7. Change of Power 2

“Yes. We need an update on her health,” another person emphasized. 

Now, to retain his job, he had to think quickly, “Oh, I think you miscalculated. Mrs. Williams returned to the hospital last night. As you can see, we are going to work early because of that.”

“Oh, my God! Did her condition worsen?”

“Is she traumatized?” They asked in quick succession. To avoid giving the wrong answer or causing more delay, he smiled and responded, “She will respond to your questions when you see her.”

“You're right.”

“Kindly make way for us, or you may not see her this morning.”

“You are right, Officer.” 

“Let's move to the clinic, comrades,” one of the reporters shouted to the rest and they moved. The officer walked back to the car and they moved too. 

However, they had lost some time. They got to the ornamental plants' shop and purchased an expensive flower and a male wristwatch from a nearby gift shop. Afterward, they left for the office.

At The Auxiliary Armory PLC

To their shock, the pressmen were there too. Not for her but for the new General and Chairman. With the help of the security guards, they made way for her convoy and they got in.

“We are early by thirty minutes. I have time to settle down,” she told herself. All the same, the reporters panned their cameras for inquisitive reasons. To their surprise, she was dressed gorgeously.

 “Oh my God! Is she not mourning her ex-husband?” 

“She never loved him.”

“Is she not sick due to the pain of the miscarriage?” 

“She doesn't look like one who was beaten by her husband,” the reporters wondered.

Now, her dress and happy expression became a good story for the news and they reported it. They flaunted her beautiful short dress and long-heeled shoes as she walked elegantly to her office.

(Miss Laura Dickson, former Mrs. Laura Dickson-Williams mocked her ex-husband's death.)

(Former Mrs. Laura Dickson-Williams recovered quickly from miscarriage.)

She was unaware of the remarks about her until her colleagues called her attention to it, “We did not expect that you should be at work today, Mrs. Williams.”

“No. I'm Miss Dickson,” she corrected and they took a critical look at her and asked, “You don't look sick. Did you say that your husband beat you up?”

Before she could defend herself, Alice walked up to her and greeted, “Good morning, Boss. You look gorgeous.”

“Thank you, my dear.”

“I think you should see this.”

She showed her the negative comments about her on social media and she was ashamed of herself, “Ouch!” She exclaimed, and stated, “Maybe I should have taken a break.”

“What do I tell them, Boss?” Alice asked and her colleagues looked on.

“Ignore them. Let us be ready to receive the new Boss.”

“Okay, Madam.”

“Quickly, get the red carpet. Find out whether we still have remnants of ribbons and balloons from the last Christmas celebration.”

“I got it, Boss,” she said and got her team ready while Laura walked to her big office, leaving her colleagues behind. She collected the gifts from her driver, who was walking beside her.

“You can leave,” she ordered.

“Okay, Boss.”

“Alert me when the new Chairman arrives.”

“I got it, Boss,” the driver answered and left. She opened the Chairman's office to inspect it. Instantly, the twenty-year-old janitor who cleaned it walked in, and she complimented her, “You did a good job, Mabel.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Dickson-Williams. …?”

“Miss Dickson, please,” she interrupted and corrected her, and she acknowledged it, “Oh! I apologize for addressing you wrongly, Miss Dickson.”

“It is all right.”

“I wish to propose that we decorate the Chairman's office too with ribbons and balloons. What do you think?”

“That is thoughtful of you. But I don't know the colors that would appeal to an old man.”

“No. He is not an old man.”

“How do you get that information? No General is young,” she asked anxiously.

“Gen. McDonald said he is a young man in his early twenties, and we will prefer him to an oldie like him,” the janitor explained and Laura experienced a hot rush in her system. Without delay, she concluded that she had gotten herself a husband but concealed her excitement.

“That is good to hear. Let's decorate the office with red and white colors. He will like it.”

“Okay, Miss Dickson.”

Quickly, they hung balloons and ribbons here and there. Afterward, she hung a cardboard of WELCOME BOSS written in second-to-none calligraphy.

They admired their work and were pleased.

“Thank you, for coming up with this, Mabel. You can leave.”

“It is all right, Madam,” she answered and left.

Now, Laura had changed her mindset.

“Being a General's wife would be good for me,” she mumbled happily. 

She was about to give her makeup another touch when her phone rang. She stopped immediately and looked at her phone.

“My driver. What does he want?” She asked herself and picked up the call.

“Hello,” she greeted him anxiously and waited for his response.

“I think the new Chairman is around.”

“What! How do you know?”

“I saw an unfamiliar military car and entourage,” the driver reported. 

The startled Laura cut the call and adjusted her dress. She picked up the gifts and walked quickly to the elevator and shortly, she was at the vestibule. 

Nevertheless, Alice did a good job. The staff members were standing on both sides of the red carpet waving their ribbons and balloons. Their faces beamed with joy as they welcomed the entourage. Meanwhile, the tinted vehicles drove through the red carpet until they got to the vestibule and stopped. Laura who was holding the gifts walked closer to the door with a happy face and waited for it to open but it did not because the occupants had not seen the crème la crème of the company.

However, the other senior staff members who were military men and older than her both in age and positions were there. Ideally, they were supposed to hand over the gifts and welcome the new Chairman but she took it personally.

“Let's allow her. After all, she is his secretary,” the General Manager whispered to the Accountant who was against her actions. 

He looked at him and frowned before he corrected him, “It is wrong, Captain. The Chairman will assume that we don't know our jobs.” 

The General Manager was pleased with his opinion and adjusted the reception program at once.

“I got it. I will welcome the General and she will merely present the gifts.”

“That is better. Then she had to step aside while you step forward.”

“I will do that right now,” the General Manager said and took a step.

As of now, Laura had adjusted her breasts severally by pushing them up while waiting and it did not go unnoticed by all, especially the cameramen. The car door opened immediately the General Manager stepped closer.  Without delay, he stood at attention and saluted even before seeing the person, “Good morning, General Williams. Welcome to Auxiliary Armory PLC.”

At that point, instead of the gifts, Laura pushed her chest up to display her breasts. Meanwhile, they were stunned when George got out of the car and the General Manager was still holding the salute.

Tim did not tutor George, a mere Sergeant, on that and he was flabbergasted to be saluted by a Captain. Instantly, he returned the salute by giving the appropriate salute to him and corrected the error. 

Now, Laura was distraught and she did not hide it because she was insignificant.

“I am Sgt. George Young. Gen. Tim Williams, the President sent me,” George introduced himself. 

All the same, Laura tried to step forward and present the gift but the General Manager restrained her and gave his welcome speech.