He knew he could be a hard-nosed boss at times, but he felt he was fair. If his employees did their job well, they had nothing to fear. He just didn’t tolerate errors or slacking, so if they messed up, there were no second chances.
Trenton spent the rest of his afternoon confirming what his father said. It looked like the old man was right. There was no way he could stop the move. He had enough of his own money that he could tell his father to go to hell, and just start over - but he didn’t run the corporation for the paycheck, he did it because it had been in his family for longer than he’d been alive and he had a lot of pride in it.
He hung his head in a rare moment of weakness. He knew he couldn’t quit. He knew he’d be playing right into his father’s hands, but he’d move with the corporate offices. He also knew that meant a lot of new staff and a hell of a lot of headaches.
He went home, drank a double scotch, then pulled out his phone. He had to call his siblings, which he hadn’t done in over a year. Each of them worked in different areas for the corporation and they were going to be just as pissed at their father as him.
His father may be getting him to move across the country but he wasn’t going to get the happy family reunion he was hoping for. Trenton was enraged and he was going to let his father know it.
“Are you sure we’ve done the right thing?” George asked Joseph.
“I’m sure. The first step in this process is getting the kids together, again. We can’t very well match them up if they aren’t here, can we?” Joseph asked.
“Trenton’s been distant in the last several years, but I’ve never heard him speak to me so coldly, before. I know losing their mother was hard for all of us, but I should’ve never let us grow this far apart. I can’t believe this is the same boy who used to worship the ground I walked on,” George said with sadness.
“I guarantee you, Brother, by this time next year, you and your boy will be together again, and things will be back to normal. I can’t say I’ve gone through what you’re going through but nothing brings family together more than other family members in their face. They used to be close to their cousins and we’ll all have that bond again. Just you wait and trust me,” Joseph reassured him.
“I’ve always trusted you,” George said.
“Well that’s because I’m much older and wiser,” Joseph said, while puffing out his chest.
“You’re exactly three minutes older, so don’t give me that, again,” George said with a laugh.
“Hey, those three minutes gave me a world of knowledge.”
“Yeah, I think it gave you a world of arrogance - just like your eldest nephew,” George said. He could feel things were going to work out. His family was at the beginning of truly mending.
“He did what?” Max yelled into the phone, causing Trenton to hold the piece away from his ear.
“He said it was time for a change so he’s moved the home offices to Seattle. We now have twenty-seven days before the official opening in Washington,” Trenton repeated.
“You have got to be kidding me. Can we stop this? He’s obviously gone insane,” Max said, but there wasn’t much oomph in his voice. They both knew there was nothing wrong with their father’s mental capabilities.
“I already checked every which way to Sunday and there’s nothing we can do. I was sorely tempted to tell call his bluff, and leave the corporation,” Trenton threatened. Max knew there was no way that would happen - just like he knew the same of his siblings.
They’d been inseparable at one time, but through their grieving over the loss of their mother they’d gone their separate ways. But, they each had a love of the corporation in common, even if they were involved in a variety of different areas.
“Looks like we’re moving to the beautiful North West, then,” Max said. He was angry, but not nearly as much as his brother. He traveled so much for work that he wasn’t home enough to be very upset. Besides, he hadn’t spent time with his cousins in years and he missed them.
He’d never admit it to his father, though. The old man was getting his way, and he didn’t need to know Max wasn’t upset about it.
“Yeah, I can hardly wait,” Trenton said sarcastically.
“Have you called Bree and Austin yet?” Max asked.
“No, I called you first and figured we could each take one of the others,” he answered.
“Sounds like a plan - I’ll call Austin,” Max quickly said with laughter in his voice.
“Gee, thanks,” Trenton replied. He knew the call to his sister, Brianna, was going to be long-winded. His sister was stubborn and independent and didn’t like to be told what to do. He smiled, though, when he thought about what she was going to say to their father. George was in for an earful as soon as Bree got off the phone with Trenton.
Trenton sat back, feeling better after talking to his brother. He and Max had been close in the past and he missed speaking with him. Trenton may not have realized it but his father’s plan was already working. It had brought the siblings closer, even if it was in uniting them against him.
*****
Jennifer yelled at her computer screen and then looked around with guilt. She hated computers and wished they’d never been invented. They were the worst possible creation and she was ready to chuck hers out the window. She’d taken classes and spent hours on end to learn basic computer skills because it was impossible to have any kind of decent job without knowing how to run one of the blasted machines.
The temp company she worked for had given her the position at the Anderson Corporate Offices and she’d been there for two months. It was a dream-come-true job and she hoped it would turn into a permanent position, because everyone knew employees of the Anderson’s were loyal through and through. The Anderson’s were great to their employee’s, paid better wages than other corporations, offered great benefits, and were exceptionally family friendly.
She remained seated, arguing with her computer, grateful no one came by and heard her because she was sure she sounded like an insane woman. By the time her lunch break came around she was about ready to cry. Her boss had slowly been adding more work, and she was sure it was a test, and if it was - she was failing miserably.
“Ms. Stellar, can you please go up to the top floor. The boss wants to talk to you,” a voice asked over her intercom.
“Yes, I was getting ready for lunch break so I can head right up,” she answered. Jennifer broke out in a cold sweat. She was going to lose her job, there was no other reason for her to be called up to the main offices. She’d never heard of anyone getting called up to Lucas Anderson’s office. He was the President of the company and though she saw him regularly, walking around the floors, he never called someone in her type of position to the corporate offices.
She didn’t understand why he’d fire her personally, though. Normally, the guy in charge of her division would do that. She pushed the elevator button and waited nervously. She knew the computer projects had been a test, and her failure was unacceptable. She wasn’t too proud to beg. She’d study day and night if that’s what it took, because it wasn’t only herself she had to think about.