Who is Jonathan Clark

Untitled Part 1

                                                                                   CHAPTER ONE

                                                                                  WHAT THE HELL  

"Is everything arranged? inquired Julian Clark, (JC to his friends)  appearing at the kitchen door of the modest little house he shared with his wife Jennifer and their three children, Bobby, Lexi and Gabriel. Julian and Jennifer had lived in the same home ever since their marriage 25 years past. After leaving school at the age of eighteen Julian had worked in the Bretton Fall Dept of the clothing store chain started and expanded by his now late  father Jonathan Clark.  But the day had come to bury his father, a man he had not spoken to in the past five years. Mainly the product of family disagreements regarding the running of the family stores of which there of which there were ten units spread across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. In Julian's eyes  his father disagreed with everything anyone suggested to him, and his way of winning an argument was to close down and simply not discuss it, and in doing so always got his own way. Julian's wife Jennifer was the backbone of the family keeping everything ticking along like clockwork. Their small home although lacking in fine furnishings was at all times the picture of a Show Home. Jennifer, devoid of her own career had set her path in life to make sure that her family were well clothed and fed and to allow her Husband and Children no more pressure in life than getting to work or school on time.

"Yes, everything everything seems to be in order Darling" was Jennifer's answer to the question posed by her anxious husband on the day's preparations. "Do you expect a large turnout? she asked, furiously brushing the hair of her youngest daughter Gabriel, "the Church will only hold around 200 people seated" as the screams from Gabriel echoed across the room.

"I don't really know" answered Julian, probably only employees and old friends from his younger day's. It is unlikely that all ten stores will be represented, he was not in anyone's eyes the worlds greatest employer, never being approachable and in his later years even less visible at least to his immediate family. All he seemed to care about were his stores and what ever other business interests he had, even my mother was in the back-ground when it came to his business dealings. What time is the car scheduled to arrive, it should take around 20 minutes to reach the church, the service begins at one o,clock, and is estimated for 45 minutes, another hour at the graveside, thirty minutes to shake hands and a twenty minute drive home, we should be back by 4pm"

"What about the reception at your father's house? asked a confused Jennifer.

"I am not going" snapped Julian, "we have had no contact for the past five years, only birthday and Christmas cards. All I want is to meet with Steve Bowman at his office tomorrow and find out how much the old bastard has left me in his will. I don't want to discuss it any further, now let's get going"

Over on the other side of Bretton Falls lived Sylvia Preston, Julian Clark's elder sister and they could not have been more different. Sylvia now 48 years old was as stunning as she was in her twenties, when every available bachelor in and around Bretton Falls was eager to wine and dine her. But the one who stole her heart was a young doctor by the name of Charles Preston, now a cancer Consultant at the First Liberty Hospital in Boston. Sylvia and Charlie as he was known to his friends were socialites, and with their only son Trent away at College they had plenty of time to pursue their passion. They mixed in business circles, attended Medical functions and had many friends in high places. No sponsorship or Charity occasion was complete without Sylvia and Charlie Preston, they were pillars of society. Unlike her younger brother, Sylvia had always been close to both her parents, and when her Mother died 4 years earlier she became even closer to her Father. She did agree with Julian that he could be awkward at times but this did not justify staying away for all of these years. Sylvia knew that Julian wanted to gain ,control of the chain of stores started 35 years previous by her now late Father specializing in clothing and hardware mainly aimed at the great outdoors. But her Father on the other hand had never recognized Julian as his natural successor. The link was their Mother Constance Clark, although a soft-spoken homely woman she had no hesitation speaking her mind to her husband especially in matters concerning Julian who had always been her favorite and she made her support for him becoming Chairman of Clark Stores more than obvious. But her sudden death brought on by a heart attack it seemed that any chance that Julian had, was gone. In contrast Sylvia had no interest in her parents business, she had her beautiful home in an affluent area of Town, a home by the Lake and a husband and son who adored her. She would, unlike her younger Brother attend the service and return to her Fathers house to meet and greet the rest of their Family and friends and their employees who had taken the time to witness her Fathers last journey.There was however a little voice in the back of her mind wondering just how much money this very illusive man had really amassed. Was the Morgage paid off on his house and did the Stores still make a profit, "If they did" thought Sylvia," would they be worth  selling? She had tried to ignore these thoughts, but she was only human.