Frank Armitage was both a happy and sad man at the same time. He was a successful businessman, having built up a plastics manufacturing company from a shed in the back yard at home to a multi million-turnover factory employing a hundred and fifty people. An almost new building on an industrial estate on the edge of town bore evidence of the success.
Frank had three children, two girls and a boy. This was also a source of his happiness. Now grown up, Caroline was thirty-eight, Rob thirty-six and Abby thirty-four. Unfortunately, all three were single, Abby never having married with Caroline and Rob having endured unhappy marriages before shedding their partners. Frank's final happy event was his granddaughter Amanda (Mandy), Caroline's daughter, now aged eighteen, all blonde tresses and bouncy breasts enhancing her natural beauty.
No, his major sadness happened about a year ago when his wife Abigail succumbed to a long bout of malignant cancer and passed away in her sleep. In a way it was a merciful release but Frank didn't see it that way at the time and, to be truthful, he still hadn't got used to being without his soul mate. His daughter Abby reminded him so much of Abigail that he had to fight back the tears every time he saw her, which was nearly every day.
Frank is fifty-eight years old at the time this story commences.
Although deeply saddened by Abigail's death, Frank wasn't a man to lie down and immerse himself in self-pity every day. In due course he began to take stock of his situation.
Although still Chairman and Managing Director of the company, Armitage Plastics Ltd., the day to day business of the firm was controlled by Rob. All immediate family members were on the Board, together with Frank's eighty-year-old father Frederick Armitage.
Frank decided that at the next board meeting in two weeks time he would propose that Rob be promoted to Managing Director and that to all intents and purposes he would relinquish control of his company. Perhaps Rob would allow Marjorie James, Frank's long time secretary, to assume the duties of Company Secretary. He was sure that the rest of the family would approve.
Now he must sort out his own affairs. He hadn't reviewed and amended his will for a while and with Abigail's death it was a matter of some urgency. There was no way he was going to let her family have any of her share in the business. He had loved his wife to distraction but the same did not apply to her family, apart from her sister Laura. Fortunately Abigail's will had, apart from a few personal bequests, left everything to her husband.
Frank picked up the phone. He was at home, preferring to spend most of his time away from the office and the shop floor nowadays. He quickly dialled a number from memory.
"Hello," he said when his solicitor's office answered. "Can I speak to Howard Griggs please? It's Frank Armitage here."
He was quickly put through.
"Hello Frank, it's good to hear your voice," said Howard, his long time friend and advisor. "How are you? What can I do for you today?"
"I need to come and see you," explained Frank. "I want to get my will changed to reflect the current situation."
"Fine. Fine," said Howard. "Can you give me an idea of what you intend in case I need to do some research. I presume that there are to be major changes?"
"Yes indeed," said Frank, giving a chuckle rare for these days. "I'm going to mostly retire from the business and divide everything equally between the three kids and Mandy. I'm also going to convert this huge mausoleum of a house into apartments for all of them, including Dad. They will have absolute ownership of their own piece of the building with a very long lease and will jointly run the freehold trust company that we will set up. Rob will attend to the day to day running of the house. There will also be space for a few other flats for any staff that are needed in the future and for guests staying over. How's that for starters?"
"Wow," said Howard. "I'd better hang up and get started. Can you come and see me next Friday at twelve to see how I'm getting on? I'll buy you lunch."
"I'll be there," said Frank, laughing this time. "I expect I'll pay for the lunch on your bill anyway!"
All of this had taken place some months before. Now things were really moving. The family had been consulted, both officially at the Board meeting and privately at Frank's house. All five of them were delighted with Frank's proposals for them, especially Rob who had wanted control of the company for some time although he recognised that his father, despite his sadness, was still quite capable of handling things. His present organising was proof of this.
Most of Frank's time was taken up with the house. He had, of course, employed an architect to draw up plans based on his suggestions and to submit the agreed layout to the council for approval. There were no controversial proposals in the final submission so the plans were all passed at the first attempt. There were to be six full sized apartments altogether, two on each of floor on either side of the large central staircase and landings. Frank and his father were to have the ground floor, Caroline and Abby would be on the first floor with Rob and Mandy on the second. All were two bed-roomed apartments with sitting room, kitchen and two bathrooms; Frank had an additional room to use as a study. At the rear would be a party room and a snooker room on the ground floor with two small single bedroom flats on the first and second floors. The first floor flats were to have additional space to accommodate professional carers and partners if required. In the large basement a gymnasium was kitted out, complete with showers and changing rooms. Last but not least, there was a twenty-five-metre swimming pool adjoining the gym.
Frank had been very careful to consult his father in all aspects of his plans. His dad Frederick (Fred) was very active, very alert and still randy. Frank was almost afraid to ask him about his love life, especially about his capabilities with the ladies. Fred belonged to a number of clubs and organisations, all of which had lady members.
Today they were inspecting Fred's apartment, which was complete. Everyone had chosen his or her own decorations, furniture and equipment. Fred's didn't really reveal his age or his sexual desires. Frank had the feeling that any woman entering Fred's lair would be lulled into a false sense of security. He carefully alluded to this as he praised the apartment.
"As long as they drop their knickers I don't care!" was the older Armitage's only comment. Frank said no more.
His own sexual drive had been seriously curtailed during Abigail's illness and following her untimely death. Frank and Abigail had enjoyed a full and varied sex life all through their marriage and indeed before their nuptials. Rarely a day went by without them enjoying an intense sexual congress, sometimes several times a day. Now that this major project was drawing to a close and he could look forward to a more relaxed lifestyle he had noticed that his ability to achieve an erection had greatly increased. He bid his father farewell for the time being.
"Enjoy living here dad," he said. "Don't forget, the internal phone system is there for you to use if needed. Now, I have an appointment in my apartment so I'll leave you to it."
"I hope it's a woman," said his father with a glint in his eye. "It's time that you began your fucking life again; and I mean fucking!"
Frank almost smiled to himself as he returned to his own home across the hallway. His appointment was indeed with a woman. Marjorie, his former secretary, had requested to see him. She had worked for him, finally as his personal assistant and secretary, for almost seventeen years. She had joined the company straight from school at seventeen and he had never regretted taking her on.
Five minutes after regaining his apartment Frank's doorbell rang. The outside camera's showed Marjorie at the door. Frank pressed the lock release and opened his own door to greet Marjorie.
At thirty-three, almost thirty-four, Marjorie James had matured into a fine figure of a woman. She stood about five feet six, with brown shining shoulder length hair, wearing a smart navy blue pin striped business suit with a white silk blouse beneath. Her black high-heeled shoes were about four inches high. Marjorie was dressed to kill and it showed. Her figure was hourglass shaped; a slender waist surmounted by an almost top-heavy chest with hips to match. Frank felt a definite stirring.
"It's lovely to see you Marj," he said. "You're a sight for sore eyes and no mistake. Make yourself comfortable. What can I get you to drink? I've got some quite nice Champagne in the fridge if that will do."
