Apologies - I know it's been a while, but hey - life constantly gets in the way.
Two more chapters to go after this one. They are completely written, just need editing.
Then there's a couple of stories about young Tina, which are also written, one almost ready for submission.
TeamEquipe
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Following Jim Carson's revelation that he wanted another baby, his wife Tina vowed there and then that she would do everything she could to prevent any chance of being seduced again.
Her social life was nowhere near as intrusive as it had once been, after all she was already a young mum with baby Sophia to look after but she skilfully avoided the frequent requests to go out with the girls from work. On the odd occasion she did, she refrained from drinking and made sure that when they left, she went with them. Either that or she got Jim to pick her up. She easily fended off any unwelcome attention, which as usual always seemed to be from the more mature men.
Time passed and she and Jim had sex on a regular basis. It was always tender, loving sex. Jim was very good at that. Tina loved Jim very much in spite of her serial infidelity. She'd rationalised it was not really her fault. It was more that these events just happened and were out of her control but every now and again she wished Jim could try different positions and be more forceful and give her a really good fucking.
* * *
Life at work was pretty good for Tina. She was one of the youngest department managers at Bromptons, a position she richly deserved due to her hard work and attention to detail. Sales in her department were usually the highest within the store and a long career with Bromptons, if that was what she wanted, was assured.
This of course conflicted with Jim's desire to increase their family. Already blessed with Sophia, Tina had managed to balance her mothering instincts with her need to return to work as soon as possible to resume her career. Her mother had made it easy. She had almost insisted that she would look after her granddaughter, which was a situation she was clearly revelling in. However, Tina wasn't so sure how her mum would cope with a second grandchild to look after.
Then came the day that set in motion an unhappy chain of events, which would turn her working world upside down and change everything.
* * *
Bromptons had started it's existence as an old traditional family business. Over the decades it had been passed down from generation to generation until the demands of the burgeoning business became too much for one man to control.
A company had been set up and a board of directors appointed with a chairman and financial controller to help run the business and to raise capital on the money markets to fund the growing needs of the stores. They issued shares and paid dividends to shareholders every year as well as ploughing money back in to improve their premises.
Gordon Brompton was the present CEO and Chairman of the company and the last in the long line of Bromptons to work at the company. He had no heirs. He was like a father figure to Tina, helping her enormously over the years and she considered him a good friend as well as her boss and mentor.
As was usual, Tina arrived for work at 8am, Sophia already deposited safely into the loving arms of her grandmother. The store opened at 8.30am but Tina always liked to be there early to make sure everything was in place before the doors swung open to admit their customers.
But at 9am the doors to the store remained locked. Tina was surprised at this unusual occurrence and even more surprised when she was summonsed to the boardroom. This was even more unusual and on arrival she realised that every department head was there along with what seemed to be the entire board of directors.
Feeling a general sense of unease she turned to the person standing next to her.
"Do you know what's going on?" she whispered.
"No, I've no idea," was the reply, "but it's got to be something big."
A hush fell over the assembled staff as one of the directors strode into the room. Tina felt a tightening in her stomach as a feeling of foreboding swept through her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your prompt attendance. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Trevor Howard and I am a senior director of the company. Today, unfortunately I am also the bearer of incredibly sad news." He paused as he let his gaze wander over the assembled group of staff. He took a deep breath, clearly struggling to control his emotions and resumed.
"Last night, at around eight o'clock, Gordon Brompton suffered a heart attack. He was at home at the time along with his wife. It was sudden and there was no warning. The paramedics arrived quickly and he was rushed into hospital. Sadly, despite the best efforts of the medical team there, he passed away shortly afterwards."
He was interrupted by gasps of shock as the terrible news filtered through.
"Obviously our thoughts are with his wife at this dreadful time," he continued. "We have lost a brilliant businessman, a man who was well respected by his competitors as well as his employees but most of all; a dear friend to many.
From a business point of view, nothing will change. In due course the board will meet and elect a new CEO and Chairman, but until then it will be business as usual, which is just the way Gordon would have wanted it.
The board and I have already met and have decided it is only fitting that a Memorial Service to celebrate Gordon's life should be arranged. Department managers will be notified as soon as possible regarding the details. The store will be closed on that day as a mark of respect for Gordon and to give all staff the opportunity to pay their respects.
Furthermore, and the board have also discussed this, we feel that it will be appropriate to give all members of staff access to a grief counsellor if required. Details of this will be forthcoming shortly.
It goes without saying that this has come as a huge shock and we will all miss Gordon terribly and we quite understand if some of you feel the need to take some time out.
Myself and members of the board will be here all day if any of you need to talk things through. Thank you ladies and gentlemen for your attendance." He finished and turning, walked out of the boardroom.
For a second or two, nobody moved, they stood in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Eventually one or two started to drift away. Tina was one of the last to leave, silently sobbing into a tissue.
* * *
Over the course of the next few weeks, the Memorial Service came and went. It was a moving occasion and the church was packed to the rafters. Afterwards the store laid on food and drinks and every single member of staff was there until they were asked to leave by the venue.
Business carried on as normal, there was no difference to the working environment, all departments ran as smoothly as before.
Then the rumours began.
The board hadn't yet appointed a new CEO or chairman.
The whole business was for sale.
