Personal Possessions, page 11
Chapter 8
I was leaning over the sink, looking in the mirror that was situated on the bland crème colored wall of the hotel suite’s bathroom. I was in Atlanta. Using the towel that I had wrapped around me, I rubbed around in circles to wipe the moisture off the mirror. Staring at myself, I struggled to find some sort of reasoning behind what I was about to do other than being the selfish bastard I had become, but I couldn’t seem to find any.
I knew what I wanted and I was set in getting it back. He didn’t deserve her and I was going to be the one to make sure that he comprehended this fact.
“Big day today, man,” I spoke to an image that would not reply.
The reflection looked powerful and intense, this face had provided me with all that I had become, all that I had achieved in my life. But I questioned if it would be able to succeed in obtaining the one thing I, wanted most in this world.
I had a full day planned. I would be meeting with my new attorney, Loren Stevens today after a walk-thru at Richland Manufacturing. I had to listen to the little pitch that the director of operations would bore me with, typical of these types of buyouts.
Once Kip and I walked through the doors of that factory, there would be no turning back, the wheels to my plans would be set in motion. I, hell and Elle, for that matter would have to deal with the outcome as it transpired.
Putting this plan together, it took a while to figure it out, but as I started laying the ground work, it became much easier to realize. Richland Manufacturing had been in restructuring negotiations for years now.
Those discussions concentrated on what would be the best way they could hold onto their company. They wanted to fix the weak spots and increase sales without decreasing employees. So with Kip’s help, calling in a couple of favors, he got me the statistics I needed to anticipate every move they made. When the time was right, I made my move and joined the party.
They were asking some lowball number and I knew why. These were country people, the whole of Richland depended on this company. Fathers, mothers, grandfathers - they all worked here. They didn’t give a shit about who had the bigger balls. That was for corporate to worry about. The laborers were more interested in knowing that tomorrow, when they get out of bed, they had a place to come to work so that they could feed their kids.
Shitty way to run a business, but I had come to learn to use human morality to my advantage and I would definitely use it on this deal. I wasn’t in this business for sympathy, I was in it to make money, and I did make money. A lot of fucking money.
Except this time, I wanted this company. This deal wasn’t about the money, I had enough money to go around this county a dozen times. This deal was about retribution. Bear had no clue who or what he was up against, I’d had my eye on him for a while now. It started out slow, just peeking around his life, see what I could find out about. Credit history. Bills he was late on. Anything that would tell me how dependable he was. Not much came back and what did was not good.
Nothing was in Bear’s name, which told me that the house he was living in belonged to Elle. Knowing her dad, he more than likely put his name on it as well so that if anything happened between her and Bear, he wouldn’t be able to get her home. Maxwell Barker might have been a stubborn son of a bitch, but he was not stupid. That was one thing that I admired about that man, he was a planner and the first priority was Elle.
Now, I was finding out about Bear’s employment. I was here at this meeting with Kip, who was acting as my assistant. That way, while I was paying attention and enthralled in a professional ass-kissing session, Kip would be going over employee information with one of the HR managers. I instructed Kip to find out specifics about him. I really didn’t give a shit how he asked or got the information, I just wanted it. This was going to be the true test to see if Kip was as good at his job as he professed to be.
Bear thought I was about being all big and bad in high school, he hadn’t seen shit. I was going to see to it that he would know who held the winning hand in the end. He was going to recognize that not only were we not in high school anymore, but that I held the power over him. He couldn’t quit this job, he wasn’t smart enough, nor did he have the qualifications to get a better job. He could go back to working on cars, but that wouldn’t be near the money he would be making here at Richland Manufacturing.
I was going to make sure that he knew whose company this was. The very company that fed his family, the family that should’ve been mine. He wouldn’t be providing for them. I would be. Every time he went to cash his check, it would be my name he saw. Elle was going to be spending my money, not his. It was going to eat him up inside to find out that he worked for me, and I loved every fucking minute of knowing this.
I have had seventeen years of planning and dreaming up ways to get revenge on what that mother fucker took from me and now, it was his turn to lose everything.
Attempting to clear my mind, I knew I had a meeting to attend. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get the thoughts of Elle out of my head. I went back to the bedroom of the penthouse suite and began getting dressed. Going through my suit bag, I picked out my gray Armani suit.
Ever since Kip told me that Richland was going on the block, I decided that would be the perfect time to get shit in order. I was well aware of everything I would lose proceeding forward with this deal. I wasn’t just going to sell off this company. I planned on keeping it, and running it. The people of Richland depended on it; more important Elle’s family depended on it. I was going to move the entirety of Mac-Gentry down here to Richland, and make it the new headquarters.
Enemies were going to be made, and I would have to turn my back on several of my business associates. None of that meant shit to me though. She was completely worth everything I was giving up.
I had Elle’s information and was planning on using it to my obtain what I needed which meant first, it was imperative that I hired a corporate attorney for this deal. I decided that I was going to go with the firm Elle worked for. Not only because once I left Burlington, Sarah would be giving Alex Masters, my attorney for the past ten years a call and would tell him his services were no longer needed. But because, I’d heard through the grapevine that Loren Stevens not only knew his way around a corporate boardroom, but was a ballbuster when need be. I would need him to put on his game face and play ball with Elle. I knew her, and she was not going to be happy about the plans that were getting ready to result from this upcoming meeting.
Tying the black tie around my neck, I looked in the full length mirror. Everything had to go spot on today. Even though I had met with hundreds of business men before, I was extremely anxious for today. Seventeen years’ worth of emotions pulsed through my body. Seeing Elle for the first time today or rather, her seeing me for the first time in seventeen years was bound to bring on a fucked up atmosphere in that small conference room.
My plan consisted of spending time with Elle. I needed one on one alone time with her. She needed to see who I was, not the boy I used to be. She needed to see the man that I had become, the man that she would bring out in me. I began to feel that hole in my chest mending as I thought about her, and my cock grew hard as the thoughts of Elle flashed through my mind. She was going to realize that she needed me, as much as I needed her.
I was sick to death of fighting these feelings. Leaning up against the wall, I undid my pants. I couldn’t go into these meetings with a raging hard on, so I slowly shoved my hand down into my boxers. I could feel myself pulsating as the memories invaded my mind.
Elle. She inhabited every area in my head. I couldn’t go a minute throughout the day without having her on my mind. Remembering a past Halloween party, I laid my head back against the wall and closed my eyes.
Coming in the door of my childhood home, I knew my mom would be passed out and my dad was probably off fuckin’ some bitch from the bar, so we would be alone. We were both buzzing from the jungle juice that was served at the party. “TJ,” I heard Elle breathe my name. That was my que that she was ready for me. I pushed her up against the wall. I could smell her perfume on the nape of her neck, it was mixed with her natural scent, and her aroma was an aphrodisiac to me. I craved it, I would’ve begged for it.
“Wrap your legs around me, Elle,” I whispered in her ear as I guided one of her legs up the side of my body. She obliged by hopping up and encircling my body with her long slender legs.
“God, I need to be in you like I need my next breathe, Elle,” I confessed to her as I touched my lips to her own. “I’m yours, babe,” she said against my lips. I could taste the sweetness of her breath on my tongue as she spoke. I wasn’t going to be able to wait until I got her up to my bed, so I stopped at the next room we passed; the formal dining room.
There, in front of me sat my momma’s formal dining room table, big enough to seat eighteen. The set up was complete, right down to the butter knife across the top of the bread plate. Several pure silver, candelabras adorned the table, all were separated by areas where platters of food would be set. Between those areas, smaller candles sat in tiny crystal glass dishes.
Nothing but the best for show at the McHale’s. God forbid, someone actually see how fucked up our family truly was. Each place setting had three glasses a piece, and I didn’t give a shit at that moment if any of them would last throughout the night.
“Take me at the head of the table, baby,” Elle surprisingly pleaded as she turned back towards me from having her eyes glued where mine were as well. “Elle, I don’t thin-“
“Don’t think. Do. You are the man of this house. That is where you deserve to be. I want you to take me as just that, exactly as you will when we have our own home.”
That was all she had to say. Thoughts of her and I having our own home and family was enough to set my whole body on fire. Quickly and with giant steps, I strode over to where my father would sit on holidays. Where he would stand with forged pride and carve the ham or the turkey that my momma worked so hard on at the crack of dawn. I gently laid Elle back with no remorse. Her arms immediately went above her head, as they did she accidently hit one of the candlesticks, I caught it quickly and moved it to the side as she giggled her alcohol induced bubbly giggle.
“Take me, honey as you would if I was your wife,” Elle whispered as she pulled her blonde wig and the cone shaped bikini top off. “And here I thought I was going to be able to say I fucked Madonna,” I attempted to whisper but I think it came out more of a slur than it did a whisper. “Awwhh, well I get to say that I fucked a Baywatch lifeguard. I still can’t get over that you went as that,” She giggled some more as I pulled my red swim trunks down. Elle threw the bra over to the floor and arched her back up as she teased me.
“Love me, TJ,” She begged as she sat up to touch her lips to mine, “forever.”
I grabbed her lip in between mine and sucked it into my mouth. That wasn’t even an option, I was already there. Nothing or no one could change how I felt for this beautiful girl that laid here in front of me, spread open all for me. Wanting to please me in every way possible. I ran my finger in between her breasts, my eyes following their trail, taking her in with every sense that I had. Craving the feeling of her skin against mine.
I raised my head back up to look her in the eyes as I sobered up for just a moment so she knew I was serious. “You are mine, Elle. Forever. I can promise you that,” I kissed her hard, but yet gentle. I loved when she fought for control, she’d never win but it was amusing to allow her to think she could.
“Stroke me, Elle,” I whispered as I pulled her forward on the table and into a sitting position. She looked at me with a quizzical brow, so I grabbed her hand and slipped my cock between her fingers. “I want you to put me inside of you. Baby, I need you to do this.” She began sliding her hand up and down my shaft, I could feel my pre-cum drenching her hand and making me slip through her fingers smoothly. Elle closed her eyes and continued stroking me.
The thought of watching Elle put my cock inside of her. Joining us together as one made me almost lose my mind. I saw her raise her legs and slowly lay back down on the table.
“Come closer,” Elle purred, instantly drawing me closer.
“I’m not whole when we’re not together,” She said so softly I don’t think she meant for me to hear that, but I did.
I felt her take my length and swipe it up against her clit, making her moan. “You like that, baby? You like the feel of my cock bringing you pleasure?
“Oh god, TJ. You feel so good,” I could hear her moaning her delight.
“I love watching you please yourself. Fuck Elle, you’re so beautiful doing that.”
She quickened her movements, and I could feel the muscles in her legs that were wrapped around me jump, she was getting close.
“Elle, don’t you come. I wanna be inside of you.”
At that moment she moved me down to her entrance, and urged me inside. Without hesitation, I slowly pushed my way in. She was so tight and warm, I just wanted to stay there - forever. Her legs gripped around me, and I watched her eyes flutter closed. I hated not seeing her eyes, I liked to know she was here with me and not off somewhere else. Wanting her to know it was me that made her reach her orgasm.
“Look at me, Elle,” I growled against her lips. I kept my nose to hers as she opened her mouth and moaned. Sealing my mouth over hers to catch her scream, her pussy gripped me as she came. Thrusting once more, I filled her with all that was me. Staying deep inside her, I laid there looking into her eyes, eyes that had me hypnotized.
“Oh shit!” I exclaimed as I pulled my head up, watching myself explode all over myself and boxers. I stroked a couple more times as I stood there letting the wall hold me up for several minutes, attempting to shake the memories. I kept thinking of how after all these years this woman, a woman who told me that she didn’t want me anymore, a woman who was married to another man and had a family with, still had this strong a power over me. These thoughts were not reassuring to me that I was making the right decision, but I knew that the only way to face this problem was to meet it head on. That was exactly what I was going to do today.
Kip was on time, he was never early which pissed me off. I needed time to strategize with him.
“Mornin’, McHale,” Kip said as he blew smoke out his window. “You ready for this?” I watched as he flicked his cigarette out onto the two-lane road, I didn’t feel the need to answer him. He knew where I stood on this subject and I’m pretty sure he knew the very reason why I was doing it.
“Ok then,” He answered himself as he put the car in reverse and backed away from the hotel.
***
Walking around the factory, hard hat on my head, I looked around. Not listening to a word being said. I didn’t give a shit about this part, all I wanted to see was books. Percentages and numbers. That’s what made this factory fall under, and that was where my expertise was going to come in.
The director of operations took us from department to department. I could see people, dressed in blue jeans, ripped t-shirts, some of them were looking as though someone had pissed in their cheerios that morning. I kept my eye out for one man in particular; Bear. He wouldn’t be in on this meeting. His role was more of a paperwork guy rather than a true management title, from what I had gathered from the details that were given to me yesterday.
Men were working with large sheets of metal, the banging of hammers against metal was loud and annoying. The sound of air guns whizzed around me as someone was attaching designs together. I circled my hand around in a gesture to move this tour along. I pointed up to the sky so that we would head to the office next, I’d had enough of this. I was on a tight schedule.
I looked at my watch, 9:30. I had an hour and a half before we met with the attorney, which was what I was looking forward to all morning. We walked up the stairs that took us to the operation manager’s office and attempted to enter. A small one person office that was filled with more furniture, than anything else and thought to myself that this was a fuckin’ joke.
“Who’s not needed here?” I asked as I looked around at the seven people that had provided me with a tour, like it was a guided tour at a museum.
No one answered. I began pointing to people, “Who are you and what is your job title?”
I asked every one of these individuals that stood in front of me, hearing their names brought back memories. I went to high school with these people. I had a feeling they knew who I was but they acted as if they were shit scared to say anything, so I continued on with my weeding out.
“You, you and you,” I said as I pointed to supervisors that didn’t even have business being up here. “You can go. We can talk another time.” I would never talk to those men again.
Everyone stood against walls as I stood against the desk. I had an hour to discuss this business and be at the attorney’s office.
Chapter 9
“Well, I think that went slicker than snot,” Kip said as he flicked another cigarette out the window. We were now headed to Loren Steven’s office. My head flipped to look at Kip but I didn’t say a word, I knew he could read the “fuck off” on my face so I didn’t verbally say it to him.
This was my time to psych myself up, especially for a meeting this important. I played out every scenario in my head so that I wouldn’t be caught off guard without a solution. In other words, I would make the situation come to an end and it would end in my favor.
We pulled up to the building, and Kip shut off the car. “We all set?” He asked looking for reassurance. He knew the plan just as well as I did, he was in on the designing of it. “I think the question should be…are you?” I replied confidently.
Kip nodded once and then opened the door, stepping out. We were both quiet as we rode up the elevator, I was in my business mindset and Kip fiddled with his fingers, probably dying for a smoke. The doors opened on the twelfth floor and we stepped out into the huge lobby of the Richards, Klein and Daugherty law firm. I saw Kip’s eyes come to me and I nodded once giving him the go ahead to proceed with the plan.
