Chapter One: Richard's Revenge
*** Author's Note ***
This series picks up the story four years after the point that "Big Changes at Home" left off. It is STRONGLY recommended that you read that series first to understand the characters and what has happened in the story so far. This is a new series with the story evolving, growing and changing, yet it is keeping in line with the premise of the original series. For those of you who wish to read on, without reading "Big Changes at Home," you should be able to pick up the basics of what has happened. I feel, however, that you are doing yourself a disservice in bypassing the prior series. In either event, I hope you enjoy the series as much as I enjoy writing it!
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The room was silent. The rich oak interior reflected no sound, yet spoke volumes as to the success of the Law Firm, of which it was a part. The conference room had been the scene of many discussions and countless: legal negotiations, depositions, consultations and many other meetings. The simple gathering between these three men was barely worth noting in the distinguished history of the room. Yet this meeting today was indeed monumental and life-changing, having far-reaching effects.
Richard sat at the conference table and carefully read the papers spread before him. It was second nature for him to scan over any legal document set before him, even those prepared by his colleagues. The two other men sitting around the conference table sat there patiently as Richard continued reading. One was a middle-aged, portly Italian man, and the other was a slender Korean man who was not quite thirty. Both of the men worked at Richard's law firm, one was a partner, the other was about to become one. Finally Richard finished reading the legal documents and picked up his pen.
"Are you absolutely sure about this? There's no going back once you sell to Brad!" Tony, the portly Italian man asked with an urging tone of voice as he grasped Richard's right arm, stopping him from signing.
"I just need out, Tony," Richard said with a calm tone of voice as he smiled slightly.
There was a tense moment as Tony looked deep into Richard's eyes, searching for sincerity. After a moment had passed, Tony looked down, shook his head and released Richard's arm. Richard then began to sign and initial the papers where he needed to. Tony's face made his feelings known as he looked at Richard with an expression that made it clear that he thought his long-time law partner was making a huge mistake. The young Korean man however looked elated and pleased that the papers were finally being signed.
"So if you need out so badly, where are you getting out to?" Tony asked with a bit of a mocking tone to his voice.
"Montana, always wanted to live in Montana," Richard said with a warm smile as he paused momentarily from signing the papers.
"Well sir, I wish you the best of luck in Montana. I'm just thankful for this great opportunity that your leaving gives me," Brad said in a gleeful tone of voice.
Richard finished signing the papers and passed them over to Brad who eagerly signed the papers before passing them over to Tony. Tony then signed the papers and collected them up and stuffed them in a folder. Finally he passed a bank draft for Richard's share of the law firm. Richard picked up the bank draft and shook the hands of both Tony and Brad, each one in turn.
"I hope you know what you're doing Rick, We're gonna miss you," Tony said with sincere regret as he patted Richard on his shoulder.
"It's just something I have to do," Richard said with a calm sense of peace about him as he looked into the eyes of his old friend and now former law partner.
Richard returned to his office, his former office now, and pulled out a file that he had hidden away in his desk. He looked over a list of tasks that he had set out for himself and saw that almost all of them were taken care of. There were only a few details yet to tend to, and enough time left in the day to get them done. Richard smiled to himself as he picked up the phone and began the first of a few calls he had to make that afternoon. Everything was almost ready, tomorrow would be a big day, the biggest in Richard's life.
By the time Richard left the law firm for what would be the last time, he felt a sense of release and relief. As he carried the last box of his belongings from his office to his car, he knew he was doing the right thing. He had a calming notion that told him that leaving the firm was what he needed to do. The drive home was uneventful and soon he was home so he pulled into the garage that had been built in the back yard. After parking his Mercedes next to Taryn's Cadillac, he left the garage and walked up the small path and into the recently added door which opens up into the kitchen.
Taryn was standing at the stove in a slender-fitting, flower-print dress that had a scooping neckline and stopped at her mid-thigh. The dress that Taryn was wearing looked pretty and form-fitting, yet comfortable at the same time. Richard stopped in the doorway and paused to look over, his wife, now "Mistress Red" to him, who was standing at the stove cooking dinner.
Taryn had slimmed and toned up over the past four years, and it certainly showed. While she still had a curvy, hourglass figure, she had lost a few pounds and gained some muscle-tone. Her breasts were still large, round and impressive to see, though they had shrunk slightly as a result of the weight-loss. What they lost in size they made up for in regained firmness. Richard had to admit that Taryn looked better than she had in years and he smiled to himself as he walked over to her.
