New Family Position Chapter 5
By Sarge 64
I am sorry this took so long to get back to. I wrote what I felt was a great Chapter and then lost it due to a computer dying so I wasn't sure I was going to continue this storyline but I was convinced I should. Again, my sincerest apologies.
Also, in Chapter 4 I indicated a woman would ride with Blake to the airport but I am going to retcon that, so if you want to pick at that, fine, but it is a conscious decision.
The first surprise of the day is when I got to the limo to take me to the other hotel where the wedding and reception would be held, John was inside waiting for me. He was resplendent in his tuxedo as the proud father of the bride and we chit chatted about what a big day it was going to be. I had long ago become accustomed to John's style of working his way up to the real conversation he wanted to have. He leaned toward me and said, "I am sorry if I am being abrupt, but this ride isn't overly long, so if I may..."
"Please John, I am not sure you could bowl me over with any other new announcements like the other night, but feel free to try." I smiled as I let him know I was kidding.
John nodded his head and chuckled, "I certainly see your point but no, I just wanted to discuss how the other main event was going to go today."
John then told me he wanted Melissa and Brent to get the full measure of attention they deserved on their wedding day, so he planned to make the press announcement once the dance started, which of course involved him dancing with his daughter on the first dance. Once those traditions were given their due attention, he planned to later bring Stephanie, Susan, Zack, Janice and myself to a side conference room where the press would be waiting. He would make the brief announcement he was stepping down as CEO and name me as the successor. He would say some brief words on my behalf and then let me make a brief statement. As he told me this, he said, "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of having the PR Department write this up for you. You may adjust it however you want, but we will have an investors meeting Tuesday followed by a press conference where we will both be expected to answer questions. Also, there may be some people I want to introduce you to at the reception, just keep an eye on me if I or Joan signal you."
John's intention was to make the announcement brief, and let the surprise of it circulate and calm down before Tuesday. That is when the press would "have a go" at me as John described. He pointed out Zach would be there today to show his implied consent to the succession plan. He felt if Zack wasn't present, there would be speculation there was a rift in the family and he felt he wanted to make sure we gave Zack as much cover as possible for being so unselfish. Zack would release a statement Monday fully backing me as CEO. John and Zach were hoping that would be all they needed to say on the matter, but they were prepared to have Zach be interviewed if need be. The tabloid gossip may be unavoidable, but John was much more worried about the potential real concerns of investors, customers, and clients than what a few loose tongues might speculate about. The strategy was to constantly emphasize my superior credentials behind the move and reassure all parties I was the right choice. I felt it was shrewd and I reminded myself again I had a lot to learn about this job besides just running the business side of things. This was a real-world leadership lesson and I was glad John was going to stay on as an advisor for a while.
The wedding was beautiful and a lot of fun for the family and everyone who attended. Melissa was stunning in her bridal dress and the rest of the women were so sexy and beautiful it made me proud to be a part of this family. In my new position, and with the possibilities opening so fast, it was hard not to imagine so many of them naked and at my beck and call. My flirty, manipulative wife didn't make it any easier as she would whisper naughty things when she caught me looking, or even if I wasn't. It was intoxicating and that was before I had a drop of alcohol.
Susan would say, "Look at her legs, wouldn't you like those legs wrapped around your head?"
Or she would rub my cock and ask if I thought if Stephanie's thighs were stronger than most women because she rode horses so much. Or if Janice shaved her pussy? Or if Mark's second wife Theresa gave better head than Mark's first wife Kara.
Brent and his groomsmen were equally dashing, and Brent surprised me by being affectionate and affable throughout the day. As an artist, Brent had always struck me as a little removed from it all. He didn't care at all about Melissa's money and less about the Corporation and its inner workings. He had always been friendly, if somewhat reserved, but I had always liked him, even though I didn't feel we were close by any means.
Melissa, as you might expect with her interests and abilities, was the consummate bride. She had planned the wedding with precision and style, adding little touches and amusements for everyone without anything seeming to be overly contrived or fake. Her eye as a designer and production expert really showed through, in regards to how aesthetically pleasing everything was. I realized she had approached the wedding as it was her own short movie with all of us as castmates and actors and her the star. On a lot of people this might have looked conceited and over wrought, but she pulled it off to the delight of everyone. I found myself being touched by it all, the planning and execution as it seemed like more than a wedding, it seemed like a celebration of family and togetherness.
I will say this, this family knew how to throw a wedding and it really knew how to party afterwards. The reception was in the largest hotel ballroom in the city. There were at least 500 guests and maybe more, but the meal was excellent, the drinks flowed freely. The dancing was fun and went late into the evening. Susan was often on the stage with the bridal party and I sat with the rest of the family, right next to Zack and Janice on one side and Karen on the other. John and Stephanie were at the table as well as Mark and Theresa. I didn't expect it but Kara and her daughters, Britney and Chanel, also sat with us. There had been some bad blood between Theresa and Kara, but they were apparently putting all of that aside for the day. It was truly a delightful time and we all laughed and celebrated in a way that made us all feel closer. Lastly, Cindy and Joan also sat at our table, and it felt right they were being treated as de facto family members for this day as they had helped Melissa tremendously with arrangements and Melissa graciously credited them in her bridal speech.
There was another notable aspect of the day I observed and filed away for future reference. I kept my drinking to a minimum and was more keenly observant of this event than I had been for other previous ones, due to the changes that were coming. John showed me how brilliant he was as leader of the Corporation and the family with a practiced ease and grace. The family was well known to combine family events with announcements and celebrations with friends and important business associates. Before today I always felt this tradition was this normally humble and secretive family's indulgence. I certainly remembered thinking it was all way too much for our wedding. These family events were a way to show off in ways they normally didn't in public. It was fair to say this wedding was at least the most important event in the city and being invited meant a great deal to many. I observed our table, and more importantly, John and Stephanie were positioned in a way to be able to receive and greet many who wished to extend their congratulations and get a moment with them. John and Stephanie handled it with real aplomb and never seemed to be put out for any of the interruptions the well-intentioned greeters may have imposed. It reminded me a great deal of the wedding scene from the Godfather. All of us were there to celebrate a wedding but there were a lot of agendas being executed. Those agendas were acknowledged with a great deal of forethought and John dished out introductions and promises to connect with certain visitors or sneak a whisper in to show intimacy when he was easily the second most important person in the room next to the bride. I realized Joan was stationed close to him to record, ever so subtly on her phone, those conversations and make sure there would be a follow up. Anyone looking on may have just thought Joan was texting. On an occasion or two, he would indicate I should come to their side of the table to quickly speak to those I recognized as the most important of our business associates. I noticed in those cases it was Cindy who was recording the conversations and messages of what I said. I also realized all of this was done with great precision and planning. I could see delighted recognition from these greeters as John would say something like, "Of course you know my son in law Blake, you must get in contact with him next week on the Parsons Merger. Blake, you know the Hoopers, Lyle and Mary, they run the Boseman Corporation and have come all the way from Seattle to be here. Lyle, I sure hope Joan sent the right bottle of whiskey to your room and Mary, daisies are your favorite right?"
The Hoopers would gush over John's memory and the tiny gesture of gifts and the introduction to me as a way of making the Hoopers feel special. These greeters would shake my hand as if we were newly introduced although I had probably interacted with Lyle Hooper on business more than John had in the last couple of years. I would follow my cue and say, "Yes, Lyle beat me on both sides of the Sand Point Course when I met with him and his staff last June. I am coming back with a new putter next time Lyle, I want a chance to get my money back."
