The Whole Package

I’m pretty sure she’s leaving because of Mason. Another girl bites the dust after having a quick affair with him. They all fall in love then can’t stand to watch him move on so easily. Kim had taken it harder than some of the others. She’d gone from mild bitch to mega bitch.

“I should really go. Don’t want to be late.” I swallow the lump in my throat, wanting to get out of here before something happens. He’s offering me a promotion. It’s better pay, but I can see clearly what he wants in return. My skin feels tight and the office feels smaller.

“We’ll talk about it later,” he finally says after a few beats.

I think he was enjoying my unease. I nod before I practically run from his office. When I finally make it to my car, I let out a deep breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. My mind races, but I push all the Mason Sims bullshit to the side. I have something more important to focus on right now. I’ll worry about that mess tomorrow.

I put the key in the ignition and pray it starts. When it does my chest feels lighter. It always does when the car actually starts. I don’t have time to get a jump start. I really need to find the time to get a battery. Oh, and the money for it.

When I pull out onto the highway, I go over in my head what I’m going to say to Mr. Reed. I’ve practiced over and over again. I’m not above begging at this point. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure my sister is never taken from me. We’re a team and I won’t have that broken.

Chapter 2

Shawn

When I pull into the parking garage I have to circle a few times to find a spot. People think a CEO should have his own parking spot or his own personal driver, but I’d rather do it myself. I like driving, and why would I take up a whole parking spot just for me when it would hardly get used? The meeting is being held at our corporate offices, which I rarely visit. I have an office here, but I’m either in the stores talking with area managers or on conference calls in my car.

I’ve only been acting CEO for the last year and I want to make it to all of our locations before the end of this year. My mother worked for Community Mart for nearly thirty years and ran it as CEO for the last ten. She worked her way up from cashier to the first female chief executive officer the company has had. When the shareholders voted me in as her replacement I vowed to continue her commitment to the company and the families that run it.

My mom dropped out of high school when she was sixteen and got pregnant with me. She couldn’t find work anywhere and was desperate. Community Mart not only hired her but helped her get her GED. She worked her way up to manager then started our Moms to College program. Now the company pays for continuing education for all single mothers and even pays for childcare. It was her biggest achievement and the one she’s most proud of. She got her degree in business and never looked back. She’s my biggest inspiration and why I started working for the company when I was fifteen. I began bagging groceries until I went to college and then came back after I finished to work in the corporate office. I’ve worked my way up and earned the respect of those around me. When my mom retired she knew she was leaving it all in good hands.

When I grab a parking spot I make my way up the elevators and to the boardroom. I wave to a few people and catch up with those I haven’t seen in a while.

“Hey Shawn, how’s Martha doing?” Belinda asks as she shakes my hand.

“She’s on a cruise to the Bahamas this week, so I’d say she’s enjoying retirement.”

“That sounds wonderful. Well-deserved for her, but we sure do miss her around here.”

“I’ll tell her you said that. She’ll like knowing we’re talking about her,” I say.

“You’re probably right. How’s everything going with traveling to the stores? Is it going as you planned?”

“It’s been great actually. I didn’t realize how much I missed interacting with people until I got stuck in an office. I know Mom liked being in the heart of the machine, but I think I work best by talking to our employees in the stores.”

I think about the last town I was in and how much fun we had. We did a community blood drive and one woman was so scared to have her blood drawn, but she was determined to donate. I sat down and held her hand the whole time and I asked her about her beagle named Levi to distract her.