55. Infamous Act 7

55. Infamous Act 7

“Thank you for that, dear,” she appreciated him and walked into the office.
Meanwhile, when Gilbert informed George that he had a visitor, he looked through the security camera and saw her. His mind went to the auction jingles and he wondered if anything had gone wrong.
“Good morning, President,” she greeted ruefully.
George was surprised and tried to cheer her up, “Good morning, Stephanie. How are you coping with the jingles?”
“I'm coping well, President. I came to apologize for my shameful act,” she declared.
George furrowed his brow and asked, “What happened? Were you rude to any caller?”
“Not at all, President. After work yesterday, … I am deeply sorry, President. I promise that it will not happen again,” she concluded and could not look up.
George was uneasy after listening attentively to her story. After a while, he advised her, “I have heard you but I would like you to put all you have said in writing.”
“Thank you, for that, President.”
“You're welcome. Address it to the President and copy the General Manager.”
“I got it, President. I beg to take my leave.”
“It's all right.”
George watched her as she walked away and focused on the security television to see Laura's reactions. She did not behave below his expectations by scowling defiantly at Stephanie when she got to the office.
To rope herself in more, she cursed, “Gossip. Your plans won't work.”
Stephanie ignored her, faced Gilbert, and appreciated him, “Thank you, dear.”
“You are welcome, Ma'am,” Gilbert responded and she walked away.
Afterward, Laura faced him.
“Why did you disobey my order when I said Don't let her in?” She asked him angrily.
“I'm not here to take orders from you but from the President,” Gilbert answered her without mincing words.
She was not expecting it and was astounded. Likewise, she must protect her territory by fighting to the finish.
“Don't try it next time or you will regret it,” she warned.
Nevertheless, George counted her words against him as threats to a colleague in the workplace.
The General Manager's Office
His phone rang after Stephanie left and he picked up the call immediately.
“Brig. Dale,” he announced and saluted him, “Good morning, Brigadier. I am pleased to hear from you.”
“Good morning, Captain. How are you?”
“I'm fine. How are you?”
“I'm good. I need your help,” he informed him.
“Wow! I will be most pleased to be of help, Brigadier.”
“Thank you for that. I got a call from a Sergeant in your company. He said he is your President's Representative. Are you aware of that?”
“Oh! Yes, Brigadier. He is his Representative.”
“I see. I was worried.”
“You don't have to be.”
“I see. Is he the young man who granted an interview to the press two days ago?”
“You are right.”
“I see. In that case, I would rather come over and see him instead of waiting for him to come to me.”
“That is a good idea,” the General Manager admitted.
After the call, he began to wait for him.
At that moment, Stephanie walked in with a half smile on her face.
“How did it go?” he asked her at once.
“He asked me to put my apologies in writing,” she informed him.
“That is good. This is your lifeline. Ensure you make judicious use of it.”
“I got it, Boss.”
“Good. Let me take a look before you submit it.”
“He said I should copy you.”
“It's all right.”
She left, quickly wrote her apologies, and took the draft to him. He read through it, vetted it, and gave it back to her.
“You can type and print it now. Okay?”
“I got it, Captain. Thank you so much,” she appreciated him and walked back to her office.
She was surprised to meet a huge, middle-aged military man standing in her office and speaking with the clerk.
She greeted him immediately, “Good morning, Sir.”
The man smiled softly and requested, “Good morning. Kindly inform Alex that Brigadier Dale is here to see him.”
She looked at the insignia on the collar and responded, “I got it, Brigadier.”
Likewise, she walked to her boss' office and informed him that he had a visitor. Instead of waiting for the Brigadier to meet him in his office, he walked out to meet him.
“I'm delighted to see you, Brigadier. Can we see him at once?”
“Certainly,” he said and took a step.
“I will be back, Secretary,” Capt. Bolton informed her and followed the Brigadier.
“I can't wait to meet the genius. He is such an intelligent chap,” the Brigadier stated while they walked to the elevator.
“That is the right description of the Sergeant,” the General Manager said and pressed the elevator button.
They were discussing freely when the gate opened and they walked in.
The President's Office
“I won't regret anything. The President asked me to hang around and it is not for nothing,” Gilbert reiterated.
She glared at him for addressing George as the President and corrected him, “You don't even know him. He is not the President but a mere Representative. If the President resumes, you won't even be near my office.”
George shook his head in resentment at her derogatory remarks.
“Until then. …"
Their bickering stopped when Capt. Bolton opened the door and walked in with an irregular face.
“Good morning, Capt. Bolton,” they greeted simultaneously. They faced the stranger and greeted him too.
“Good morning,” they responded, and Capt. Bolton tried to cover up the embarrassing office.
“The furniture would be supplied today. Okay?”
“I got it, Capt. Bolton,” she responded with glee and he led the guest into the President's Office.
Despite lack of prior notice, George got up at once and saluted them. Brigadier Dale was not interested in the salute as much as he was interested in seeing the young Representative.
“Good morning, Sergeant,” they returned the salute and he offered them seats
“Thank you for the offer,” they appreciated him after they sat down.
George sat down too and faced them with a questioning look. The General Manager smiled softly and looked at the Brigadier. Afterward, he faced George and introduced himself, “Meet Brig. Fidelis Dale of the 85th Special Forces Battalion.”
George was shocked and got up at once to salute him again.
“I'm most honored to have you, Brigadier,” he stated.
Brig. Dale returned the salute, and responded, “It is my pleasure. Why did the General ask you to see me?”
Instantly, George forgot about the idea of addressing his soldiers and told them what he would like to hear.
“Due to the empty threat by the South Coast, he asked me to come to you for coaching on war strategies.”
The task filled the Brigadier with aplomb and he smiled broadly.
“That is good to hear and I will be delighted to do that,” he admitted.
“Thank you, Brigadier, for accepting me.”
“You are welcome. If I may ask, when do you wish to start?”
“Immediately. Two hours a day won't be a bad idea.”
“That is good. I am ready if you are ready.”
“I'm ready too,” George said and got up. The duo got up too and he led the way.
Stephanie was lucky. She arrived on time with her apology letter and met him at the door.
“Let me have it, Stephanie,” he requested, and she handed the folder to him. Laura glared at her, thinking that it was an application letter.
He walked back to his office and dropped it before he joined them.