Remove the Empty Spaces

Copyright © T.A. Chase 2014. All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Totally Bound Publishing. “I want you all to fucking think of a fucking solution.” It was going to be one of those days, Ion thought, as he pushed his mail cart off the elevator onto the executive floor. “Why the fuck do I pay you bastards such fucking ridiculous salaries if you can’t come up with one fucking good idea?” Ion winced before sending Patrick, his best friend and Mr Adrien Bellamy’s executive assistant, a sympathetic grin. “Sounds like he’s in rare form today.” “You have no idea. Bellamy’s been like this all morning.” Adrien Bellamy was the CEO and President of Bellamy International, a multi-national company that acquired failing businesses and tried to make them successful again. Well, it was just one branch of the business. Bellamy International had its fingers in several different pies, which suited Ion just fine. He might only be working in the mailroom right now, but he planned on making his way up the corporate ladder to a troubleshooting position someday. Ion was ambitious, and it was his drive to succeed that had brought him to the company. Bellamy International was one of the top one-hundred businesses in the world. Where better for a young businessman to work? “All your ideas are shit. I won’t lay off a thousand workers simply because the men in charge were fucking greedy crooks. You have to find me a solution that doesn’t result in people losing their jobs.” Ion knew better than to ask why Mr Bellamy was furious. Patrick couldn’t tell him since being the head man’s minion meant he came across a lot of sensitive material, and Patrick could lose his job if he were to share any of it, even with another person in the company. After handing Patrick some mail, Ion checked his list to see whom else he had to deliver to. “They’re all in the conference room. Have been since this morning when I got here. Bellamy called a meeting of all the execs. ” Patrick sifted through the large pile of envelopes Ion had given him. “Why aren’t you in there taking notes or whatever he has you do during meetings?” Patrick shrugged. “Not sure. I sent him a text to see if he needed me for anything. He told me to cancel the rest of his meetings for the day, and work on something else.” They both jumped when a loud crash resounded from the conference room. Ion straightened from where he’d been resting his hip against Patrick’s desk. The door flew open then ricocheted back after hitting the wall with force. He and Patrick watched in amazement as Mr Richardson, the CFO, dragged Mr Bellamy out of the room. “God damn it, Sidney. Why the fuck do I have them here if they can’t figure out one fucking solution? Monkeys are more intelligent than that group.” Mr Bellamy yanked his arm out of Mr Richardson’s grip. He paced the length of Patrick’s office area. Ion had left his cart next to the elevator, and he found he was happy about that because his boss would’ve tripped over it. It was wise to stay out of the way when Mr Bellamy was angry, if only because he didn’t pay attention to where he was going. After pressing into a corner, Ion hoped no one would notice him. “They’re fucking morons.” Mr Bellamy ran his fingers through his hair. “Patrick, can you call the cleaning crew and get someone to come up here? There’s a mess in the conference room.” Richardson seemed calm, but then he always did. Ion had never seen the CFO lose his cool in the three years Ion had worked for the company. Mr Bellamy was the complete opposite. He lost his temper at least once a week, usually at Patrick, then later, Ion would get an earful about what a prick Bellamy was. Yet Mr Bellamy never seemed vicious with his anger. He simply had a short fuse, and intolerance for stupidity. “Yes, Mr Richardson. I’ll make sure it gets cleaned up.” Patrick reached for the phone. “Also, cancel all of Mr Bellamy’s appointments for the rest of the day. I’m taking him out of he