Needing is One Thing

Chapter 20. Tonight it's "It can't get much worse."

Andrew drove home. His body moved but his mind was still in shock. His thoughts were a mess as he tried to reconcile what he saw with what he heard, what he knew. What he had done... and what he could do.

All under Delial's watchful eye.

* The day before. *

Jared Lewis was what people would call a simple businessman. His appearance wasn't remarkable: standard build, tidy gray hair streaked with his original brown. His square jaw was clean shaven and his banker's glasses made him look conservative as well as subdued. Jared's work style and business skills were average, though diligent. He held the Vice Chairman position more out of recognition of his dedication to the company, his loyalty to the Anderson family, and a lifetime of serving them, than for his performance. His ambition, however, was far from average and it was well hidden.

He walked the halls of Anderson Toys' headquarters with purpose, with eyes that watched everything yet appeared to pay no attention to any of it. The admins and associates quickly moved out of his way as they hurried to complete their own tasks.

"Jared," one of the VPs tried to get his attention. He stopped, turning to her with a pleasant smile.

"Lauren." He let his eyes slide over her trim business suit, his smile becoming one of approval. He would have to consider her sometime. Lauren was vicious in marketing. She and her teams had already taken down one competitor and were working on the design of a premiere retail front here in downtown Chicago in a push for direct-to-market profitability.

"We'll get those numbers to you by end of day. Harold already signed off on them." Lauren paused, realizing it no longer mattered what Harold had done now he was gone. She pushed on. "But I want your opinion and buy-in before we move forward. My team is aligned to your strategy directives."

That was an efficient way for her to throw her hat into his ring. Jared gave a curt nod in acknowledgment of the maneuver. "Of course, I look forward to seeing what you propose." She smiled, not quite able to keep the relief from her eyes. She was still young but so aggressive, Jared admired her. He would have to keep close tabs on her, she had so much potential.

"Andrew's been interested in the storefront," he mentioned offhandedly, watching her. "Perhaps you should meet with him, bring him on board." He saw the shift in her expression, the consideration. The two were of an age. It would be amusing in the least and perhaps her ambition would rub off on his son.

"I'll be sure to do that." Her smile widened at the suggestion.

"Excellent. Now, if you'll excuse me." Jared continued on, walking past her, leaving Lauren to make her own plans.

"Are you ready?" He stepped into his son's office, noticing the frame on Andrew's desk. Harold's picture of his granddaughter, taken from the dead man's office. She was smiling into the camera as her strapless sundress blew in the wind, one hand holding a broad-brimmed hat to her head. It was the most recent, from last year's Kentucky Derby. Jared had to admit she looked like a debutante. What a waste.

"Yes, sir." He watched his son flush, close his laptop, and slide it into the desk drawer. Andrew saw him recognize the picture. As if the boy could hide the scene he caused at the housewarming party or hide his interest in the girl. Harold had filled the boy's head with dreams of her. The admins were already mooning over the fairytale story of the prince and princess finding each other. It made Jared sick, but it would soon be taken care of. His son would learn not to interfere in his business again. He ushered Andrew out the door.

Jared befriended Harold Anderson back when the company first started: Harold making the toys while he figured out how to sell them. They became fast friends in those early years, working out of a single-room office with only one assistant and a coffee pot to help them build the foundation of what would become an empire.