chapter 68
Jonny woke up with a huge hangover. An empty bottle of rum lay next to him. Butterscotch coated popcorn was scattered on the couch and floor. Groggily, he rubbed his eyes and checked the clock.
It was ten a.m.
Shit. His meeting was at eleven. He needed to get to the station and fast. He pulled himself from the couch, his body heavy from the night before, and jumped in the shower. In a minute he was out, drying off and slipping on dress pants and a button down shirt. He needed to look nice and respectable. He walked by Dana’s room. In his drunkenness, he never heard her come home. Her door was open, bed neatly made. Had she gone to the station already? She’s working too hard, he thought, making a mental note to tell her to take it easy when he saw her.
Jonny drove over to the station arriving at ten forty-five. It was good that he was early. It would show Ted how serious he was.
Jonny weaved through the sales cubicles and up to the second floor. He stopped by Dana’s office to fill her in and see how her weekend went, but her door was locked, lights out. That’s weird, he thought, unless Dana didn’t come home last night. He smiled at the thought of Dana taking an extra day to spend with Cody. And here he was thinking of telling her to stop working so hard. Obviously, she had.
He retreated to his office and took in his surroundings. Gold albums of bands they played hung on the walls. On his desk stood the complete collection of the Super Friends action figure series. They were lined up across the top in different poses. In what other line of work would this be acceptable? he thought, realizing his days in radio were probably numbered. Next to the figures was a picture of Jill and himself taken last year over the holidays. They looked so happy. She looked so pretty.
And now everything had changed.
The magnitude of what was happening at this very moment scared him. Everything he had was slipping through his fingers.
“Stop acting like the victim!” he could hear Dana say. “You brought this on yourself!”
And she’d be right. He wrecked his marriage and his career in one single swoop. An affair with Heather, some loose girl who wanted to be a radio star. She used him and he let himself be used, deluding himself with the idea that she was attracted to him and not what he could do for her. When would he learn? Jonny Rock was Jonathan Roeker and would always be Jonathan Roeker. Awkward, insecure and alone.
He put his head in his hands and sighed. Waiting for Ted’s phone call was torture. Pure torture.
With that the phone rang. Jonny’s heart skipped two beats. “Hello,” he answered, sweat beading on his forehead.
“Hey Jonny, it’s Sharon.”
“Oh, hey,” he said, angry with her for calling and freaking him out that way. “What is it?”
“I was just getting things together for the promotion you have this weekend.”
If I’m still working here, Jonny thought. “Yeah. It’s the surf shop thing, right?”
“Yep, that’s the one. Nick’s been on me to confirm that you’re locked in for this one.”
“That’s Nick.”
“Cool. I’ll tell him it’s a go. By the way, did Dana tell you about the great time we had this weekend?”
“I didn’t see Dana. I don’t think she came home last night...I figured she decided to stay an extra night...”
“No,” Sharon responded, confused, “I flew home with Dana. Cody was going back home, of that I’m certain. He told us all that at our good-bye lunch. In fact, he sent a limo for Dana when we got back to the airport.”
“Oh. That’s weird,” he said distractedly.
“Yeah...did you try her cell?”
“Uh, no, good thought, I’ll do that.”
“Let me know what happens...I’ll feel better knowing Dana’s okay.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Jonny hung up the phone confused. He pulled out his phone list and searched for Dana’s cell number.
His phone rang.
“Jonny, it’s Ted, we need you in the GM’s office now.”
Jonny sprang from his chair, nearly sprinting to the office. He walked in and saw a grim faced Ted and Heather sitting across from GM, Bill Fox.
“Jonny, have a seat,” Bill said, motioning to the empty chair next to Ted.
He silently lowered himself into the chair.
“Jonny, this is a very unfortunate situation. Two people partaking in this kind of relationship.” He pounded his fist on his desk like a gavel and gave Jonny his concerned look. “But I understand this relationship was consensual. Heather has signed an agreement stating that. We need you to do the same.”
Okay, good, she signed the paper. No lawsuit.
“Sure,” he said picking up a pen from the GM’s desk. Bill pushed the paper towards him. He scanned it briefly. The wording was simple. Each was acknowledging they had a consensual relationship with each other. He signed quickly.
“Very good,” Bill said. “Don’t go anywhere.”
He buzzed his secretary, Kim, to come in and photocopy the document. The three sat in silence. Kim returned moments later. Bill took one copy and handed it to Heather.
“This is for you,” he said, “and best of luck on Long Island.”
“Thank you,” Heather said, taking the copy. She peeked at Jonny out of the corner of her eye. He was staring blankly straight ahead, completely unaware of her. Oh well, she thought, he served his purpose. She was a disc jockey now. She didn’t need him anymore. And with that final thought, she left the office.
As soon as the door closed, Bill began speaking. “Jonny, this is quite a mess you got yourself into and I’m not quite sure what to do with you.”
“Sir, I’m sorry.”
“Are you?” Bill folded his arms behind his head and leaned back in his chair causing the chair to squeak. Bill was a very large man with a very large ego. “Tell me why I shouldn’t fire you right now.” He also was on a very big power trip and loved the idea of holding someone’s fate in his hands.
“As you know I am a very hard worker. I put a lot into my shifts...”
“Ted told me you were voice tracking to go sleep with Heather. Is that putting a lot into your shift?” He raised his eyebrows.
“No, sir.” Jonny answered realizing at this point contrition was probably the only way out.
“So what are you worth to me? As far as I can see you’re a loose cannon who is extremely full of himself.”
“I can change, believe me, this was a hard earned lesson. My wife left me.”
“She should have.”
The words stung. “I know.”
“Well, I’ve made my decision.” In fact, Bill had made his decision before Jonny even opened his mouth, he just wanted to see the little bastard sweat.
“Okay,” Jonny said, his mouth dry.
“I won’t fire you, but you will be suspended for two weeks without pay, plus you will lose your bonus and your raise for this year.”
“But...” The suspension without pay he could understand, but denying him his raise? He needed the money. They were attacking his livelihood.
“But, what? If you don’t like it you don’t have to stay.”
Jonny was cornered. He did need them more than they needed him. If he left, where would he go? They certainly wouldn’t give him a glowing recommendation. Besides, here he was known in the community. He was Jonny Rock. He was a star. He had no choice.
“I’ll take the deal.”
“Good,” Bill said, folding his hands. “Now, you don’t discuss this with anyone. No one at all. And keep your pants on.”
Jonny nodded.
“You’re dismissed.” Jonny rose silently from his seat, head down.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Ted, the silent witness said as if to show Jonny that he had power too.
Jonny left and trudged back to his office.
He slumped into his chair.
And cried.