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"Miss Anderson, please step into my office," ordered Mr.
Hanley. Hannah obeyed. Mr. Hanley's office walls were crowded with plaques honoring
him for his sizable donations to various charitable organizations. Hannah grimly
noted this as she sat down in the chair he offered. "Miss Anderson, I received
a telephone from a Pastor Mark of 'First Hope Baptist Shelter.' He said you had been
searching for a friend of yours, and mentioned in passing, that you were my secretary.
That's how he knew to look up this number," explained Mr. Hanley. "This
Pastor Mark expressed concern upon your wandering about from shelter to shelter,
an opinion with which I agree." Hannah was mildly surprised by Mr. Hanley's
show of concern for her safety. He lit another Cuban cigar and leaned back in his
chair. "Just who is this friend of yours, that you would risk life and limb
for?" The personal nature of the question angered Hannah.
"Mr. Hanley," she said getting up from the chair, "I do willingly
answer any questions you have that are pertinent to my job here. Anything else, I
refuse to answer," she replied evenly. Mr. Hanley's mouth formed a wide smile.
He rolled his Cuban cigar between his fingers.
"Very well said, Miss Anderson. That's what I like about you. You don't take
it from anyone, including me." The look on his face chilled Hannah to her very
core.
"May I go now?" she asked.
"Not just yet, Miss Anderson. Don't worry, I will not molest your tender senses,"
he added with his usual voice of mock condescension. "I have a business proposition
for you. As you know, our company has reinvented it's image. 'Family values' is our
new motto. However, if I am to sell it, I must look the part. In short, I need a
wife. You're good looking enough to fill the part and bold enough to stand beside
me and hold your head up with Hanley pride! What do you say? Is it a deal?"
Hannah stood riveted to the expensive carpet lining his office. "I know what
you're thinking," he reasoned. "What's in it for me? Right? Well, that's
easy. Not only will you be the most envied woman in America, you can also be one
of the wealthiest. You've seen my financial situation. I'm one of the ten wealthiest
men in America. You can have anything!" Mr. Hanley's voice resonated with greed.
"Whatever you want, whenever you want, I always say!" He took another puff
of his cigar. The sick smell emanating from his cigar nauseated Hannah. For a brief
second, she knew how Jesus must have felt when Satan offered him the riches of the
world, if only, He would bow down and worship him.
"Never," came her reply. Hannah quickly exited his office and gathered
her belongings from her desk. Mr. Hanley stood in the doorway, livid with anger.
"How dare you refuse me!" he shouted. Jenny shrank back. "Do you know
who I am? I know women who would KILL to have the opportunity that you so effortlessly
rejected!"
"Then ask one of them, Mr. Hanley, for I shall not." Hannah turned to leave.
"I'm sorry to leave you alone, Jenny, but I quit."
"You're fired!" screamed Mr. Hanley at the top of his lungs, unknowingly
dropping ash from his expensive cigar onto his expensive carpet, and burning an expensive
hole. Jenny was too timid to remain in the office alone with Mr. Hanley. She quickly
grabbed her purse and ran after Hannah.
"Hannah! Please wait!" she called. Her friend looked up, surprised to see
shy Jenny standing beside her. "I was going to quit when the baby was born anyway,"
she smiled. When they hugged, Jenny could feel Hannah tremble. "Poor thing,"
she whispered. Hannah and Jenny left Mr. Hanley's office building as quickly as they
could. Even though the sun felt warm on her face, Hannah could not stop trembling.
"Oh, Jenny, I'm going home. I am so tired," she confided. Jenny glanced
at her friend as they walked. |
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