Authors Notes: I reserve the right to be listed as the author of this work, wherever it is posted. If found posted anywhere except Literotica.com with this note attached, this story is posted without my permission. This is part one of a two part story. There may be more parts at some point. I'd like to thank zebra2001uk for taking the time to edit this work.
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Veronica Leonda sat in her office thinking about the Board meeting she had just adjourned. She needed an ally or two sitting on it right now. The board of directors had slowly begun turning the company she and her late husband had built from the ground up into a shambles. She couldn't let that happen to something she had devoted so much time and energy to over the past ten years. It wasn't just that she and Jack had started it from scratch, they both had it as their dream together and she couldn't dishonor his memory by letting them take over and divide it up. She had to think of a way to replace some of the members who were against and some who just followed the verbal minority. She contemplated this as her personal assistant knocked on her door.
"Ms. Leonda, Miss Emily is here."
"Thank you, David let her in."
David stepped aside, opening the large oak door further allowing the young woman in her mid twenties through.
"Thank you David," as she passed him.
"Hello Em. That will be all David, Thank you."
"Yes ma'am."
David closed the door leaving the two women alone. Veronica's face lit up when she saw Emily walk in. She stood, opening her arms and walking around the desk to hug her step daughter. Emily returned the smile preparing to embrace her step mother.
Emily was just eight years old when her mother died from breast cancer. Her father was devastated and focused mainly on his business ventures for the first year during which he was without his wife.
Veronica met him at a business conference she was hosting. He had sought her advice on numerous occasions as a consultant. She always managed to find the time to meet with him to help him solve his business problems. It was during these talks that the conversation would turn to his relationship with Emily. He was a good business man but when it came to little girls he was clueless.
He hadn't realized he had shut himself off to his only child until Veronica pointed it out. She encouraged him to rebuild his relationship with Emily which might help them each cope with the loss of her mother. Eventually the little girl and her father helped each other mend their bond becoming one of fairy tale proportion. Those talks helped open Jack's eyes and the professional relationship he had with Veronica changed from friendship to love. It had been like waking from a nightmare, Jack had once told her.
Emily could never replace her mother with Veronica and Veronica didn't want her to. They had their own special relationship of mutual respect and affection. It hadn't always been that way and Veronica was glad Emily had finally seen her as an addition to their family and not a replacement for her mother.
Emily realized just how much Veronica loved her father during the last year of his life shortly before cancer took him. They had built themselves a successful business and were enjoying the fruits of their labors. His illness and eventual death changed all that.
Emily sighed as she hugged Veronica, she felt the tension in her step mother's embrace peak and then subside as they embraced.
Veronica reached up and brushed the stray hairs from Emily's face. She could see Jack's penetrating eyes in her stepdaughter. She missed those, along with everything else about him. Emily was all she had to remind herself of the only man she had ever really loved.
"Want something to drink, sweetie?" she whispered.
"No, I'm just tired. The airport was crazy and the driver you sent got lost."
"I'm sorry; I'll tell David not to use them anymore."
"It's ok; I think I was his first client and he was a bit nervous."
"Well, ok. So how was New York? See any shows? Meet anyone exciting?"
Veronica's face lit up as she asked about New York . It was there that Veronica had met Jack and had fallen for him.
Emily had never been in a serious relationship and Veronica worried about her. She wanted Emily to find a path for herself. The young woman was smart and good looking. If only she had some direction in her life or felt some passion with regards to a career.
"Nobody exciting or new; just hung out with friends and went to a couple of clubs. We thought about going to Times Square and battling the tourists but decided to just watch the ball drop on television."
"Oh, sorry to hear that Em; you did have some fun didn't you? New York City is such an exciting place. Maybe I should visit again when this entire take over nonsense has subsided."
"Yes, it was ok. You're worried aren't you? What if the board seizes control of the company?"
"Yes I am worried, it would mean losing this company your father and I built."
"How could you lose it Veronica? It's ours isn't it?"
"Technically it belongs to the stockholders. Since we went public, I sit as the board chair and own a majority of the stock. But things could possibly change."
"You can't let that happen Veronica, you and dad built this from nothing."
"We did sweetheart, he did most of the work. I had the contacts to make it all work. It's alright Em; I know that if your father were here none of this would be happening. The board would never attempt anything like this with him at the helm.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Only if you were on the board. I need support and unfortunately you're not allowed to be on it."
"But if you knew someone, I mean like a friend. They could?"
"They would have to pass the current board's inspection, but yes there is a vacancy that could be filled."
"Maybe you should look into that more?"
"Well, I would but they seem to know all my current friends and allies. It would have to be someone new and I don't see that happening anytime soon."
"Maybe something will happen and they will rethink their positions."
"You are sweet, we'll see what happens."
"Did you have the driver leave your bags here or take them to our house?"
"I had him drop them here; I didn't want them touring the city while he looked for our house."
"Smart girl."
Veronica walked back around her desk and pressed the intercom. "David, Emily is heading home. Her baggage is down in the lobby would you arrange a limo for her. Please don't use the same service we did to pick her up."