To New Beginnings. Sequel -(On Hold)

Chapter 11

Nathan

I drifted through the elevator doors, dreading the havoc that was my father. I averted the eyes of everyone in the office as I paced through the Isles, inching closer to my office. Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps scraping the floors, caught me off guard as I flew back to prevent Randy from collided with me.

"Has the office become a kindergarten now?" I readjusted my jacked and tie, easing them back in it's place. Randy panted and heaved for dear life, crouched over, clutching his chest.

"Sir. I...can." He held up a finger to excuse him as he caught his breath. "Icanexplain!" I jumbled his words out at once with a overdramatic gasp. With impatient arms crossed, I eyed him suspiciously. Finally standing up straight, my eyes somehow made it's way to his untucked grey button up, that flew over his robust, hairy stomach as he stretched.

"Jesus, Quimby, put that away." I angled my head upwards to avoid making any more contact. In the two and a half years that Randy has been my assistant, he has managed to pack on pound after pound every month, transforming him from an average sized neatly kept man in is late twenties, to an overweight slob-fest with a lack of care in the world. We knew one another on a personal level and though we made no effort to cater to each other's lives outside of work, I still believed he was a dedicated and loyal man... A... Divorced, recently broke, dedicated and loyal man.

After his wife left him for another woman, he's made my life miserable in the past year, with his continuous whining and complaints. Each day was a test on whether I could hold out firing him, but he was lucky, I still held s great deal of respect for our relationship as professionals.

"Sorry sir, I've been hitting the gym you recommended, it's been a great help. Even lost two-"

"That's fantastic Quimby... But not the time to nor place to discuss it." I dug my hands in my pocket, ready to storm off.

"Right!" He retucked his shirt and raked through his hair jaw length hair in a nervous sweep. "Sir I've been meaning to tell you. Before you entered the building-"

There was faint laughter from afar, coming from the direction of the conference room. Both Randy and I pointed our heads to the sound and I felt my chest tighten. My eyes slowly made it's way to Randy, shooting darts at his face.

"Who's in there?" I motioned to the area that initially caught our attention. No response from Randy. "Randall, unless you want to become unemployed along with your other losses... Then I suggested you open your trap and speak!"

"I, Sir...well." He stammered, averting his eyes to the ground. "Mr. James, has already began a sit down with the magazine editor." He tensed up with fear.

I inhaled deeply and bee lined around him, without another word, darting precisely towards the conference room that eventually revealed my father through the exposed paneled glass, head thrown back in a wheelchair, clutching this stomach with laughter. I don't know what came over me at that moment, but my pace quickened, to the door, only to find a female, in business attire, strawberry blonde hair tucked in a neat updo, fair freckled skin sorrounding light blue eyes that held a gaze.

She sat directly across from my father, her chair swiveling side to side, legs crossed and angled parallel to the large mahogany table. She appeared almost too relaxed, with a solemn grin splayed on her slim face, fixated eyes on my father. I knew that look all too well... plotting.

I slipped through the door, careful not to interrupt and stalked to the chair that was in between them, at the head of the table. My father's back was on me but the woman had already spotted me, her smile growing wider and eyes revealing surprise as they locked with mine. The room eased into a silence as my father's laughter faded into nothing.
He could always switch the mood from, serious and cold, to friendly and calm, when it was called for. It was scary how well he adapted around others, never once making a mistake to show who he truly was. I figured one of his businessmen ploys, which never failed.