I pause and pick up a bottle of water from the fridge right next to the table. I take a sip and continue.
"The driving force behind this company, by all means, is business acumen. But we never would have managed to build the business with integrity without the values instilled in us by my grandfather. Remember how he always taught us to give back, dad?"
My dad takes a deep breath. He doesn't roll his eyes, but I know that he now knows what's coming. I also know that he thinks it is a complete waste of time.
"You entrusted me with the management of this company under the condition that we give back to some of the local communities in Africa where my granddad spent so many years when he was young. He has such a love for the people there, and for the beautiful wildlife, he told us so many stories about. You know that it was part of his last will that we, in time, build a wildlife preservation park somewhere in Africa. Now, our company is stable, our economy is good. It's time."
For what feels like forever, there is silence in the room. My dad looks out the window like he can't be bothered with a decision like this. To be honest, I invited him to take part in the meeting out of respect. I don't expect him to support me, and I have no intention of letting his opposition against the project make a real impact on my decision. Truthfully, I'm more concerned about Tony. Tony is my advisor, my friend, and my go-to expert when it comes to investments. Since I’m his boss, I don't need him to agree with me in every decision I make. But if this project is to be a success, I need him to be my helper. I can't have him be in opposition.
"Blake, you are fucking unbelievable. You're heading a hugely successful business, making good money, and you already have an excellent business reputation. Don’t jeopardize this business. You have tons of money. An animal park in Africa will do nothing but set you back millions of dollars. Not just once, but every fucking year. Why is it so important for you to carry out a project that was envisioned by someone decades ago? I mean, please excuse me if I'm being too blunt. But I think it's madness. Do you have any idea how much money this will cost you? "
I knew this was coming. Tony is a nice guy. But he is a businessman to the bone, and he doesn't give a flying fuck about anything without monetary value. He will never understand the reasoning behind investing in something that doesn't have a decent return on investment.
"No, I don't know how much it will cost me," I reply. "Not yet. That's what I want you to find out. I want you to set up a business plan and figure out how much we need to spend and how long it will take. I know that there's not a lot of logical reasoning behind this. But for us to set up a wildlife preservation park was my granddad's last will. He's been gone for many years now, and I'm starting to realize that I should have gotten this show on the road years ago. I can't change that now, but I can get this project going right away."
Tony taps his finger on the table. A large vein pulses on the side of his neck. He doesn't say anything, and I know that he's quiet because he's afraid he's going to say too much. After all, he still is my employee. Damn right he is. So I continue.
"I've set up a contact with a local biology expert. I don't know her personally, but her mentor, Dean Montgomery, is a member of the B club. He speaks very highly of her and has offered to set up a meeting with her already on Wednesday. Before I meet with her, I expect you to have a business case ready for me so I can lay out the plans for her. You can leave out any calculations on the return of investment. This is not meant to be a project that will drive an extra income."
The truth is that yes, I am meeting with this girl on Wednesday. Dean Montgomery is a close friend, and I owe him a favor. But seriously, I doubt that a college graduate has the skills necessary to carry out a project of this size. So I already know now that I will meet with her, be polite, listen to her ideas, and send her back home. Last year, when I was in London, I met with a friend who knows a highly esteemed zoologist. On Friday, I'll give him a call.
"Blake, is this wise?" My father finally looks at me. “Maybe you should just let this rest and concentrate on driving the company. Your grandfather isn't here anymore, and he'll never know if you decide not to follow his wish. All you ever do is work. If the business runs smoothly now, don't you think it's time that you live a little?"
That again. I don't know what it is he wants for me. Or maybe I do. He probably expects me to start a family, to have a little Dursts that can take over the company one day. That's not for me. Although under very different circumstances, I have lost the most important woman in my life twice. My mother first, and later the woman I thought was the love of my life. My therapist once told me I have abandonment issues because I lost my loving mother at a very early age and was left with a disengaged father and a strict nanny. I don’t know if I agree, and I don’t care. All I know is that my life was blown to pieces when she died. It disrupted my foundation and took away my sense of security and safety. And when my fiancée split shortly after our engagement when I was in my twenties, I experienced the same thing all over again. So I’m done with relationships. They hurt too much. Building a family is not for me.
"I'm fine, Dad," I say and collect the papers on the table to indicate that the meeting is over. I am not about to discuss my personal life with him, in this office, or any other place. "I am aware that this project is going to give me a lot of extra work over the coming months. But nothing will give me greater pleasure than carrying out my grandfather's last will. Finally. After all, we wouldn't be sitting here without everything he did for us. Now it's time for us to give something back."
My dad shrugs his shoulders and then gets up to leave. "All right, son," he says with a sigh and pats me on the shoulder. "All right." He walks out.
Tony stays in his seat. I know what he wants to say, but I don't want to hear it.
"That was all for now, Tony," I say roughly, put on my glasses and sit down behind my laptop. The sound of his chair scraping against the floor fills the room as he gets up. Without a word, he picks up his briefcase and leaves my office. Well, that went well.
I open my mailbox and begin to go through incoming emails. I am well into the list of emails when about half an hour later, the sound of stilettos walking hastily towards my office indicates that Mindy is on her way. My secretary, the company’s most loyal employee and probably my most loyal protector.
"Good morning, Mr. Durst," she says and sends me the biggest, brightest smile, as she does every single morning. She’s a couple of years older than I am, always very proper and overly correct. Sometimes I wonder if there is an attractive woman underneath all of the correctness and the frumpy clothes she wears. I’m guessing there is, but I don’t think she even knows. "Would you like me to get you your usual coffee?"
"Thanks, Mindy," I say.
I look up and smile at her, and she blushes. The best thing about Mindy isn't the fact that she always gives me whatever I need. It is the fact that she doesn't require me to explain or justify anything I do. She simply is here to make my life easier, and my God she does.
4
EMMA
"Hey momma, it's me, Emma. Are you up?"