The Tower

The Announcement

April 1, 2013, 8:30 AM

I've been with The Flynn Group now for a little over one year during which time I've learned a lot. I have a great boss, Mr. Noble, who's been very supportive of my career path. In my annual review he stated that he was adding a new goal to my professional development. "Percy," he said at the time, "you know that I have been extremely pleased with your performance this past year. To keep you on a solid upward growth path, within the next six months I want you to design some systems of your own."

I was so shocked and excited all I could muster was a brief "Yes sir, thank you Mr. Noble." But what I had really wanted to do was ninja jump over the small conference table and hug the crap out of that bear of a man. Luckily I stopped myself because I was pretty sure that would have killed the aforementioned "solid upward growth path" and put me on the career path of a sales clerk.

My cubicle is in a bullpen area right outside Mr. Noble's massive office. Next to my cubicle is Victoria Finkle's cubicle and beyond that three other cubicles plus another smaller office that houses Nigel Cooke, the Engineering Department's number two.

Every office has that one conniving person who will do and say anything to advance in the company. In our office, that's Victoria. She is such a parrot, constantly stealing people's ideas and proudly spouting them off later to Mr. Noble in his office or during various planning meetings. Although, I did get her good one time when I told her in absolute confidence about an "idea" I had regarding the design of an HVAC system for an office building we were bidding on. Within ten minutes I overheard Mr. Noble's baritone voice asking Victoria where on earth she got such a harebrained idea and Victoria's subsequent stuttering and sputtering. That was a great day.

When I arrived at the office this morning I could hear Mr. Noble speaking to someone through his closed office door. It has been over thirty minutes and only now does his door open and he pokes his head out.

"Kori," he calls to his secretary, and also my best friend in the company. Kori sits across the room at an L-desk by the department's only entrance door.

"Yes Mr. Noble?" Kori instantly responds.

"I want everyone in the department to be in the large conference room in five minutes."

"Everyone sir?"

"That's what I said isn't it? Everyone." This was not Mr. Noble's usual tone. He sounded quite stressed.

"Is there an agenda you need me to distribute?"

"No Kori, it'll be brief." He sighs heavily and adds with the air of an apology, "Thank you."

"Yes sir," Kori squeaks, as the Big Boss Man retreats back into his office and closes the door.

I shoot my chair back from the desk and come to a sudden stop as I slam into the wall of Victoria's cubicle. I hear something fall beyond the accosted wall.

"Hey!" the Parrot squawks.

"Sorry Victoria," I sing out before peering around the corner of my cubicle to raise a questioning eyebrow to Kori as I nod back towards Mr. Noble's door. "April fools?" I mouth to her.

Kori throws a quick sidelong glance to the closed office door and then looks back at me. Shaking her head she raises her palms up and shrugs. She picks up a phone's handset and punches the intercom button.

"All department employees. Mr. Noble wants to see everybody in the large conference room in five minutes. Again, everybody is to meet in the main conference room in five minutes. It will be brief."

Five minutes later there are over forty of us crammed into the conference room, many clutching mugs of steaming coffee with slits for eyes.

Mr. Noble enters the suddenly stuffy room (I wonder who designed this crappy ventilation system – probably Victoria) and steps to the head of the conference table.

There is an incredibly somber look on his normally cheerful face. Mr. Noble clears his throat. "Thank you everybody for assembling so quickly. I apologize for the short notice but, uh," he pauses and looks around the now very still room. "Um, over this past weekend Mr. Flynn, our beloved Chairman, President and CEO, passed away suddenly at his home."

Several gasps fill the space, followed by more stillness as people process the shocking news. I'm beyond stunned. Mr. Flynn was not an old man, maybe forty-nine or fifty.

Mr. Noble continues against a backdrop of sniffles, soft crying and exhaling. "As it turns out, a company succession plan had not yet been put into effect by the board. An emergency board meeting was held early this morning and Mrs. Flynn, in her new role as Chairperson, strongly recommend the oldest of the Flynn sons, Carlton, to take over as President and CEO. The board agreed. So, effective immediately, Mr. Carlton Flynn is our new President and CEO. Thank you."

Mr. Noble turns and walks out of the conference room. Seconds later the room erupts in crying.

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