Chapter 58: The Stafford Foundation
Monday, January 2nd, Afternoon
Some people would look down on coming into work later than the employees. But this really wasn't her job, she did have a position here and sometimes made decisions, but not anything day to day. It also helped if your last name was on the door. Fallon often found it funny how her dad once held the same position as she did now, but he also worked in a day to day role in the family business.
Fallon rode the elevator to the Twelfth Floor of the building, which was located near the corner of 6th Avenue and 49th Street. When she was younger, her dad, Baldwin, would sometimes bring her here, especially during the Christmas Season and Winter, in on the weekends and when he was done with his business, he would take her to Rockefeller Center, and they would see the tree, ice skate, or even both. It was amazing how they just fit into the crowd, Father and Daughter, and no one knew who they were and how much they were worth. Memories, they were the trap that would bring her back. She missed him, in the fifteen years since he was murdered in cold blood, she never forgot those memories.
The doors of the elevator opened, and Fallon got out into the floor's elevator lobby. She found the door that said The Stafford Foundation on it and pushed the door open. It was like stepping back in time. The décor was most certainly still here from when her two times great-grandfather opened this office. Fallon smiled and walked over to a portrait of her four-times great-grandfather, Godfrey Stafford, who founded this foundation. Several other portraits hung here, in the lobby, including her Dad's. Fallon, as was her tradition, walked over and looked at the portrait, and brushed off some dust.
The Foundation had wanted to hang her portrait in the lobby, but there was no more room. Fallon also flatly refused that they would remove any of the existing portraits. She also put off sitting for her's until she had finished NYU. Her rationale was people's confidence in the foundation was being run correctly, and no one wanted to see a portrait showing a teenager. But they did eventually get a portrait of her painted. It hung in the main office.
"Morning Ms. Stafford," The receptionist said, from behind her window.
"Morning Amber," Fallon said, "How was your New Years?"
"It was good Ms. Stafford, and how was yours?" Amber asked she was young. She was part of the youth movement Fallon had been suggesting for the Foundation. Also, Fallon guessed Amber was hired for her looks.
"Mine? Oh, it was fine," Fallon said.
"I hope it was better than mine," Amber said.
Fallon shrugged, "I really didn't do anything, how about you?" she asked.
"I stayed home, my loser boyfriend didn't plan anything," Amber said, "I figured you'd be jet-setting it somewhere."
Fallon shrugged, "Like where?" she asked.
"I don't know, Paris, London?" Amber said.
Fallon laughed, "One year, myself and my friend Candi tried to do multiple New Years in one night," she said.
"How did that work?" Amber asked.
Fallon shook her head, "Not very good, we only saw like three airports, and I was out the cost of renting a G4," she said.
"Why did you do that?" Amber asked.
"Celebrating Candi getting into Med School, it was the best worst night of my life," Fallon said.
Amber laughed, "I can't imagine that Ms. Stafford," she said, "Well you can enter," she finished as if reading off a notecard, as she buzzed the door. Fallon had a set of keys and didn't need to be buzzed in, but she didn't mention that to Amber.
Fallon walked through the door into a small office. The foundation has a small staff which includes a few assistants for the directors. They had offered Fallon an assistant as well, but she chose to share one with one of the directors. That way they could take the savings and donate it elsewhere. It was her goal here, to lean down the overhead, so they could donate more money to worthy charities.
"Fallon, we weren't expecting you until later," an older man, his man is Tanner Rich, who was the day to day director of the foundation, said from his office door.
Fallon smiled, a fake smile, Tanner never changed his views of Fallon or people of her generation. He thought just because she was young and rich, and didn't earn her money, she was wasting her life, such as sleeping in late. Fallon was usually up with the sun and working before Tanner would have his first cup of coffee. Again, it was so ingrained in Tanner's mind, she didn't even try to change his thoughts anymore, nor did she even try not to humor him. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep and so I decided to come here and get this over with," Fallon said, in a dismissive tone, "Since, I have better things to do." She tried not to choke on her fake words, that she was saying.
"I see," Tanner said, "I hope we're not too much of a burden on you."
"Well, thank you, I'm going to go to my office and I'll see you in a few minutes," Fallon said, biting back the bile she felt for Tanner. Tanner was her grandfather's man, when he had to replace his long-time director, her Dad tolerated Tanner as well, and all Fallon could do was count the days until Tanner Rich retired or died.
Fallon walked into her office. It was nice and formal, but not Fallon's style, she often worked when she was home in sweats on her couches even though she had a home office. The office's main purpose was for public relations opportunities. Fallon slipped off her coat and hung it on an old coat rack and put her bag and briefcase on the desk.
The desk chair, Fallon looked at it and ran a hand over the soft worn-in leather. She remembered seeing her grandfather in it and sitting in his lap in this chair when she was a little child. Also, she would be here with her Dad when he was doing PR photos. The chair seemed to fit him like a glove. Fallon took a seat in it and moved around, she always felt small in it. She removed her sneakers and took out of her bag her dress shoes.
Fallon looked at the shoes she brought. These shoes were one of Fallon's most frivolous pair she owned. In fact, she bought them only to wear here and play with Tanner's mind. They were overpriced and fitted horribly. Over the years Fallon learned that if you were going to spend money, do it smartly. Example of not spending smartly, the New Year's Plane trip. Smartly, finding good shoes at a reasonable price. She smiled and strapped on the dress shoes. For a moment she regretted not bring her other pair of shoes she bought for wearing at the foundation, her stripper heels.
Fallon took a few deep breaths and stood up. It took a moment for her to find her balance on these heels, as they were taller than what she usually wore. With a nod of approval, she walked out of her office. Fallon was only a little below average height, she didn't get her Mom's statuesque height, nor her Dad's slightly above average height, she got her grandmother, Kendall's, height. These heels brought her closer to average height.
Standing outside the door to Tanner's office, Fallon could hear Tanner talking to the other big shot here, Janette Cussler.
"I thought her father didn't pay enough attention to this place," Tanner said, "But Baldwin was a godsend compared to this party girl he left us."
"Fallon is pretty smart, and of course that's why I sent her to that party," Janette said.
"She's still a frivolous child, and seems more concerned with a good time than hard work," Tanner said, "Remember that stunt with the Gulfstream and her friend?"
"Yes, I do. Also, what do you expect, Tanner, she inherited everything the Stafford's have at sixteen-years-old, that's too much at such an early age," Janette said.
"We also have no heirs to take over her position," Tanner said, "Fallon is unmarried and has no children, and doesn't seem to be heading that way."
"Tanner, she's not a royal breeding machine," Janette said, "Anyways there's her sister, Kendall, she's younger and could take over."
"From what I hear she's worse than Fallon, even more, a frivolous child, and top it off one that thinks little green men running everything from behind the scenes," Tanner said.
"As opposed to old men and the mansions, Tanner?" Janette asked.
"That's not funny, Janette," Tanner said.
"Sorry," Janette said, "Kendall is young, she'll grow out of it, as soon as she tastes what comes with her birthright."
"Let's hope so," Tanner said, "Too bad she's not living up here, I could shape young Ms. Stafford into the person this foundation needs as it's Patron."
"You're not planning an assassination, are you?" Janette asked.
"Umm, no," Tanner said.
Fallon had had enough and walked through the door. The look on Tanner's face was the look of sheer terror. Janette looked up from her seat and almost choked.
"So, Tanner, I was thinking, we have this fund-raising dinner coming up soon, and well we've been having trouble making traction with the younger crowd, right?" Fallon asked, biting down he bile for Tanner and Janette, on top of the tone she would use to make her sound dumb.
"Yes, we have," Tanner said.
"Well, I was thinking, that we should totally invite some younger hipper celebrities, well they could draw interest in our work," Fallon said, trying hard to not drop into a valley girl voice. Izzy was better at the valley girl voice then she was, and every time Fallon tried it, it sounded fake.
"Whom do you have in mind?" Tanner asked.
"Well," Fallon said, twirling a lock of her hair. Who could she say that would piss Tanner off and were her friends? Fallon knew pandering wasn't going to help. She also was quietly having the charities they donated to checked and were making sure they were inclusive. No help for the retired KKK Grand Wizard fund. "There's Congresswoman Scott from North Carolina, she had made a whole bunch of forty under forty lists and is known as the pin-up congressman.
"I know people at a record label, maybe we could get some of their more popular artists to attend and get a buzz that way.
"Maybe, I just thought of this, some young athletes, men and women, and representative of the LGBTQ+ community as well. Also, some people from the fashion industry," Fallon said.
Tanner nodded, "I'll consider your suggestion, Fallon," he said.
"Alrighty then," Fallon said, choking on the fakeness she was spewing about herself. She really did want to become more inclusive, but not to spite Tanner. That was just a bonus.
"So, Fallon how did the party go last night?" Janette asked. It was her idea that Fallon to go to that party last night. That was where she met Grant.
Fallon smiled, "It was a total bust," she said, and looked at her nail, "Oh fuck! I chipped a nail; thank god I'm getting them done after I leave here."
"Okay Fallon," Tanner said, "So, how long are you staying?"
"Probably after lunch, you guys always have the best lunches here," Fallon said.
"We try, Fallon," Tanner said.
"Okay," Fallon said and left, heading back to her office. Once in her office, she sat down behind the desk, and let out a huff. Part of the huff was she was glad she was off her feet, in those damn shoes. Shaking her head, she reached over to her briefcase and opened it, digging through it she found the file she was looking for. Once she found it and pulled it out, she started looking through it. Reading over the details of an acquisition that one of her other businesses wanted to do. She nodded, noting that it read like a solid plan.
That was when there was a knock on the door. A young woman, maybe five years younger than Fallon, stood in the door. Fallon didn't recognize her.
"Come in," Fallon said.
"Ms. Stafford, Mr. Rich wanted me to bring you the menu from where we're getting lunch for the office," she said.
"I see…" Fallon said, not knowing her name, "Thank You."
"Gena, Ms. Stafford, Gena Pratt," she said.
"Well, Ms. Pratt, thank you," Fallon said.
"A moment, Ms. Stafford," Gena said.
Fallon nodded, as Gena handed her the menu, "Yeah, I need to figure out what I want," Fallon said, "Ms. Pratt you're new here, right?"
Gena nodded, "Yes, I am, just started right before Christmas," she said.
"What is your role here? Are you the new assistant I share with Tanner?" Fallon asked.
Gena shook her head, "No, I'm involved in finding donors, and marketing," she said.
"So, Tanner sends you in here to get my lunch order?" Fallon asked.
Gena nodded, "Yes, he did. Pretty bad how he treats people," she said.
"What do you mean?" Fallon asked.
"Sorry, I've said too much," Gena said.
"You can't put the genie back into the bottle," Fallon said.
"So, what does that mean?" Gena asked.
"Finish what you're going to say," Fallon said.
Gena sighed, "Mr. Rich, treats you Ms. Stafford, his patron like you're a dumb spoiled child that doesn't do anything but waste the good family name she inherited," she said.
Fallon nodded, "He's always been that way, Ms. Pratt. He's a dinosaur, my grandfather's man, he didn't care for my dad either," Fallon said.
"I understand, and see that too," Gena said, "But he treats you like crap, Ms. Stafford. You graduated NYU Magna Cum Laude, and I've checked to see how active you're in running your family business."
Fallon looked up and cocked an eyebrow, "Oh really?" she asked.
"I wanted to know about my boss," Gena said, "and it's in your official biography."
"I see," Fallon said, and pointed to something on the menu, "I'd like that for lunch."
"Yes, Ms. Stafford," Gena said, wrote it down and started to leave.
"Oh, Ms. Pratt," Fallon called out.
Gena stopped and turned around, "Yes, Ms. Stafford?" she asked.
"We'll talk later on this subject," Fallon said.
"I look forward to it," Gena said, turned back around, and left the office.
Fallon nodded and reached inside her briefcase and pulled out a business card. She dialed a number on it, using her office phone. After a few rings, he picked up. "Hi, Grant, this is Fallon from the party last night. Yes, I am real, and, I couldn't wait to talk to you again. Yeah, well, I'm at work so I can't talk long. Sure, I'll call you when I get home, bye," Fallon said and hung up the phone with a smile.
Fallon put the business card down and looked out the small window. There was a knock on her door. She turned around and looked at who's standing in the door. Another young woman was standing there.
"Yes, may I help you?" Fallon asked.
"Ms. Stafford, Mr. Rich wanted me to bring over some suggestions he had for places that requested denotations," she said.
Fallon nodded, "Okay, you're new," she said.
The woman nodded, "Yes, this is my first day in fact," she said.
Fallon nodded; another young woman hired for her looks. Is Tanner's middle name Weinstein? "Well welcome aboard," Fallon said, "Ms…."
"Kacey," she said, "Kacey Ellington."
"Well welcome aboard, Ms. Ellington," Fallon said, "What do you do for the foundation?"
Kacey looked at Fallon, "I'm the new person that finds the people we give money too," she said.
"I see," Fallon said, "So, you research places and see that they fit into the ethos of The Stafford Foundation?"
"Yes, pretty much, Ms. Stafford," Kacey said.
"Well Ms. Kacey, can you do me a favor?" Fallon asked.
"Sure, Ms. Stafford," Kacey said.
"Can you research the Knight Gallery for American Art?" Fallon asked.
Kacey nodded, "Yes, I can," she said.
Fallon smiled, "Good, thanks, please do that, just for me, and let no one else know," she said.
"Okay Ms. Stafford," Kacey said.
"Leave the papers," Fallon said.
Kacey nodded, left the stack of papers, and left. Fallon looked at the papers and smiled. Chase was right, nothing wrong with a little cyberstalking.