Excerpt: Cult Classic

Bill looked out the narrow window as he put his feet on his desk. Hiring Henry was probably a mistake, but the guy had his back, and had had it for years. Bill owed him. He would just have to look out for him and make sure that he was following the rules. He had to follow the rules of his parole officer anyway. Henry never used to listen to Bill but he probably would now.
He was pleased that the engineering projects, both on the federal and commercial side were going well. He was able to employ any able-bodied person whether they wanted to work on government contracts or not. That was good. It was good that the company kept itself flexible, and he was glad he could help with that. The technology was on fire, and there was no point in keeping it under a bushel.
He felt like a smoke. It was hard now that the building was smoke free. He could not go out in the hall or the back conference and light up while he read through the latest Engineering World magazine. Now he had to high-tail it over to over to the Catfish House and grab a booth in the back or a seat at the bar, and then he felt he had to buy something. He sighed. Things changed, did not they?
He put his feet back down on the floor and stood up, scratched his head and grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair. It was 6:00pm. Maybe he could just head home. His business for the day was done. He put on his coat and was just grabbing his briefcase and shoving in a copy of Engineering World when there was a scratch at the door like someone had grazed it with a ring.
"Yeah?"
"Hey, Billy!" It was Henry.
"Watcha need, Hank, I was heading home."
"You, home? So early? I thought you watched the sun come up through the window there." Henry gestured toward the slit of window that would never do for an executives office in the northeast. Oh, well. Bill had made some sacrifices.
"Well, ya can't smoke in teh building any more and I was feeling like lighting up."
"HUh. Cannot light up in the building, you say." Henry fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a cigarette case. he pulled out a cigarette, offered it to Bill, who shook his head, and then put it in his mouth and bent to light it. He straightened up and looked at Bill with a lopsided grin.
"Henry, you never change. Listen, put that out before I report you."
"Now you would not do that to me bill."
"Try me."
Henry sighed and stubbed out the cigarette in an almost empty coffee cup sitting on Bill's desk. It hissed as he dabbed it out.
"So, did you come by for a reason, Hank, or just to see how far you could push me before I let you fall?"
"Damn, Bill. You do have a way of putting things. I just wanted to come by and see my good buddy."
"And?"
"And see if you could talk to the human resources guy and get me out of a little indescretion of mine."
"God, Bill. What the hell? What happened?"
"Did you know it is frowned upon these days if you tell a woman she looks good? I was just walking down the hall, minding my own buiness, and a sweet thing came walking by in a tight red dress. I admired it, and she got all pissy."
"Tell me what you said to her that got human resources involved."
"Something like, 'that should be a miniskirt' or something. I do not remember exactly. "
"Jesus, Hank!"
"Could you go talk to 'em for me. Seems I can't just igonre this one. They really got it in for me this time, Bill. I did not do a thing. 'Cept admire teh scenery."
"I have feeling there is something more that you have not told me. What is it? Why do I have to talk to the guy in human resources?"
"Well, it seems that this girl was not just any girly-girl. I thought she was a secretary or something. But, turns out she is a manager in your department."
"Christ, Hank!" Bill knew who Henry had insulted. Shit. She was a good manager and he did not want to lose her. He remembered the dress, too. It had looked good on her, but it had never occurred to him that it was an invitation to say something to her about it, let alone harass her.
So, I figure while you are talking to the HR guy, you could talk to this girl so she will not bring charges against me or something. Imagine charges for just admiring the merchandise. I did not even tough anything!"
"Hank, you harrassed her. She is one of my best employees. I cannot afford to lose good people because you can't keep your tongue in your mouth." He glared at Henry. Henry snickered. "it is not funny in anyway! All right. I'll talk to the Human resources guy. and Karen, the woman you insulted. You are lucky that it happened in my dpeartment, Henry. Otherwise, I could not help you. And some day, I will not be able to help you."
Bill walked Henry to his car, said good night, then headed home. He no longer wanted a cigarette. Hell, he no longer wanted to read Engineering World.