New York New York
Charlotte let out a weary sigh as she looked over last month's finance reports. The amount the company had paid out after losing the big lawsuit was massive. They were barely staying above water at this rate. Zaxipril had been the company’s biggest source of income. She picked up the phone on her desk and pressed the button to call her assistant.
“Yea Danielle, can you get me a copy of this month's finances so far. Yup bring it to my desk asap please.” She put down the phone and let out another sigh. “I’m not sure the company can make it past this.”
Her assistant walked in holding a stack of papers. The woman was a dark skinned beauty with legs for days. She wore a winning smile as she put the finance reports down.
“How’d last night’s date go?” She asked leaning towards Charlotte.
The petite blonde sighed. “I ended up cancelling. There’s too much to do after we lost that Zaxipril lawsuit. Now there are even more people coming out of the woodwork about some of our other medications…” She shook her head, short curls bouncing a bit as she did.
Danielle straightened up. “You have got to stop worrying so much about work. It’ll still be here in the morning you know. Get out every once in a while. Last weekend some friends and I went to this new bar, and they had some real cuties there. I hooked up with the finest girl you have ever seen.” She leaned in again and dropped her voice to a whisper. “And this girl knew how to use her tongue.” She closed her eyes for a moment as if reliving her wild weekend.
Charlotte continued to frown, she was pale and petite with blonde hair that curled around her ears. She wore an expensive grey pantsuit with a plain white blouse underneath. She wasn’t much for casual sex, or dating really. Work was her first love. This company was her home.
“I’m not sure if work will be here in the morning to be honest.” She said as she looked at the finance reports Danielle brought in.
Stock prices were plummeting and sales were in the tank. All of their production was put on hold while there were tests and examinations done on their other products. When it turned out one of your most popular anti-depressants could cause strokes people began to worry. Charlotte put the finance reports down to look up at Danielle. “You may want to update your resume.” She said quietly.
The dark woman nodded solemnly and turned to leave the office. When the door shut with a click Charlotte sat down. All night she was here in this office, looking over these documents. There was nothing more to be done. She felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes as she realized there was no way to save the place she called home for the last decade.
Charlotte swiveled in her chair to face the window behind her. A breathtaking view of the New York City skyline greeted her. This had been her dream. All the long nights and overtime had led her to this office right here. Chief Financial Operator of Nex Source Pharmaceuticals. Top of her class in college. All just to end up the captain of a sinking ship.
“I don’t think things could get much worse than this.” She mumbled sullenly.
Her personal cellphone phone took that moment to interrupt her pity party. It sat on her desk vibrating loudly. She turned around and looked at the screen, it was her brother. They hadn’t spoken in over a decade, she couldn’t imagine why he would want to speak to her after their big falling out.
“Hello?” She answered, curious.
The voice on the other end of the phone sounded tired. “Hey sis. I’m sorry to call you out of the blue like this but dad’s in the hospital.” There was a pause as he hesitated to say the next part. “You’re going to want to catch the next plane out here, he doesn’t have long.”