New Beginnings, Chapter 54
by SIPort
Chad
enters the Crane Executive Dining Room at a quarter to 8, and there is
Alistair, already sitting there, drinking coffee, and reading the
Journal.
“ Well Chad,
you’re early. Good.”
The waiter comes over to Chad,
and pours him some coffee. Before
Chad
could say anything, the waiter walked away.
“ He didn’t even take my order.”
“ I ordered for both of us.”
” Why am I not surprised?”
” I’m a powerful man. Conversing about breakfast
choices is beneath me. Now,
let’s get down to business.”
” Yes. Your favorite word.”
” Along with money and power, I agree.”, Alistair laughed. “ So, I have
a
project for you.”
” And, it involves Veronica.”
” Yes. Her father’s company is doing well, but combining the Crane
influence
with their technology, and there’s a killing to be made in Asia.”
” I see. And, Veronica.”
” Outside of being a beautiful young woman, is smarter than most of the
MBA’s
hired by this company. She entered Harvard at 16 – did you know that?”
” No.”
“ There’s a lot that you don’t know. Not only is
this deal
good for Crane, I think watching someone with Veronica’s level of
experience is
good for you personally.”
” And, you care so much for me personally.”
” Actually, I don’t give a rat’s ass about you, personally. But, you’ve
been
claimed, despite my best efforts. Now it’s time for you to be
profitable to
Crane Industries.”
” Making a buck – all that matters to you.”
” Exactly. This isn’t some small project. This is a test. I’m seeing
what
you’re made of. Can you hack it? I do wonder. How many of your genes
are
actually Crane, and how many are from your mother.”
Chad
smiled at Alistair. “ Ah, there it is. The ever present Alistair Crane
threat.”
“ I don’t know what you mean.”
” Sure you do, Old Man. Sure you do.”
“ My simpering idiot of a son insists that you
have a place
in the family, and since you’re a male, that means at this company.
But, I’ll
not give you anything. You’ll earn every inch of your possible position
at
Crane.”
” Don’t do me any favors.”
” I won’t. So, are you up to the task?”
” Sure. I’ll work with Veronica.”
” Excellent.” Alistair slid a huge file towards Chad.
“ This is the background
information. You’ll be having dinner with Veronica tonight – at the Sea
Scape.”
Alistair waved his hand, and breakfast suddenly
appeared. Chad
wanted to
leave, but ate anyway.
Veronica was in her hotel suite, at her laptop,
looking up
the returns of the foreign markets when her phone rang.
“ Hello?”
” Ronnie, it’s your father.”
” Daddy!”
” Did you see how well our Tokyo
positions are doing this morning?”
” Just checking it now.”
” Your mother tells me that you had a good time last night with
Alistair’s
grandson.”
” We weren’t exactly alone on a date, Daddy. It was his housewarming.”
” Oh. But..”
” Yes, he’s handsome. And even attractive.”
” You think we should do this deal with Crane?”
” I don’t know. I think it could be a very profitable relationship, and
consider all the other sharks who have come sniffing around..”
” This one has the best ‘fringe benefits’, eh?”
Veronica laughed. “ I will not discuss such things with my father.”
” Princess, I only want you to be happy. I worry about you sometimes.”
” Worry about me?”
” Despite her being difficult, I love your mother with all my heart,
and I want
the same for you.”
” Daddy, you know you’ve spoiled me, in so many ways. Not many men
compare to
you.”
” Just be careful. …Ok? Promise?"
” Daddy, you worry too much. But, I promise to be careful. Love you.
Bye.”
“ Bye.”
Veronica clicks on the file labeled ‘ Chad Harris
Crane’ on
her computer and re-reads it. Again.
“ Thank you Grace.”, Eve said, as she wheeled into
Grace’s
private office at her Knicknack shop.
“ You’re worried about Chad, aren’t you?”
Eve nodded. “ Chad
has an housewarming and ALISTAIR shows up? That can be nothing but
trouble.” There was a knock on the door, and Grace went to get it.
Julian walked back to the office.
” I’m going to give you two some privacy.”, Grace said, as she closed
the door.
“ I have to tell you, I love these secret
rendezvous.”,
Julian said as he smiled.
” Julian, I don’t have time for this. I only risked this because I
found out
from Whitney and Simone that ALISTAIR was at Chad’s
housewarming last night!”
” It’s true. Father showed up.”
” With a young woman. Veronica Townsend.”
” Yes. Ms. Townsend.”
” Julian, what is Alistair up to?”
” I believe he’s up to no good. “
“ So, it is another you and Ivy, but an African-American
version this time.”
” Yes, I do believe those are my father’s intentions.”
” I WILL NOT let this happen to our son.”
” I agree, Eve. But, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
” Why not?”
” Because Chad
knows what Alistair is up to, and he has no interest in it. Our son is
very
smart. He’s not going to be weak.”
” Julian, I know that Chad
thinks he’s strong. But, this is Alistair. A soulless monster. I’m
afraid for
our son.”
” I agree. I will help him. I’ll watch out for him. Eve, I promise that
I’ll
protect him, even against Alistair.”
Eve looked deeply into Julian’s eyes, and then
looked down
at her hands, which had become intertwined with his. Eve didn’t like
the way
she was feeling, and abruptly pulled her hands away from Julian. Then,
she
moved the wheelchair back.
Julian got up and walked towards the door. “ I’ll
watch out
for Chad,
Eve. I failed you both before. I won’t make that mistake again.”