“Alright Alec, when do I start?”
“Monday morning, bright and early at eight a.m. We have a lot to do.”
“Wait, you do realize it’s Thursday.”
“Well, you better start packing, and don’t worry, I'll take care of everything. Check your email. I sent you the time and location where you need to meet the private company jet.”
Chapter Four
Alec Williams
Williams Point Private Air Strip
Williams Point, New York
I FELT A WAVE OF RELIEF when I saw Paul step off the plane and onto the tarmac. “What’s up, man? What took you so long?”
“I tried to get here sooner, but my jerk of a friend sent this crappy plane to get me.”
“Haha. Very funny. You do know that’s a private jet that picked you up? I offer you an opportunity of a lifetime, and this is the thanks I get?”
“Well you know what they say, beggars can’t be choosers.”
I let out a laugh. “Shut up, jerk. Let’s go.” We got into the chauffeured limousine. “Brother, am I glad to see you.”
“I’m happy to see you too. How are things going?”
“I haven’t officially taken anything over yet. I still have to wait until the reading of my father’s will, and then there is the signing of all the documents to transfer ownership of the company and all its assets into my name.”
“Wow. When is all that set to take place?”
“In the morning. The signing ceremony will be in the large ballroom that my dad had built for highly sensitive meetings on the first floor of the manor. At least that’s what I was told. That room has always creeped me out, almost as if there is always someone else there.”
“Yeah, I gave up trying to figure out why your dad did the things he did a while back.”
“That’s better than me. I gave up after my mom passed, but whatever. Anyway, after the reading, I will sign all of the documents for a large photo op for the papers and the company newsletter.”
“Sounds like a lot of fun. How are you doing with your dad’s passing?”
I looked out the window as the car started down the freeway and thought about the question. “You know I haven’t had much time to think about it. As soon as I got in, I was immediately confronted by Rachel.”
“How did that go?”
“How do you think? She walked into my office with a skin-tight red dress on.”
“Let me guess, you froze like a deer in headlights.”
“Shut up, man. Okay I did, but only for a moment. My lawyer was there, so I told her I couldn’t conduct any official business until the transfer of ownership. She flashed her usual seductive smile and asked if I wanted to go to dinner with her so we could catch up. Then David walked in and started going on about how great it is to have me back home, and he seconded me going to dinner with his daughter to reconnect since we will be working together again.”
“Subtlety was never either one of their strong suits.”
“I know, right? I accidently answered the phone when he called the other night from a number I didn’t recognize, and I had to listen to how great he assisted my dad, and how he and Rachel could do the same for me. He told me that she was single a number of times.”
Paul chuckled. “He’s a persistent one. Please tell me you’re not going to ask her out.”
“No. I can only imagine what they’ll say when I tell him you are going to be taking over David’s duties.”
“Wait, you haven’t told him yet, and what about Rachel?”
“Not yet. Remember, I cannot make any official decisions about the business until I have signed all the paperwork tomorrow.”
“What are you going to say to them when I show up? You know they’re going to suspect something.”
“Maybe, but they know we’re good friends, and if they ask, I’ll say you flew in to show your support. I plan on breaking the news in private, as I’m certain they will be caught off guard by the announcement. I’m also going to put David back over the budgeting group, and I’ll let Rachel be his assistant.”
“I’m sure that will go down well.”
“I’m not trying to destroy either one of them, but my history with them is terrible. Rachel ripped my heart out countless times and cost me my fiancée. David was horrible to me while I was growing up. He was always getting me in trouble with my dad, and even after I came to work for the company, he did the same. I think he’s jealous or insecure or something like that, but given his time with the company, I may need his help on somethings going forward, and I’m not a monster. I’m going to give both of them a chance to do better.”
“I just got here and you’re already killing me with company politics. Anyway, all that can wait, how about tonight we go eat, and just hang out before your life becomes one long business meeting.”
“Yeah, that sounds good. It will give me a chance to share with you the direction I want to take the company, and you can tell me about that girl you’re seeing. What was her name again, Bridgette? Anyway, we can talk about all of that after we drop your stuff off at the house.”
“House? You mean your manor? I thought I’d be staying at a really fancy hotel or something, and Bridgette and I are over.”
“What? That was fast. You go through girls like underwear, bro, and besides the area you’re in is like having your own place. You’ll be in the west wing. It has its own kitchen and everything else you’ll need.”
“Yes, Alec, I know that. That’s the same area I stayed in when I would come and visit when we were in college, and I don’t go through women fast. We weren’t really connecting, and she didn’t like me moving here. She said if I leave then we were done, and I showed up here today, so that’s the end of that.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cost you your relationship.”
“It’s okay. Like I said we weren’t connecting, and it was time for it to end.”
“Right, anyway about the house, you should feel at home then, and once we get things up and running, you can look for your own place. Listen, that area of the house is over twenty-thousand square feet, and it has its own entrance and exit that is separate from the front door. I won’t know your comings and goings. Calm down. Don’t get weird on me.”
“Spoken like a true leader.”
“You’re darn right.”
“Now entering Williams Point. I still can’t believe they renamed this town after your family.”
“They renamed it after my grandfather who personally saved the town from going bankrupt in the fifties, so don’t laugh too hard.”
“Oh yeah, and how did he do that?”
“He bailed out the town when it was on the verge of bankruptcy, and in return he received some prime real estate holdings, and the name to the town as well. That’s how we got the land the manor is built on.”
“So, your grandfather bails out the town, and they give him a piece of choice property? That’s pretty lame, but pretty amazing one man had so much money he could pay off the debt of an entire town.”
“It’s not that hard to believe, Paul. J.P. Morgan and some other bankers invested their own money into the stock market in the twenties to try and stop it from collapsing. I’m getting a little worried here, aren’t you supposed to be the smart one? I mean, you did pay attention in all of our business classes, right?”
“You know I did, and as I recall you were the one who was always trying to copy off of my tests, and besides their money didn’t stop the stock market from crashing. After it did, the Great Depression started.”
“I hate you sometimes. Why do you remember everything?”
“Well, I wouldn’t be a good right-hand man if I didn’t give you all the facts.”
Paul and I continued to make stupid jokes as the car pulled onto the property and to my front door where David stood eagerly for my arrival. As I got out, and he walked to greet me. His face went from a huge smile to complete panic when he saw Paul get out behind me.
“I heard you were going to the airport, and I assumed you were picking up someone important. I wanted to see if you needed any help. After all, we are going to be working closely together, so I thought, why not start now?”
“I don’t need any help, thank you. Where’s Rachel?”
“She’s at the office, and if I may ask, why is Paul here?”
“Paul is here because I asked him to be here, so I will see you in the morning.”
“Okay, I will see you in the morning.” He turned and walked to his car.
David got in and flashed a smile and a wave as he drove off. A slight chill went up my spine. I didn’t trust him, and I knew he would be beside himself after I announced Paul would be taking his position, but I couldn’t worry about that.
“Come on, Paul, get your stuff, we have a lot to do.”
Chapter Five
Alec Williams
Williams Estate – Private Residence Wing
Williams Point, New York
I LAY IN BED THE NEXT morning exhausted from a night of restless sleep. I tossed and turned for hours, and the little rest I got was filled with dreams I could not remember when I awoke. Each time I dreamt, I snapped awake in a cold sweat with an overwhelming feeling of terror. For a brief moment, I couldn’t remember where I was or how I got there. I also couldn’t remember any part of the dreams, just the horrible feelings of dread.
I slept in the master bedroom, which was my parents’ old room. James, the family butler, had taken it upon himself to set up the room for me and insisted I stay there instead of my old room. I put up little resistance since I would be using my father's old offices at the company building and in the house. Taking over their bedroom just seemed to be a part of it.
I sat up and dismissed the uneasy feelings I had from the dreams and thought about how my dad rarely let me in that room while I was growing up. I never felt comfortable there after mom died. Those bad memories and feelings were probably the reason for the restless sleep. I decided to chalk it all up to anxiety about the upcoming events.
Since going back to sleep wasn’t happening, I got up to get ready. As I stood, I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I swore it was the dark silhouette of a person standing at the foot of the bed. I hit the light and turned, but there was no one.
“I’m so tired I’m seeing things,” I mumbled to myself with a laugh. I glanced around the room to be sure no one was hiding in the corner.
After a hot shower and a shave, I put on a new Italian, custom-fitted suit James laid out the day before and left the room. I walked down the hall toward the stairs.
The house had become foreign to me. After my mom died and my dad sent me to boarding school, he had taken down all the pictures of her and put up some weird paintings in their place. They consisted of scenes of war and of soldiers fighting and dying on the battle fields throughout history. My father was enamored by that kind of stuff, but I found it hard to look at. I never understood why he liked that view of death. It was as if he enjoyed it. I hated the paintings and decided to tell James to get rid of them. It didn’t matter how much they cost, and maybe he knew where my mother’s pictures were and could put them in their place.
It was time for a change.
The kitchen staff had already prepared the breakfast I’d asked for the night before. Eggs, bacon, toast. I took a seat.
Paul read the morning headlines on his tablet. “Good morning, my friend, how did you sleep?”
“Not well. I kept waking up. When I did sleep, I had the worst dreams, but I can’t remember anything from them. I just kept waking up feeling terrified.”
I yawned and nursed a cup of coffee.
He shrugged. “Wow. Sounds like a fun night, it’s probably nerves. Your life is about to dramatically change, and I know you're not taking it lightly. Eat your breakfast. You’ll feel better.”
James walked in and glanced at me from head to toe. “My word, young man you look wrung out. What happened to you?”
“A night full of bad dreams.”
“Just like when you were a boy. You needn’t worry sir, it’s probably just nerves.”
“That’s what I told him, James.”
James turned to me. “Do you need anything else, my boy?”
“Just more coffee.”
“Okay. The pot on the table is full. I have to start my duties, but do not worry about today, sir. You are going to be great.” With a smile and nod, James was off.
“Thanks, James,” I mumbled.
I ate my breakfast in silence as Paul skimmed the financials. I tried to remember the dreams that made me so fearful. All I could remember was darkness. Then I felt a nudge. I looked over to see Paul had a hold of my arm, and he was shaking it to get my attention.
“Wake up buddy. It’s time to go to the reading of your dad’s will. You drifted off there for a while.”
I shook my head as if to remove the imaginary cobwebs. “Yeah... Okay, how do I look?”
“Honestly? Like a guy who didn't do the required reading before class and the teacher just called on him. Good thing you're wearing black pants. No one will know if you wet yourself.”
His comments broke the anxiety and made me laugh a little. “Thanks, I appreciate the honesty.”
"That's why you hired me, buddy. Come on. Lighten up. You look fine. Get going, or you’ll be late.”
THE READING OF MY FATHER’S will take place in his office, which was now mine. It seemed like it would be a tradition for the son to use the office of the father, but it was also the same room where both my grandfather and father died. Each one fell over at their desk from a heart attack, most likely brought on by years of working too much and zero relaxation. As Paul and I walked in, I decided I was not going to die in that room. I would do things differently and enjoy life. It sounded nice, but I needed to remember to get a new desk and chair in there.
My lawyer sat at a different desk my father had in the room for when he met with more than one person at a time. Everyone knew no one sat at the boss’s desk unless instructed to. I remembered how my father treated the desk chair he sat in as if it were a throne upon which he reigned over his kingdom. It always creeped me out.
I took my seat across from the lawyer and was not surprised to see David Willenski and his daughter sitting next to him. Discretely trying to steal a glance at the papers. I knew he was hoping my father left him some untold riches or bequeathed him some sort of position of authority in the company.
David looked up. “Good morning Alec. I trust you had a good evening?”
Rachel’s eyes met mine. “Yes, Alec, how was your night?”
My heart fluttered for a moment, but I shut those feelings down and got to business. I wasn’t going to let her get in my head like she had done so many times in the past. I wasn’t going to let her have that kind of power over me... But she did look stunning in that dress. Dang it, I knew I had to stop looking at her like that... like a woman. She’d ruined my relationship with Tiffany, and after all that mess back then, she said she’d made a mistake and we couldn’t be together because every time she looked at me, she felt guilty and ashamed over what happened.
What a crock. It was a new day, and I was a new man. I knew we didn’t work as a couple, but maybe we could work together to grow and develop the company.
I didn’t bother answering her question.
I wasn't about to tell either of them I didn’t sleep a wink, and I wanted nothing more than to get through the meeting.
“I slept well,” Paul said.
“Well, that’s good to hear, Paul,” David said, as if trying to hide his disdain for him.
My attorney looked up. “Good morning, Mr. Williams. If you are ready, we will proceed with the reading of your father’s last will and testament.”
"Yes, just one moment before we begin please. David, how did you and Rachel get in here?"
He looked shocked by the quest
ion, and Rachel looked like she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "Well, we came in with the company lawyer this morning, Alec."
My lawyer shot me a look that said even he was not on board with David's answer. "That's not true,” the attorney said. “You told me Alec wanted you two here, and in fact, you said he insisted on it."
David flashed a look of anger toward the lawyer.
I didn’t take my stern gaze off David. "Hmph. Okay. You have no business here, David. Now please leave, and I will see you two at the signing ceremony in a little while."
He bit his lower lip as his face turned into a scowl, and his head started to twitch to the side. He looked like his head was going to explode. Rachel looked annoyed. She’d never been denied anything in her life.
"As your father's best friend and right hand, I should be here for the reading of his will. I have been with this company longer then you’ve been alive, and I have personally overseen many projects that were near and dear to his heart and vital to the growth of this company. I have more than earned my seat at this table. The one who should not be here today is sitting next to you. Besides, I will be able to help you if you fail to understand your father's final wishes.”
Rachel nudged her father.
“And Rachel has been assisting me and your father as of late. We are both highly valuable members of this company, Alec.”
Paul glanced up from the paperwork in his lap. "Wow, David. You know I'm sitting right here, right?”
I straightened in my chair. “There is no need for this, David. Paul is here because I asked him to be, and really, that’s none of your concern. Since you insist on questioning my decisions, you can either leave, or I can have my security escort you both out permanently."
He looked like he’d been hit by a brick wall. He flashed a quick smile. “Your father... Your father and I were close friends. He... He might have left something for me in his will."
The Man Wrapped in Darkness Page 3
