Chapter 60 Bronson

“Welcome back Mr. Fortworth.” Jonathan states as I walk into his office. Although I have been gone for only a couple of weeks, it has felt like ages since I have been inside my building. I stopped by Jonathan’s office before reaching my own to see how the merger is going that I left him in charge of.
“Thank you, Jonathan. Tell me, how are things going with the Blackwell Corporation deal? Have you spoken with Mr. Jorimo?”
“Yes sir. Everything is going according to plan. I actually have a meeting with Mr. Jorimo this afternoon to go over the final details of the merger.”
Good. You’ve done great work Jonathan.” I turn to leave but stop when I notice his desk. He catches me studying the image of the framed photo and picks it and comes around his desk to show me.
“It’s my son. He has Cerebral palsy.” I look from the frame back over to him, watching as his eyes water. His son is young, couldn’t be older than three, and a beautiful woman stands in the background smiling alongside him.
“And your wife as well?”
“Yes sir.” He says then looks down at the photo as well with pride swelling around his eyes.
“I didn’t know you had a family. I don’t remember you ever telling me you did.” My hands go inside the pockets of my slacks. I don’t want him to notice how nervous I am, how clammy my hands have just become.
“Oh, I uh…. you may think this is funny, but I was always made aware that my personal life was something you would never want to heart about.” My confused stare gives him incentive to explain further. “When I interviewed with the human resources advocate, she said there was a joke about how you would eat the children of those who worked here.” His laugh is painfully awkward, and I frown at the concept.
It wasn’t until Bethany was newly engaged did I even find out she was dating, and that was only because he came and delivered flowers to her personally on Valentine’s day. My grandfather ran this place with a tight leash, and I knew I had to take that a step further. No one’s personal business needed to be brought into a place of work, but in doing so, I pushed everything away, I took for granted the things some people have no choice but to live without.
Those like Nikki.
Jonathan has a son that needs him, that needs his full attention, and here I was keeping him here until all hours of the night because it benefited the company. Guilt rides me hard, enough to make me nearly wobble on my feet. Something Jonathan catches. He places down the frame and grabs my back and shoulder.
“Sir, are you alright?”
“Yes. Thank you, Jonathan, but I am fine.” He waits a moment later before letting go, allowing my feet to steady me once again. I never wanted to be the man that runs his company this way, only wanting success and nothing further, stepping on the lives of those that helped put it there. But Nikki is messing with my head. Her presence is causing me to think, to overthink, and to consider everything and everyone around me.
“Listen, sir, if you’d like, you can sit in with me on the merger deal and–"
“No, that will not be necessary. I trust in your ability to carry this deal over. Thank you, Jonathan.” I start for the door but stop just before I exit and look back over at him, catching his framed photo of his family in the background. “Bring him by sometime Jonathan.”
“Sir?”
“Your son. Bring him by someday. I may be a heartless ahole, but your son should be able to see where his father works. And how wonderful of a job he is going.”
“T-thank you sir.” Nodding my head, I march right back over to my office and take a seat. Bethany was not at her desk when I arrived but I’m sure she will be in soon. It’s strange how some things used to brother me, such as tardiness and black and white framed photos, and now, I couldn’t care less.
I spend the next two hours inside my office, going over the deals I had proposed while on my trip. I stop when I come across the merger for Mr. Blodgehorn’s business. A small smile is traced on my lips when I remember the way Nikki handled the deal, the way she stepped up, demanded the room and walked away with the deal, was something I could never forget.
A frown replaces the smile when I think of how things are between us now. It felt strange to wake up this morning and not speak with her, tell her how sorry I am and that I don’t want her to hate me. Instead, the moment I woke up and got ready for work, Casandra woke as well, going through her typical routine of pampering herself before her small workout. I hated leaving Nikki alone with her, but I had no choice. What happened the other night with me going inside her room, cannot and must not happen again. I cannot allow myself to get swept up within her and if that means she leaves because of my fiancé, then so be it.
Shaking my head, I smile when I realize how untrue that statement is. If she asked to leave, I would of course help her do so, but even I know I cannot stay away from the woman.
“Mr. Fortworth?” Bethany calls from the intercom. I push the button, clearing my throat before continuing.
“Yes?”
“There is a package here for you sir.”
“Bring it in.”
Seconds later, Bethany opens my office door with a large package that looks to be swallowing her entire body. I jump up, removing the heavy box from her hands, only to have her watching me with curiosity while I set it down on my desk.
“What?”
“Nothing sir, it’s just that I…. I don’t think you have ever helped me before.”
“Yes well. I haven’t exactly been myself lately.” I shrug then stare at the massive box taking up most of the space on my desk.
“Anything else sir?”
“No, that will be all, thank you Bethany.”
I wait until Bethany is out of my office before, I open the box and nearly fall to my knees for the second time in one morning. Littered inside the box are all of my childhood memories. Pictures, trophies, even my old yearbooks from school.
Grabbing my chair, I sit before I fall and press the button for the intercom as if my life depends on it.
“Sir?”
“Who sent this package Bethany?”
“I’m not sure sir. It was just our normal delivery man sir. It came with no message, no name on the box, nothing.” I take my hand away, as if the intercom itself is poisoned and look down ate box containing all the items I had sent away years ago.
Why would she send this to me?**