The Jupiter Fund (New Rewrite)

Out of Touch

Margery took a deep breath to compose herself one more time as Max parked the SUV up on the footpath, making it easier for her, it was a mere one metre from the entrance into Platinum Bank head office. He did this much to the annoyance of commuters who quite often expressed their opinions.

Margery handed him the wrapping from her fruit snack "Can you dispose of this for me Max please and I may be heading home earlier today, I've no more appointments, I will let you know".

“No problem,” Max replied, unbuckling his seatbelt, stepping out, and opening the rear door. "Have a nice day".

She clenched the suitcase handle in her right hand and coffee mug in her left and shuffled out of the SUV with care "Thank you Max" she replies 'if only you knew' she thought to herself.


She adjusted her fastened suit jacket and marched down the hallway, as straight and tall as her posture would allow. She greeted security and reception as normal.


At the elevators, two junior admin staff, Ciara and Dwight, were laughing while waiting. Their laughter ceased on sight of Margery.

“Good morning,” she said.

“Good morning,” they replied in unison, smiles slightly strained.

All three entered the elevator; they selected the second floor and Margery the executive floor. When Ciara and Dwight exited, the silent elevator reminded her, she was very much alone.

She stepped onto the executive floor. Personal assistants were working busily. She held her head high, but whispers followed her like a tail and as expected Maria’s desk was empty. She was about to fumble in her handbag for her office key but remembered it was already unlocked. She walked in, shutting the door behind her.

Her heart raced at the sight of a white envelope on her desk and a pile of packed boxes she would need to assemble herself. Normally, Maria handled these tasks.

She planted herself behind her desk, her left hand trembling slightly as she picked up the letter. She opened a desk drawer and pulled out her envelope opener. Her heart beat faster; a metallic taste filled her throat. She opened up the letter, it read

"You have until 11am to box up your personal belongings, anything unpacked will be destroyed. At 11am your attendance at an impromptu board meeting is mandatory in the boardroom.

Regards

Henrietta Fowler-Brown
Human Resource Director"

For a few moments she sat in silence, with a weary groan she rose from her seat and began setting up boxes. It took her a few moments to get the hang of it. Given her physique she thought it best to pack boxes with as little weight as possible, after all Mariana may not be at home to help her.

On her desk sat some personal photos. Photos with family, graduations and of course Arabelle. She packed them in carefully. She removed some qualifications that hung on the wall as well as a photo collage from a vacation in Italy with Arabelle last year. She paused, staring at it, reminiscing.

Getting Arabelle to go on a vacation with her was getting harder and harder. Arabelle wanted to travel to South America with friends, after much arguing, Margery managed to convince her to travel with her to Italy, however Arabelle warned her she "would squeeze her bank account dry." She ignored the threat and accepted, to her it was a price she had to pay for rebuilding a strained relationship.

She smiled at a photo of the Spanish steps in Rome, a photo with her and Arabelle. Arabelle was tall like her father, five foot nine and of athletic build and long black hair. She wore blue Calvin Klein shorts and a pink Ralph Lauren T-shirt. Margery in a tailor-made summer light tan trousers and short sleeved white blouse, even casually dressed she looked like a businesswoman.

The 135 steps had nearly killed her. Arabelle power-marched with ease; Margery’s body protested after just thirty steps. Sharp pains ran through her joints and back; she had to stop, leaning on a side wall to catch her breath.

“Mum, are you okay?” Arabelle asked.

“I’m not able for this,” Margery panted. “I’ll go back down in a second, when I catch my breath. You enjoy it.”

“Take some water, Mum. Catch your breath. You can do it, the view is amazing.”

Margery took a big gulp of water. Her heart rate slowed. “I need to lose weight and come back to do this,” she wheezed.

Arabelle shook her head. “Mum, no! Just take a few steps at a time and rest. You’re Margery Gurr, Arabelle Gurr’s mother. If Arabelle says you can, you can. Doesn’t matter how long it takes, you’ll conquer it, like you have conquered so much in business.”

Margery smiled to herself, she did make it, it was slow but she got to the top, prayed and rested in the church up top. Even on vacation, emails and meetings demanded her attention. Arabelle punished her by buying designer gear at Margery’s expense. Expensive spending sprees she ignored to maintain harmony.

Next she picked up her 2015 Platinum Bank Businesswoman of the Year award which filled her with pride. She flashbacked to her sister Elizabeth, who ran her own hair and beauty salon who done her hair and makeup. Elizabeth removing Margery's glasses commented "these way a ton, you must be as blind as a bat". Margery smirked at her reply "I may be as blind as a bat but I am as sharp as a knife and nothing gets passed me".

Next in the box a photo of her receiving the award, dressed in an emerald green party dress, which she hadn't worn in years and doubted it fitted anymore.

She double checked everything was packed away, and each box was light enough for her to carry. She returned to her swivel chair, there was another hour to go until the boardroom. Just like Alan she now sat alone killing time, but unlike Alan, she had no ally to lean on.