She arrived at her place of work, early Monday morning, ready for the company meeting. But she was not prepared for the news that was going to be given her and the thing she would have to do in order to move up and really find a way to make a difference in the organization. But she knew she was ready for any challenge but would this be something she would be willing to do?
She got to her desk and found an envelop in her inbox. She opened it and read it carefully. The instructions were clear. ?After the staff meeting, come to the penthouse floor for a private meeting.? That is what the paper said. ?Why? What is this all about? Did I do something wrong? Oh god! I am going to get fired or laid off!? she told herself. ?I can?t afford to lose this job.?
During the staff meeting, she took lots of notes and paid strict attention to everything that was being said. She did not even focus on personal features of the women who were on the stage. After the staff meeting, she went back to her office and collected her Day Timer binder. She left her cubicle and walked down the hall to the elevator. She got in, closed the door, swallowed hard and pushed the button for the penthouse floor.
On the penthouse floor?????????????????????????
?Thank you for coming,? the manager told her as she shook her hand. ?Come with me. Let?s go for a walk.?
?Look, just tell me. Why am I here? Am I being fired or did I do something wrong? Tell me. I can take it,? she said.
?Let?s walk,? the manager said. ?This way, please.? She followed obediently. ?Tell me what you see.?
?Very comfortable offices. The latest technology. Wow, I wish we had that downstairs. All women,? she answered.
?Let?s go back to the elevators. Look for something more personal. Look hard!!!!!!!!! And then think ?Why might I be here??. There is a common thread here,? the office manager said.
They walked the walk a second time before the office manager finally took her into her office. ?So did you notice a common thread between all 12 women??
?Nothing really except the fact that you all have short hair?? she said with a questioning voice.
?Why do you think you see 12 women in this department all sporting short haircuts?? the manager asked her.
?I don?t know. Maybe you are all comfortable with short hair,? she said as she looked around.
?No! Some of us are not. We were all virgins when it came to really short hair and a few of us were virgins in our hair color. And I know you are a virgin when it comes to your hair. When was the last time you got an actual hair cut, where they cut off more then a foot of hair? Tell me,? the office manager said. ?And I know your hair color is virgin. I can see that. Look, you have been watched for a long time. I will tell you this now. We know all about you. We have talked to your bank manager, your property manager, your parents, your best friends. Everyone you know, we know. We have contacted everyone.?
?That is illegal. I could go to my lawyer,? she answered.
?But you won?t,? the manager said. ?You are here for a reason. Look, I am going to cut to the chase. You are here because the owner of the company told me to get you up here. And it has nothing to do with your work. He wants something of yours and to get it, he is willing to promote you to senior management and make you one of us.?
?You are crazy. I don?t need to listen to this,? she said.
?Look it is not what you think. It is simply this: The owner has a fetish. He loves cutting hair and he has wanted your hair for a long time,? the manager said.
?It has nothing to do with the work I have done since I joined the staff?? she asked.
?It may have a small part but no! I can tell you that. He has twelve ponytails on the wall of his office. And he has been talking about getting yours for a long time. Look, you will get paid for the ponytail and you will get taken care of here on this floor. We have better benefits then the majority of the staff. We get raises and as you can see, working conditions are a lot better on this floor. So what do you think?? the office manager said.
?I have to think about it,? she said.
?Well you better think fast because I know he has a personal cheque for you in the amount of $1500.00 and depending on how far you are willing to go, as in how short, there is another $1000.00 waiting for you. But know this! This is a one time only offer. You will not get invited up to this floor again. But if you choose to go through with it, your salary will double. One benefit for us on this floor is we do not pay any taxes. It is all cash money. If one of us needs new equipment, we all get it,? the manager said.
?If I say no, does that mean I am fired?? she asked.
?No, you just will never move up in the company. Look, we have been watching you for two years. We could not invite you to this floor until you had completed 5 years in the company and you just entered your 6th year. You do excellent work and we do have a position for a senior accounts manager. Double your present salary but cash money. And we know you could use it. We know you have been struggling. We know everything about you," the manager said. ?You will never see the owner, yourself. But he has seen you and he is fascinated with you. Sorry!!!!!! With your hair. He asked me to bring you up here as soon as you finished your fifth year with us. That was one week ago.?
?All I have to do is get my hair cut for him?? she asked.
?No. You have to let him cut it, himself. In his office. In his red barber chair. We have all had it done; every one of us 12 ladies. The only reason you do not see any men as senior managers is basically that. He promotes women who are loyal and you are loyal to your team and to your clients. We have been listening to you when you got that pile of overdue accounts. Your collection skills were amazing. You got all the clients to pay their accounts. There honestly is a position for senior accounts manager on this floor. But you have to measure up and until you give yourself to the owner, well, you know how it works. I have explained it to you. So do you still need to think or have I convinced you?? the manager said.
?May I ask one question?? she asked.
?I already know what the question is. I was the first person who he hired to work as a senior manager. I am also the first person who he asked if he could cut their hair. Yes, I was floored but after he promised to take care of me for life, I let him. He has made the same promise to all twelve ladies on this floor. Not one of us will ever be in need. I am the one who hires and fires. I do the final interviews. I remember you the day you were hired. I told him about you. He told me to keep an eye on you. All he asks is that when you feel you want to be trimmed, he gets to do it,? the office manager said. ?There is no sexual thing here. Just his fetish for long hair and cutting it. So do you have any other questions??
?One more actually, if you do not mind? Sorry, make that two? $1500.00 for my ponytail to what length?? she asked.
?Shoulder length, minimum. $2500.00 if he takes out his clippers and shaves your neckline. And as I said, I know you need the money. I know you are behind in your car payment and your rent is going up next month. So depending on how far you are willing to go????????????,? the office manager said.
?And then, you said cash money as salary?? she asked.
?Double what you are getting on the floor, immediately,? the office manager said. ?Plus benefits far better then the floor.?
?And my own office?? she asked.
?On this floor. You just give us the word and your stuff will be moved up here in twenty minutes,? the office manager said. ?Would you like to see the office??
?Yes,? she answered.
They walked down the hall about 25 feet and she was shown a large office, with a cherry desk and file cabinets. She walked in and sat down at the desk. ?This would be mine?? she asked. The office manager nodded her head. She pointed to the window and the closet space. ?Oh, my god!!!!! Never in my wildest dreams. My last question, please? Is there anyone else who is being considered any time soon??
?No. You are the last one he is interested in for now. This is the last senior position he wants filled by year end. Shall we go and meet the owner?? the office manager asked. She nodded her head, appreciatively. ?Good. You won?t be disappointed.? The office manager picked up the phone and pushed two keys. The phone was picked up. ?There is someone here to see you. Can I bring her in?????????????????? Ten minutes? Yes sir, she has seen the office??????????????? Yes, sir, I will call maintenance and have her belongings moved in immediately????????????????. Yes, she understands everything. Thank you sir.?
The office manager looked at her. ?Ten minutes, he said and he wants you to go in alone. The two big mahogany doors at the end of the hall,? the office manager said. ?In the meantime, I am going to get your things delivered to your new office. Welcome to the senior management floor.?
She sat alone in her office for ten minutes. It seemed to drag on but finally she rose and walked down the hall. She reached the two large doors and she knocked. The door opened to her and she stepped inside. He stood there behind a red barber?s chair. She looked around and true to what she had been told, there were twelve cases on the wall with various colors of ponytails inside each case. She walked up to the barber?s chair and sat down in it. He gathered her hair at the back and let it drop over her shoulders. He grabbed a brush and handed it to her as she stroked it for him. When he was satisfied, he held out his hand and she gave it back to him.
He grabbed a white cape and threw it over her torso, stopping at her shoulders. He pulled her hair back and pulled the cape up, fastening it around her neck. He spun the chair around so that she would not see the reflection in the mirror. She just sat in the chair. The door to his office opened and the office manager walked inside. In her hand was a second envelop.
?You know why you are here and what you are being asked to do?? the manager asked. She nodded her head. The office manager gave her the envelop. ?Depending on how far you are willing to go, there is a third envelop.?
?Can I tell him right now?? she said.
?No, you can tell me,? the office manager said.
?As short as your cut but I want the sides shaved and high,? she answered.
The office manager handed her the third envelop and she nodded her head. She walked to the owner?s closet and opened it. She reached inside and took out a clear plastic display case with a red velvet pillow inside it. The owner gathered her blonde hair into a bundle, took a piece of ribbon, tied it around her hair and let the ponytail drop. The office manager walked over and held the ponytail in her hands as he gripped the end. He opened the blades of his scissors and he cut through her baby blonde hair. The final snip severed her long hair and the office manager held the ponytail up for him to admire. He nodded his head and she turned around, walked to his desk and placed 3 feet of long hair into the case.
?She is all yours now. The case will be taken care of and it will be hanging on your wall within two hours,? the manager said. She left the room and closed the door behind her.
He stood behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She was actually very impressed with how gentle he was as he moved her head to make the cutting easier. He was steady with his hand and he did not have to tell her once to tilt her head in any direction. Everything he touched her shoulder, she moved on her own.
Finally, he put the scissors and comb down. He pointed to the cape and she looked down and saw the pile of hair sitting in her lap. He also spun the chair around so that she could see the amount of hair that was on the floor. Quite a spectacle considering how much hair he took off with the ponytail. But then there was a lot of hair left on the sides and the crown. As she was looking at the pile of hair on the floor, he reached back to the table and picked up his electric clippers. She looked up a second time and she was pleased with how short he had cut it. He flicked the switch and as she heard the buzzing sound, she bent her head down on her own. He ran the clippers up her neckline and nape, cutting her close to the edge but not going all the way. His intent was still stylish but sassy and short. He then buzzed around her ears a bit, blending the length.
After doing the ears and sides, his final task was a blob of white cream on the neckline and at the sides. A couple of strokes with a straight razor and he put his tools back into the drawer. He held a mirror up for her to look. She touched her head and her sides.
He reached down and gathered the ends of the cape, pulling it together. He undid the Velcro strip and then dropped the cape to the floor, allowing all the short hair to drop. She continued sitting in the chair, touching and feeling her new style. A smile finally came across her face. She stood up and looked in the mirror. He pointed to the door, telling her that she was done. She walked to the door but before she opened it, he finally spoke. ?The decision you made today pleased me. You will notice as you get to know the ladies better that there is a second common thread on this floor and to help you along, accept the gift that is in your closet from Liz and myself. If it is okay with you, I would like to walk you back to your new office.? She nodded her head as he followed her down the hall.
?You will fit in perfectly in this department. You will be taken care of and you will never find yourself wanting. Welcome aboard,? he told her as he took her to her new office.
She looked at him as she ran her fingers through her short, choppy haircut. ?I will not disappoint you, sir,? she said as she sat down behind her new desk.
?No you will not. I know you won?t and maybe, who knows, maybe you will be the first to go all the way,? he said as he turned and walked back to his office.
?Who knows?? she said as she booted her computer and sat back to start her new routine.
Author: hairman001 Copyright ? 2004 Legally registered to ? 2000 JCWP DESIGN SERVICES This story is protected under Canadian Copyright laws and is not allowed to be downloaded or sent to any other web site without the legal implications associated with copyright law. This story has been placed on this web site for your enjoyment but you are not allowed to take a copy of this story, even for yourself, without the granted permission of the author. Do not abuse the privilege!!!!!!!
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