In The Gray..... Chapter 5

For some reason, it feels like I've worked for an eternity. Damn clock's too slow... I've been playing solitaire for the past hour. "This sucks..." I mutter to myself. "Ring! Ring!" I jump when I hear my office phone. I look at the caller ID. Mr. Lawrence Kepton. Oh my God! It's the big man himself! I hurry and pick up the phone. "World Literature Department at Kepton's Research Center." I say politely. "Is this Ms. Charlotte Ronnings?"a deep husky voice says. "Yes it is." "Ah, good. This isLawrence Kepton." "Hello, Mr. Kepton. How are you today?" He laughs lightly. "Very well, Ms. Ronnings. Now, I've been looking over some employee files and I happened to come across your's and I'm intrigued andtroubled." I panic. He wants to fire me. This is terrible. "This says that you graduated college at age eighteen and are only nineteen at present, is that correct?" I take a deep breath. "Yes, sir, it is." "It also says that you have worked six days a week from six to four and never been late or have taken a day off or vacation in the past year that you've been with us..." "That is also correct sir." There's a pause. "Hmm... I see. Ms. Ronnings, would you care to come to my office now please?" Oh no. I really don't need to get fired. I don't want to get fired. Well maybeI'm not getting fired. Maybe he's just going to tell how great I am. "Of course Mr. Kepton." "Thank you. Oh and Ms. Ronnings? Go ahead and lock up the department. You won't be going back today." So much for that idea... "I'm on my way." I hear a click on the other line and I hang up the phone. I grab my things, lock up the department, and take the long walk to Mr. Kepton's office.
I walk to the main lobby of the entire research center. I walk to the desk and see an blonde receptionist messing with some papers. She's really pretty. Her hair and make up are perfectly done and she's wearing designer clothes. Uh oh. I sense trouble... I smile and say, "Excuse me. I'm here to see Mr. Kepton." She looks at me and her face turns to one of disgust. "And who do you think you are?" she says in a way that makes me want to fly over the desk and break her pretty little nose. "My name is Charlotte Ronnings. Mr. Kepton is expecting me." She snorts. "Yeah right. Why would he be expecting someone like you?" I am fuming at this point. "Look, I-" "Ms. Faulz!" The blonde's eyes grow wide. She pushes a button on the speaker in front of her. "Yes, Mr. Kepton?" "Please send in the lovely young lady standing in front of you." Ms. Faulz glares at me. I smirk in return. "Y-yes Mr. Kepton."I push open the door and stare in amazement. Wow... Mr. Kepton's office was huge! You see, when I was interviewed it was Verna doing the interviewing. Mr.Kepton appoints people to do such things. So I've never met Mr. Kepton or been in his office. I look forward and see a large desk with wall sized windows behind it, displaying the beautiful garden behind the research center. I look at the chair behind the desk and found it empty. I look around again, but didn't see Mr. Kepton. "Mr. Kepton?" I call. "Ms. Ronnings! Please take a seat! I'll be right down!" I turn around and look up seeing a balcony with a large selection of books. I go and sit in a chair in front of his desk. A few seconds later I hear Mr. Kepton come down some stairs I didn't notice before. Mr.Kepton has on a gray suit anda dark blue shirt andlooks like he's in hismid-forties.His light brown hairhas bits of gray in it giving away his age. Butif you looked at his light browneyes, you would thinkhis was half his age. Mr.Kepton is also ingood shape for hisage buthedoeshave a slight belly. I stand again and extend my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Kepton," I say sounding very professional and surprising myself. Mr Kepton is also surprised. "Wow, I'm impressed Ms. Ronnings. Most of my employees are terrified when they meet me." I just laugh and he shakes my hand. "Please sit," he says. I do as told. He sits in his huge leather chair. He studies my face then shakes his head. "You are quite young Ms. Ronnings. I thought you were in your late twenties. What are you? Nineteen?" I nod. "Almost twenty, sir," I say smiling. He laughs. "It's almost too hard to believe such intelligence is in someone so young." "Yes I know, Mr. Kepton." "Well, to cut to the chase, Ms. Ronnings, I just wanted to meet you. As I said before, I was looking over employee files and I couldn't believe my eyes when I read your's. There isn't single person who works as much as you without wanting something in return. Do you have any 'me time'?" I give a slight laugh. "Not really. I work, I pay bills, I eat, and I sleep. Occasionally I might go see a movie." Mr. Kepton lets out a loud laughandI smile. "No family to go see?" "No, sir," I say looking down. Mr. Kepton gives me a sympathic look. "I understand. Well, Ms. Ronnings, I think you need some vacation time." I look up surprised. "Vacation time?" "Yes. How does, hmm, let's see...six weeks vacation with paysound?" "Six weeks!" I cry, "You're joking, Mr. Kepton!" He gives me a serious look. "No, Ms. Ronnings, I am not. You work yourself too hardbeing as youngas you are andwithout wanting anything in return. You even worked holidays. No, you will take this vacation. And if you try coming back to work I'll have security kick you out. Understand?"he says. I blink a few times, processing the information. Six weeks!!! No work for six weeks and I still get paid! This is amazing! "I understand, Mr. Kepton." He grins. "Good. Let's see... today is September seventeenth so don't come back until October twenty-nineth." I still sit there in shock. Mr. Kepton looks up at me. "What are you waiting for, Ms. Ronnings? Get out of here!" he says laughing. I stand up. "Thank you so much, Mr. Kepton. I won't forget this." I turn to walk out of the office.
I walk to the employee entrance in a daze. Six weeks... I start to pass Mrs. Verna but she stops me. "Charlotte? Where are you going? It'snot evenone!" I smile. "Oh Mrs. Verna! You won't believe it! Mr. Kepton called me to his office just now and said that I've been working myself too hard and that I'm too young to do that so he gave me six weeks of vacation time! With pay!" Mrs.Verna's eyes get as big as golf balls, giving her forehead twice as many wrinkles. "Oh lawdy! That's just wonderful! I'm very happy for you Charlotte!" "Thanks Mrs. Verna! I'll see you in six weeks!" She smiles. "And don't forget to call that hunk of your's to tell him you're off early!" I spin around. "Mrs. Verna! Who told you about that?!?" "See you in six weeks!" she says as she walks to the back room. I roll my eyes. Can this day get any better?