Till Death Do Us Part

The Jackson Empire Part 1

Author's Notes: 

Thank you to rachel_michaela for being honest. :) 

Anyway, this chapter is about the past. How the Jackson's wealth started and everything to clear some things. So yeah, it's like a prologue to the story. Divided into two parts. :) Enjoy! 

It had not been an easy birth, but then for Jim and Laura Jackson, nothing had ever been easy. Jim had wanted a son, an heir who would one day be chairman of the Jackson Group. By the time the boy would be ready to take over, Jim was confident, his own name would stand alongside Ayala and Zobel, and by then the Jackson would be the largest hotel group in the world. Jim had paced up and down the corridor of St. Luke’s Medical Center. He turned and retraced his steps once again, to see Dr. Rodek heading towards him.

            “Congratulations, Mr. Jackson,” he called.

            “Thank you.” said Jim eagerly.

            “You have a beautiful girl.” the doctor said as he reached for him.

            “Thank you.” repeated Jim quietly trying not to show his disappointment. He then followed the obstetrician into a little room at the other end of the corridor. Through an observation window, Jim was faced with a row of wrinkled faces. The doctor pointed to the father’s first born. Unlike the others, her little fingers were curled into a tight fist. Jim had read somewhere that a child was not expected to do that for at least three weeks. He smiled proudly.

            Sally’s christening was something everyone present remembered. After the St. Augustine Cathedral ceremony, the guests made their way to the Jackson Hotel where Jim had taken a private room. He had invited over five hundred guests close to the couple.  Jim’s closest friend George Blofis, who owned several banks in the country, was made one of Sally’s godparents.

            Jim had wanted a second child who he hoped would be a son but when the doctor said that would be impossible because of his failing health condition, he gave up. He lavished Sally with affection and poured all his energy in building the Jackson Group. The business grew as Sally grew.

            Paul Blofis, George’s eldest son, was Sally’s childhood friend. They often were together in school’s activities and though good, in Sally’s opinion, was quite a bore. She had not had much choice for she knew only few men in her life.

             In their teen years, everything was different. Sally was vibrant but Paul’s interest was pure horses. One summer vacation, she convinced her dad to take summer job in one of the malls in the neighbourhood.

            “But Sally, you can always work in one of our hotels, why take summer job in a mall?”

            “Dad, I would like to learn the trade. Would you like to know what’s in my mind?”

            “Well…”

            “Well, in the next decade, The Jackson Group will own the biggest shopping mall in the country and a chain of malls around the globe.”

            Jim laughed. Like any other proud father would be. He could not believer his eyes or his ears.  Sally had grown smarter than he ever imagined. For any other girl her age who are concentrating on romance and crushes, she was there visioning the business in the next millennium.  So, on the next day, Sally was employed as a saleslady in a candy store inside a mall.

            “No, Poseidon, you’re not serious,” his best friend Benny remarked.