Ch.1 Elements of Sisterhood

Elizabeth couldn't believe her luck as she sat outside of her work building waiting on a tow truck. Her front passenger side tire was flat and she had no clue how to change it. While she was sitting there waiting, she remembers the earlier confrontation she had with her boss.

He was a pompous ass who couldn't see fact if it were stamped in the middle of his forehead. Mr. Jack, as he liked to be called was on a major power trip. He assumed the position of manager and owner after the unexpected death of his father. He really had no clue on how to run this business, which his father built from the ground up with his own blood, sweat, and tears.

During all that time he lost both his first and second wife to divorce, because they got tired of all the late night hours, which often turned into the early morning. Now his son is in charge, and quite frankly will never be the man his father was, or so Elizabeth thought.

She was standing there in front of his beautiful cherry-wood desk listening to him rattle on and on about what he thought happened instead of what really happened.

" Now Elizabeth, this is a bit awkward for me", he says looking down and clasping his hands together.

" I know you were my father's right hand man so to speak," and he looks up at her and smiles. I know he thinks that his smile is charming but quite frankly it just made Elizabeth want to roll her eyes and gag.

" This is unacceptable. How am I going to count on you when you overlooked a mistake in the contract that cost me two thousand dollars to fix?"

Normally Elizabeth would have interrupted him, but she learned a while ago that he really was in love with the sound of his own voice. She just stood there nodding her head in agreement as her mind was screaming at her.

Why are you letting this ass make you feel inferior to him? You know you could run this company better then he can and not even break a sweat. But noooo.... you just keep letting him belittle you, and think he's right and you're wrong by staying silent. So Mr. Jack-Ass here gets the satisfaction.

Mr. Lakes respected you and trusted you. In fact you ran the company more then he did. Elizabeth smiles to herself at that comment.

" Now do you understand Elizabeth?" Blinking her eyes and shaking her head as she comes back to the conversation.

" Yes Mr. Jack- A I mean Mr. Jack". she smiles sheepishly because she almost said his nick name she gave him out loud.

" Good, now one more thing, bring me a cup of coffee and then you may go."

" Sure, black or cream and sugar?"

" Black is fine." He says not even looking up at her.

Elizabeth walks down the hall to the lounge and grabs the mug that says, The Boss.

" More like the Ass," she mumbles under her breath as she pours.

On her way back towards his office she sticks the tip of her finger in the coffee and closes her eyes. While she is doing this she thinks of dirt and soil and how it would taste.

She pulls her finger out and wipes it on her black slacks. She reaches out and knocks on the door.

" Come in", and she turned the handle and goes in.

" Here you go, Mr. Jack. Will there be anything else?" She places the mug down on the desk.

" No, That will be all. Goodnight."

Elizabeth turns around and pauses long enough to hear him pick up the coffee and take a sip.

" Pa", as he spits it out. " What the hell," and he puts it back down.

Elizabeth opens the door," Goodnight Mr. Jack", and she closes the door behind her quickly as a little grin crosses her face and a small laugh escapes her throat.

She is still smiling to herself when she sees the tow truck pull up to the curb next to her car. I guess this is Karma paying me back for using my power. " Oh well. It was well worth it".

She gets up from the bench and smiles at the driver who waves at her.