Trigger (8 page)

Two hours later he was still patient and kind, even
to Joanna, who seemed to only want to argue with him. Judy felt
like she’d just had a master’s degree handed to her. She was
getting antsy to get to her one-room office and get to work. Not
doing what she’d had been doing, but taking on big projects,
leaning over a cliff and working smart so she could drag her ass to
safety like Simon Perry just taught her. And now because of Simon
Perry, she felt that would be possible to do that.

When he finally held up his hands, said he’d enjoyed
himself and hoped he was helpful, but he had to get back to his own
work, he was mobbed by the members. She was standing in line to
thank him, but a glance at the clock told her that if she didn’t
move her ass she’d miss the bus and have to wait another thirty
minutes.

Simon Perry looked like he was running when he shot
out of the building. Her bus had arrived, but he was looking
straight at her.

“Thank you,” she yelled. “You were terrific.” The
doors of the bus closed and she smiled and waved as the bus passed
him. He stared at her like she was an alien creature too far
beneath him to be noticed. Didn’t matter, she was inspired.

She saw him several times during the next year or
so, at meetings and once at an outdoor chili festival where the
food was free. Each time he was with a beautiful girl, who hung on
him like he was a prize to be revered and once he had two beautiful
girls hanging on him. He was laughing and enjoying their
antics.

As always, she slid quietly away from him, but
somehow he always seemed to look at her when she was looking at
him.

Curious, she’d researched him on the internet and
cruised The Perry website. Generations of Perry men had built an
empire and their latest president had added Perry Technical, and
Perry Electronics, and Perry Communications. At least it appeared
he did know what he was talking about.

As she grew her business, it brought her to the
fringes of his. She began to run into him more often. The result
was the same, just more often.

“Stop. Stop, please.” She was leaving a state
sponsored fact finding seminar. Simon Perry was spearheading the
discovery group and she admired him from the distance of the
auditorium’s back row. It was less crowded and the lights were
dimmer. She wanted to concentrate and provide thoughtful answers to
the questionnaire and avoid interacting with Simon Perry. His eyes
made her quiver and she always felt like she was drooling.

Finished with the questionnaire, the meeting was
running longer than she had allowed for, so she walked to the
front, handed it to the woman collecting them and dashed out.

In the lobby, she turned to the voice yelling for
her. Maybe she’d left her briefcase? No, she was holding it.

Simon Perry was running toward her.

“Thank you for stopping. It feels like I’ve been
chasing you for years.” He bent down, put his hands on his knees
and breathed hard for a couple of seconds and then stood up and
grinned at her.

“Do you remember me? I first saw you at the
entrepreneur meeting a couple of years ago? You jumped on a bus
before I had a chance to speak to you.” His eyes bore into hers,
hopeful that she’d remembered him?

“I remember you Mr. Perry. I was inspired by what
you taught us that morning. It made a huge impact on me. I’m glad I
finally get the chance to thank you.”

She held out her hand to shake his, but instead of
shaking it, he took it both of his and held it briefly. Her hand
sizzled with his heat and she quickly pulled away.

“I’d very much like to talk to you more, but I have
to go back in there. Would you go out with me? Dinner and good
conversation, tonight or any time you have available.”

She felt like she’d been punched in the stomach,
hard. She’d idolized him for years. He was important to her and he
only wants a date!

“No. No thank you.” Burst out of her mouth.

His face startled immediately and she wasn’t sure.
She’d only looked at him for a second longer before she ran out the
door. His broad shoulders, beautifully covered in an expensive,
tailored suit coat fell telling her that no woman had ever told him
no before. He probably just didn’t know how to handle it.

Whatever he felt, my hero died, or mostly died.
Instead of being forefront of my inspiration he was only there when
she was faced with do or die.

As the reached the end of the hallway, his face went
poof. She’ll figure this out for herself.

“Dion, its Judy Mason
from . . .”

“Hi Judy, it must be important if you are calling
me. What’s up?”

“I need to see you. I need to talk to you in person
. . . as soon as possible.”

“My wife is having a girl-thing with her friends and
I’m in charge of the kids. I’m at home, if you want to come
over.”

“Now?”

“Sure.”

BB and GPS Mom got her to the other side of town and
a pleasant mid-three-hundred thousand range suburb and a neat two
story with a long front porch. Dion is in a porch swing holding a
sleeping baby girl about ten months old. Piles of Lego’s and a dark
haired boy of about six, firmly says, “Don’t step on anything” and
then looks up at her with deep blue eyes and beautiful clear pudgy
skin.

“I promise. What are you making?”

“Helicopter, it’s new.”

“Have a seat Judy, I’ll put Lila down. Want a drink?
I’ve got Kool-Aid, apple juice or water.”

“I’m good.”

Dion closes the door softly. It’s nice here. Quiet,
clean smelling and the sound of a distant lawnmower adds to the
pleasant hum of the neighborhood.

“Damn.”

Judy scoots off the swing and sits near the boy.
“What’s the matter?”

“It doesn’t fit! And Daddy’s going to be mad I said,
damn.”

“I won’t tell.”

“You won’t?”

She shakes her head no. She’s never seen Lego’s
before, except in boxes at a store or ads. “How do they work?”

He’s explaining them to her and like magic he
figures it out.

“Look Daddy, I did it!” He yells as Dion quietly
closes the screen door.

“That’s great. Do you have a battery?”

The boy jumps up and crashes through the same
door.

“I’d yell be quiet, you’ll wake your sister, but
he’ll just scream out he won’t and wake her up for sure.” Dion
laughs.

It is funny. She laughs too.

“Your call was unexpected Judy, what gives.”

“Was it really?”

His face falls and he’s startled wondering what he’s
missed. “Yes.”

Believing him, she tells him everything. He gets
more excited by the minute. We’re only interrupted for a couple
minutes while we admire Kevin’s Lego helicopter.

“The only real threat is Simon Perry taking the
product line away. But even then our figures show that the Perry
line represents only slightly more than thirty-percent of sales.
It’s significant, but survivable.”

Dion summarizes. “Yes, but not having it could cause
quality issues.” Dion runs his hands through his hair and over his
face. “So by merging the three companies, Perry would suffer lost
sales greater than that. If I have the resources and support, you
believe I could build the business enough so he’d be an idiot not
to let us keep the line. That puts a lot of pressure on me,
Judy.”

“Is that a problem for you? You won’t be alone like
you are now, Dion. I’ll throw everything I have into getting you
what you need. I have strong, smart people at Stalwart and you’ll
have the pick of the litter from Wade and Shockley.”

“When would I have to decide?”

“You have until eight in the morning. After that I’m
dead.”

Dion gets out of the swing so fast she’s launched
backwards and Kevin screams because his Daddy is stepping on his
Lego’s.

“I’m not good at managing Judy. I didn’t know that,
but I do now.”

“I know.” She smiles at him calmly. “But you’re an
incredible salesman and networker. What I see, is that you will do
what you do best and I’ll handle the rest. I am a good manager. All
that pressure will be off your shoulders, you’ll be free to do your
work. You’ll be the face, smile and heart of the mechanical
division or whatever you want to name it with an experienced team
of talented people to support you.”

He grins at her and looks very much like his son,
who’s looking at her with the same grin.

“For project bids, I have the best there is. Tell us
what you want, we’ll do the work, you make the pitch, sign the deal
and get a bonus. I hope you get to go to bank often.”

“So I just walk away from my business. Close the
doors and let everything go to Stalwarts.”

“Yes. You won’t have to go back there anymore.”

His arms wrap around her shoulders and he hugs
hard.

“Just so we’re clear. I need you too Dion. Simon
will crush me and put me out of business. I’ll fight for you, if
you fight for me. We both win, if we pull together.”

“Hey, no messing around with my impressionable son
watching,” cute, bubbly and looks like a kindergarten teacher,
Dion’s wife marches up the sidewalk.

Dion hugs Judy tighter and she feels him grinning at
his wife.

She’s asked Dion to get her a summary of his
business and growth plans, current inventory, and a P&L for the
past year or so. She needs it for the staff meeting in the morning.
He gulps.

“I know it’s a lot of work. You don’t have to get
fancy, just the facts. Use a pencil if you want. Work all night, if
you have to. You can rest easy tomorrow. I’ll handle everything
else that is if you call me by eight o’clock tomorrow morning.”

He looks like he’s going to speak. “Don’t say
anything now. Talk to your wife. Think about it. I want you sure
and ready to play. If you come in with us, things will move
quickly. You should have your first paycheck by the end of the week
and you will have earned it.”

Leaving Dion and his
beautiful family, Judy realizes she’s starved. Usually Steven has
made her his special green/gray sludge by now. Weekends have
advantages and disadvantages. “BB, what do you want?
McDonald’s?”

BB races by McDonald’s but slows down near a small
deli that she’s never seen before, let alone eaten there. The
parking lot has one car in front. That could be good or that could
be very bad. She’s not picky. Food is food.

There are two tables. One is occupied. Judy never
eats in BB it would destroy the manly new-car smell that she
inhales and enjoys every time she opens his door.

The menu is written in white caulk on a large
blackboard over the cash register. She can’t see anyone, but hears
people in the back. Finally, a young man about her age, dressed
like a chef comes out. He looks like he’s been working hard.

“Sorry, we got a huge take-out order to get done.
What can I get for you?”

“Diet Coke and whatever you want me to eat. Can I
sit over there?”

“Sure. Are you Kosher? Allergic? Vegetarian?”

She shakes her head no to his questions. He claps
his hands together and dashes to the back. She sits so she can keep
in eye on BB. The deli is just off a four-lane road with heavy
traffic, a car or truck could blow a tire and come crashing into
him. She keeps a sharp eye on traffic.

“Diet Coke.” A pretty girl, younger than she is,
puts it on the table along with a generous stack of napkins. “My
husband is working up something special for you. I thought you
might need these.” She smiles big and dashes away.

Waiting for the chef husband to bring her something
special, she calls Franklin and asks if she can come over in about
an hour. He says they’ll be home, but doesn’t ask any questions.
He’s a good man and she feels privileged that someone of his
experience and reputation works with her.

The chef husband comes to the counter carrying a
huge cardboard box. It smells delicious and she guesses that it
must be the carry-out order. “If he doesn’t show up, I’ll kill him.
This order has just about cleaned me out for today, but that’s
okay, I close at four Sunday’s.” The chef husband smiles at her and
shrugs.

She’s startled wondering if he’s going to kill the
cat to feed her. That would be special. She’s finished her Diet
Coke, not realizing that she was really thirsty. She sucks on some
ice and plays with her straw while she waits for something
special.

It’s huge and the smell is amazing and her mouth
waters just looking at it.

“Smoked ham, thick sliced bacon from Julie’s Dad’s
farm and my newest creation a cheese and roasted pepper sauce
served on a freshly baked Julie bun. What’s your name?”

“Judy.”

He goes to the blackboard and adds a menu item --
Judy-Judy-Judy w/Julie Bun $15.50. “Julie, come and see.” The chef
husband’s wife, who’s name must be Julie, comes out to see the
board and they stand looking at her.

Oh, taste it. It takes a minute to figure out how to
pick it up without spilling the sauce all over the place. She gives
up and crouches over the plate and lets it fall. It’s heaven on a
crusty outside, soft inside bun that melts in her mouth and leaves
the crispy bacon and tender ham to play together with the
sauce.

It’s so rich and delicious; she immediately thinks
of asking for a spoon so she can eat all it. They’re still watching
her. She turns and smiles with sauce dripping down her chin. The
husband chef and Julie the baker wife, high-five each other and
disappear in the back.

Totally immersed in her sandwich, she didn’t see a
vehicle pull in and didn’t even notice that someone walked in.
She’s licking her fingers and putting the last of the sandwich in
her mouth when she looks up to check on BB and is face to face with
Simon Perry. He’s sitting at her table and watching her eat.

“That looks delicious. What is it?”