Chapter 17
Thankful he had packed an extra change of clothes and that Monica had a shower with a stinging hot spray and a working coffeepot, Chandler was ready to meet with his boss, Mr. Douglas, by 7:00 a.m. Monica had told him to stay at her place. He'd tried to get some sleep but was too anxious. He needed to know his fate.
About to leave the apartment, he turned around, in surprise, when he heard the click of Monica's bedroom door. She walked out, wearing navy pants and a turquoise blouse.
"You didn't think I would let you leave without me, did you?"
"But how? When?"
"I set my alarm, got up and quietly used the bathroom, got dressed and waited in my room until I heard you getting ready, and here I am."
"Monica, you shouldn't have done all that."
"Why not?" she asked, now standing next to him.
"Because you need your sleep."
"I'll sleep once you know what's going on with your job. Now, c'mon," she said, pulling him by the hand, "the last thing you need to be is late."
*~*
When they arrived at the high-rise, they rode the elevator to the top floor and stepped off into the outer reception area, which was dark.
"He's not here yet," Chandler said. "We can sit on the sofa and wait."
"Are you okay?" Monica asked, once they'd sat down.
"Yes. No. I don't know. I have a knot in the pit of my stomach. I feel like I did when I'd have to go to the principal's office at school. He always made the students wait, just to increase our anxiety level."
Chandler looked at Monica. "I bet you don't know what I'm talking about because you never had to go to the principal's office, did you?"
Monica looked sheepish. "Well..."
"It doesn't matter," he said, springing up from the sofa.
With his back to her, he stared unseeing at a Monet painting mounted on the beige wall.
"Yes, it does," Monica said, coming up behind him and placing her hands on his tense shoulders. She gave them a gentle squeeze. "If it didn't matter, you wouldn't be so nervous."
He turned to look at her. "I wish now I had told my boss on the phone that I quit. I really thought I could make it in Bridgeport. And I thought once I passed that hurdle, making other changes would be easier. Now, at least as far as my career is concerned, I'm nothing but a loser."
"Chandler, don't say that," Monica admonished, running the palms of her hands along his upper arms. "You are anything but a loser, and don't you forget that."
They separated reluctantly when the elevator dinged.
"That's probably my boss."
Monica resumed sitting in one corner of the couch and began leafing through a magazine. Chandler remained standing, bracing himself for Mr. Douglas' arrival.
"Good, I'm glad you're here," Mr. Douglas said without preamble, not even acknowledging Monica's presence. "Let's go into my office, shall we?"
Chandler stole one last glance at Monica, who mouthed "good luck" to him before burying her head in between the pages of the magazine.
*~*
Mr. Douglas' office seemed larger and more imposing than Chandler remembered. As he sat down across from the oak desk, he realized everything looked more intimidating because he was there for a negative work performance issue. He tried to keep things in perspective, but it wasn't easy.
"Let's get down to business."
Chandler nodded.
"Before I tell you my decision regarding your future with this company, I want to hear your side about what happened when Riley Cooper telephoned you last night to report he needed your help."
"I was talking to Riley about the crisis in the Bridgeport office when another incident claimed my attention. A very dear friend of mine was in trouble, and I needed to help her. I did cut Riley off, and I was distracted. I was about to call him back when you called me."
"Riley called me because he said he tried your cell twice after he lost you, but you didn't answer."
"Yes, that's correct. In my haste to help my friend, I left my phone behind. I don't blame Riley for calling you. If I were in his position, I would've done the same thing."
"You knew how much Riley and the others were depending on you?"
"Yes, I did. I know I let them down, as well as you. This was an important project, and I failed to do my part."
"Fortunately for us, the news isn't as bad as Riley first reported. We've had a lot of trouble in that office, and despite what you were doing to try to get things back on track, the corporate office had to take extra measures."
"Extra measures? You mean the original data wasn't lost?"
"No. The Bridgeport office would not have had the correct data to present to the Board of Directors, but we have it here in Manhattan."
"That's great news," Chandler said. "You don't know how relieved I am."
"I can imagine you must be. Unfortunately, you fell way short of the goals you set with me for this assignment. Therefore, I'm pulling you off the project. I'm taking over this one and will see it to completion."
"I understand," Chandler said, more disappointed than he thought he would be.
"I'm giving you a choice, and I need to hear your decision by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. Riley has been demoted in the Bridgeport office. I've decided to place you in a lesser capacity here in Manhattan. You will not be in a supervisory position. You will be working on multiple projects along with other people in a unit, inputting data."
"So, basically, I go back to the work I was doing when I first started."
"That's correct. I need you to go to Bridgeport today, clean out your office and the apartment there, return the company vehicle here, and then either accept the position at a reduced salary, which we will negotiate, or have your letter of resignation on my desk by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow."
*~*
Monica could tell the meeting had not gone well as soon as Chandler stepped into the reception area. She stood and quickly made her way to him.
"Did he fire you?" she asked, trying to read his expression.
"No, but he might as well have. I need to get to Bridgeport."
"I'm coming with you."
*~*
They had arrived at the apartment before Chandler spoke again.
"I need to go to the office to collect my things. Wait for me here. I won't be long."
"I could start packing," she offered, looking around. "Where are the boxes?"
"In one of the closets," he said distractedly. "Thanks. I'll be back soon."
*~*
Riley knocked on Chandler's open door and then entered.
"I heard you're outta here."
"Yeah," Chandler said, putting his few personal belongings into a box he'd found near the recycling area. "Douglas is going to oversee the project. These files on the desk are ones you should probably have. I'm sorry you got demoted. I don't think you deserved that."
"I'm just thankful I still have a job. My wife is pregnant; we're buying a new house. These are tough times. Do you think you'll stay with the company?"
"I don't know. I have until close of business tomorrow to decide. I have no idea what I want to do if I left my job. But to stay..."
"Would be rough," Riley finished.
"Yeah, it would. I really thought this would work. I still don't know what happened."
"Douglas didn't tell you?" Riley asked, surprised.
"No. His words and instructions to me were very succinct."
"Brian, the guy who was checking the numbers, sabotaged us. He wanted revenge on you, and I guess to a certain extent, on me, too. Apparently, he was in line for the job Douglas gave you. He shocked all of us."
"Brian? I can't believe it."
"It's true. Since corporate had the correct data, it was easy enough to check. Once he knew you were in trouble, he confessed as if he'd done a good thing."
"That's scary."
"Yes, it is."
"I guess that's why I didn't get fired outright."
"Douglas has to answer to his boss for this, too. I think that's why he's now overseeing the project. If anything else goes wrong, it's going to be on him."
"I think you guys are in good shape."
"Thanks in no small part to you. I know no one else is going to say it Chandler, but you did get us to work as a team, and no one else has been able to do that. You made a difference. A positive difference. You actually got us to care about this project. Damnit, I wanted to see us make that milestone, and no one was dreading you coming on board more than me."
"Except maybe Brian?" Chandler said and gave a wan smile. "I appreciate your words, I really do. I just wish this hadn't all been for nothing."
They shook hands.
"Good luck with whatever you decide to do," Riley told him sincerely.
"Same to you. Congratulations on your impending fatherhood."
"Thanks," Riley said and smiled. "I know it's going to change my life. I have one question to ask, and if you don't want to answer, I'll understand."
"What's that?"
"What happened that made you ditched our conversation?"
Chandler smiled as he looked down at the silver frame he held in his hands.
"You can appreciate this. In the middle of everything, I finally told Monica I loved her."
Riley's face lit up. "So, you guys are together?"
"Yeah, we are."
"That's fantastic. Congratulations!"
"Thanks."
"Let's keep in touch," Riley said. "You said this had all been for nothing, but I don't believe that's necessarily true. I'd like to see Monica and Ross again."
"Once things calm down, I'll talk to them about it. I'm sure they'd like to see you, too."
*~*
Chandler walked into the apartment and couldn't help but smile when he saw how much Monica had accomplished.
"You're in your element, aren't you?" he asked and then laughed.
"This is nothing," she said. "I could be done in another hour."
"Take a break. Let's go get something to eat."
*~*
Seated near the back of a quaint neighborhood restaurant, Chandler and Monica ordered soup, a turkey sandwich, and iced tea. Monica added sugar and lemon to her iced tea and continuously stirred the amber contents of the glass, waiting for Chandler to speak. He finally covered her hand with his to stop the irritating noise.
"I have to make a decision by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow," he finally said.
Relief washed over Monica that he was talking to her about what went on in his boss' office.
"What kind of a decision?"
"Whether or not to accept a lower position, with a reduced salary, in the Manhattan office or leave altogether."
"What kind of position is Mr. Douglas offering you?"
"Basically, the same one I had when I first started."
"What about the money?"
"It would be a negotiated reduction."
"With no chance for increases or a promotion?"
"Probably not." Chandler sat back in his chair and sighed. "This is a no-brainer, right? I have to submit my letter of resignation. I didn't stay there this long just to go back to what I was doing when I first started! I have some money in the bank. I'll find another job somewhere. It's not like I'm Riley who has a wife, a new house and a child on the way."
"You never were happy there," Monica reasoned.
"No, I wasn't. But it's so strange. I am very disappointed that this assignment didn't work out."
She reached across the table and covered his hand with hers.
"I'm sorry, too. Why don't you take some time to think about what it was about this particular assignment that you liked and maybe your next job can include some of those elements?"
"That's a good idea," Chandler said. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Now, let's hurry up and eat so we can get back to your apartment. The sooner we pack everything and clean up, the sooner we can get you settled in back where you belong."
Chandler laughed. "Has Joey been living it up since I've been gone?"
"I don't know about that," Monica said, "but I know he's going to be happy to have you back. But no one could be more thrilled that you're coming home than I am. Please don't ever move away again."
"Why would I," he asked and kissed her hand as he held it in his, "when everything I've ever wanted is sitting right across from me?"
Thankful he had packed an extra change of clothes and that Monica had a shower with a stinging hot spray and a working coffeepot, Chandler was ready to meet with his boss, Mr. Douglas, by 7:00 a.m. Monica had told him to stay at her place. He'd tried to get some sleep but was too anxious. He needed to know his fate.
About to leave the apartment, he turned around, in surprise, when he heard the click of Monica's bedroom door. She walked out, wearing navy pants and a turquoise blouse.
"You didn't think I would let you leave without me, did you?"
"But how? When?"
"I set my alarm, got up and quietly used the bathroom, got dressed and waited in my room until I heard you getting ready, and here I am."
"Monica, you shouldn't have done all that."
"Why not?" she asked, now standing next to him.
"Because you need your sleep."
"I'll sleep once you know what's going on with your job. Now, c'mon," she said, pulling him by the hand, "the last thing you need to be is late."
*~*
When they arrived at the high-rise, they rode the elevator to the top floor and stepped off into the outer reception area, which was dark.
"He's not here yet," Chandler said. "We can sit on the sofa and wait."
"Are you okay?" Monica asked, once they'd sat down.
"Yes. No. I don't know. I have a knot in the pit of my stomach. I feel like I did when I'd have to go to the principal's office at school. He always made the students wait, just to increase our anxiety level."
Chandler looked at Monica. "I bet you don't know what I'm talking about because you never had to go to the principal's office, did you?"
Monica looked sheepish. "Well..."
"It doesn't matter," he said, springing up from the sofa.
With his back to her, he stared unseeing at a Monet painting mounted on the beige wall.
"Yes, it does," Monica said, coming up behind him and placing her hands on his tense shoulders. She gave them a gentle squeeze. "If it didn't matter, you wouldn't be so nervous."
He turned to look at her. "I wish now I had told my boss on the phone that I quit. I really thought I could make it in Bridgeport. And I thought once I passed that hurdle, making other changes would be easier. Now, at least as far as my career is concerned, I'm nothing but a loser."
"Chandler, don't say that," Monica admonished, running the palms of her hands along his upper arms. "You are anything but a loser, and don't you forget that."
They separated reluctantly when the elevator dinged.
"That's probably my boss."
Monica resumed sitting in one corner of the couch and began leafing through a magazine. Chandler remained standing, bracing himself for Mr. Douglas' arrival.
"Good, I'm glad you're here," Mr. Douglas said without preamble, not even acknowledging Monica's presence. "Let's go into my office, shall we?"
Chandler stole one last glance at Monica, who mouthed "good luck" to him before burying her head in between the pages of the magazine.
*~*
Mr. Douglas' office seemed larger and more imposing than Chandler remembered. As he sat down across from the oak desk, he realized everything looked more intimidating because he was there for a negative work performance issue. He tried to keep things in perspective, but it wasn't easy.
"Let's get down to business."
Chandler nodded.
"Before I tell you my decision regarding your future with this company, I want to hear your side about what happened when Riley Cooper telephoned you last night to report he needed your help."
"I was talking to Riley about the crisis in the Bridgeport office when another incident claimed my attention. A very dear friend of mine was in trouble, and I needed to help her. I did cut Riley off, and I was distracted. I was about to call him back when you called me."
"Riley called me because he said he tried your cell twice after he lost you, but you didn't answer."
"Yes, that's correct. In my haste to help my friend, I left my phone behind. I don't blame Riley for calling you. If I were in his position, I would've done the same thing."
"You knew how much Riley and the others were depending on you?"
"Yes, I did. I know I let them down, as well as you. This was an important project, and I failed to do my part."
"Fortunately for us, the news isn't as bad as Riley first reported. We've had a lot of trouble in that office, and despite what you were doing to try to get things back on track, the corporate office had to take extra measures."
"Extra measures? You mean the original data wasn't lost?"
"No. The Bridgeport office would not have had the correct data to present to the Board of Directors, but we have it here in Manhattan."
"That's great news," Chandler said. "You don't know how relieved I am."
"I can imagine you must be. Unfortunately, you fell way short of the goals you set with me for this assignment. Therefore, I'm pulling you off the project. I'm taking over this one and will see it to completion."
"I understand," Chandler said, more disappointed than he thought he would be.
"I'm giving you a choice, and I need to hear your decision by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. Riley has been demoted in the Bridgeport office. I've decided to place you in a lesser capacity here in Manhattan. You will not be in a supervisory position. You will be working on multiple projects along with other people in a unit, inputting data."
"So, basically, I go back to the work I was doing when I first started."
"That's correct. I need you to go to Bridgeport today, clean out your office and the apartment there, return the company vehicle here, and then either accept the position at a reduced salary, which we will negotiate, or have your letter of resignation on my desk by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow."
*~*
Monica could tell the meeting had not gone well as soon as Chandler stepped into the reception area. She stood and quickly made her way to him.
"Did he fire you?" she asked, trying to read his expression.
"No, but he might as well have. I need to get to Bridgeport."
"I'm coming with you."
*~*
They had arrived at the apartment before Chandler spoke again.
"I need to go to the office to collect my things. Wait for me here. I won't be long."
"I could start packing," she offered, looking around. "Where are the boxes?"
"In one of the closets," he said distractedly. "Thanks. I'll be back soon."
*~*
Riley knocked on Chandler's open door and then entered.
"I heard you're outta here."
"Yeah," Chandler said, putting his few personal belongings into a box he'd found near the recycling area. "Douglas is going to oversee the project. These files on the desk are ones you should probably have. I'm sorry you got demoted. I don't think you deserved that."
"I'm just thankful I still have a job. My wife is pregnant; we're buying a new house. These are tough times. Do you think you'll stay with the company?"
"I don't know. I have until close of business tomorrow to decide. I have no idea what I want to do if I left my job. But to stay..."
"Would be rough," Riley finished.
"Yeah, it would. I really thought this would work. I still don't know what happened."
"Douglas didn't tell you?" Riley asked, surprised.
"No. His words and instructions to me were very succinct."
"Brian, the guy who was checking the numbers, sabotaged us. He wanted revenge on you, and I guess to a certain extent, on me, too. Apparently, he was in line for the job Douglas gave you. He shocked all of us."
"Brian? I can't believe it."
"It's true. Since corporate had the correct data, it was easy enough to check. Once he knew you were in trouble, he confessed as if he'd done a good thing."
"That's scary."
"Yes, it is."
"I guess that's why I didn't get fired outright."
"Douglas has to answer to his boss for this, too. I think that's why he's now overseeing the project. If anything else goes wrong, it's going to be on him."
"I think you guys are in good shape."
"Thanks in no small part to you. I know no one else is going to say it Chandler, but you did get us to work as a team, and no one else has been able to do that. You made a difference. A positive difference. You actually got us to care about this project. Damnit, I wanted to see us make that milestone, and no one was dreading you coming on board more than me."
"Except maybe Brian?" Chandler said and gave a wan smile. "I appreciate your words, I really do. I just wish this hadn't all been for nothing."
They shook hands.
"Good luck with whatever you decide to do," Riley told him sincerely.
"Same to you. Congratulations on your impending fatherhood."
"Thanks," Riley said and smiled. "I know it's going to change my life. I have one question to ask, and if you don't want to answer, I'll understand."
"What's that?"
"What happened that made you ditched our conversation?"
Chandler smiled as he looked down at the silver frame he held in his hands.
"You can appreciate this. In the middle of everything, I finally told Monica I loved her."
Riley's face lit up. "So, you guys are together?"
"Yeah, we are."
"That's fantastic. Congratulations!"
"Thanks."
"Let's keep in touch," Riley said. "You said this had all been for nothing, but I don't believe that's necessarily true. I'd like to see Monica and Ross again."
"Once things calm down, I'll talk to them about it. I'm sure they'd like to see you, too."
*~*
Chandler walked into the apartment and couldn't help but smile when he saw how much Monica had accomplished.
"You're in your element, aren't you?" he asked and then laughed.
"This is nothing," she said. "I could be done in another hour."
"Take a break. Let's go get something to eat."
*~*
Seated near the back of a quaint neighborhood restaurant, Chandler and Monica ordered soup, a turkey sandwich, and iced tea. Monica added sugar and lemon to her iced tea and continuously stirred the amber contents of the glass, waiting for Chandler to speak. He finally covered her hand with his to stop the irritating noise.
"I have to make a decision by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow," he finally said.
Relief washed over Monica that he was talking to her about what went on in his boss' office.
"What kind of a decision?"
"Whether or not to accept a lower position, with a reduced salary, in the Manhattan office or leave altogether."
"What kind of position is Mr. Douglas offering you?"
"Basically, the same one I had when I first started."
"What about the money?"
"It would be a negotiated reduction."
"With no chance for increases or a promotion?"
"Probably not." Chandler sat back in his chair and sighed. "This is a no-brainer, right? I have to submit my letter of resignation. I didn't stay there this long just to go back to what I was doing when I first started! I have some money in the bank. I'll find another job somewhere. It's not like I'm Riley who has a wife, a new house and a child on the way."
"You never were happy there," Monica reasoned.
"No, I wasn't. But it's so strange. I am very disappointed that this assignment didn't work out."
She reached across the table and covered his hand with hers.
"I'm sorry, too. Why don't you take some time to think about what it was about this particular assignment that you liked and maybe your next job can include some of those elements?"
"That's a good idea," Chandler said. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Now, let's hurry up and eat so we can get back to your apartment. The sooner we pack everything and clean up, the sooner we can get you settled in back where you belong."
Chandler laughed. "Has Joey been living it up since I've been gone?"
"I don't know about that," Monica said, "but I know he's going to be happy to have you back. But no one could be more thrilled that you're coming home than I am. Please don't ever move away again."
"Why would I," he asked and kissed her hand as he held it in his, "when everything I've ever wanted is sitting right across from me?"