When it Rains

By Atonia

Part 6

He was finishing up his breakfast and Freeman was fussing with his clothes in the bedroom, “Freeman,” he called out.

“Yes, Sir?” He was out of the room with his hands behind his back.

“I want to set up an account for Rachel Pederson, you know who she is?”

“Yes, Sir I do.”

This is between me and you, understand? Whatever my income from this company is and I have no idea what it is, is it…substantial?’

“Yes, Sir, five figures a month.”

“Direct that to the account on a monthly basis.”

“But…Sir?”

“I don’t need it Freeman, she has a boy to support. Make it happen.”

“Yes, Sir, right away. Would you want your calls now or later?”

“What calls?”

“You have had three calls this morning, Sir.”

“Now.”

He returned a call to Carol.

“Mark, I forget the time difference…how are you?”

“At last, someone sane to talk to…I want to come home.”

“Are you sure, I was beginning to worry that…you’d be caught up there and…”

“No, I’m not going to be caught up here, where are you?”

“I’m in your flat, I’ve been staying here…Mark I think when you get back we need to talk.”

“About what?”

“Long term.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“Yes, I’m ready I’ve had some time to think with you not here…I don’t like you not being here.”

“No more Arthur?”

“No…he was never…you know that, just a friend. I may have found a house if you’re interested.”

“I’m interested if you like it go ahead and put a deposit down.”

“When are you coming home?”

“Sunday…I miss you Carol.”

“Me too, I think I love you.”

“Hold onto that thought, I’ll see you Sunday night.”

Mark lay back on his bed still holding the phone, he wanted to go home now the next three days meant nothing to him, he had a life waiting on him he wanted to be there.

He didn’t bother returning Jo’s call and the other name he didn’t recognize and ignored it.

“What do you mean they can’t get here until Monday…well fuck ‘em I won’t be here.”

“Mark, they are the stockholders, major ones you can’t ignore them, they don’t all live here in New York,” Lilly tried to explain.

“Look, I’m not putting my life on hold because a few arses can’t be bothered to fly out here for a meeting on my time. It’s either tomorrow or not at all. I intend to appoint a new CEO if they’re interested they’ll show up.”

Lilly was astounded, “Mark…you’re not…not giving this up…you can’t do this…your father…”

“Yeah, my father. This is me we’re talking about not him or what he wanted. I’ve finally laid him to rest, Lilly don’t start dredging him up again.”

“You’re not thinking straight, you’ve been handed something people would die for…”

“One did and that’s enough. I don’t want it; I never did…it means nothing to me. I don’t want it in my life.”

Lilly sat down in the chair across from him, “He built this company up for you to take over someday.”

“Bullshit, he did it for himself, I was an afterthought. Take off the rose colored glasses, Lillipop. He was a selfish self-centered man who tried to redeem himself the last six years of his life.  And you devoted ten years of your life to him, what did you get out of it? Huh, a nice pension? How long have you carried on this one-sided love affair with him? Get over it…he’s dead.”

“You…you can be so cruel, how dare you talk to me like this.”

“I had a good teacher, long distance mind you.” Mark stopped pacing and went over and put his hands on Lilly’s shoulders, “You’ve got to face reality, Lillipop,” he said softly.

“Stop calling me that.” She wiped her eyes.

Mark went down on his knees by her, “Do you remember how you got that name, do you? I started about here,” he touched her ear and then her ankle,” I stopped here.”

“You said I was your lolly,” she bit her lip and looked at him.

“Yeah and you were for awhile, I might have been young but I thought I was in love with you. Think what a stab wound I had when I found out.”

“I thought things would turn out differently.”

“You thought he’d marry you after the divorce…I’m sorry he didn’t, sorry you’ve wasted all these years waiting for him. Lillipop…you’re free now. I’m free of him and I’ve got a woman waiting for me to come home in London.”

“Have you…I’m so glad for you, Mark.”

“Do you understand now why it’s important to me to get this thing settled and go home? I was never going to stay here and take over this company.”

She put her arms around him, “I’ll put out the call again and if the stockholders can’t all be here we can give them a short list to choose a new CEO from, they will eventually meet…all of them together and get the job done.” She kissed his cheek.

“Thank you,” he kissed the tip of her nose.

“I’m still sorry you aren’t going to stay. I think I would have liked working for you.”

“No you wouldn’t,” he got to his feet, “I do things differently at my company we have a monocracy already in place I didn’t start another one.”

“You’re leaving Sunday?”

“Yes, Freeman’s already made the flight arrangements.”

“Will you come back?”

“There’s no reason for me to come back. If I need to sign something for the stockholders, FEDEX it to me.”

“I hate thought of not seeing you again.”

“You didn’t see me for ten years.”

“I know but I’ve got reacquainted with you, the man you turned out to be. I like him; he’s strong and he stands for something.”

“Have I ever taken you to lunch…I’ll stand for lunch.” He smiled.

“You were supposed to take Jo to lunch today, she called and cancelled.”

“Hmm, I had a call from her this morning and didn’t return it…think she’s mad at me?”

“I think she’s got a headache.” Lilly took his arm as they left the office.

THE END

BACK                                                                                HOME