. Her husband used to own the office supply store where I do business."
"Used to? Did he go out of business?"
"In a manner of speaking. He had a massive heart attack about a year ago. Died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital."
"I'm sorry," Gretchen said.
"Feel sorry for Annette, not him. He was a crabby, narrow-minded son of a bitch. He treated her poorly when he was alive, and after he died. Didn't believe in insurance. Left her with practically nothing but debts. She's finally got the store back on its feet."
"Good for her. Someday, men are going to learn that women are just as capable as they are. Don't screw up your face at me. I don't mean equal in everything. This old world would be a mighty boring place if everyone was equal. I like the difference between the sexes."
"So do I," he replied. "I hope I don't make a fool of myself with Annette. I haven't dated in quite a while."
"You work too hard, Daddy. I'm sure you'll do just fine. Just relax and be yourself. Nature will take care of everything else. I'm beginning to think you're one of the few decent men left in the world, Daddy. I love you."
"I love you, honey. Enjoy the movie."
"You enjoy your date. I hope you score."
"Gretchen!"
"Oh, pooh," she laughed. "I've heard all those stories about young widows."
"How do you know she's young?"
"Because you're dating her. If you do get her, better make her scream so I won't walk in on you."
"You're something else," he said. "Maybe one day you'll find out, Daddy, dear." She blew him a kiss and left.