Page 41 of Her Cadillac Cowboy
“Yes.”
“Please explain.”
“On Mr. Talmidge’s first day with us, I asked him to copy and collate several sales contracts. I showed him the copy machine and instructions personally. He was insolent, to say the least. I ignored his rudeness and left him to do the job.”
“Teenagers are often rude, Miss Beadle.”
“Do you wish me to continue my explanation?”
Sara wished she had a charm to ward off demons.
“When he failed to return to my office with the completed work in an hour, I went to check on his progress.” Beadle paused, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“And?”
“I found him sitting on top of the copy machine, flirting with Josie, our summer intern. He had leaned back against the control panel.”
Sara knew a death knell when she heard one.
“Instead of collating the copies and the originals, the machine shredded everything and then started on blank paper. While he was flirting, that boy failed to notice the mess he was making, nor did he notice when the machine finally jammed.”
Sara closed her eyes against the accusation written on the other woman’s face.
“Because of his inattention to his work, we must rewrite the contracts and inconvenience customers to get their signatures again, at the risk of having some of them change their minds.”
Sara groaned.
“In addition, that boy’s use of the copy machine as a chaise lounge resulted in damage to the photographic surfaces and several internal mechanisms.”
Sara put her aching head in her hands. “Is that when you gave him the stapling job?”
“No, I asked the boy if he understood the damage his actions had caused. He said he understood computers better than copy machines. Since I do not understand computers, I decided to put his talents to use. I gave him the list of changes that the sales department wanted made to Carson’s website, and told him I would check his work this morning.”
“And the results of that job?”
“This is most distasteful, Miss Carson.”
There was that flush again. What could Will have done that a prude like Miss Beadle would find more distasteful than graffiti? “I need to know what he’s done, Miss Beadle.”
“I was so busy repairing the damage that boy did to the contracts, I was unable to check his work on the website until noon today. I gave him the stapling work in the interim. Miss Carson, I don’t know how to say this, but that boy turned Carson’s website into a pornographic display.”
“He what?” Sara slammed her palms onto the top of her desk. Her coffee cup and the papers that littered the desk jumped. The papers sifted to the floor. The cup tipped onto its side and the dregs trickled onto the desktop.
The office door burst open, and Carol rushed in. “Miss Carson, are you all right? I heard a gunshot. What happened?”
“Nothing happened. I was merely surprised and dropped my coffee cup. Please get me some paper towels, then return to work.”
“Yes, Miss Carson.”
Within minutes the mess was cleaned up. Sara sat back down at her desk and folded her hands together on top.
“What do you intend to do about the website, Miss Carson?” Beadle’s acid tone placed the debacle of Will Talmidge squarely on Sara’s shoulders.
“I’ll take care of the website myself. Is there anything else, Miss Beadle?”
“Yes. I regret having to say this, but if you do not remove that boy from the contracts and accounting department, I will have to tender my resignation. I returned to work at Carson’s, from retirement, out of affection for your father. I cannot continue if I must endure employees who are insubordinate, profane, and dangerous.”
“I understand completely, Miss Beadle. Rest assured that I will find another department for Will to work in. My father and I value your contribution to Carson’s success and would deeply regret your resignation. I hope you’ll find this satisfactory.”
