A Hellhound in Manhattan: Part 1

Chapter 7

Victor Parker hadn't expected anything unusual that morning as he returned to the office.

As CEO of Prometheus Pharmaceuticals, most of what he had to do was sign authorizations to move forward with medical research. However he was still a man of the people, or so he liked to believe. He still came into work and greeted his employees with a smile and a compliment.

He walked through the lobby.

"Good morning, Alice! Hope your son's hockey game went well... Steve! Love the tie!... Sarah, did you do something with your hair? Because it is looking magnifique!"

The elevator was almost full, so he stepped aside and let Mina from accounting get on first. There was always the next one.

Ten years ago he had been given the position as head of the company by his father, Howard Parker. At the time Victor was immediately dismissed by the press and his contemporaries as a good-for-nothing trust fund baby, so for the past decade he was determined to bring the company to the top of its game. Prove that he could earn such a position and title.

He stepped onto the next elevator and held the door open for others, continuing with his friendly pleasantries.

So far Victor had kept that promise to himself and the company. If he was going to keep it afloat he had to keep his employees happy and loyal. Let them know they're valued to him, not like his competitors such as Xanatos Industries.

He finally reached his floor and found his assistant at her desk.

"Morning, Hannah! How's your aunt? Did her surgery go well?"

"Yes, Mr. Parker. It was a success, but she's going to need to use a walker once she gets out of the hospital."

"Oh... Well, you just let me know if you need to take off early to help her out, okay?"

"Thank you, Mr. Parker."

Victor set his coat on its hook and closed the office door. On his desk his coffee was ready, as was the morning paper. Hannah was so reliable to have things all prepped and tidied for him.

He sat down in his chair and sipped his coffee. Two spoons of sugar, no cream. Just the way he liked it.

He turned his chair around and smiled proudly at his reflection in the window.

He adjusted his glasses. He was forty-one but still had a youthful face, with the bags under his eyes being the only exception. The results of all-nighters he pulled back in college. He stroked his long, voluminous black hair that he kept tied back.

He no longer looked like the spoiled brat many of his contemporaries accused him of being. They still called him a college dropout living on dear old daddy's credit card, and they technically weren't wrong about that. He still looked more the part of "responsible adult running a business."

He leaned back in his chair. As Dad's little golden boy things came so easy for him that he could want for nothing. Being his father's only son certainly helped.

He glanced over at a framed photo on his desk. It was of himself and his stepsisters celebrating little Angelica's college graduation.

Victor's eyes narrowed. He was the only one of father's actual children.

His younger stepsister Angelica had just finished college and was looking to become a certified accountant. Awfully humble work for the family name, but then again, they weren't really of the Parker family, were they?

His older stepsister Elizabeth had used the family's wealth and resources to establish a charity organization for the benefit of refugee families.

He glared at her smiling in the photo. Dad was always so proud he was of his dear, sweet stepdaughter Lizzie and promoting her charity events at every press conference he attended.