First Time with the Major

by Mia Ford

  I also knew that he missed her as well. Brent was somewhere between being twenty-two and the owner of Dad’s company, with Veronica being the women that loosened him up. He was always the more serious one out of the two of us, and she made him forget all his problems.

  So now, it was back to business. I still had all the women outside of the office and considered flirting with some in the building just to keep things interesting. I held back, though, knowing that this was more than just a job.

  I ended finding out that she went to rehab two months after the final email. I didn’t know what for exactly, but it explained a lot. She was wild, free, and a hidden addict.

  I worked the eight hours a day, slipping back into my old party mode after hours. I left Brent in the evening, still working sometimes as I went to dinner with friends or spent time with a woman. I made a point of seeing Mom regularly so she wouldn’t worry about me and I kept up my role at M&P going strong.

  It was hard. The holidays were coming up and being the first one without Dad was going to be difficult. Things got hectic around the office during that time as well, and it was all-hands-on-deck. We worked closely with the managers, and I missed having an assistant. Working so much made it hard to get out since I was so tired at night as well as trying to keep up traditions at home.

  I went to a club one night on the weekend, even though we were working seven days a week. You’d think a shipping business for primarily businesses wouldn’t be as hectic as UPS, but customers liked to use us for their holiday shipping as well as some of the products.

  I was at the bar, talking to a brunette after I bought her a few drinks and looked around the room to see a familiar blonde. Veronica was smiling brightly beside a guy, looking as beautiful as ever. He looked over at her, and she kissed him, making me wonder if she had a real relationship in her life. If so, it looked good on her.

  I glanced back down at Kelly and laughed at something she said. The past was the past.

  The hours went up to ten at the office every day, and we stayed right along with everyone else. It was insane when I was used to going out every night on the town and drinking with friends for Christmas. I was barely present for Christmas Eve dinner in the years past, something that I regretted now. I missed precious moments with Dad, and I had a lot to make up for now around my work schedule.

  Life was so different.

  I was glad when we got to rest for four days on Thanksgiving, enjoying a meal mostly cooked by mom with a little help from Monica, and I loved hearing them laugh in the kitchen. Brent and I were watching a game while Ashley chatted on her phone. There was a significant presence missing in the house, but we were all here, focused on each other. That’s what mattered. We had a great dinner and watched a movie together, but Mom went to bed so she could get up and go shopping with friends in the morning. She was crazy for doing so, but it made her happy. I knew that the next day she would want to set up the tree and decorate the house, which was what she usually did but seemed to be in a rush this year.

  Both Brent and I could see her trying to keep busy to keep from thinking about Dad. We went along with it and pulled the holiday things from the attic after she went to bed, trying to keep quiet about it. We slept in the following morning, waking up in time for some lunch and sports scores before Mom came home with bags of stuff.

  She looked happy, though.

  I helped Brent take her to get the tree at a corner lot, settling on an eleven foot Douglas Fir that we had delivered at an extra cost. That was always a process for us, but I learned from Dad how to go about it when we were younger. Mom unpacked the ornaments and started to get the house going as we waited, with Monica and Ashley stepping in to help.

  Brent and I chuckled as we watched, listening to the stories about past holidays. It was Mom’s way of purging as she worked and we allowed it, listening closely. I knew that we’d be spending a lot of time at work over the next month, so I enjoyed this quiet time.

  I spent the following night under Carlie’s Christmas tree on a rug, watching her come in just the colored lights. She was pushing for more with me, but I didn’t know if I was ready for that. I didn’t know if I’d ever be ready for that, so I kept her happy with sex and the occasional dinner out. I had a few others for sex, but I knew that I’d be working a lot. I might not have them after this month. I finished the night in her bed, falling asleep with Carlie as I looked around the room.

  The next week started with a ton of projects. Brent was stressed as he entered one order after another, along with myself and the rest of the staff. There was another room where everything as being packaged and shipped several times a day. This was the competitive time for shipping companies, the time when publicity could be good or bad. I grew up with that saying in my head and worked harder. I knew that it would slow down after the first of the year, at least back down to the normal flow of business that was consistently steady at best.

  Brent grumbled about missing Veronica one day as he looked over another order. “Do you want another assistant?” I asked him as he glanced at me. “We could place another ad.”

  “I don’t think that now is the time to hire anybody. We’ll just pay out the overtime to everyone else’s assistants and deal with it after that,” he mumbled as I shook my head. I remembered Dad being a little salty this time of year and Brent mirrored that as I got back to the computer.

  “I saw her at a club. She looked happy,” I said as he looked at me. “Veronica. She was in rehab, you know.”

  “Did you talk to her?” He asked as I shook my head. “Rehab, huh? For what?”

  “I just found out that’s where she went. I don’t know what for,” I told him as he nodded.

  “I guess that explains a lot. She was a little crazy.” Brent chuckled as I laughed with him. “I hope that she’s okay.”

  “I think so. She looked good,” I assured him as I looked at another order. “How the fuck did Dad do this every day?”

  “A great staff. They’re busting their asses off just like we are. I think we need to do something for them. Didn’t he throw a party?” Brent looked at me.

  “Mom is already planning that,” I said as he laughed weakly. “It’s going to be at one of the restaurants nearby. We’re closing it down and letting loose. It’s on the fifteenth, a Saturday. Everyone is taking that day off.”

  “I forgot that she did that each year. It’s been so busy, but she always did that. Dad was a lucky man…hell, we’re fortunate to have her.” His stomach growled, and he ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Take out?”

  “Yeah, sure. I’m starving.”

  CHAPTER 15

  Brent

  The days started to run into the nights as we ate at the office, going home to sleep. Mom always kept some dinner in the fridge in case we were hungry when we got home, just like she did for Dad. I still took her out to dinner on Sundays, making a point of leaving early to do so. Brandon joined me, and we made a good night of it, seeing that she needed us to be around. It also gave us a break.

  I had Brandon take Mom home, getting away to see Nina. We’d met a few months ago, at a bar with friends and hit it off, spending the night together. I was at home every night for I don’t know how long and I needed some release.

  I thought about Cecile and Veronica as I parked on the curb. I missed having a woman around the office, and I got out of the car, and I mulled over Brandon’s suggestion. Another assistant. We could use the help, and I could use the sex since I was twenty-two and not fifty. It was slammed right now, and we could use another warm body, but there was no time for an interview.

  I knocked on the door and grinned as the pretty raven-haired woman opened it. “Brent, I’m so glad that you came.”

  “Hello, beautiful,” I greeted her, stepping inside, and closing the door behind me. The brownstone was lit up by strings of Christmas lights and I glanced around as she pressed her body against mine. “Miss me?”

  Her lips against mine were my answer
, and I pulled her closer. We had a great thing going as little as we saw each other, and I lifted her up to carry her back to the bedroom. I suppose we were getting right to the point. I dropped her onto her bed and moved to kiss her, slipping a hand up her thigh. Nina was gorgeous and willing as she unbuttoned my shirt and slipped if from my body.

  We were naked within moments after several deep, long kisses and I moved down to her hard nipples to suck one into my mouth. My cock was straining towards her as she arched her back and spread her legs for me. “Fuck me, Brent.”

  I cocked my head at her as she reached for the box on the nightstand. I sheathed my cock and slid inside of her, groaning at the tight feel of her body around me. Her green eyes shimmered as she looked at me, inviting me to go harder as I dropped over her mouth and kissed her. The release felt fucking fantastic as I jerked inside of her with it as she flooded me with her warmth. “I needed that.”

  “You’re working too hard, baby. Why don’t you just pay someone to run the place?” She asked as I frowned.

  “I have managers that could run it, but it’s my Dad’s business. He wanted it to stay in the family.” Nadine watched as I rolled beside her and propped myself up on one arm. “I like working there.”

  “You used to party, Brent.” I saw the look in her eyes, seeing the woman that didn’t work or earn a dime of her money. She was hot as hell and easy to get along with, but she didn’t understand who I was. She didn’t know me.

  “I did, but I was forced to grow up.” Most of the families in my social circle weren’t close to one another, so a lot of the people that I hung out with didn’t know my father the way that I did. Some of their parents did, but my close friends are the ones that spent valuable time with us. They knew the man that I missed and worked hard for, but most of the women didn’t.

  I stayed until the early morning pleasing her since she was beautiful and I was a man, a young man. I needed to take care of my needs, but I knew that I wouldn’t end up with Nina. I wouldn’t end up staying with her or anybody like her, but I could fuck her. I left and went home, finding the house dark as I walked up to my room. It looked like everyone was home and I took in the feel of the place for a moment as I started up the stairs, pausing for a moment.

  I thought about Cecile and Veronica, who were beautiful women that were involved with my job. They understood the office, and we managed to mix it up, and I wondered what the chances are we would have of getting another good worker. Hell, I wondered if I’d find a woman that could handle my work schedule, assuming I ever wanted a woman.

  It would have to wait, whatever the case. I had a lot of work to do. I looked around the house, remembering how hard Dad worked for all of this. He was lucky that he had Mom, who understood his schedule and worked with it.

  In the morning, on the way to work, I felt Brandon’s eyes on me. “So, how’s Nina?” He asked as I stopped at a light and sipped my coffee.

  “She’s fine. Hot as always, but I realized something.” I took off, and he leaned back in the seat.

  “What’s that?” Brandon sounded amused as he pressed me for more information.

  “She doesn’t get it. None of those girls do.” I looked at him as I stopped at another light. “They don’t work and never have.”

  “We were that way once, Brent. We partied the day away as well as the nights. No responsibilities at all.” He shrugged. “This is a new thing to us, as much as it is our…friends.”

  “Yeah, I just saw it a different way last night. Maybe all of these hours are making me crazy or something.” I pulled into the garage and parked, stepping out of the car as he opened his door.

  “I think we’ll both be in a padded room come January,” Brandon clapped me on the shoulder, making me laugh.

  We had another long day, but it was good. I was growing to enjoy working over the empty life that we were living before, finding it interesting that he built this from nothing. I got a close look at his work over the years through paperwork and the computer. I got a look at the steps that failed and the ones that worked, hearing stories about Dad from everybody. We had Mom taking care of the party and only had to show up, finding the bar ready and the restaurant looking great. I grinned and looked at the staff that was gathering around the bar, laughing, and talking as I glanced at Brandon. We walked in to join them, smiling at Mom as she came in from the kitchen in a bright green dress. She was always at these events, and I was happy to see her since I wasn’t sure that she’d come.

  The buffet was soon ready for all of us, and we lined up to fill our plates with the Mediterranean and American food before taking seats at the tables set up around the room. I joined Mom, seeing the blush to her cheeks as she looked at me with tears in her eyes. “They’re all so kind. They gave me presents and told me how sorry they were…they did that at the church already.”

  “Mom, this is your company as much as it was his. You worked hard back in the beginning too, with the books and taking care of these parties. They all love you.” She smiled and nodded, wiping her cheeks.

  “Remember when they used to call you Mom and then their kids called you Grandma, making us jealous?” Brandon laughed as she nodded. “Then Ash became that to them. It’s a circle, Mom. We’re going to keep this extended family just that, a family.”

  “You two are making me so proud. I know that he’s looking down as well, beaming at the job that you are doing. Your father is proud of you.” Mom told us with a nod and shimmering eyes.

  I exchanged a look with my brother, knowing we both hoped that he didn’t see everything. We were tainting the company with some of our past behavior, in ways that might harm others. I don’t know how much of a part I played in Veronica’s issues, but I felt some lingering guilt every now and then. We were doing things that Dad wouldn’t approve of.

  CHAPTER 16

  Brandon

  I pushed back from the desk, rubbing my temples. “Now I know why Dad always had an assistant this time of year. It’s so fucking busy.” I glanced up at my brother who looked as tired as I felt. He nodded. “Can we borrow someone else’s for a while?”

  “They’re trained for that manager and I don’t want to do that. Let’s get through the next couple of weeks and we’ll get someone to clean everything up, okay?” We were working so much and so quickly that there would be a shit ton of spreadsheets to finalize. “Let’s make it a working situation this time.”

  “You didn’t like the other ones?” I challenged as Brent gazed at me.

  “I did, but neither seemed to end well and now we’re here working all goddamn day. I just want to be more responsible in the future.” He returned to his work on the computer and I stood to get some more coffee. I made him a cup as well, knowing how tired he was. We were doing dinner out with Mom later tonight with some friends and I didn’t know how I was going to get through that when all I wanted to do was sleep.

  The Christmas party had been a great event. The food was good and everyone hit the open bar and enjoyed themselves, talking in groups and dancing once they felt their inhibitions slip. I realized just how beautiful the women on the staff were when they were dressed in their little cocktail dresses and wasted, their flirtations much more obvious when they got me alone. Fuck, it was hard to turn them away. I could easily take one down the hall and into a bathroom or storage closet and fuck her so fast, releasing the stress from work.

  I didn’t. I knew where I was and even more than that, who I was. I’d never disrespect Mom that way after all the work that she put into this night. It wasn’t easy, though, and I looked at Brent as I set the coffee down in front of him. “Here, Brent.”

  “Thanks,” he smiled weakly at me as he leaned back. “I should get someone in here to massage everyone. Wasn’t that in a movie that Mom liked?” I laughed, knowing which one he was thinking of.

  “She said the same thing to Dad.” We shared a long glance and I looked at the clock. “Want to get one before dinner?”

  “We have so much
to do that I don’t know if we should take an extra few hours on top of dinner,” he replied thoughtfully as I sighed. “I’ll consider bringing someone in next week, since everyone has been working so hard. It would be a nice break.”

  We stayed in the office until five, leaving to take Mom and Ashley to the restaurant with our friends. They asked Brandon and I everything about the company and we answered, faking enthusiasm through the exhaustion that we were both feeling. I didn’t know how Dad did it year after year with a smile on his face, but it kept me going. There were times I thought he was crazy for giving us the run of the company so quickly but it was safe to assume that he thought he had years left with us.

  We talked about Dad over the meal, sharing memories and laughter as I made sure that Mom was okay through it. She seemed to enjoy talking about it with everyone and I felt guilty for working so hard and not being home. Jesus, life was difficult. I missed the days of travel and parties, where the hardest decision was what girl I was going to pick for the night.

  We took them home just before ten, ready to drop. Our day started at eight the following morning and I personally knew that I could sleep for a day right now. I didn’t know just how Brent felt but it was probably similar. We hugged Mom and Ashley before heading upstairs and changing into something to sleep in, not talking at all.

  I told a friend I would meet them Saturday night, needing something other than the office in my world. They chose a popular nightclub and I pulled on some black slacks and a button up shirt as I thought about Brent back at the office. He’d chosen to stay at work while I skipped out. Mom was out with a friend and I left the house, taking one of the cars as I headed into Manhattan.

  The club was crowded and brightly lit in the blue and pink lights all over the building. I got right in, knowing every bouncer in town and clapped Marvin on the shoulder as I headed towards the bar. The guys were there, drinking beer and chatting up some girls as I walked up, and they all greeted me with sarcasm and humor about being a working man now. I shook my head and ordered from the pretty bartender before I turned my attention to the girls gathered around. “Hello, ladies. I’m Brandon.”