Who is Jonathan Clark

Untitled Part 20

                                                                                  CHAPTER TWENTY

                                                                                      HOME AT LAST

Jonathan stepped from the Plane following a nine hour flight from Conakry International on the 20th October 2000 he was fifty-four years of age and was home at last. He had informed his children during a visit three months previous that he was concluding all of his work in Africa. After all they had no idea what he was doing there, and had never bothered to ask. 

Chris Blake had set up an office for Jonathan in a new premises that they had acquired in the centre of Bretton Falls. Joanne Goulding whom he had spent some time with in Africa was coming in for a few weeks to set up a Computer Terminal and educate him on the Technology. Jonathan was having mood swings, he was no longer the cheery, friendly Boss they had come to expect. He was now unapproachable and less tolerant of mistakes. He had been changed by the death of his family.

Julian, now assistant manager at the Bretton Falls branch had been seeing his latest girlfriend Jennifer for two years. Therefor the announcement that she was pregnant came as no surprise. A wedding was quickly arranged at the local Registrars Office with no invitation for Jonathan. Which was no hardship as Constance would be there and they had not spoken for many years, mainly due to the drink problem she had developed with her toy-boy husband. On the other hand Jonathan was pleased for Julian as he liked Jennifer very much. She had made, (in his estimation) a better man of his eldest son, with her being instrumental in brining them together, albeit on rare occasions.

Jason was now a full Lieutenant and very rarely came home, but when he did, he and his Father would spend quality time together, although Jonathan could see changes in him, not always for the good.

Sylvia was Jonathan's best ally, always speaking up for him during family arguments. She had gone back to Teaching for a few years, but much preferred to socialise and concentrate on her charity work, an area where she found her father to be most knowledgeable, but she had no idea why.

Jonathan Kept in touch with Argi Botar during his time at Harvard, and although they never met they could spend what seemed like hours on the Telephone. During which he could visualise his beloved Africa, and witness this young boy becoming a man.

2003, Jonathan Clark was firmly back in control of his U.S, Stores. Julian's son Bobby was three years old and Jennifer was pregnant with their second child. Julian harboured illusions of becoming a Manager with Clark's, but there were no vacancies with the resident bosses firmly in place along with Chris Blake's assessment that he was not cut out for the job. According to Chris, Julian only had a job because of who his Father was.

Angela thanks to the power of the Computer was still Jonathan's Financial Director for all of his Stores and Factories including no less than thirty small Franchised Outlets in small Towns dotted all over Western Africa and beyond which in there own way proved very profitable as in many cases they were the only source of food for miles around. 

One morning in early June 2004 he received a phone call from Angela, "Are you sitting down" she said, "you may like to pour yourself a stiff drink"

Jonathan's mind went back to what happened to his family, had it happened again, was it one of his old friends, maybe Clyde or one of his family, "just tell me" he shouted down the phone.

"Wallco International Foods are preparing a takeover bid for Clark's Stores and Factories both in the U.S. and Africa" said Angela.

"My God Angela I thought it was something serious" answered Jonathan, "what are we talking about?

"It is very straight forward" she replied, "as you have no shareholders and only one Director, who is me, they are offering based on the current turnover, and to include the sites you have recently purchased for development, $1.2 Billion dollars. You would be a Billionaire Jonathan and still have your African assets.

"Let me think on this" said Jonathan, not really knowing what to say. "how long do I have?

"They have asked for an answer in fourteen day's" replied Angela, "but think carefully as you always do"

"What is your gut feeling on this? asked Jonathan.

"You know how I feel about Africa" she answered, "I will spend the rest of my life here, and I would rather what we have built was in your hands than some jumped up Director of Wallco. You will do what is best Jonathan you always do"

Jonathan took the fourteen days and travelled round his Stores in cognito, unknown even to Chris Blake. He posed as a customer, he made complaints to gauge the reaction of his staff or Manager. He asked about random goods and where they could be found, and all in all he was happy, Chris had done a first class job. The Stores were clean, well run and profitable. "why on earth would I sell them? he thought.

Realising the overwhelming responsibility he had to the People of West Africa who had taken him to their hearts, to his Wife and Daughter buried in African Soil, to his old friends with whom he had fought battles with the Oil Giants and won, the Stores were their legacy as well as his and to his great friend Angela Rawlings without who's influence none of this would ever have happened, and so in early June he made the phone call. "No" was all he said.

"Thank you Jonathan" she replied.