told Valerie what had transpired, not holding anything back.
She just raised her eyebrows and said, ‘Your mother has always made it clear that she didn’t agree with our marriage and she’ll hate me even more so now. But Ross, that doesn’t bother me, you have to do what’s right for you, but I do hope in the future you and your father will be friends again.’
He shrugged. ‘That’ll take some time darling, but hopefully one day …’
Later that evening the phone rang and Valerie answered it. It was Bonny.
‘Hi Valerie. Wow! What an eruption there was at our mother-in-law’s. It was like the A-bomb going off! Leo rang Earl to tell him the news. Well, good for Ross I say. Bet the old bitch didn’t like that?’
‘No, Bonny, but are you surprised? Anyway, Ross can now run his business his way. But I’ll be looking over my shoulder for a while,’ she laughed.
‘So you know how unpopular you are?’
‘I was before but now even more so, but it’s water off a duck’s back, it runs off.’
‘You have the cutest sayings. How about lunch next Monday? Whilst they have their AGM, we can celebrate. What do you say?’
‘Excellent.’ And they made a date.
The air was stormy at the AGM on the following Monday morning. Leo, flushed with anger, made his statement.
‘Before we start our business gentlemen, I have an announcement. Ross will be leaving the company and setting up on his own!’
There was a buzz around the table.
‘He doesn’t agree with the way things work around here, things that have suited the company for many years and successfully, so he’s leaving.’
The few diehards that had worked with Leo for many years looked at Ross, their outrage obvious to see, while the younger members brightened, but kept their opinions quiet.
‘This being the case gentlemen, I have no choice to askhim to leave the room during our discussions.’ He glared at his son.
Ross gathered his papers and left the room. He returned to his office and dictated letters to his clients, telling them of his plans and asking them what they wanted to do. Stay with the firm or continue with him at his new offices?
When he’d finished his secretary looked up and asked, ‘Have you advertised for a new secretary, Mr Johnson?’
Shaking his head he said, ‘No, Jane, I haven’t. Why do you ask?’
‘Then I’d very much like to come with you, if you have no objection?’
He smiled at her. ‘I have no objection at all, if you’re sure you don’t mind the move.’
‘I think it’s exciting. You are the future Mr Johnson, whereas Mr Leo is the past and I want to be part of the future.’
‘Then you shall be, Jane. You are good at your job and I’d be happy for you to come with me.’ He shook hands with her. ‘But keep this to yourself for the time being. My father is already outraged, we don’t want to give him a heart attack!’
As he left the building that evening, two of the younger lawyers stopped him.
‘Got time for a drink, Ross? We would like to talk to you,’ one said and they went to the nearest cocktail lounge.
It transpired that they too wanted to be part of his new company, which was no surprise to Ross. He told them of his plans and this excited them. They discussed salaries and a starting date, shook hands all round, drank up and left.
Ross drove home a happy man.
While Ross had been dealing with his affairs, Bonny and Valerie had enjoyed a lunch together. Bonny, delighted with the news of Ross starting his own company, insisted they have a glass of champagne to celebrate.
‘Listen, Valerie, had I not been adamant with Earl about stepping back from the family, Gloria would be still running our lives! Thankfully, Earl listened to me. So what are you going to do with your spare time when Ross is working?’
‘I’m still exploring the city,’ Valerie told her.
Bonny searched in her handbag and produced a folder. ‘Here, I wondered if you would be interested in
She just raised her eyebrows and said, ‘Your mother has always made it clear that she didn’t agree with our marriage and she’ll hate me even more so now. But Ross, that doesn’t bother me, you have to do what’s right for you, but I do hope in the future you and your father will be friends again.’
He shrugged. ‘That’ll take some time darling, but hopefully one day …’
Later that evening the phone rang and Valerie answered it. It was Bonny.
‘Hi Valerie. Wow! What an eruption there was at our mother-in-law’s. It was like the A-bomb going off! Leo rang Earl to tell him the news. Well, good for Ross I say. Bet the old bitch didn’t like that?’
‘No, Bonny, but are you surprised? Anyway, Ross can now run his business his way. But I’ll be looking over my shoulder for a while,’ she laughed.
‘So you know how unpopular you are?’
‘I was before but now even more so, but it’s water off a duck’s back, it runs off.’
‘You have the cutest sayings. How about lunch next Monday? Whilst they have their AGM, we can celebrate. What do you say?’
‘Excellent.’ And they made a date.
The air was stormy at the AGM on the following Monday morning. Leo, flushed with anger, made his statement.
‘Before we start our business gentlemen, I have an announcement. Ross will be leaving the company and setting up on his own!’
There was a buzz around the table.
‘He doesn’t agree with the way things work around here, things that have suited the company for many years and successfully, so he’s leaving.’
The few diehards that had worked with Leo for many years looked at Ross, their outrage obvious to see, while the younger members brightened, but kept their opinions quiet.
‘This being the case gentlemen, I have no choice to askhim to leave the room during our discussions.’ He glared at his son.
Ross gathered his papers and left the room. He returned to his office and dictated letters to his clients, telling them of his plans and asking them what they wanted to do. Stay with the firm or continue with him at his new offices?
When he’d finished his secretary looked up and asked, ‘Have you advertised for a new secretary, Mr Johnson?’
Shaking his head he said, ‘No, Jane, I haven’t. Why do you ask?’
‘Then I’d very much like to come with you, if you have no objection?’
He smiled at her. ‘I have no objection at all, if you’re sure you don’t mind the move.’
‘I think it’s exciting. You are the future Mr Johnson, whereas Mr Leo is the past and I want to be part of the future.’
‘Then you shall be, Jane. You are good at your job and I’d be happy for you to come with me.’ He shook hands with her. ‘But keep this to yourself for the time being. My father is already outraged, we don’t want to give him a heart attack!’
As he left the building that evening, two of the younger lawyers stopped him.
‘Got time for a drink, Ross? We would like to talk to you,’ one said and they went to the nearest cocktail lounge.
It transpired that they too wanted to be part of his new company, which was no surprise to Ross. He told them of his plans and this excited them. They discussed salaries and a starting date, shook hands all round, drank up and left.
Ross drove home a happy man.
While Ross had been dealing with his affairs, Bonny and Valerie had enjoyed a lunch together. Bonny, delighted with the news of Ross starting his own company, insisted they have a glass of champagne to celebrate.
‘Listen, Valerie, had I not been adamant with Earl about stepping back from the family, Gloria would be still running our lives! Thankfully, Earl listened to me. So what are you going to do with your spare time when Ross is working?’
‘I’m still exploring the city,’ Valerie told her.
Bonny searched in her handbag and produced a folder. ‘Here, I wondered if you would be interested in
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