I am not a writer, far from it. Except for the names and places, the stories you read are true for the most part. Still they are not biographies. Artistic license has been taken to enhance or in some cases minimize the events described. All sexual situations were between consensual adults within the framework of their story.
The stories are somewhat long. Most of these stories cover several years. I will try to keep the chapters short. I suggest you save one for reference. None of the stories are mine, any personal friend, or relative.
This story is about a brother's sense of duty to his sister and her family. Buck struggles to help his sister fight against her demons. The first chapters can be a tough read. It was even more difficult for Buck and Rey Ann to tell it.
This is the fifth chapter. Rey Ann starts her career leaving Buck at home. Finding herself at the cross roads she is forced to take matters into her own hands. Melissa is a temptation Rey is not quite prepared for. Can Buck guide her to be the strong woman he needs her to be?
*****
The first week was difficult but exciting. I worked hard each day sometimes well after hours. The apartment building we lived in was filled with other Acme employees as well as other American companies. The British are hard to explain in some ways but easy in other ways. London is a massive city with people from all around the globe. College was diversified but this place is crazy. Sandra is a great mentor we seem to click even though she is almost ten years older.
Buck and I talk almost every other day. Not a week after I arrived so did my period. I don't know who was more disappointed me or Buck. Buck has been very supportive of my taking the job. I miss the sex but miss him more. He still plans on selling the house. Luis helped clean out all of grandpa's old wood working stuff in the basement. I talk to Luis occasionally, he and Maria are still going strong. Maria will be heading back to school in a couple of months. I wonder if they can survive that transition. Mom and Joy usually call once a week. For now they both seem very happy. Karen has not said a word about Buck.
By the end of the first month I got to know several people. As in all situations little groups form. The bar scene is like any other, I soon tired of that. There were many nerds her of course. Good people to hang out with for a day or two. But I was not a good gamer or computer junkie. I seemed to gravitate to the younger married people. There were some who brought their spouses with them. It was most like home, good people and great conversations. Unlike the single people I was not getting hit on either. There is a strict employee code in the company. Sexual relations with a coworker is strictly forbidden without management approval. I am sure it goes on but it is not prevalent.
By the end of June Sandra and I were reassigned to another floor of the business. I was no longer working on human resources for the English employees. Instead we were working on proposals for employees back in the states. One day I saw the city of the office we were working on. It was the same city Buck had talked to Walt about at dinner that night. It was the world headquarters of Consolidated. The main factory just down the road was all but shuttered, less than ten percent of the people still work there.
If I was correct Acme was looking at options to buy Consolidated just like Buck had suggested. I didn't say anything. It was not a done deal as far as I could tell. These were just proposals, data collection, cost estimates. Nothing was marked private but then we were in England. Who would know? Each day I kept track of the progress. Deadlines became shorter and shorter. Then one day I get a call. It's Melissa, Walter's wife.
"Rey, Walt and I just flew in with the kids. Walt says he can spare you for a few hours tomorrow after lunch. Would you like to come meet the kids and come to dinner with us?" She asked her excitement quite evident.
"Absolutely!" I replied.
That night I talked to Buck and gave him the good news. He was so excited for me. We talked for a half an hour. I asked him if there was any news from home. He said the realtor Nathan was out and they had a plan to list the house. The Nathan wanted to get the house on the market during summer so interested families could get the kids registered for school. I was sad to hear it but he seemed determined to sell it. We talked about Luis and of course Maria. They were making plans on how to be together when she went back to college. Luis even suggested moving the business there!
On a hunch I called up Luis, Maria answered. We talked for a few minutes you could tell she was still in love with the little brat. I was happy for her, he really is a great guy. Luis came on the phone. We talked about Maria. It was clear he was still madly in love. We talked business. LLuis said it was good but not great. Then we talked about Buck. Luis explained that Buck missed me of course. Luis explained that the house was looking good almost ready to sell.
"Almost?" I asked.
"The master suit has not been touched." Luis explained.
"He still will not go in?" I asked.
"I offered to do it for him, he just can't seem to say yes." Luis sounded exasperated. "You are the only person he has ever let in that room."
It struck me at that moment Luis was right. I knew Buck had probably gone in when no one was around. I could smell his scent at times. I but knew he wouldn't allow anyone else to go in. That was kind of creepy.
"Do you think he will list it?" I inquired knowing what Buck just told me.
"Don't know? He says no, but when he found out you weren't pregnant he said yes!" Luis replied.
"He told you I was not pregnant?" I was stunned. Buck never talks about his private life.
"Surprised me too! Rey he misses you." Luis didn't need to remind me. "Wish I could buy it and give it to him. I would but all my money is in the business. Can't swing that right now."
"Why would you give to him?" I asked. "If he doesn't want it?"
"Rey he made me who I am! Do you think I would own my own business? I have a new house and drive a nice car. Do you think I could marry someone like Maria if he had not brought us home?" Luis was getting excited. "I would be dead or in jail. I owe him my life! I may never be as good a man as he is, but I will keep trying, I owe him that."
"But the house?"
"All he keeps talking about is that a family needs to live there. He has this ...you know how he can be...it's like he needs everyone and everything to have a purpose. For Buck the house needs a family. It had one with the family when he grew up. Then he had a family with you and me. It's like he thinks the house needs another family and soon. Call me crazy but I think that's it."
We talked some more, then we hung up. I had so much to think about at work and now this. I had money to buy the house but knew Buck would never stand for it. If the house needed a family I was determined to be the one that supplied it.
The next morning Sandra and I were in Walt's office talking business with several other employees. Walt never came right out and said they were planning on buying any company. I sure seemed an offer was being considered. When the meeting was over he asked Sandra and me to stay.
"Sandy I need you and Rey to head up some things for me." Walt said all business like. "I have suspicions there is someone high up in this company that is working for other interests. I need people I can trust. I will be asking you and Rey to handle some delicate documents. If this merger is to take place I can't have it leak out before we are ready to announce it."
"Sure Walt what can we do?" Sandra asked.
"For now just what you are doing. I don't want anyone to get suspicious." He looked serious. "I will have you both doing small projects reporting directly to me."
"I understand." Sandra replied.
"Rey you are spending the afternoon with Melissa and the kids. When you do I have a package I want you to deliver to a man who will be meeting you later today." Walt explained.
We talked for another half hour. Walt explained that while he and the family were in town I would be spending part of the day with Melissa and the kids. This was all by design. The fact he was in England was to throw off anyone that we were even looking at a merger. He explained how several facts were leaked from the directors meeting they had a few weeks back. People were calling and asking him tough questions. He decided to come to England months earlier than planned to quell the rumors. I asked Walt if I could speak to him in private. Sandra left us when Walt was finished.
"Walt are planning on buying Consolidated?" I asked point blank.
"Why would you think that?" He asked surprised I mentioned them by name.
I explained what triggered my suspicions. I explained the proposals that suggested the Acme corporate office could be relocated to the Consolidated headquarters.
"The reason I ask is because Buck is intent on selling his house. If there is a possibility Acme would relocate there I could easily drive that daily." I explained.
"There is no guarantee this would go through." Walt warned.
"But we would know in a year or so right? He can sell it then if it doesn't work out." I suggested smiling.
"Rey Ann, you cannot tell Buck." Walt explained. "If you told him and anyone found out I would have to fire you. You could be charged with insider trading."
"What if I bought the house? Could I do that?" I hoped he would agree.
"As long as you pay fair market price. It would be helpful if you bought it privately. That way there would be no public records." Walt suggested.
"Thank you Walt. I will make sure I don't tell him anything." I promised.
Melissa and I greeted each other with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. I think we were equally happy to see each other again. She introduced me to Zack and Mindy her children. They really didn't have much planned for the day so we just went sightseeing. At three we went to see Big Ben. A man approached me. After telling me his name I handed him a large envelope. The kids were fading fast and so was Melissa. I suggested we head back to the apartment. I made us some tea as she put the kids down for a nap. I joined her on the couch.
"So tell me what was that all about?" Melissa asked.
"Something for Walt. I don't know what was inside." I said truthfully.
"For the company?" She asked.
"I would really rather not talk about it." I said firmly. She looked hurt. "I am sorry Melissa, but I really can't say."
