June 25, 2010
JANET Evanovich fan fiction
Stephanie PLUM
ANGST SORROW
Ranger has returned from "in the wind". We are happy and relieved that he is finally back with us. But this is no longer a recognizable person. He looks the same but he apparently is a changed man. He is unapproachable. He has the blank face. A woman has returned wi th him. She is staying with Ranger on 7. No one expected this and no one, not even Tank, can get anything out of him. There is no conversation today.
The next morning Ranger calls an immediate and compulsory staff meeting.
When everyone is present, Ranger stands. The unknown woman is seated to his right. He introduces her as his wife, Lucia, Mrs. Manoso. She will be working with Rangeman. Her Title is First Vice President and Executive Director of Personnel. Everyone in the company will treat her with the same respect and deference as that given to Ranger. Ranger sits down. The blank face is still in place. Ranger does not meet the eyes of anyone.
There is a collective gasp in the room.
Lucia appears to be about 30 years old. She has black hair pulled up into a bun. She has large brown eyes. She is about 5' 5" tall. She smiles pleasantly. Her features are even and pretty. She has an excellent figure and is dressed in a conservative business suit. She lets everyone know that she is a no nonsense taskmaster but she believes she is fair and reasonable. Shortly she will begin the process of evaluating every employee's performance and status within the company. She is anxious to get to know everyone and looks forward to input from the staff. All in all there may be some big changes in the near future. Her expertise is in personnel management among other office related talents. She is delighted to be here and has every confidence that the new programs will go well.
Ranger stands once more and puts his arm around Lucia's shoulders. The meeting is dismissed.
Stephanie is the first employee to be called for a meeting with Mrs. Manoso. As soon as the door is closed and Steph is seated Lucia begins. With a smile on her face she opens Stephanie's rather voluminous personnel file. When she looks up she is still smiling and states "Ms. Plum, you are terminated today for cause. It has been reported that you have loose morals, have cost Mr. Manoso large sums of money by destroying company property. I am aware that you have no capability of paying back large sums of company money. No longer will you be allowed to be carried on the books as entertainment or anything else. And, I will not tolerate your efforts at having a romantic/sexual relationship with my husband. He is my husband and that is not going to change. I would even go so far as to suggest it might be a good plan to leave this vicinity. And believe me, Miss Plum, my husband will not believe you if you make an effort to repeat this conversation to him.
Stephanie manages to keep a blank face, a talent learned from Ranger. She stands, smiles at Lucia and states without showing very much emotion. "Bitch you are some unbelievable act. If you make an effort to rid Mr. Manaso of most of his trusted staff, I do not believe you will last very long. You will get your wish where I am concerned. I am happy to leave today. Believe me whentell you I have no desire to work for, or be associated with either of you. For the record and you may repeat this if you wish, I believe you are a lying conniving, vicious, grasping bitch and possibly Ranger has gotten just exactly what he deserves. Don't you worry I will be leaving but you better look over your shoulder from time to time". Have a really great day Lucia.
Mrs. Manoso follows Stephanie out of the door and with her best smile says "Thank you Ms. Plum. I hope you have a good day".
Ranger is nowhere to be seen.
I am holding my head high. I swear there are no tears in my eyes, yet. I run headlong into Lester and all of a sudden the tears become an unstoppable torrent. I can't even tell him what has happened except to say that I has been fired. Les folds me in his arms, gets me on the elevator and down to the garage. "That rotten bitch fired me on the spot. Please believe me when I tell you this is an evil creature. I cannot imagine what possible hold she could have over Ranger. She even suggested that I leave town. And then she walks out with me with a huge smile on her conniving face telling me to have a good day. All of you better watch your backsides. I'm going home Les. Please come over later and bring Bobby with you if you are allowed to leave the building.
Stephanie's POV:
Well, here goes - I love him and right now I hate him. My anger is almost beyond my control. Lester got me out of the building easily. I have decided to leave as I cannot bear to watch my Ranger with someone else. I love him, I despise him. I hope he is miserable, But with a brand new wifey plaything he is probably okay or at least satisfied. Damn him. I would really like to hurt him right now. How grown up is that? I don't know how I get to my apartment. I can't see very well through my tears.
I don't know where I'm going, but I have to leave. I have some saved money and a reasonable car so I should be able to get some distance from here. My parents, Grandma, Mary Lou Connie and Lula will no doubt be pretty upset with this plan but I feel I have no choice. I cannot and will not live with this situation.
I also know I can't leaving without saying a few things to Ranger. It will not be an ugly letter. I will not mention Santa Lucia, Bitch
Letter to Ranger:
Dear Ranger:
I have decided to leave Trenton and doubt that I will have an opportunity to see you or talk with you again.
It does seem to me that considering our long relationship some items need to be mentioned.
Ranger, I owe you years of thanks for the time, care, help and mentoring you gave me. Thanks to your efforts friendship, patience and confidence I have learned new skills which will be of great help to me in the future. I believe I can now take care of myself and as we have discussed I have the capability of being my own person. Perhaps most importantly I have learned to "fly". My greatest ambition. Without your help a lot of this would not have been possible.
I am going to take this now in a different direction simply because it is important to me to finally say some things that have been on my mind for a long time. I love you Ranger. I have for a very long time. I had always hoped we would find our someday. I am aware as well as accepting that that now is not a possibility.
I know that I do not understand and I'm sure you will feel you have no reason to explain anything to me
If I somehow caused you to lose faith in me or simply choose a different direction I deeply regret it and most likely will always regret it. The idea of being separated from you as well as the guys at Rangeman more than saddens me.
I do confess to being quite hurt and very angry. I hope I will manage to get past that at some point in the future. I will however always remember your voice, your arms, your long ago kindness and the time we spent together. I still love you and perhaps I always will. I fear you will always remain in some corner of my heart and mind. But, I no longer wish to see you or know about you. To accomplish this I will simply go somewhere else. I can no longer see the man I know in you.
I do not assume you will try to find me, or help anyone else to find me. I will not leave without making sure some of the ones dear to me will have confidence that they will hear from me sometime in the future. You are totally off the hook where I am concerned. There is no obligation.
Take good and careful care of yourself. Be happy Carlos.
Goodbye,
Stephanie