"Noah Johnson please, tell him Lee Gardner is calling," I told the sweet sounding lady on the other end of the call.
"Yes Sir Mr. Gardner, he's been looking forward to hearing from you, just a second and I'll connect you."
"Mr. Gardner, so happy you called. You come highly recommended and I hope you can help us," he said and coughed several times. " Sorry I'm a little under the weather."
"Sorry to hear that, but what can I help you with, I was told you were having some technical issues but was not given any details."
"Well we are a small publishing company, and of course everything is controlled by these infernal computer programs. Not like when I started this business 50 years ago," he laughed and coughed again. "The problem seems to be our software I think. Anyway, the last guy we hired we spent a ton of money and he told us it was fixed, then by damn here we are a month later and we are completely shut down."
"Yes Sir, I'm sure things are different from when you started, but with the right equipment and software it's a lot more efficient and cost effective than the old ways."
"I know, and my son helps run the company, and his wife Sandy, she's the one that answered the phone when you called, Sandy's pretty good with computers, and she can't figure out the problem either. So, what's it going to cost me to have you come and take a look?"
"Sir I'm in Alabama, and if I have to come out to New Mexico it's going to cost you $5000 just for me to come out there. Not counting my fee per hour when I investigate what the problem is, and the fee to fix it."
"Jesus, I guess I wasted your time," coughing again, and sounding like he was on his last breath.
"Not necessarily, If you hire me I can work on your problem from here. I just need permission from you to access your system and I'll find your problem. My fee for doing that is $1000, plus $150 per hour. When I find the problem I'll fix it, but I require you to sign an agreement paying me $500 a month for at least 2 years, which makes me available to you 24/7 at no extra charge."
"Son you have a deal, just give me your email address and tell me what info you need."
"Just tell Sandy to give me a call in about an hour, you told me she was computer savvy, it's probably best I talk to her. I have another call I have to make and I should be free in about an hour. My number is xxx-xxx-xxxx."
"Thanks son, hope this works out, we're backed up here and desperate," coughing again.
"Look forward to doing business with you, bye."
While talking to Mr. Johnson I had an incoming call from my Dad, and I sent it voice mail. I was successful because I put business first, and I knew I wasn't going to be on the phone long with the client. The only reason I took Mr. Johnson on was I owed a friend a favor.
Checking my voice mail, Dad didn't go into detail, just said he really needed to talk to me. He sounded really down and that worried me, because lately he has been excited about early retirement in the near future.
"Hi Dad, I called as soon as I could. What's going on?"
"Son it's your sister Ava......your Mom and I are at wits end. We thought maybe you could help, your Mom can't take much more," his voice trailing off.
"Dad, I know in the past you have told me she was not performing well in school, but didn't she just graduate this past month? I know I got a graduation card and sent her a $1000 Visa gift card, that way she could get whatever she wanted."
"Son, I reckon we should have said something earlier, but your Mom and I thought we could help her work thru her problems.....and we thought we were making some head way."
I heard my Mom in the background crying, "Just tell him the truth Delbert!"
"Dad, what's really going on," I said firmly. Growing up my parents didn't believe in spankings, discipline might consist of taking our tv's out of our bedrooms for a day or two. Ava was 10 years younger than me and only 8 when I went off to college. Even at 8 years old she was a little brat and was seldom disciplined. During college I only went home for short visits, for several reasons, one of them being Deer Creek, Iowa was a small town and I hated it.
"Son we thought things were getting better....."
"Dad! Quit stalling out with it," I shouted out of frustration. Which immediately made me feel bad. I had never raised my voice to either of my parents. They were good hard working people.
"We...caught her doing drugs....and.....in bed with her boyfriend.....when we came back from a movie your Mom wanted to see," he choked out.
"Dad, I don't know what I can do, hell I haven't even seen her in four years. I've sent her birthday cards, Christmas presents, but hell I never get a thank you card or ever hear from her. She's not going to listen to anything I say."
"Well your Mom and I thought maybe you could get her to come stay with you for a while, just so we can get her away from this jerk she's dating. We would ask your Uncle George to help, but his health is bad, and....well you're a lot like him. You are smart, determined and believe in strict discipline. Guess I should have been more like my older brother, but you were so easy to raise and never a problem, we made the mistake of thinking Ava would respond like you and make something of herself. We failed son, and need help," he whimpered.
Yeah I thought, Uncle George ruled his house with an iron fist. I had watched him raise 3 older cousins, 2 boys and 1 girl. He didn't spare the rod, he tore their asses up when they misbehaved. I watched them grow up to be fine young adults. I told myself then, if I ever had a family, or even a girlfriend I would not stand for any bullshit, and that was the way I ran my business. My way or the highway!
I had no desire to get involved, but I owed my parents. They had worked hard and scrimped and saved to help me in college, always putting my needs first. Fortunately I had learned discipline from Uncle George, he tore my ass up several times when I was visiting if I got out of hand! I learned a red ass got your attention.
"Dad, don't tell her I'm coming, if you do, no telling what she might do. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Thank you son, we just hope you can help get her straightened out before something bad really happens."
"No promises, but I'll try. Bye Dad."
Damn, this was going to fuck up things. I was getting my current girlfriend trained the way I wanted her, now I have to deal with my brat sister!
"Lee baby, I heard you shout, sounds like you need me to relieve your stress," she cooed, standing at the edge of my office door, with one finger in her mouth and her other hand rubbing her panty covered pussy.
"Not now Laura," I barked at her, "I've told you before, never come to my office unless I tell you too!"
"Sorry," she whimpered and turned and went downstairs.
Laura was a sexy little blue eyed blonde I had picked up in a bar several months ago, a nice body, a good fuck, and not bad at blow jobs. I was debating on calling Laura back for a blow job to relieve the stress from the phone call about Ava, when my phone buzzed.
Looking at the screen, it was Johnson Publishing calling, "LG Technical Services," I answered. Might as well sound professional, I chuckled to myself.
"Mr. Gardner, this is Sandy from Johnson Publishing. I was told to give you a call."
"Yes Sandy, I thought it was best we talk. Mr. Johnson said you were computer smart, and I wanted to make sure I get the right information if I'm going to help you."
"Well I'm no expert, but I can take care of basic things, but I can't figure out why our system crashed," she sighed.
"Tell me exactly what happened and when the problem occurred."
"It was working fine yesterday, slow, but at least working. Then when I came in early this morning it was dead as a door nail."
"Were you the last to work on it?" I asked.
"Yeah, I think, when I left my husband Larry was still here, but he was catching up on paperwork. I asked him if he had used the system after I left to go home and start supper, and he said he hadn't."
"Sandy you have a fax number, so I'm going to fax you the information I need, plus documents for Mr. Johnson to sign. It's a binder for the contract we agreed to, plus I'll need payment up front as he and I agreed. Do you use PayPal?"
"Yes Sir, that won't be a problem, plus let me give you my personal cell phone number, in case after office hours you need to contact me. It's xxx-xxx-xxxx."
"Thanks Sandy, you should be getting my fax within the next few minutes. I'll be in touch. Good bye."
"Good bye, and thanks for helping us."
Hanging up, I wondered what she looked like? She sounded cute on the phone. I would have to see if we could FaceTime at some point, I chuckled. Snap out of it asshole, you have your hands full with Laura and now my brat sister, told myself.
In a funky mood I didn't have any desire to fuck Laura, and I decided to send her home. With no one here but me, maybe I could knock out the problem with Johnson Publishing before going home.
Walking in the den downstairs, Laura was laying on the couch in just panties and a t-shirt and no bra, watching some Netflix romance movie. When she heard me walk in the room she rolled over on her back and spread her legs.
"Come here baby and let me get that frown off your face," she purred.