5

Chapter 5

"Carlton, would you come into my office, please?" Mr. Preston called and judging from the urgency of his voice, it was something of importance. I set aside what I was doing and made my way directly to his office.

When I opened the door, I found him seated behind his desk, with Mrs. Preston standing gracefully at his side. He gestured for me to sit on one of the sofa chairs in front of him. That's when I noticed Richard, partially obscured by the high back of the chair beside mine.

"Why do you think I called you both here?" Mr. Preston asked, his eyes moving between us.

"No idea," Richard mumbled, not bothering to look up.

"Not a clue, sir," I answered politely.

Mr. Preston turned his attention to his son. "Richard, we've talked about this. Now that you've completed your studies, it's time you learn how to manage the family business. Your mother and I taking an indefinite vacation, and effective Monday, I will no longer be the CEO of the Preston Astor Group."

I glanced at Richard, but his expression remained unreadable—blank and serious.

"Don't get your hopes up too quickly," Mr. Preston continued. "I'll be appointing you as Vice President for Finance, focusing on one of our oldest and most prominent corporations. This will be your training ground. Once you've gained the necessary experience, you'll branch out into our other industries. For now, Roy Pearson will serve as interim CEO, but when I see that you're ready, you'll step into that role."

He handed Richard a long rectangular box.

"Consider this a graduation gift," he said.

Richard opened the box, revealing an elegant nameplate engraved with his name and new title.

"Congratulations," Mr. Preston announced. "You're now the official Vice President for Finance of the Preston Astor Group."

Mrs. Preston clapped enthusiastically, and I nodded at Richard in acknowledgment of his achievement.

"Carlton," Mr. Preston said, shifting his attention to me, "you're probably wondering why I asked you to join us."

Before I could respond, he handed me a well-worn black leather journal, its size almost doubled by the sheer number of sticky notes tucked inside.

"This contains my schedule, appointments, and tasks I can no longer handle personally. You'll act as my son's temporary personal assistant while my secretary endorses all the work to my successor. Your role is to help Richard get acquainted with the plant, the processes, and the employees."

Flipping through the journal, I recognized the detailed schedules and to-do lists I'd been observing over the past few weeks. It hit me that all this preparation had been leading to this moment.

"I'll do my best, sir," I assured him.

With that, I was dismissed.

*******

Back in my room, I pored over the journal, memorizing schedules, names, and details until my brain felt numb. But I knew this was necessary to support Richard in his new role.

By late afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Preston left for their evening flight, embarking on a private cruise. Now it's up to Richard and I to make sure that everything's in order.

As I worked, the sound of rain tapping against my window drew my attention. I paused, watching as the droplets grew heavier, sliding down the glass in lazy rivulets. The sky rumbled, lightning briefly illuminating the dark clouds before a loud clap of thunder followed.

It might be the effect of boredom but I was hypnotized by how the splatters of water from my window slowly slides down, combining a droplet with another, before falling down like meteor on the window sill. The sky began to rumble, producing a quick flash of light before letting out a roaring thunder.

The storm pulled me from my work. I immediately thought about the window I opened in the sunroom. Quickly, I ran upstairs to close it. The wind whipped the curtains violently, sending papers flying across the room. I reached for the handle and locked the window just as another flash of lightning lit up the room, leaving me momentarily blinded.

As the storm intensified, a memory surfaced.

I thought of Richard. When we were younger, he hated thunderstorms. I discovered his fear one day during a hurricane, finding him hiding under his bed, trembling and covering his ears.

What are you doing down there?" I asked, crouching by the bed.

"Go away!" he cried, his voice shaky.

"Are you scared of the thunderstorm?"

He didn't answer, but his silence was telling.

"Alright, I'm coming in," I said, ignoring his protests as I slid under the bed beside him. His wide eyes stared at me in disbelief as I calmly removed his hand from his ear.

"Listen, Richie. The storm might be loud, but it won't hurt you. It's just noise," I explained gently.

"Then why does it sound like it's going to strike us any second?" he whispered.

"That's just nature. Come on, I'll show you."

I crawled out from under the bed and stood by the window, beckoning him to join me. Reluctantly, he crept out of his hiding spot. I spread my arms, standing firm as the thunder boomed in the distance.

"See? It's just noise. Nothing to be scared of," I said.

Slowly, he stood beside me, staring out at the rain-soaked landscape. Another rumble of thunder rolled through, and I felt his small arms wrap around my waist. He was trembling but trying his best to face his fear.

I rested a hand on his head, stroking his hair to calm him. We stood like that for nearly an hour, watching the storm lose its intensity. When it finally eased, I realized he'd fallen asleep, his face nestled against me. Gently, I guided him to his bed and tucked him in, feeling a strange sense of peace as I watched him sleep. From that day on, he treated me with a little more kindness, and I was grateful.

---

A loud thud snapped me back to the present. The wind had pushed a tree branch against the window. I made a mental note to remind Peter, the gardener, to trim it in the morning.

As I left the sunroom, I found myself standing outside Richard's door. I stared at it for a moment, wondering if he still remembered that stormy night when I had comforted him like an older brother.

I sighed, shaking my head. He wasn't that scared little boy anymore. Still, part of me hoped I could look out for him again, now that he needed guidance in this new chapter of his life.

I hope everything turns out well, I thought before walking away, the sound of the storm fading behind me.