CRUEL BETRAYAL By Hugo Hanriot Clarisse was unassuming and friendly. She possessed a team player spirit. Since her first day in her new job, she gained the respect of her coworkers. Her new employer was one of the largest advertising agencies in the country; a dream place to be for a commercial artist. She found in her employment a secure job, good salary, bonuses for creative contributions, medical benefits, and a generous retirement plan. In an extremely competitive field like hers, it was an ideal situation. Clarisse had been hired to draw layout designs for artwork to be published in magazines, posters, newspapers, and shown on television. She was a single mother, raising two children. When she received her first check, she invited them to the movies. Her sons, for the first time in their economically limited lives went to see a 3-D movie– a hit at the box office – with plenty of thrills. “Wow! I’ll tell my friends at the school to go and see it,” the oldest son said to her, highly impressed, proudly holding his 3D glasses. “I’m glad you liked it. I also enjoyed the movie. Where would you like to eat now?” she asked them. “Mom, did you win the lottery?” the younger one looked at her with surprise. Her children chose a fast-food restaurant. They sat at a table and waited for her to order the food. As she approached their table carrying a tray, they saw her smiling like she used to before their father left them. . “With my next pay check I’m going to buy you both some new clothes,” she promised, as she enjoyed watching them devour their hamburgers and fries. Clarisse’s working days became a thrill. Her creativity for the first time in her commercial artist’s life was highly appreciated. The art director of her department – also a well known painter and sculptor – called Clarisse to his desk. “Clarisse, your talent and spirit of cooperation is priceless. I have sent your performance evaluation to Human Resources highlighting your outstanding qualities. I’m going to give you a copy of it. Please keep it safe just in case you may need it. “I’m happy working at this agency and under your supervision,” Clarisse responded, sensing a veiled warning from her immediate boss. “I have no intentions of leaving this job.” “I hope you never do; you are irreplaceable. But I want you to know that I have been only temporarily assigned to this department. The woman I’m covering for is coming back from sick leave. She is a difficult person to deal with.” As Dorothy returned to her art director position, the department’s congenial atmosphere instantly vanished. She was confrontational, a control freak, refusing to accept any creative suggestions. Her permanent grouchy expression added to the misery of the department’s discomfort. What restrained the group from protesting against Dorothy’s tyrannical behavior was her family ties to a member of the agency’s board. With Dorothy in control of her destiny, Clarisse began to suffer nightmares. She had just moved to a larger, more expensive apartment that her sons loved. She could never imagine that the wellbeing of her family was going to be in the hands of her new unpredictable boss. To her surprise, Dorothy’s frozen stone face turned sweet every time she assigned her to a new project. Clarisse felt totally confused, even more when Dorothy invited her out for dinner. Her boss, besides being arrogant, was elegant and sophisticated. She chose an expensive restaurant. “I admire your talent and personality,” Dorothy said to her after ordering a cocktail, tapping Clarisse’ hands in a friendly manner. “Thank you,” Clarisse managed to articulate. Dorothy tasted her drink and began to loosen up. She started talking about her years in the agency, her love for her job, and her torture at having to take long sick leaves. “I would like you to replace me during my next sick leave. I’m waiting to have a kidney transplant as soon as they find a match.” “I wish you well,” reacted Clarisse, holding her hands, sensing that behind the cold arrogant mask hid a weak, lonely woman. “It’s hard for me to wait for the transplant. My only family is my brother, and he is too busy with his family and his responsibilities with the agency.” As time went by, Dorothy’s temper turned worse. One day, in the middle of an outburst with a subordinate, she asked Clarisse to accompany her for a coffee break outside the office building. “They cannot find a match for my kidney,” she broke down in tears, trying to drink her coffee. “My mother just moved in with us to help me with my sons. Would you like to see if my kidney is a match for yours?” Clarisse asked her, guided by her emotions and in appreciation for the way Dorothy had treated her. Dorothy accompanied Clarisse to the tests. The kidneys matched! A week later, the transplant was performed successfully. Dorothy, facing a bright new future, was the first to return to work. Clarisse, due to a minor complication, took an extra week off. When she returned to her job, she was stopped by an agency employee and escorted to Human Resources. There they handed her a termination check; her job had been eliminated. Dorothy had refused to meet or receive the desperate calls from Clarisse. With her new donated kidney she was feeling invincible. She had made sure the agency compensated Clarisse accordingly for her kidney donation. That would protect the agency and her from any legal action. She congratulated herself for having made such a masterful move. Besides gaining a new life, she had eliminated a rival that in the future could have threatened her job. I’ll see you next week with a new story. TO READ HUGO’S NEW SHORT STORIES BOOKS FOR JUST $0.99: 1- Visit: amazon 2- Click on “Books” 3- Search for “Hugo Hanriot “ Americas Sweat & Soul: A Gallery of Americas Most Diversified Characters -- Including Yours! By Hugo Hanriot. Thirty-five short stories (Sep 11, 2013) -- • $0.99 Kindle Edition • Auto-delivered wirelessly ...All Aboard! Forty New Stories Based on Real Events by Hugo Hanriot (Oct 19, 2012)• $0.99 Kindle Edition •The Short Story Factory by Hugo Hanriot (Mar 9, 2012) Forty short stories -- Kindle EditionAuto-delivered wirelessly $0.00 $0.99 (read for free, Join Amazon Prime) TO SEND A COMMENT ABOUT THIS STORY VISIT facebook and search for Hugo Hanriot
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 23:06:42 +0000
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