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STEFAN
The day has gone by so fast, and yet slow at the same time. I didn’t want to deal with any of this, but it’s what you have to do when you run a business. Hendrix put in a bad position, and if he wants to be pissed at me, then so be it. We have talked plenty of times about his image, and how important it is for the company, but I guess he just wasn’t listening. I don’t have time to hold his hand. I’m not his fucking keeper. If the roles were reversed, he would be doing the same thing to me and he knows it.
The office is quiet, and as per usual, I’m the last one here. The meetings today put me behind on emails and such and that’s one thing I can’t stand. My inbox stays clean, and I like it that way. So, instead of going home at five, I decide to stay late and get caught up so I can start fresh tomorrow. It only takes me about two hours to respond to all of the emails, and then I head down to the parking garage.
As I approach my car, I see Hendrix and untuck my shirt in case he charges me. No one knows how he is going to react to this, and this company is everything for him, without it, he is nobody. What is he going to do now? No, that shouldn’t be any of my concern. I shouldn’t feel bad for this, because it’s an effect of his behavior which he had been coached on by the Board many times. It’s not like he hasn’t had warning after warning. He chose not to listen and these are the consequences.
“What do you want? I don’t really feel like fighting with you tonight. My lip is still swollen from yesterday.”
I never thought our friendship would come to this. He has thrown it away and for what? A reckless streak that cost him everything. I hope this finally puts things into perspective for him and he grows the fuck up.
He’s leaning up against my car. “Just tell me one thing. Has this been your plan all along?”
What the hell is he talking about? This wouldn’t be happening if he wasn’t so damn reckless.
“Are you really trying to put this back on me? You take home random women all the time, don’t use protection, don’t give a fuck about anyone else but yourself. And I’m the bad guy?”
“You just took everything from me. We both built this fucking company, and you just took it. Don’t you give one fuck about me? Or are all those years behind us? They don’t mean anything?”
I grit my teeth, and refrain from punching him. I will not let him bait me into a fight. He knows exactly what he is doing. If he thinks this is the way for me to change my mind, ambushing me in the parking garage outside our building, he’s sadly mistaken. Plus, it’s already done. The paperwork is signed, and the check has been given to him. There is no turning back now.
“No response, huh? You must feel like a total ass for doing this to your best friend. But karma is a bitch, and she’s coming for you, Stefan. You just wait!”
“Is that a threat, Hendrix? Just remember, everything you have ever done is in writing and documented. This wasn’t the first problem the Board has had with you, and that falls back on you, not me. If you would have stopped being an idiot, and just followed the rules, none of this would’ve happened.”
His breath is hitting my face. “Everyone knows any publicity is good publicity for fucks sake. You act like you never took girls home or did something you weren’t supposed to do. The fact is you just never got caught. Don’t act like you are better than me.”
I unlock my car and get in. “I think you need to have your head checked. Or see a therapist. Something is seriously wrong with you.”
My engine starts, and I put my car in reverse and leave the parking garage with Hendrix in my rearview where he belongs. He is probably upset because he just got the check and paperwork from the lawyer. I gave him more than they suggested, because he did help me build this company, and he should be compensated for that. To be honest, I bet he blows it within five years and has to be find a job.
The buy-out agreement that the board settled on isn’t what I originally expected. They want him nowhere to be found on any company document. So, he isn’t just a silent partner, he has no ties to Valdon Technologies anymore. He won’t get anything when I sell the company.
I have to put my personal feelings aside and think with a business sense. Hendrix might create some backlash for this, but our t’s are crossed. We had to cut him off before he tore this company down to where it couldn’t be rebuilt or recuperate.
The gate opens, and I pull into the driveway, just wanting some peace and fucking quiet for once today. Everyone has been pulling me aside with questions and the Board wanted me to call a bunch of people to tell them about Hendrix’s termination personally. Why? I have no clue, but I do what they ask to keep them happy.
Today has been stressful and I’m glad it’s finally fucking over with, and I’m home. It’s quiet and the chef left my dinner in the fridge. After reheating the meal, I take it to the coffee table in the living room and turn on the TV.
The Board has scheduled interviews for this week that I would rather not do, but there is no choice. Without Hendrix, I’m the face of the company now, and that means I have to do these things.
My phone buzzes against the coffee table.
Angela: I’d much rather be there with you than at this station.
As much as I would love to put my time and effort into building a relationship with Angela, now is not the right time. I just got all of this dumped on my plate. Just because Hendrix is removed from the equation doesn’t mean that we can just jump in headfirst. In fact, it would be selfish of me to do that.
Me: Believe me, I’m not good company tonight.
Hendrix still has me pissed and after I eat, I’m going to take a shower and lay down. I’ve got a horrible migraine coming on, and the only thing that helps me is a dark and quiet room.
Angela: I could make you good.
No doubt about that, but I don’t want us to just be having sex. She needs to understand that we aren’t going to jump into a relationship right now, and that means we are just randomly hooking up. Angela isn’t someone I would use like that, and she deserves better. I have to be upfront with her and let her know now.
Me: Listen, we can’t start this just yet. I just completely took over the company and I’m never going to have free time now with all of my normal things plus taking over all the interviews and crap that your brother was doing.
The three dots appear and then stop. I pride myself in not leading girls on. Angela doesn’t deserve this, but right now, I have to focus on this. Getting Glaridy on board, and on track to sell the company. Once this is all over, we will have all the time in the world to see where this can go.
Me: Hello?
She must be pissed. How can she be mad at me for being upfront?
Angela: I refuse to sit around and wait for you. It’s been decades. If you aren’t ready now, then you never will be.
This is not the response I am expecting, and my head hits the back of the couch. Fuck. I want to respond, but nothing I will say will make it better. She wants me to sweep her off her feet and there just isn’t time for that right now. I’ll be working fourteen-hour days and that leaves me no time to see her. She doesn’t deserve someone who she is only going to see her once a week or so. Nobody does.
