Fulcrum

The Cookout

July 22, 2014

Anna hurried down the upstairs hall and exclaimed "Curtis what about this dress?"
He gave his standard answer "You look fabulous baby, but we need to go soon"

"Are you sure? You're not just saying that? It won't be too over the top?"

"No honey let's go"

The drive to the party was long, traffic was hectic as it usually was during the summer. They pulled up to a mansion like residential home, a single balloon dawning the word 'CONGRATULATIONS' Curtis got a knot in his stomach thinking of the events that unfolded on the day Mr. Galivaski lost his life.

"Curt you made it, and this must be the lovely Anna we all hear so much about, pleasure to meet you."

Anna didn't know what's been eating at Curtis over the previous month, she just accepted his answer of "A big project in honor of Mr. Galivaski"

After they greeted each other Curtis began making his way to the far corner of the pool. Along the way he heard several conversations about how 'accomplished' Phil is and how good he will be for productivity and profit. He couldn't help shaking his head in disbelief, "It was my job, my destiny." He shook his head quickly as if the thought was stuck to his brain.

He found his way back to a comfortable table away from the middle of the party. Anna was making friends out of old acquaintances so occasionally she'd drag someone by and ask "Curtis dear you remember so-and-so..." and a brief conversation would ensue, the women talking fawningly over mild memories and first impressions, with lame duck responses from Curtis who couldn't shake his emotion to hold a full conversation only able to digest a few words and regurgitate a response that only half made sense. This went on for some time but as the sun was setting Curtis could hear a spoon tapping on a glass, that signature sound of a toast. Phil was standing in the middle of the crowd he had a microphone in hand, and began to speak. First greeting everyone, naming a few by name even Curtis which Curtis felt was odd seeing as they had a rocky relationship as coworkers. He thanked everyone for their attendance and began to clamber on about how proud he was to take over the company, he cited the long hours and late nights he'd spent. Curtis scoffed, knowing this wasn't true. He finished that segment with acknowledgement to the great job his father had done starting the company as just a small shack and turning it into the multi-million dollar office building in downtown Cincinnati, everyone clapped and some began to tear up at just the mention of the former CEO, everyone knew how great he was to his employees, especially Curtis.

Before giving up the microphone Phil nearly gasping says "Oh! Everyone I nearly forgot to bring this up, since my father's passing it's been hard getting everything in line to finish savior, I've been making changes and I need a team to make it come to life. I've been thinking a lot about my lead engineers and designers. I want Jim, Stan, and Diane to take the lead."

While everyone else applauded, Curtis was appalled he had just ripped him from lead role in designing the most relevant project in the companies history. This bastard just did exactly what his father said he would.

Later Phil approached Curtis, "Hey buddy, no hard feelings I just felt the project needed a different direction, the board lost interest, the was not enough profit."

Those words rang in Curtis' brain, 'not enough profit'

"You know he chose me" Curtis said angrily.

"He chose you? Oh that's why you were in the office! Oh Curt you fool." Phil's face turned serious and his tone became sinister. " This is my birthright, my destiny. Saviors going to make me billions, as the world pays me to be their cleanup crew, every country in the world will pay their share to remove their carbon footprint. Dad's vision was to save the world in some heroic philanthropist manor, he was a fool like you. Money makes the world turn and money is what I'll have. Turn in your resignation and I'll have Janine write you a recommendation. I want that by Monday."

At that time Anna walked up, "Honey I think we should make our exit, Phil congratulations it was such a wonderful party." She walked away to gather her purse.

Phil grabbed Curtis by the shoulder "See you Monday Curt"