Chapter 3

Sitting at the obscenely large desk, Ed stared up at the picture of John that hung on the wall of the office. It was an official color photograph of John. His white hair and beard with the robe, cane, and cloak made him look like a mystic. The whole world saw John as a mystic, but Ed knew better. He sighed and said, “John, you brought out the best in me. I’m a better man for having you in my life. I really miss you.”

“Talking to yourself?” asked Ellen Faber as she entered the office.

“Talking to John,” answered Ed with a sigh.

Although Ellen ran the daily operations of the Fusion Foundation and knew both men, she knew very little about the relationship between John and Ed other than the fact that they were married. She had watched the news coverage of John’s death and had been shocked when she had seen him struck by lightening in the middle of the glade. She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for the family to be there and observe that scene. She said, “He was a great man.”

Smiling, Ed said, “He was a man and he was great. Calling him a great man diminishes his life as a man and his greatness.”

The comment gave Ellen pause and reminded her why she had come in the office. She said, “The rest of the board is present.”

“Okay,” replied Ed as he stood. He paused to look around the office before saying, “Too fancy.”

Ellen shook her head. Over the past few years she had been invited in the offices of some of the most powerful men in the country. This office was barren compared to any of those she had encountered. It was hard for her to imagine billionaires feeling uncomfortable sitting behind a desk that cost five thousand dollars. She shrugged and said, “Its purpose is to impress.”

The comment made Ed laugh and he retorted, “I’d rather be impressed by the person behind the desk than the desk they are hiding behind.”

He walked across the hallway to the conference room and took his seat. The seat at the head of the table was conspicuously empty. Ellen stood by the seat and said, “I call this meeting to order.”

After everyone acknowledged her, she continued, “The agenda is on the table in front of you. Normally, the first order of business is to review the minutes of the last meeting. However, today we have a different and far more difficult task as the first order of business.”

Breaking the tension in the room, Fluffy yawned as though bored with the meeting. Looking over at the bear in irritation, Ellen continued, “The first order of business is to elect a new Chairman of the Board.”

As she went through the process of reading the charter of the Fusion Foundation, Ed listened with only half his attention on what she was saying. His thoughts turned in the direction of the others in the room wondering which one of them would take the place of John at the head of the table. He felt sorry for that person, as there was no way they could ever live up to the reputation of John. His attention returned to Ellen when he heard her say, “There has been a motion that Ed Biggers take over as Chairman of the Board.”

“Pardon?” asked Ed wondering how he had missed the nomination.

Ling said, “I second the motion.”

Ellen asked, “Are there any other nominations?”

Looking around the room in the hope that someone would say something, Ed tried to come up with a name to nominate. His mind went blank and he couldn’t remember the name of anyone in the room. As panic welled up in him, Ellen said, “If there are no other nominations, then I move that we vote on making Ed the Chairman of the Board.”

“Seconded,” said Sidney and Sherry simultaneously.

“All those in favor say aye.”

Everyone except Ed said, “Aye.”

“All those opposed, say nay.”

Ed’s throat swelled up as he tried to get out a word. He grabbed a glass of water and took a sip. Sherry was sitting across the table from him watching his discomfort with a smile. Ellen asked, “Abstain?”

Ed finally managed to croak, “Ah.”

Smiling at Ed, Ellen said, “The motion has carried. Ten votes for the motion and one abstain. Ed Biggers is now the Chairman of the Board.”

As everyone clapped, Ed shook his head in disgust while wondering how this had come about. It was clearly time for him to say something, but his mind was still blank. After a minute, he said, “I did not seek this position, but I shall do my best to carry it out in the manner that John desired.”

Ellen said, “If you will take the chair at the head of the table, I turn this meeting over to you.”

Ed moved to the head of the table and looked down the table at everyone gathered there. Most of the board members were Druids and he felt that it was time for that to change. He said, “The second item on the agenda is approval of the minutes of the last meeting. Does anyone have any corrections or comments on the meeting minutes?”

When no one said anything, he continued, “I move that we accept the minutes as they stand.”

“Seconded,” replied Ling.

They went through the formal business of voting on the meeting minutes. Even as they went through the process, Ed glanced at his watch wondering how long this meeting was going to last. Once the minutes were accepted, Ed said, “The next item on the agenda is the empty spot on the Board of Directors. I suggest that we identify potential candidates and bring the names to the next meeting. We’ll cull the candidates down to three and then invite them in for an interview. After that, we’ll vote on the person to fill the spot.”

Harold Hawkins, the only businessman on the board, raised his hand. When Ed acknowledged him, he said, “We need more businessmen on the board.”

Ed said, “If you find a businessman that is willing to forsake all current and future business with the Fusion Foundation, then go ahead and nominate them.”

“I was going to question that rule,” replied Harold. That rule prevented any of the businesses that he owned from selling their products to the Fusion Foundation. Although he ran a chain of video rental stores, there were opportunities to get into other businesses that this rule prevented him from pursuing.

“You can make a motion to change that rule, but I assure you that changing that rule will be defeated. It would put the tax-free status of this organization in jeopardy. This organization deals with huge amounts of money and we have to prevent any hint of conflict of interest on the part of the board,” said Ed. He looked at Harold with the expectation that he would make the motion or threaten to resign, but the man surprised him and settled into his seat.

Sidney raised his hand and when Ed acknowledged him, he asked, “What would be the primary area of responsibility?”

Ed thought about it for a moment and replied, “I guess they would take over the Emergency Response Section.”

The meeting lasted for another two hours as they established that a technologist would be a good candidate and covered the other items on the agenda. The discussion concerning the budget seemed to drone on forever, but in his new position of Chairman of the Board he found that he had to pay attention. It was with great relief that he was able to call an end to the meeting.

As people left the room, they stopped to congratulate him. Ed still didn’t know who had nominated him. When the room was empty of everyone except Ellen, Kelly, Ling, and himself, Ed asked, “Who nominated me?”

Laughing, Ellen answered, “Sidney.”

“I’m going to get even with him one of these days,” remarked Ed. It was hard for him to believe that Sidney had done that to him.

Kelly said, “He only voiced what everyone in the room was thinking.”

Ed sat down in a chair and thought about it. In a way, it made sense since most people thought that he was John’s right hand man. He never thought of himself in that manner, but it was true in many ways. John had shared more of his thoughts with Ed than anyone else. Sighing, Ed replied, “I guess.”

Ling asked, “Will you be coming home with us?”

“No. I’ll finish up a few items here and head to the University,” answered Ed. He had given up his position at the University and now it was time to see if he could return.

Kelly and Ling kissed him before leaving to return home. When they were gone, Ed turned to Ellen and said, “I suppose that it’s time to write a press release.”

“I already have one written for you,” replied Ellen with a smile. She had assumed that it would be Ed that took over for John. She added, “I assume that you’ll want to edit it.”

“Of course,” said Ed. He decided that he would do that and then get something to eat. There was going to be a lot of work to do this afternoon and he scratched making it to the University off his list. He asked, “Would it be appropriate that I talk to the heads of each of the Fusion Foundation Sections?”

“I was going to suggest that,” answered Ellen. She actually had a list of things that Ed needed to do that afternoon before the news spread too far. She added, “I have a press conference scheduled for this afternoon.”

Ed returned to the office while Ellen went to get all of the work items that she had arranged for him. Sitting behind the desk, Ed looked around the office wondering how much time would be spent at the desk over the next few months. Things didn’t look good for him in the future.

Kim Green knocked on the door frame to get his attention. Looking up at her, he was surprised to see how old she looked. He had met her when they were undergraduates in college. He said, “Come in, Kim. How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. I really enjoy working here,” answered Kim. In the past few years, she had traveled to many places around the world establishing staging areas for the Foundation, negotiated purchase agreements with companies, and served as a press agent during crisis situations overseas. For a young woman that had dreams of making the world a better place, this was the perfect job. After holding the position for nearly sixteen years, she still thought it was the perfect job. She looked at Ed and said, “I’m sorry about John.”

“Thank you,” replied Ed. Getting condolences still threw him for a loop, as he didn’t know how to respond. Gesturing for her to enter the room, he said, “It’s really good to see you. I hear that you’ve been globe trotting on behalf of the Fusion Foundation.”

“Just got back from Italy where I negotiated a storage area for supplies,” replied Kim while she entered the room and took a seat. She added, “I have to say that it’s a very lovely place. So much history packed into such a small area.”

“How was your reception there?”

“When people heard that I was with the Fusion Foundation, they went out of their way to show me a good time. You’d be surprised what a great reputation the Fusion Foundation has everywhere around the world,” answered Kim. When she had arrived in Italy, very high-level government officials did everything they could to help her. Curators had given her personal tours through some of the greatest historical landmarks, once they learned that she was from the Fusion Foundation. Everywhere she went, people told her what a great organization she represented. It was overwhelming.

“That’s good. I’m very glad to hear that,” replied Ed. This was the kind of feedback that he liked to hear. Kim was quiet for a minute as she struggled to figure out how to bring up a request. Ed noticed her sudden change in demeanor and asked, “What do you want?”

“Uh, I kind of wanted to ask you about something.”

“Ask away,” replied Ed curious what could be so serious that she wouldn’t know how to go about asking him a question. Leaning forward with his elbow resting on the table and his finger to his temple, he watched her struggle with asking her question. It was clear to him that she had no clue how to make her request. He suggested, “Maybe if you give me a hint I can help you formulate your question.”

Kim looked down at the floor, feeling like she was about to loose her nerve. Summoning her nerve, she said, “I haven’t been satisfied by a man since my rape.”

He didn’t know exactly what she meant. Did she mean that she hadn’t been with a man since the rape or that a man hadn’t been able to give her an orgasm since the rape? Regardless of which answer was correct, the news shocked Ed as he realized that it had to be at least sixteen years since she had been raped on the campus. In as soothing of a voice as he could manage, Ed replied, “I don’t know what to say.”

Hesitating, she smiled at him and said, “It’s not your fault that I can’t be satisfied in bed by a man.”

“I thought that you had gotten beyond the rape,” replied Ed very disturbed by this revelation.

“You don’t understand. I’ve gotten over the rape and know in my heart that it was an act of violence by a very sick man. The problem is that I haven’t found a man that can satisfy me,” she said. “I know it’s not physical as a few women have been able to bring me to orgasm. It’s that I haven’t been in bed with a man that turns me on.”

Rather than say anything, Ed sat back to listen to her. It was better to let her come to the point than try to put words in her mouth. She licked her lips nervously and then said, “You rescued me. No one has done anything that significant for me.”

He realized where she was headed and wondered if she was actually going to request him to sleep with her. Rather than address the question now, he decided that this was something that was best dealt with in a more private environment. He asked, “Would you like to come over to dinner tonight?”

Believing that he was agreeing to sleep with her, Kim sighed with relief that she hadn’t had to say it aloud. A wide grin spread over her face as she said, “I’d love to come over.”

“Great. Come over about seven,” said Ed. He watched as she thanked him and fled the room far faster than she had intended. Smiling to himself, he shook his head at having to rescue another damsel in distress.

Helen returned in time to hear the final exchange and was relieved to know that Ed was going to take care of Kim. The two were occasional lovers and she was fully aware of Kim’s unrequited desire to sleep with Ed. She knew how frustrating it could be since she shared the same feelings. Entering the room, she placed a stack of papers on the desk and said, “Here you go.”

Groaning, Ed stared at the stack of papers knowing that it would be hours before he could get through them all. Sighing, he picked up the first paper finding that it was the legal form establishing him as Chairman of the Board. He reviewed the signatures of other members of the board and signed it. Ellen had recorded his vote as abstained. He signed the form and handed it back to her as he said, “I would have objected, but I was too shocked to think straight.”

Ellen laughed and said, “The choice was obvious. No one would have listened to your objections.”

He looked over the next paper in the stack. It was a draft of the press release that she was going to send out to the news services. Looking over it, he thought that it made him sound inhuman and unreal. Grabbing a pencil, he immediately removed statements that talked about his heroism and his unrelenting dedication to a list of causes. He then took out all of the references to his past accomplishments that had nothing to do with the Fusion Foundation. Finished, he handed it back to Ellen and said, “You might want to review this. I’ve made a few changes.”

She looked at it in dismay. The one page press release had been reduced to four sentences. The first indicated that he had been elected as Chairman of the Board. The second told how he had helped set up the Emergency Response Center. The third described his dedication to the keeping the mission of the Fusion Foundation on track. The fourth expressed the honor that he felt at being given the responsibility. She said, “I’ll release it if you allow me to include your Fusion Foundation resume with it.”

“I have a Fusion Foundation resume?”

“Yes. Whenever you’ve done something for the Fusion Foundation or achieved some other public recognition, we’ve documented it,” replied Ellen with a grin.

“I’d like to see that,” Ed mused aloud as he wondered what was in the resume. There were no doubts in his mind that it would exaggerate his past accomplishments.

“I thought that you would say that. The binder contains your resume,” replied Ellen watching the expression of disbelief that crossed his face when he took in the thickness of the binder.

“This isn’t a resume, it a biography!”

“Not so. Each of your accomplishments has a single paragraph describing the significance of your involvement,” replied Ellen. Kelly and Linda had worked with her in developing the resume. It was based on the material within a biography about Ed that the two wives were preparing. She had found the material in the biography so captivating that she had read the entire thing in a single night.