As promised, Arthur made an appointment with psychiatrist Dr. Pons to find out what was behind his sleepless nights. It didn't take long to notice the patterns in Arthur's dreams.
"From what we've discussed so far, it sounds like you don't really want to retire," Dr. Pons concluded.
"Of course I do," Arthur insisted. "I was ready to give up the business to spend more time with my family and travel. I've been looking forward to retirement for years."
"So what changed?"
Arthur paused in thought before answering, "My business partner, Clifford passed away. He was going to take over my position when I retired and run the company, while someone took over for him as vice president. We built the company from nothing and I can't leave without knowing that the business is secure and in capable hands."
"Isn't there anyone you can hand it over to?"
"Clifford and I had talked about it before he died, but we hadn't decided. I've given it a lot of thought, but I don't know what to do . . .They're all so young."
"How old were you and Clifford when you started out?"
"Older than anyone who's working for me now," Arthur said firmly, before conceeding, "But not by much."
"I think there's more to it than that. Tell me about the employees you were considering. If you had to pick one right now, how would you decide?"
"I see a lot of promise in Lawrence. He's gotten ahead very quickly, but he just doesn't have enough experience and he's not ready for the job yet. R.J. has done very well so far and he is experienced, but he's new to the company and I really haven't had the chance to get to know him well. Hector has been with the company the longest. I think he's the best candidate overall. If I had to put someone in charge tomorrow I think he would be the man for the job."
"But?" Dr. Pons prompted.
"Clifford was set against him. I wouldn't feel right handing the company over to someone that Clifford distrusted, unless I had reason to believe that his judgement was misguided."
"What do you think of Hector?"
"He's very personable and a good employee . . .I think he could grow into the job."
"I'm sure you and Clifford had to 'grow into the job' as well, didn't you?"
Arthur nodded. The doctor made a good point. "If I wait for the perfect person to come along, I'll be waiting for a very long time, won't I?"
"I think you've got it," Dr. Pons replied with a smile.
Slowly, Arthur sat up from the couch. "I sometimes forget that I never would have gotten anywhere if I wasn't willing to take chances."
When Arthur returned to work, Lucy was waiting for him in his office.
"Why, Lucy, what brings you here?"
Lucy took a deep breath to calm her nerves before speaking, "I need to talk to you about something serious."
Arthur closed the office door and took a seat behind his desk. "What is it?" he asked with concern.
"I want to know how much my stock in the company is worth."
"I don't know the exact amount off-hand without looking it up, but I could give you an estimate."
"An estimate is fine." When Arthur told her the amount, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was just enough to cover her father's debt to the company.
"Why do you ask?" Arthur asked.
"I want to give up my share of the company."
"You want to sell?"
"Actually, I want to give it to you. Just take it."
Confused and even more concerned, Arthur rose from his seat and crossed to the other side of the desk. He stood directly in front of Lucy and looked her in the eye. "What's this all about, Lucy? If you're in some kind of trouble, I want you to tell me. I'll do whatever I can to help you."
Lucy sighed and blinked back her tears. She didn't want the truth to be told, but she realized there was no other way to make up for her father's mistake. "When I cleaned out my father's office, I found some papers . . .he took money from the company. I didn't want to say anything, but I can't handle this secret myself any longer."
Shocked, Arthur leaned back against the desk for support. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Please don't say anything. I don't want anyone to know, but I have to make things right. Can't you take the stock or sell it? Put the money back in the company and we can forget this ever happened," Lucy pleaded.
Arthur closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Clifford had been the one person in the company that he thought he could trust completely. To find out his partner had betrayed him and the company they had both worked so hard to build was crushing, but he tried to remain calm and rational. He had to deal with the problem at hand. "Bring in the papers. I want to take a look at them," he said stiffly. "We'll figure something out."
"R.J. Majors," R.J. answered the ringing phone on his desk.
The voice on the line was muffled, "Hey there, R.J. I know something about you."
"Who is this?" he asked suspiciously.
"If you want to find out, meet me at the docks tomorrow night at midnight. Unless you want me to tell everybody that you. . ."
When R.J. heard what the mysterious person said next, he cringed and denied the accusation. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh don't I? Tomorrow. Midnight. Be there."
When the line went dead, R.J. stood there a moment still holding the receiver in his hand before finally hanging up. Someone had found him out and he was going to have to figure out how to handle it.
"Hey, R.J. How's it going?" Hector asked as he walked past R.J.'s cubicle. When R.J. turned around, Hector noticed his angry expression. "Is everything alright?"
R.J. forced a brief smile, "Fine."
Sebastian sat in his car, parked in front of the office building. He glanced at his watch. 5:00. Hopefully he wouldn't have to wait much longer. He turned his attention back to the front door. He only had to wait a few minutes more before his target walked outside. Sebastian sat up straighter and watched carefully as Lawrence walked out of the building, chatting with another young man as they made their way to the parking lot.
Sebastian felt like he was transported back 20 years. The boy was the spitting image of his father, Lawrence Sr.
As Lawrence's car pulled out of the parking lot, Sebastian shifted his car into drive and followed.
When he saw Lawrence park in front of a law office and walk into the building, Sebastian was curious. He parked his car in an empty space in front of the office and waited. Why was Lawrence seeing a lawyer? He knew Lawrence's business here probably didn't concern him, but he couldn't help worrying.
He knew it was risky, but eventually his curiousity got the better of him and he went inside.
When Sebastian entered, the receptionist was leading Lawrence into a hallway at the back of the reception area. Sebastian lingered in the reception room a moment, trying to avoid being seen, before peering down the hallway after the pair.
The receptionist showed Lawrence into an office before continuing down the hallway away from Sebastian.
Since no one was watching, Sebastian headed towards the office door to eavesdrop.
"Can I help you?"
Sebastian turned from the door to see a woman walking towards him.
"I'm just waiting for someone."
Reese looked at him suspiciously. She didn't like the way he was lingering around the door to her office and she wasn't buying his excuse. "Then please wait in the reception area." She pushed past him and went into her office. She knew she had a client waiting for her, but first she was going to call security, just in case the man didn't leave on his own.
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