STORIES OF LIFE – Firing The Bully
Shirin, who was deeply engrossed in calculating the costs of recording a new singer, whom she had recently discovered, did not notice when a young dark-complexioned fellow entered her office.
“My name is Farhad Jahanbani. I am General Jahanbani’s son,” he said, dropping his tall body into the vacant chair behind a desk.
“Hello,” Shirin looked up absently. “How can I help you?”
He sneered, eyeing the Assistant Art and Repertoire Manager at CBS Recording in Tehran, and responded nonchalantly, “The company has transferred me to your department.”
Shirin, finding the fellow somewhat arrogant, sized him up, shrugged, and said, “OK, then; get down to work. Show me what you can do.”
Farhad gave Shirin a lopsided smile, placing his legs on the desk, and said, “Oh, you must know that whenever I’ve had female bosses, they have always done my work for me. Yes, Mam. You must know that this fellow never works,” he said about himself, lifting an eyebrow. “Don’t you know who I am? I am the renowned General Jahanbai’s son!”
“Ha ha ha,” Shirin said sarcastically. “I don’t give a damn whose son you are.”
She then stood to her feet, walked to the door, and threw it open. As Farhad stared at Shirin with wide-open, bewildered eyes, she ordered him, “Out… out. This female boss does not buy that kind of nonsense from a man; which means if you don’t work, you are out of here in no time.”
Yes, as simple as that…! Shirin fired Farhad Jahanbani. Yes, the famous General’s son without any hesitation right at the start.
When this happened, the Shah of Iran was still in power, although it happened to be the two last years of his reign. After that incident, the employees at CBS Records began thinking of Shirin with even more respect. However, Shirin herself thought that she had done the best favor to a spoiled brat, whom nobody had dared to confront because of his father.
