Fixed Affection

Fixed Affection Chapter 13

The chapters never seem to be as long as I think they will be!  I know I love long chapters when I read so it is disappointing.  So I'm sorry.  But thank you so much for all the support!

Ch. 13

May 2010 2 years Later

“Alright lift your head up just a tad. Great.”

Shifting my point of view “Alright, just a few more.”  A few more clicks on my camera and we were done.  “Well it looks like we have everything.  Thank you so much.”

I started shutting things down, turning off my light and cleaning up my studio as my model left the studio.  I had just finished a shoot for a jewelry ad and I was cleaning up before meeting up with my dad for our weekly lunch.

Things had been going well, I was mostly doing shoots for advertisements lately and I wouldn’t have it any other way, photographing family after family was just too much for me to take, just wasn’t my deal.

***

As I was approaching the table my dad’s expression got me worried, his usual calm demeanor was replaced with a furrowed brow and a panicked expression.

Oh great.  I thought to myself, this can’t be good.

“Hi honey.” He said as I stood up to greet me.

“Hi dad.” I said sitting down, I wasn’t going to wait for this small talk I wanted to get to the point.

Dad followed suit and sat down across from me.  “So how’s work?”  He tried to give me a smile but it wasn’t a true one.

“What’s up dad?”  He just needs to tell me.

“What do you mean sweetie?”

“Just spill dad, I can tell something’s up.”

“I never could keep anything from you.”  He gave me a smile, but I just continued to stare him down, I didn’t want him beat around the bush.  “Well I did want to talk to you about something.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’m retiring and your mother and I are going to travel Europe!” he blurted out.

Was that his big announcement?  Why would that be a big deal? Good for them.

“Well that’s great dad! I’m so happy for you guys.”

“Thanks sweetie, your mother has always wanted to go so I thought ‘why not let’s do it?’”

“Yeah that sounds great dad, when you do you leave?”

“The beginning of June.” He said with the excitement clear in his voice.

“That’s in three weeks.”

“I know!”  It was obvious how much he was looking forward to this.  “That’s why I needed to talk to you, and I know you aren’t going to like what I have to say.”

Oh great here it comes.

“I need you to take over the company.”

Oh I definitely didn’t like that at all.

“Are you kidding me? Dad! What about my studio? What about my job? What about MY life?”  I was about to lose it, we was taking everything away from me.

“I know Brenna and I’m sorry but I have no other choice.”

“Bullshit. You’re the owner, you make the choices.”  I spat, not bothering to hide me anger.

“Yes but Brenna it was put into a contract many years ago that there were only a few stipulations in order to change ownership of the company and as a result of my retirement the company must go to an heir, and that’s you sweetie.”

“But Dad, I don’t want the company.  I have my own.”

“I wish there was another option hun, I really do.”

Our waitress came by with our usual order; there was no need to place it because she already knew what we wanted.

I picked at my food, eating slowly.  My mind was still trying to process everything.

What was I going to do?

Dad must have sensed my uneasiness and broke the silence.  “Well we have three weeks before we leave and we can get everything situated in that time.”

“Well what’s going to happen when you leave?”

“My assistants will be there to help you and besides sweetie I trust your judgment.  We always sort of saw things the same way and so I have no doubt that what you do will be the best for the company.”

It did mean a lot to me that he thought so much of me, and that he trusted me with his life’s work but how was I going to do this?  Run two businesses? I was booked as it was and I had no idea how busy things with him were.  But I guess I had to try, I knew this meant a lot to them and I wanted to make them happy.

“Alright Dad, I’ll try to work things out.”  I said trying to put a smile on my face, I wasn’t happy about things but I would do it for them.

“Thank you honey, I knew I could count on you.”

***

I was walking into Dad’s office; it was a little after 2:00 p.m. and I knew that he was not going to be happy.  I was supposed to be there before lunch but my shoots got backed up and I had no choice but to finish things up.

 I was rushing in to come face to face with an irritated Dad glaring me down.

“I know what you were going to say, and I’m sorry.  I really couldn’t tear myself away.”

“I understand, but you  missed some very important meetings and my assistant has been waiting for you all day in order to catch you up to speed.  We need to get the ball rolling.”

“Well I’m here now.”  I said finally I wasn’t going to argue with him, there was nothing I could do.

“Yes, yes you are.  This way.” He led me to another office.  “Here is your assistant that will be helping you out.  You remember Mike don’t you sweetie?”  As he spoke Mike spun around in his chair to face us.

“Yeah of course, long time no see.  How have you been?” I said as he stood to shake my hand.

“Well, very well.  It is good to see you Brenna.”

“You too.  So are we ready to get started?”

“Yes of course, right this way.” And with that Mike led me around the office bringing me up to speed on to the business I’ll be running in less than a month. No pressure.