AUDREY
I had been working at the company for about two weeks now. With about two weeks to go, I made sure to give it my all.
I was in the midst of my work when a familiar face entered the room. "Hello Miss Parkinson, sorry to bother you but there's been a last minute meeting called and you are required to be there."
"Ah, Mariah. Do you happen to know what this meeting is about?" I inquired, beginning to pack up my things.
"No idea Miss. I was just asked to notify you and pass the message along. The driver is outside waiting for us as we speak," she answered, crumpling the paper she held and throwing it into the bin.
"Good shot, well done. Tell, why is there a driver? Is it..." I trailed off.
"Yes. Your father is the one holding the meeting along with a client. I believe this is another part of the trial season, and maybe a test." She cautioned, her brows knitted with worry.
"Well, in that case, let's do our best."
When we arrived at the meeting we arrived second to last, I say that because as usual, my father wanted everyone present for his grand entrance. The room sat in silence as a man stood and introduced himself.
"Good afternoon everyone, my name is Adam Avery, the secretary of Stanley Bishop."
Stanley Bishop? You mean the owner of a very successful architecture design cooperation? This man was a genius if anyone can design a breathtaking building it's this man. He sat at the end of the long glass table, opposite my father. Unlike my father who was always seen in public wearing a suit, this man wore jeans and a sweater with a shirt underneath. His blonde hair was combed back and out of his face, leaving his sky blue eyes a free sight for all. He had a small smile on his face as he nodded to my father, receiving a nod in return.
"We have invited you all today to pitch ideas for a new collaborative project to work on," Adam continued, "We need new and fresh ideas, something that hasn't been done before."
Immediately employees from both sides started pitching ideas, Adam would listen patiently and note them down on the whiteboard. About half an hour passed and the whiteboard was filled.
Stanley stood and walked to the whiteboard, looking across all of the ideas. "Although these are brilliant ideas, they all in some way have been done before."
"I agree." My father stood and joined him at the front. "This one, Robert Glace launched a project very similar to this three years ago. And here, Patrick Rays did this one just last year."
"There are some here that are truly unique, but they're not what we are looking for right now, however, we will pencil them down for a later date. What we need is new, marvellous, unique and competitively great. Your minds are good, they're great, but they aren't unique." Stanley finished, crossing out a few of the ideas.
"Yes, we do need unique, or how else are we to be the greatest. In that case, how about you give us an idea. Have you got anything in that massive brain of yours daughter?"
All eyes turned on me and I could feel myself sinking into my chair.
"That's your daughter? Woah, I can see why all eyes were on her at last years charity ball." Stanley blurted, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Yes, she takes after her mother. So, how about it Audrey?" My father's baritone voice was emotionless as usual, but I swear I heard amusement underneath it all.
"I have an idea but," I stared.
"Well?" My father coaxed, stepping forward.
"Don't worry sweetie, no idea is a bad idea, just look at all the ones we already have," Stanley joked with a smirk.
"I propose a...how do I put it, a helping hotel?" I tried, thinking my idea over.
My father sat down and motioned for it to be noted on the second whiteboard, and yes, there were two whiteboards. "Do explain."
"Well. I was thinking to myself, trying to think of what the people need. All kinds of people, but it occurred to me that there are so many people who are left out when it comes to that question. So many types of people who aren't included in our thoughts when we think of 'the people'." I began, I felt a boost of confidence when I saw many edging forwards in their seats to listen.
"What about those who have no homes, no place to go or no one to turn to. What about those who don't have what they need because they can't get it. Whether it's because of money problems or just because that help doesn't exist. My mind then wandered to the man I saw on the street when I visited the town. He was begging for money, for food but people walked past him. You may think, what if he was going to use that money for alcohol, or drugs, or what if he didn't even need it but just wanted it."
"I stayed around a little longer to watch. I was surprised when a small girl came out of a nearby alley, crying because she was hungry. 'Just wait for a little longer sweetie, we don't have enough just yet', was it a scam you may ask? I decided to give money anyway, enough money to buy them lunch and dinner. I then checked on them the next day, early in the morning, and lo and behold they were sleeping in the alley covered in cardboard as their blankets."
"It was then that I wished there was a way to help them, not just by giving money. But why doesn't the father just get a job? But what if he can't? What if he doesn't have the qualifications, the experience or even the option of getting one. That's when it came to me. A help hotel, we can work on the name but, a hotel for people like them, good people, to stay. The hotel would be like a regular hotel, except they don't have to pay for their stay until they earn a stable wage."
"There would be teams that work there, to give advice, to help them get jobs, to send the children to school, to help them with any other problems. If we have so much wealth, why not use it to help those who need it. Eventually, when they earn enough money and are prepared to move out, the advice teams could help them find a good place to live. The hotel could also accept donations and can even work with charities. I don't know about anyone else in this room, but I'm sick of not being able to help all sorts of people who deserve better, who deserves someone to be there for them and help them get back on their feet."
I finished my idea and waited for the reply. I could feel my nerves beginning to go haywire as I clenched my fists.
Stanley stood at the front with the biggest smile on his face. "She is truly a unique girl, isn't she? I think that's a wonderful idea, in fact, that's the one."
"Since she is the one who came up with it, you can take it up with her, it seems she already has every detail worked out. In that case, this meeting is now finished," My father replied.
I got a few pats on the back, a few smiles and many congratulations before I was left alone with my father.
"Audrey, I need to speak with you about something." With that, a middle-aged man strode into the room and sat in a seat beside my father.
"I'll wait in the lobby for you." Mariah squeaked before scurrying off.
"Please," he motioned in front of him, "take a seat."
I did as I was told and awaited my doom.
"This man is Hector Brown, he is my lawyer." He introduced. Hector oped a file in front of him and uncapped his pen.
Oh boy, what did I do?
"I wanted to wait until you were out of university, I thought it would be too much on your plate but, you have proved yourself today. You have shown me you are very capable, more capable than I could have ever imagined. I am very proud of you my daughter, I always knew this would happen."
Hector slide the file across to me with the pen on top. I glanced at the file and my eyes popped open in surprise. There's no way.
"Which is why I am handing the company over to you. Your grandfather and I have already signed the papers, all we need is your signature. It's okay if you aren't ready, it is a big responsibility, however, your grandfather, your mother and I think you are. There is no one better than you to hand my legacy to. I'm sorry if I was harsh or distant to you in the past I simply wanted you to be prepared for this. I can say now, I am more proud of you than I have ever been." His eyes had begun watering with tears as he took my hand across the table.
I felt so overwhelmed, this was so much to take in. But deep down, I knew it was right. So I lifted the pen and signed the papers.
"Congratulations Miss Parkinson, you will become the head and the owner of the Parkinson Cooperative Company in four years when your contract begins. We will need to meet again to discuss legal details and other issues, but until then, good day."
I stared across at my father who began blubbering with tears. "You've done amazing, you are my pride and joy. Now that I will be officially retiring in four years I can relax and finally say that I love you, so much. I'm going to go tell your mother, I'll see you at home dear." With a kiss on my forehead, he left.
Did that really just happen? After all these years of distance, overworking and pain. So many years of suffering, only to come to this?
I whipped out my phone and called Mariah. "You head back to the office, I'm going to go home for the day."
"Okay, as you wish Miss Parkinson. Have a safe trip home."
"Thank you, I will."
Once I got home I ran straight to my room, making sure no one saw me. I sat on my bed, my mind racing, replaying what just happened over and over again as I held my head in my hands and began to cry, my tears hitting the carpet with soft thuds.