Chapter 615: The Stafford Foundation
Thursday, March 9th, Afternoon
The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out; she checked her watch; it was just a bit after noon. Shaking her head, she came to the door labeled 'The Stafford Foundation," opened it, and walked through. The receptionist looked up at her and plastered her fake receptionist smile.
"Hello, Ms. Stafford," the receptionist said.
"Hello, Amber," Fallon said, "How are you?"
"I'm good; this is a surprise," Amber said.
"I was nearby, and Tanner always gets good lunches," Fallon said.
Amber laughed, "It usually smells good," she said.
"That it does," Fallon said and walked through the inner door.
Walking across the open office, she could hear the sounds that could be described as either the air conditioning or the sound of the sea. It was this sound masking system she had installed recently; from a local company on Long Island.
Fallon unlocked her office and stepped in. With a sigh and put her bags down. Pulling her desk chair out and sat down, kicking off her sneakers. Reaching into one of her bags and pulled out her stripper heels. Carefully. She strapped them onto her feet.
While her head was down, she heard a knock on her office door. Lifting her head, Fallon focused on the door. Standing there was Gena Pratt, holding a stack of files in her arms.
"Gena, I half expected Janella," Fallon said.
"Oh, should I be offended?" Gena asked.
"No, but I expected Tanner to send the new girl and have you doing your job," Fallon said.
"Well, you know Tanner," Gena said.
Fallon nodded, "Sadly, I do," she said.
Gena walked into the office and placed the stack on the desk. She looked across the desk at Fallon and nodded.
"Here are the normal files," Gena said.
"Where is Janella?" Fallon asked.
"In Tanner's office," Gena said.
"Oh, okay," Fallon said, pulled the pile forward, and looked them over.
"Yeah," Gena said and rolled her eyes.
"Gena, go back to work; I have this," Fallon said and swiped the pile, "to work on."
Gena nodded and left the office. Fallon picked up the top file and flipped it open. Looking it over, Fallon was always suspect of what she would read in these files. Now, Fallon thought that whatever was in these files was a complete work of fiction.
Fallon sighed as she flipped the first file closed. Shaking her head, Fallon sighed, picked up the second file, and opened it. It was a collection of numbers and accounts. Shaking her head, she placed it down on her desk, leaned back, closed her eyes, and squeezed the bridge of her nose between two fingers. The numbers were just garbage; they were fake, hurting her head. Fallon wondered why she would come here and look over these false reports. Agent Finch told her to keep her routine as close to normal as possible.
There was a knock on the door. Fallon stopped squeezing her nose, sat up, and opened her eyes. Standing at the door this time was the new girl, Janella Mills. This woman is Tanner Rich's new assistant, and Janella looks exhausted.
"Yes, Janella?" Fallon asked.
"Tanner wanted to know if you wanted to order lunch with us?" Janella asked.
Fallon smiled, "Of course, why do you think I come here?" she said and smiled.
Janella nodded and stepped into the office. She held out a notepad and menu; Fallon took them and looked at Janella.
"Have a seat, please," Fallon said.
Janella nodded and sat down across from Fallon. Spread out the menu and put the notepad down. Looking over the menu every so often, Fallon would glance up at Janella. Finally, Fallon started to drum her fingers on the desk.
"How do you deal with that man?" Janella asked.
"As little as possible," Fallon said.
"Why do you deal with him? Just get rid of him already," Janella said.
"My grandfather hired him and didn't read the contract too well," Fallon said.
"What about your father?" Janella asked.
"My dad wasn't too hands-on here; he was more interested in the publishing business than the foundation," Fallon said.
"How long have you been the patron?" Janella asked.
"Sixteen years, but I became the patron at sixteen," Fallon said.
"So, weren't involved for about half the time?" Janella asked.
Fallon made a face, "Maybe a bit more," she said.
"So, Mister Rich has run this place with little oversight?" Janella asked.
"Not for my want, but I had school and many other children to look over," Fallon said.
Janella sighed, "Yeah, he's just a pig," she said.
"That's Tanner," Fallon said and shook her head.
"I noticed he has a type," Janella said.
Fallon nodded, "I've noticed it too," she said.
"You're not intimidated by being in my presence?" Fallon asked.
"You put your pants on one leg at a time," Janella said.
"You're not happy here, are you?" Fallon asked.
"It's not the best place I've worked," Janella said.
"So, why don't you leave?" Fallon asked.
"The pay is better than I could get anywhere else," Janella said.
"I see," Fallon said.
"Yeah," Janella said.
Fallon nodded, "It is what it is," she said.
"Have you figured out what you want for lunch? I still have to order it," Janella said.
Fallon nodded again and looked over to the corner of her desk. A picture of her as a little girl, sitting on her dad's lap. It was this same office. Fallon sighed and folded up the menu. She wrote something down on the notepad and put the menu on top of the notepad. Fallon finally handed it over to Janella.
"I'm all set," Fallon said.
"Thank you," Janella said.
"You're welcome," Fallon said.
Janella stood up and left the office. Fallon watched Janella go, then returned to the picture of her and her dad. That was a picture her dad kept on this desk when it was his. Fallon decided to keep it. Fallon smiled and dried a tear in the corner of her eye.
