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Max had been dealing with tons of stress during this time with the slumping economy and trying to keep the company he worked for in the black. His performance was above par for anyone in the position that he had in the accounting department. After three weeks in a row of finding another action item with a budge that could be cut to below three million dollars, he expected to at least get a huge bonus.
When the time for bonuses came around, though, the company sent out a memo to all of the employees that they would be receiving a notice when to report to the CEO of the company. Max immediately had a bad feeling about this. You never went straight to the head of the company to pick up your bonus. This was something that just screamed termination.
For the next week and a half, Max kept working on ways to save the company money, finding very little penny that was being looked over and seeing one more chance to make sure he did not lose his job. When he received the e-mail from the CEO's secretary, he was surprised with the urgency of the appointment. Max's appointment to see the big boss within the next 30 minutes and to miss the appointment was to mean immediate release of prior engagements with the corporation.
Max grabbed his coat and rushed to the restroom. After splashing some cold water on his face and making sure his appearance was in order, he straightened his tie and walked with a steady pace toward the double doors to the head office.
I might as well go down with my head held high, he thought to himself, as he passed the open office doors. Once inside the main doors, he walked up to the secretary's prefabricated desk and smiled as she looked up.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I'm Max Justin. I was told to come see Mr. Knox."
"Yes," the secretary said looking back down at an appointment book. "He will be with you in a moment, sir. Please take a seat."
Max's rear had barely gotten comfortable in the large plush couch when the secretary told him he could enter the main office now. He walked through the only other door in the office and found himself in a large, very opulent, corner office with nothing but windows all around, looking out on the New York skyline.
"Have a seat, Max," Mr. Knox said from the other side of a large solid oak desk. Max walked over and sat in the left chair, so that he could see Mr. Knox and hopefully get a peek at the computer screen that was slightly angled on the right side of the desk.
"I'm sure you're a smart man, Max, and know that you are not in here about receiving a bonus," Mr. Knox started out, folding his hands on the desk. "With this economy, and the pressure from some politicians, we are going to have some serious trouble if we even try to give our employees earning over 250 thousand dollars a very much deserved pay raise.
"I want you to know that your name has come up in several of the recent meetings when saving money was mentioned," Mr. Knox continued, looking at his computer screen again. "It says here that in the past month, your watchful eyes and calculating mind has saved the company over six million dollars. This is no small feat, as I'm sure you already know."
"Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt; but I am not a man that likes long talks and discussions for a decision that has already been made," Max said, deciding he didn't want to have his termination drawn out longer than it needed to be. "I would like to know directly what it is that the company expects of me, at this time."
"I was told that about you, too," Mr. Knox chuckled while looking at Max. "Jared mentioned you would want to get to the point. That's a very quality trait. So, let's get to the point, then.
"Max, you have been here with the company for three and a half years and moved up seven positions in that time. You've found and saved the company over eight million dollars in that time, as well; and you have worked more hours than some of your superiors in the company. Plus, you have never taken a vacation day; and when you were sick, you came in at night during the week so you wouldn't get your coworkers sick while working during the day.
"I'm not allowed by the board members to give you a bonus, and the raise that is being offered is so minute that I would not be surprised if you quit over the matter and look for another position that will pay what you deserve. But...and this is a major 'but'...I am going to offer you something that will not come from the company.
Max, I can see in your eyes that you need a stress free vacation; and I have just the place for you to go. I have booked a week long stay at a place that will give you the best massages, the greatest drinks, and plenty of beautiful women, or men if you swing that way, that you will never grow tired of looking at them."
"I'm sorry, sir," Max said holding up his hand. "The company is going to send me on vacation but can't give me a bonus?"
"No, Max. The company is not going to give you a bonus and will not pay for a trip for you to relax. I, on the other hand, am already scheduled for this trip on my own funds; but I'm offering it to you. If you keep at this pace, you will burn out before the end of this recession; and you won't be worth a damn when the money actually starts rolling in again.
"I know because it's what happened to my brother. Now," Mr. Knox said, reaching into a drawer in his desk and pulling out an envelope, "take this and enjoy your vacation."
Max thought about that meeting as he relaxed into the extremely plush first class seat and the flight attendant handed him the full champagne flute. He sipped at it and smiled, knowing that for the first time since he started high school, he was finally going to relax.