Jacob woke up at his usual 4:00am without the help of an alarm clock. He had never needed an alarm clock, even as a young schoolboy, his internal alarm clock was always on time. This morning, unlike most mornings, he woke up in his childhood bedroom. The waxing moon low enough in the still night sky he could easily see it setting in the western sky.
Jacob woke up at his usual 4:00 am without the help of an alarm clock. He had never needed an alarm clock, even as a young schoolboy, his internal alarm clock was always on time. This morning, unlike most mornings, he woke up in his childhood bedroom. The waxing moon low enough in the still night sky he could easily see it setting in the western sky.
As he lay there, memories of his childhood flooded back. The warmth of his father's laughter, the scent of breakfast wafting from the kitchen, the sound of the old grandfather clock ticking in the hallway. He could almost hear his mother’s voice, stern yet loving, urging him to get ready for school. The familiarity of it all was comforting yet bittersweet. The house had changed little over the years, a testament to his mother’s meticulous care and perhaps her reluctance to let go of the past.
Sighing, Jacob threw back the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He stretched his arms and listened to the silence of the house, a stark contrast to the bustling mornings he was accustomed to in his own home. His radio tuned into an old classic rock station, the coffee pot dripping dark roast, and the hurried feeling of needing to get to the office before the rest of his employees. There was something almost sacred about the quietude, a reminder of simpler times.
He dressed quickly, choosing a comfortable yet presentable outfit suitable for the day ahead. As he made his way down the hallway, he paused to glance at the family photographs lining the walls. Each frame held a piece of their history – birthdays, holidays, milestones. His eyes lingered on one particular photo of his parents on their wedding day, looking impossibly young and blissfully happy.
Three hours later Jacob descended the grand staircase into the foyer. The urge to plant his butt on the banister and slide down, like he was nine again, was almost too much to resist. A left at the bottom of the stairs through the formal dining room brought him into the sunroom where he and his mother had eaten breakfast every day of his life, until he moved out.
On the first Sunday of each new quarter his mother had always thrown a cocktail party for all the board members. It was her way of staying relevant in the business world even though cocktail parties and business dinners had become passe. However, it did give Jacob a chance to get to know the members of the board and their significant others. The only problem with these nights is how late they lasted and how rude it was for the host to leave a party before the last guest so he always ended up sleeping at his mother’s, which was over an hour away from the office.
Jacob looked at his watch, 7:08 am. He smiled before entering the room.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee guided Jacob into the sunroom, where the morning light filtered through the large bay windows, casting a gentle glow on the polished wooden table. The familiar clinking of silverware and the rustle of the morning newspaper made the scene complete.
His mother looked up from the financial section of the paper, her expression unchanged from the stern yet loving face that had greeted him every morning of his youth.
“Good morning, Mother,” Jacob greeted, his voice a mixture of affection and formality.
“You are late,” replied his mother, her voice carrying the same authority and grace it always had.
Josephine Mantles sat at the small table, her stark white hair pulled back in a tight French twist gave her facial features a taunt angled look. She was born a pampered socialite and married into the married into a business mogul family. During the last three decades she has learned about the business world and how to work it to her advantage in every aspect. Since the death of her husband, she had controlled every penny spent or brought in by Benson Industries.
“Eight minutes late, I know. I can’t stay for breakfast, I’m just here to get some coffee on my way out. I have meetings this morning.”
“You do not, I phoned Clairissa yesterday and instructed her to reschedule anything before noon. Now, sit your ass down and have a proper breakfast.”
“She’s fired.” Jacob took his seat and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“Don’t be a ninny. You couldn’t find anyone to work as well as she does within all of the state.”
“She’s way overqualified to be a secretary anywhere. I have no idea why she stays.”
“She stays because you pay her three times more than she could make starting as at the bottom rung of any business. You may want to give her another bump and change her title to administrative assistant. She would be better suited for you than that other woman.”
“Mother don’t start,” Jacob scolded.
“With her family history and limited employment opportunities she does not have what it will take to make it in our world.”
“She has a bachelor's degree in art history and is teaching. She love’s what she’s doing and that is all that matters.”
“The disparity in incomes will become an issue. You make in a month what she makes in a year.”
“She already knows that, and she doesn’t care.”
“Do you even know what really happened to her parents? Her mother sent that girl off to school one day, shot her father in the face and left his bloody corpse in their bed for their daughter to find when she came home from school. She was so traumatized that she couldn’t even speak to the 911 operator. They had to track the poor girls cell phone to find her.”
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“I didn’t know the whole story; I don’t even think Katie does. I do know she spent several weeks in the hospital recovering. I really don’t need to know more.” Jacob tried to end the conversation, but his mother wouldn’t stop.
“Afterwards Mrs. Summers snuck into her mother’s house and hid in the basement downing a bottle of Vicodin followed by a bottle of vodka scribbling incoherent nonsense on a mirror with a black eyeliner pencil. They did not find her until almost 5:00pm the next day.”
Jacob let out a loud frustrated sigh. He had known bits and pieces of the story, parts that Katie remembered and the many rumors that had been printed at the time of the incident. However, those that were in the know and family and kept silent about the matter.
“What ever happened to that sweet Olivia girl? She would have fit in every suitable in our life.”
“Olivia didn’t know the difference between a Ding Dong and a Twinkie and was dull as a bed of rocks. I’m just gonna grab some coffee to go and head to the office,” Jacob peeked over his paper as he emphasized the word gonna to see his mother’s expression.
“Jacob,” she sighed after flinching at the word. “You know I hate it when you use that contraction. I know you do it just to get under my skin.”
“Mother, please, Katie and I are happy. Can’t you just respect that?” Jacob’s voice carried a tone of exasperation.
Josephine pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I just want what’s best for you, Jacob. And I’m not convinced she is it.”
“And I appreciate your concern, but it’s my life, my choices,” Jacob responded firmly, trying to keep his composure.
“I do apologize Mother,” Jacob laughed. “I’m going to take my coffee to go and head to the office.”
“Very well, will I see you for dinner tonight?”
“No Mother, I’ll be staying at my own house tonight, just like every other night.”
“I do not understand why you insist on living in the city. I have enough room in this house for you, a wife, and three or four kids.”
“Even after I decided to get married, we won’t be living here, and this place is nice but over an hour away from the office.” Jacob headed for the door. “I’m out, gonna head to the office,” Jacob emphasized the gonna just for the sake of his mother. With a chuckle raised his cup and stepped out the door.
Josephine took a deep breath, seemingly ready to continue her argument, but Jacob had had enough. He stood up, signaling that the conversation was over. “I need to get to the office. We’ll talk later.”
As Jacob walked towards the door, he could feel his mother’s eyes on his back, filled with a mix of disapproval and worry. He knew this wasn’t the end of the discussion, but for now, he just needed to escape. The weight of the morning’s revelations was heavy on his shoulders, and he needed some time to process everything.
With a final glance back, he saw Josephine pick up her phone, her expression already shifting to one of determination.
Josephine cringed as the ring tone of her phone filled the breakfast room. Seeing it was Andrew Tyler, her PI, she waited to hear the front door close before she answered it.
“Good morning Mr. Tyler. Do you have something for me?”
“Well good morning to you, yes I’ve had a great weekend thank you.” He replied back sarcastically.
“I do not have time for niceties. What do you have?”
“Ok, whatever. On Friday her and her friend, Cheri, visited a medical lab where she took several blood tests, including a hCG test. Then Saturday morning she had an appointment with her OB. The test came back positive. Congrats, you’re going to be a grandmother.”
“The hell I am! Has she told him yet?”
“As far as I know she hasn’t seen him yet.”
“Bring me everything you have, and I’ll figure this out.”
Jacob entered the lobby of Benson Industries just in time to see Brandon enter the lobby elevators. He hesitated for just a few minutes to allow the doors to close, leaving him alone during one of his most favorite times of the day. Stepping into the lobby with its translucent glass walls and its lustrous smooth chrome moldings and fixtures filled him with a sense of pride. He was only sixteen when his father came to him, knowing his love for architecture, and asked him to help him design something spectacular. To Jacobs surprise his father actually listened to him and together they designed this elegant structure. He had learned so much about architecture, business, and his father during that adventure, it solidified his love for all three of them.
Jacob took a deep breath, savoring the familiar scent of polished wood and clean air that always greeted him in the lobby. It was a reminder of his roots, his journey, and the countless hours spent turning dreams into reality. The building stood as a testament to his and his father's vision, an architectural marvel that combined functionality with aesthetic beauty.
He made his way to the reception desk, exchanging pleasantries with the staff who had become like family over the years. Their smiles and warm greetings buoyed his spirits and reminded him why he loved coming to work every day. As he approached the glass elevator, his reflection caught his eye; he saw not just a successful businessman, but a man who had grown through hard work, passion, and the unwavering support of his family.
With a final nod to the receptionist, he stepped into the elevator. The ascent was smooth and quick, offering him a brief moment to reflect on the day's agenda and the challenges that lay ahead. He was ready to face them, bolstered by the confidence that came from years of experience and the solid foundation built by his father and himself.
Clairissa had just finished making his coffee as Jacob Stepped off the glass elevator. She had been an exemplary secretary over the last few years, he still hadn’t figured out how she always new when he was on his way up.
"Good morning, Clairissa," Jacob smiled, her coffee was the best in the building.
"Good morning, what are you doing here so early? I rescheduled the Hartford meeting and the New Yorker interview." Clarissa sat his coffee on the desk in front of him and placed three large brown portfolio’s on top of his inbox.
"Yes, I know. And if you ever change my schedule on my mother’s say so again you and the next secretary you hire will be fired." The scent of the perfectly brewed coffee filled the room and if he had any real anger regarding Clarissa’s actions they would have melted away.
"Next secretary?"
"Yes, I’ve been considering this for a while now and this morning my mother made it clear that I need more help. I’m giving you a title promotion to an administrative assistant and you will hire someone to take on the more simple secretarial duties. Choose someone from the secretarial pool, I would rather promote from within."
"So does this promotion come with a raise?"
"How does a 10% bump in pay and seven more PTO days sound? Did you do something new with your hair?"
"Yes, sounds good. Just a little peek-a-boo pink. Thought it would be fun."
"It’s pretty. When my mother sees it she’s gonna have a cow. Remember how she flipped out when she saw the dove tattoo behind your ear?"
“Ha!” Clairissa puffed up her chest and lowered her voice. “No proper businesswoman would allow her body to be permanently marred like that. It’s distasteful.”
“How about Gerlad?” Clarissa’s tone changed quickly back to business. “He covered for me when I took my two weeks this last summer. As I recall you liked him.”
“Well, that would be a hoot. My mother seeing your peek-a-boo pink and Gerald’s nose ring! Before you offer him the position, vet his resume. I did hear he turned down an offer from Dunning in accounting.”
