The Life of Josh Ch. 02

Josh pulled into his private parking spot in the garage of the tall office building that bore his last name. He slowly got out of his car and headed towards the open elevator that would take him right up to his office floor.

He wanted the company but not as early as he had gotten it. Joshs’ parents were killed in an accident when he was 27. A drunk driver blew through a red light and hit them broad sided, and like that his entire life had changed. He now had a multi million dollar empire.

He could have given it all up, let the suits take over, and he would have been fine. He still would have gotten paid for the company and he could have lived his life very comfortably on the trust set up for him. Many of his friends encouraged him to do just that, probably because they wanted to live that life with him. But that wasn’t how Josh was wired. His parents always told him to work for what he wants, and to work hard for it. He also got advice from those close to his father on the decisions he should make.

“Let us run it.” “You come on when you are ready, we will find a spot for you.” “You don’t know anything about running a business of this size.” All of the things that he was told in the lead up to making his decision. But the main question he had, was “what would his parents want for him”? “Was everyone right” also played a big role in his decision making. He had in front of him one of the largest privately held companies in the state. Hundreds of millions of dollars in assists all across the globe.

Josh made his decision and told the attorney’s to draw up the paperwork to turn over control to a board of directors to then take the company forward. The night before he made his signed the papers he called over his fathers’ long time assistant and friend Mark to discuss what the next step should be for him. Mark’s answer was plain and simple. His father had built that company from the ground up, worked tirelessly for over 30 years to get it to where it is now. Mark knew because Mark had been with his father since before Day 1. Josh knew what was in the best interest of the company and he knew then how to move forward.

The day of the signing everyone was in the boardroom some were laughing and chatting away, some more somber because they knew what it meant to turn everything over to a Board. They knew that they probably wouldn’t have a job come the end of the day. There were already talks.

As Josh walked in with his attorney the crowd all started coming to their seats. High powered MBA’s smiling and shaking his hand. Some of the older crowd who had been with his dad from the beginning while still happy to see him, Mark could see in their eyes they were worried.

“First of all I want to thank you all for coming in today. I…” He started but stopped for a second. “I have given this a great deal of thought over the last few weeks…” Stopping again. He started listing off all of the names that had convinced him to step down and allow them to run the company, to be the members of the board that decided how the company would be led into the future. They smiled broadly at the praise they were about to receive, the courage they employed, the…

That’s when it happened. Those smiles went to shock at Josh’s next statement. “I would like to thank you for your commitment to this company over the years however your services are no longer needed.”

That was it. The room went quiet for a second. And then erupted of angry calls of “you can’t do that”, “you’ll pay for this”, and “you don’t know what you’ve just done.” Although he did know what he had done, and his attorney assured him he had every right to do it.

Josh grabbed the papers he was due to sign as the group was being led out by building security. Looking at the remaining members at the table, the group that helped his father start the company, he tore up the papers giving up his rights to control of the company. Proud smiles and nods came from the group.

He looked at Mark, the guy who trusted his father so much in the beginning that he took a chance on a crazy idea. Then back at the group at the table.

“You know…” He started. “I have no idea how to run a company. I watched my father growing up and I know how he would want it to be run, and while I believe I can get there I don’t believe I am there yet. With that said I am still going to stay on and remain as President of a new Board of Directors, but Mark it’s time for you to step down as an assistant…”

He paused again looking at Mark, who while looking hurt understood why Josh was asking him to step down.

“Mark..” Josh started again, grabbing his attention back. “It’s time for you to officially run the company that you have been running from the beginning. Would you be interested in becoming the next CEO?”

That decision that Josh made back then was probably the second best decision he made that week. The best however was taking the advice his father had given him when he first learned he would be taking over the company sometime in the future. He remember güvenilir bahis being in his dads’ office when he was younger, probably 7 or 8, and asking about Mark and why his dad trusted him so much.”

“Son, one day hopefully with Marks help, this company will someday be yours.” His father told him. “When that day comes, find the smartest person you know, and ask them to be your assistant, and trust their guidance.”

Josh did that two days later in a meeting with his attorney’s. He asked his lead counsel who the smartest person in the room was.

Laughing, the old attorney looked at him. “Son you’re in a room full of attorneys, that’s a loaded question.” He thought for a minute.

“Here.” He said writing down something on a piece of paper and handing it to him. “Go down to the counsel’s office and ask for her. Spend a few minutes with her. I think she will impress you.”

Josh did just that, and she did impress him. He offered her the position as his personal assistant.

The elevator dinged, bringing him out of his thoughts, and the door slid open.

Alex, the young woman whose name his attorney wrote down on the sheet of paper, was standing there waiting on him. She was tall, 5’8″ and made to look taller when she wore heels, as she often did. Slender, with long toned legs, you could tell that she worked out regularly. She had black hair and piercing blue eyes, a cute face for sure.

“We have a problem.” She said

“Yeah.” Josh said still groggy from the morning, and not sure how Alex was so awake and alert this early in the morning.

Alex reached behind her and grabbed a coffee, handing that and the folder already in her hand to Josh, she grabbed her own coffee and they both walked to the office.

“Is it the purchase?” Josh asked

“It’s the purchase.”

“Shit…” Josh said entering his office and heading for the desk. “As soon as Mark gets in send him to my office would you?”

“He’s already on the way.”

“You didn’t call him too did you?”

“Of course I did.”

“You didn’t need to wake him up for this.” Josh said grabbing the folder and opening it up to read where the issue was coming from.

“He was already up.”

“Doesn’t anyone in this company sleep?” Josh asked sarcasm in his tone.

“Only you.” Alex said smiling in the same sarcastic tone.

“Didn’t I fire you last week?” Josh asked

“Yeah.” Alex said returning to leave

Josh turned in his chair to look out over the city. The sun had just barely started coming up. The rest of the staff was probably just now getting up to come in. He started getting lost in his thoughts again.

He wasn’t there long before his intercom went off with Alex on the other end. “Mark is on his way up.”

“Ok thanks, send him in when he gets up here.” Josh responded

A couple of seconds later. “You know I can’t hear you if you don’t speak towards the mic, I will send him in when he gets up.”

Speaking towards the mic. “I’m going to fire you again…” but she had already hung up her end.

A short time later Mark comes into the office.

“We have a problem.” Josh said looking at him.

“Yeah Alex told me.”

“Yeah…” Josh said opening the folder.

“Is it the price?” Mark asked

“Yeah…” Josh responded

“We offered them a fair price, they agreed to it. What’s the problem?”

“They don’t agree to it anymore… ALEX” Josh yelled.

“You know sir, we have an intercom system.”

“Yeah, but Alex prefers it when I call for her, human to human communication.”

“I hate it when you yell like that, you know we have an intercom.” Alex said coming into the office.

“Human to human communication.” Josh responded. “What options do we have with this?”

“They agreed to the price so we can force the sale.” Alex said plainly

“Well that’s good lets do that then..” Josh responded

“We’ll take a hit, the media will spin it.” Alex replied

“That’s bad right?” Josh asked, looking to Mark. Mark nodded. “Why will the media attack us?”

“They will say that a big organization is capitalizing on the circumstances of a small family run organization.” Alex responded.

“Aren’t we a family run organization?”

“Yes but…” Alex started to respond.

“That was rhetorical.” Josh interrupted.

“We can put some numbers together, see what the guys down in legal come up with. Present a new offer.” Mark said adding to the conversation.

“At what point does a company go from being a family run operation to a soulless corporation?” Josh asked. Alex goes to respond. “Rhetorical again… Mark get with legal and let’s figure out the real number that they will accept so that everyone can be happy and we don’t look like we are taking advantage.”Have you heard that it is good to gain the day? I also say it is good to fall, battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won.””

“Walt Whitman..” Mark says.

“That’s right.” Josh replies. “Let’s get it done Mark.”

“Yes sir, is there anything else?” Mark türkçe bahis says standing to walk out.

“That’s all for now, but I’m sure we can take care of that pretty quickly around here.” Josh states in the sarcastic tone again.

“Thank you sir.” Mark says headed out the door.

“Do you need anything else from me?” Alex asks standing at the edge of the desk.

“No, I’ll call you if I need you.”

“With the intercom?” Alex asks turning to leave.

“Don’t make me lie to you…” Josh says to her back. “You know… You used to do that.” The emphasis on that referring to something but Alex not quite knowing what “that” was.

“Do what?”

“Call me sir…”

A slight smile coming across her lips. “Do I need to remind you about when that stopped?”

“That’s all thanks.” Josh said quickly dismissing her.

Alex walked out a little slower now, making sure to emphasize the sway in her hips. Josh couldn’t help but notice.

Josh didn’t need reminding of why she no longer called him sir, it was a very clear memory in his mind.

The two of them had been working together for about 6 months when Josh got a request to go to Dallas for a charity event that his father had always donated to. Josh wanted to keep up the charitable contributions as part of his father’s legacy. The invitation was for him and a plus one. Josh having just taken over the company hadn’t a great deal of time for a social life, so no real date. Nobody he could really think of anyway especially on such short notice.

It was then that Alex had walked in to drop off some papers for him to review and sign. She was on her way out the door when he stopped her.

“Do you have a nice dress for a formal occasion?” He asked.

“I’m not really the dress type.”

“Ok never mind then.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing…” He paused. “I just have an event in Dallas tomorrow night. A charity my father used to give to. I have a spot for a plus one.”

“Are you asking me out sir?” Alex asked toying with her boss.

“What?… Un no. I uh…”

“Relax..” Alex said with a sly smile. She loved making guys squirm. “Yes.” She said plainly.

“Yes?” Josh asked confused.

“Yes I have a dress, and yes I will go with you.” She stated watching him become more at ease. “Besides, you will need you assistant there to make sure you don’t do anything you aren’t supposed to.”

“Ok, great…” Josh said still a little confused but going with it. “Get with Mark, he used to set everything up for my dad. He will know what to do.”

“Yes sir, anything else?”

“No that’s it.”

“Thank you sir.” Alex said walking out the door.

The next morning when Josh arrived Alex was waiting in front of the elevator, something she had recently starting doing when she knew Josh was on his way up. She met him as he got off and handed him his work iPad with all of the daily meetings already in his calendar. She also handed him the folders he would need for those meetings in the order he would need them for him to review.

Josh noticed the hanging bag behind Alex’s desk as they passed by.

“Finally sir, I have cleared you schedule after 3:30. We will need to be at the airport by 4 in order to get us to Dallas in enough time to change and get ready for dinner tonight. Mark went ahead and set everything up for us.”

“Great, thanks.”

“Is there anything else you need sir?”

“No I’m good thanks.”

“Yes, sir. Your first meeting, Tim Hartman from SGMI Holdings is here for you.”

“Thank you. Give me 5 minutes and send him in.”

“Yes sir.” Alex responded before Josh walked into his office and closed the door.

The day flew by and soon it was getting close to 3:00. Josh emerged from his office. Jacket off sleeves rolled up and tie loosened a bit around his neck with the button undone. Alex had to admit that he was a good looking man especially when he was hard at work.

“Is there anything else today?” Josh asked

“Just a 3:15 meeting with Larry from legal sir.”

“Can we push that to Monday? Are you ready to get out of here?”

“I will call and let him know. And yes sir, whenever you are.”

“Great, let’s get out of here. Let Larry know I apologize but I will see him first thing Monday. Let the car know we are ready as well.” Josh turned to head back into his office to finalize a few more things, but turned back. “Also Janice, down in reception, she always handled the luggage for dad when he traveled. Give her a call and she will send someone up for yours.”

“Oh it’s fine I don’t mind…”

“It’s fine, give her a call.” Josh said smiling a bit.

Alex looked at him, that was probably the first time in the six months that they were working together she had seen him smile.

A short time later they were in the car headed to the airport to board the private plane for the short trip to Dallas. Josh didn’t like the plane much but understood why for the flexibility to be able to change where he needed to go and get there much quickly. It was a purchase güvenilir bahis siteleri his father made a couple of years before he died.

Josh and Alex made small talk on the trip to the airport, some business some personal. It occurred to both of them that they didn’t really know about each other on a personal level very well.

The conversation came to an abrupt stop when they got to the airport and were driven straight up to the waiting plane. Alex looked at it in awe, she had never been on a private jet before, so this was all new to her.

They got out of the car and walked up the carpet to the awaiting jet. It was loud as the plane was being taken off of ground power and running on it’s own. Alex started to go to the back of the car to grab her stuff when the driver stopped her and let her know he had it under control. This was entirely new to her. She followed Josh up the stairs to the plane.

“Jerry” Josh said shaking hand with the man in uniform at the top of the stairs.

“Are we ready to go Mr. Steele?”

“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Josh?”

“At least one more sir.”

Looking back at Alex who was still in awe of her surroundings. “I think we’re ready Jerry.”

“Great.” Jerry said turning and heading to the cockpit.

“You get used to it.” Josh said making his way into the spacious cabin and sitting on a long leather couch.

“I don’t think so..” Alex replied moving through the cabin still in awe of her surroundings.

A young lady in a tight uniform boarded the plane at that point and raised the stairs.

“You may want to sit down for this part.” Josh said looking at Alex.

“Which part?” Alex asked.

As soon as she asked, the large engines at the back of the plane spooled up and the plane started moving forward. Slightly off balance Alex fell onto Josh who expected it and was able to catch her. Though somewhat awkwardly, with his left hand cupping one of Alex’s sizable breasts.

“That part.” Josh replied.

Turning red a little bit, Alex sat up and moved to the other side of the couch. The flight attendant came into the main cabin at that point.

“May I get you anything to drink before we take off Mr. Steele?”

“Thank you Tiffany, Scotch two ice cubes.” Looking over at Alex

“Uh,” Alex hesitated. “Whiskey neat, bourbon if you have it.”

“Right away.”

“Bourbon…” Josh stated. “Don’t see many women drinking that, especially neat.”

“My father..” Alex replied smiling.

Josh nodded. Tiffany brought back their drinks and went to take her seat as the plane finished it’s taxi to the runway and began to take off.

The flight was fairly smooth, a short hop to Dallas. But it gave Josh and Alex more time to chat, again some about business and some about personal. They arrived in Dallas in about an 45 minutes and were soon in the car headed to the hotel. Upon arrival the got out of the car, again Alex heading to the back to grab her luggage, while the driver informed her he had it taken care of.

They checked in and were soon headed up the elevator to their suite, a 2 bedroom apartment style suite overlooking the city.

“So what’s it like?” Alex asked on the ride up.

“What’s what like?”

“Having everything done for you pretty much.”

“I’m not a spoiled trust fund kid…” Josh responded defensively

“I’m sorry…” Alex replied. “I didn’t mean…”

“It takes getting used to…” Josh said easing her uncomfort, or at least trying. ” I wasn’t raised this way, this is all fairly new to me. It makes me a little uncomfortable sometimes.”

The rest of the elevator ride was quiet. They reached their floor and the elevator doors opened to a massive expanse that led into their suite for the night.

“Mark went all out.” Alex said looking into the suite.

“I’ll say.” Josh said walking in.

They both walked in and took it all in, making their way around they both found the bar, poured a drink and sat down and talked more. Their luggage arrived a short time later and was taken to the separate rooms per both of their requests. They talked more, carrying on. It was the first time Alex had seen Josh even somewhat relax. He told her about his childhood growing up, how much he looked up to his dad and how much he loved his mom.

The time flew by until it was time for them to get ready for the evening’s event. They both went to their rooms to get ready. Josh was pretty easy, shower, clean up the beard a bit, and get dressed so he was back out in the main living area having a drink when Alex walked in.

He almost dropped his drink.

She was stunning. A long black dress that had a diving neckline revealing her perfectly formed breasts. He could tell that she had them done, but they still looked perfect. The dress went all the way down to just below her ankles, but then had a long slit up the side that went well above mid thigh. You could almost see where her thigh curved to make her well toned ass. Her face was even more beautiful if that was possible, her hair pulled back and draped over one shoulder. The dress dress in the back dropped at the neckline and formed a V placed just above the curve to her ass.

Josh stared at her, and she smiled back at him shyly a little.