I'm taking a creative writing class and we have assignments. This one (you have to read your stories out loud-yipes) everyone in the class liked. Hope you do too.

A ROSE
by lenafan

You always hope as a manager that you never have to fire anyone, especially someone you like. Those are the hardest it seems. Hiring and firing comes with the territory if you manage any group whether it is for doctors, lawyers, or corporations. How do you tell someone who has worked for your office for almost twelve years that “things aren’t working out?” Usually that’s what you tell the new employee who has only been around less than a year. What do you say to someone you have gone to lunch with, celebrated a marriage, mine, two kids, mine and a couple of new cars--hers? Especially someone who helped you learn the ropes when you started working for the group ten years ago.
My name is Maddy Barnes. Maddy is a family name from way back, old-fashioned I know, but different and somewhat homey. It’s a warm kind of name, eliciting thoughts of fireplaces, roses and homemade apple pie. I’m forty-three with a husband and two children. Anyway, back to my story.
Kailey Appollini was a great receptionist. She knew every client that walked in the door, including the new ones. She researched them on the internet after they made the appointment. They loved her and at Christmas time she was usually overwhelmed with gifts of candy, flowers and personal items almost too numerous not to seem disgustingly opulent. Kailey however never took everything home. She shared almost all of it with the staff especially items of food.
She had been working at the firm for two years, before I arrived. She was only twenty-three, but already knew a lot of the business end. She had entered college with the idea of getting a law degree, but finances became difficult and although she started night school, taking more than one class at a time was not an option. She was tall at five foot ten with luxurious long black hair, which daytimes she wore in a French braid. Her mouth was wider than most and she had a killer smile to go along with bright black eyes and clear olive skin.
Her Italian heritage was obvious and she was a delight to feast your eyes on any time of the day. I could leave my office and look down the hall to see one or two junior associates, married and/or unmarried, chatting with her. Of course, this was only when there were no clients waiting or about to enter for an appointment. Kailey was strict about that which was unusual. She knew first impressions by the new client meant a lot to the firm and she was the first employee to be seen. If she knew a client, especially a new one, was about to enter the office, she would send whoever was talking on their way.
I cannot begin to tell you how important that was to the firm. I think I was more aware of her ability than the manager I replaced. That manager had retired. I’m not too sure he really cared since he was about to leave. I was always pleased when clients told the lawyers in the firm what a wonderful receptionist they had. It meant I could get her an occasional small raise other than the yearly one.
Her decline didn’t happen all at once. It kind of tumbled slowly into a pot, simmered and then came to a boil. The first inkling I had that something was amiss, was when John Smathers’ secretary, Jean, came into my office.
“Got a minute?”
“Sure, what can I do for you?”
“It’s Kailey. I know she’s been here a long time and both partners and clients like her.

“What about Kailey?” I was stupefied.
“It’s about not taking care of a client.” She saw the look on my face. “Yes, I know, but I think it’s a valid one.” She plunged on before I could say more. “Frank Jescoe called me after his appointment. He said Kailey had made him wait at least five minutes while she was making a personal phone call.”
“Personal?” My jaw must have dropped.
“Yes, something about her wedding invitations.” Kailey was finally taking the big step. She was in love, he proposed and she said yes! We had been thrilled for her. The wedding was to be in six months.
That was the first one, but then there were more complaints. She put an important client on hold for ten minutes! That was not like her. Another complaint about double booking a deposition and an appointment with a client for the same attorney was next. It was her responsibility to make sure the appointment book out front was cleared for our attorneys. She was told and then forgot to tell his secretary he had another important new client appointment. It resulted in some embarrassment for our attorney and we didn’t get the client. I took her into my office and told her she was making too many mistakes for someone who worked here twelve years. Kailey was the longest termed employee at the firm. I had never had to admonish her for not doing her job.
Three weeks before her wedding the partners called me into a conference. They were not in a pleasant mood. Oh oh, I thought, trouble. John Smathers, a senior partner, took the lead after first looking at his two other partners. “Maddy, you’re going to fire Kailey at the end of the week.”
“What happened?”
“We’ve lost the Prince account because of her.”
“How?”
Smathers looked angry and his partners were not smiling. “She was rude to Ralph Prince and his partner two days ago. First, she put him on hold last Friday for several minutes. Second, when they came in for the appointment on Monday, she told him he would have to wait. She had to make a phone call. It was personal again!” The Prince Trust account was worth a half-million dollars a year in fees. “We know you have talked to her about her personal calls and attitude before, but it hasn’t helped. We cannot afford to lose clients this way. She goes at the end of the week. That’s our final decision. Put an ad in the paper.”
My heart sank. They wouldn’t give her another chance. Losing the Prince account meant a big chunk of change and as they say, money talks. I nodded, rose, and left the room. I knew their eyes were on my back and I knew they wondered how I was going to do it. I went into my office and closed the door, dropped into my chair, and sighed. I had fired women before: sometimes because of personality conflicts, other times because they were not doing the work. Once an employee was caught selling confidential information on a client list. I fired her on the spot. I even got her to sign a confession. She didn’t hesitate to sign knowing we would sue her or worse.
How was I going to fire Kailey? I was to be in her wedding party. Damn! Why had I said yes when she asked? It was obvious I had become too friendly with an employee and now it was time to pay the piper. This was Wednesday. I had two days and two nights to figure out how to do this without killing a friendship. It was going to be tough on the staff also. Even though they deplored her recent rudeness toward clients, they still liked her. She had been willing to fill in whenever necessary and although not a paralegal or secretary, she knew enough to answer some client questions without fear of being wrong.
The next two and a half days were a bitch. I think I was grumpier than anyone during that time. I tried to keep my feelings to myself and act as if nothing was wrong. Then on Friday, much to my surprise, Kailey asked me if she could speak to me after work. At least I didn’t have to ask her when someone might overhear. It doesn’t take any imagination on an employee’s part to figure out what probably was happening.
I figured I’d hear what she had to say and then just tell her she wasn’t coming back to work here on Monday. Most of the staff would be gone and no one would know until Monday when I assigned one of the clerks to take over the front desk.
Mentally I was going over everything I had to say, when Kailey knocked. I motioned her in and had her shut the door. “So what do you want to talk about?”
“I’m quitting.” My jaw dropped. “Jim doesn’t want me to work anymore and the wedding is only three weeks away. He says I’ve worked long enough and now it was time to leave. Jim, her fiancé, was a well-known trial attorney. She really didn’t have to work.
“Kailey, if that’s your decision, then I won’t argue,” I said smiling. I almost broke out in a song and dance, but that would have been a bit crass.
She came around the desk and hugged me. “I’ll finish my two weeks and—“
I grinned. “Look, don’t do that. You can use the time to get your wedding plans finalized. We’ll give you two weeks pay.” The severance check was in my desk already. “I’ll assign Barbara to the desk. Come back Monday morning, pick up a check, and say good-bye to everyone. Most have already gone for the day.” She hugged me again and left.
I walked to John Smathers’ office. He was very fond of Kailey and was concerned about how she would react to being fired. I told him what happened. I didn’t fire her. She quit.
“Maddy,” he chuckled, “I don’t know how you do it, but I swear you are the only one I’ve met who could fall into a pile of shit and come out smelling like a rose.”

:lol: I like it!!!!! ehehehehehe...you stole my name! :lol: I dunno if I like my portrayal at the end :P Only teasing! I love it! It's deffinately one of your better pieces, and the ending was superb! I do like this one :) :) :)

I didn't steal your name. I just used it. It's a way of saluting my fans. LOL
B)

Hi, lenafan,
Great story. I'm curious as to why the sudden behavior change in Kailey. Its difficult for me to accept the fact that this professional woman changed her ways because her mind was on her wedding. Is there something more? Is there another chapter to this story...
You're a tremendously talented writer, lenafan. I bet your teacher is thrilled that you are in her class!
EspionageFan :ph43r:

Actually the same question was brought up in class, but the teacher told everyone that when it comes to weddings it sometimes effects the most normal people in crazy ways. Remember, Kailey was getting married at the age of 33 which was an exciting moment in her life. Everything went to hell in a handbasket fast. B)

Yeah, and poor Kailey was probably getting married a bit later than most people, so it would be more exciting!

I salut you back :)

OK...by the way how's the survivor game going. Is "Will" still around? B)

Will can win it :wub: but yeah, I'm going to write this one and post it later.

I read this again, and it's still a great piece! :lol: