The Road to Nowhere

New Faces, New Places

    The view from his balcony made him feel like the King of all he surveyed. Edgerton Caine was as narcissistic as a person could be. The Trust fund baby of Montgomery Caine and his third wife, the Award-winning actress Natalie White, had the best of everything growing up. Save his parents' undying love. Easy to understand a collection of narcissists; no one wanted to concede their self-perceived superiority. Though Edgerton did indeed love his parents on a small level, his father's penchant to degrade his son's flaws every chance he got caused a great deal of rivalry between the pair. Edgerton had rarely seen his mother for more than a few months in between film and modeling shoots.

    The loving family they portrayed to the world was more editing than actuality; much like his personal life. Everything went to the script. Family gatherings of his half-siblings, their business dealings, and even his amorous ties to a plethora of models and starlets are for maximum media effect. Currently, the world thought Edgerton was in the family home in Wake County grieving the loss of his father and three of his older half-brothers. The Media was running the devastating footage of the Family yacht exploding off the Mediterranean Coast of Israel. The News blamed a group of Hamas terrorists retaliating against his father's goodwill trip to the beleaguered country to promote an easing of tensions between Palestine and Israel. It's amazing what a little money from an anonymous offshore account could buy these days.

    A malicious smile forms on his well-moisturized lips as he walks back into the study of the four-story turn of the 19th-century manor he calls home for now. He walks to a floor-length mirror to make sure his stylishly groomed bleached blonde hair is perfect while he finishes tying his hundred forty-seven dollar black white and gray striped jacquard tie. He turns as he hears the study doors slide open to see his man Friday, Geoffrey Pennington. "Ah! Good morning, Geoffrey. What news is there today?"

    The Sixty-year-old well-groomed man with stylish squared framed glasses turned and slid the study doors closed before he turned back to Edgerton with a stoic look on his face. "I'm afraid unpleasant news, Sir," he replied, "Your mother will arrive Friday and has shown the stay will be indefinite," he added, then had become silent as if to brace himself.

    Edgerton cast a distasteful look at Geoffrey, "Now, Now Geoffrey. My mother is welcome anytime at the Manor. Please make sure everything is in perfect order and make sure we instruct the staff to make her feel at home. Will you, please?"

    "As you will, Master Edgerton." came Geoffrey's reply as he stood still.

    "Something else?" 

    Geoffrey had seen over this young man before him for most of Edgerton's life. He knew the man's likes, dislikes, and character flaws better than anyone. One of those flaws was an overzealous and volatile temper. He drew in a breath and let it out slowly before he spoke, "Your mother has indicated she would like to discuss Caine Industries' business with you as her advisor before the first board meeting this month," he stated.

    The look on Edgerton's face said it all. It was one full of seething hate. "She what?!!" he yelled. "Who in the actual fuck does she think she is? I have a controlling interest in the company. I haven't done all the kissing father's ass and learning every aspect of the company under his demeaning gaze for the last ten years for her to play at being the head of the premier Fortune five hundred company in the world." he ranted.

    "She has influence with the board, Sir." 

    "Meaning she has dirt on them. They don't want to become public." Edgerton said as he braced himself against the antique mahogany desk that stood in the study. "Dirt harmful enough. They would risk a court suit to keep hidden," added, stating it more to himself than Geoffrey. Slowly, his devious mind went into high gear. Though they were not close, he knew all about his mother's vices. "Geoffrey, please coordinate with mother's aide her schedule so we can make her transition here as smooth as silk," he ordered.