“Like your dad?”
“Bigger and better than TB Tech,” I say. Although I’m not sure how that’s even possible. TB Tech is right up there with the big 5 tech companies– Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft.
“Do you think he knows you sold your company?”
I shrug a shoulder. “No clue. I mean, he’ll read about it eventually, but I doubt he cares.”
Alex nods and knows better than to pursue the subject of my father. I don’t talk about him very much because when I do, I get really angry, really fast. Thomas Beckett is this scab that I just keep picking at so the wound never heals properly or fully goes away. It’s always there and on the verge of being infected.
We end up watching some basketball match on the large screen TV above the bar, drink a couple more beers and then I glance down at my watch. It’s only 8:00 p.m. and I’m exhausted.God, am I turning into a grandpa or what?
“I should probably get going,” I say and throw some money down on the bar.
Alex nods. “Yeah, me, too. I have to head over to Jackie’s.”
I haven’t decided if I’m a fan of Alex and Jackie being together yet or not. I guess only time will tell. Outside, we say goodbye and head our separate ways.
“Congrats again, bro!” Alex calls.
“Thanks!” I yell back and toss him a jaunty salute.
By the time I return to my apartment, I’m ready for a shower and the couch. When I finally sit down, it’s strange not to open my laptop and start working. It’s barely 9:00 p.m. and I have nothing to do right now.This is a first.Free time isn’t something I’m overly familiar with at all.Huh. I suppose I could binge watch a new show that I thought looked interesting or read a book that’s been collecting dust on my shelf or check out this documentary I’d seen a commercial for.
Instead, I sigh, get up and walk over to my balcony. I open the doors and step outside, breathing the outdoor air in deep. My apartment is in a high-rise and is situated 30 floors up. The views are outstanding, and I love to come out and just gaze over the city skyline when I’m trying to come up with a solution to a problem or just clear my head.
Right now, my mind feels heavy, and I can’t exactly say why. Technically, I’m completely free of responsibility for the first time in my life– no job, no significant other, no family. Nothing to worry about or stress over. I’ve got plenty of money in the bank thanks to selling my business.
But it doesn’t feel like enough. I’m not satisfied. Something is…missing.
An image of my father pops into my head as I lean my arms on the iron railing and gaze out over the edge. At some point over the last year or so, I was expecting a call from him. At least one lousy phone call congratulating me on building up a successful company from scratch. Or, deep down, maybe I was hoping he’d ask me to come back to TB Tech.
But that call never came and I’m sure he probably still thinks I’m not good enough. It eats away at me, and I hate it. I’m not even sure why. Maybe because a son inherently needs his father’s approval.
Whatever the case, I have a feeling my dad will never give me the satisfaction.
It turns out I couldn’t be more right.
Five minutes later, I get a phone call that confirms that my father and I will never speak again. Because Thomas Beckett is dead.
4
CHARLIE
Early the next morning, right before my alarm is set to chime, my phone rings and wakes me up instead. I jump up, startled for a moment, wondering who in the world would be calling me just before 5am.
Calls this early never bode well, I think, and reach for my trilling phone. I glance down at the caller ID and see the name Mark Jenner. He’s a board member at TB Tech and I have no idea what he could possibly want at this hour.
“Mark?” I say, voice thick with sleep.
“I’m sorry to wake you up, Charlie,” Mark says. “I have bad news.”
I sit up straighter, clutching the sheet to my chest, and dread fills me. “What is it?”
“Thomas had a heart attack. He passed away a few hours ago at the hospital.”
For a moment, I have no words. I am utterly stunned. “Oh, my God,” I finally manage to whisper.
“The board is having an emergency meeting in a couple of hours, and I just want to prepare you: we’re going to name you Interim President until everything is handled according to Thomas’ wishes.”