Photo by Laura Tancredi
Sterling Caldwell was taught to be composed and well-behaved, especially in emotional situations. This time around, he did not care. His best friend, Candace Alben and her family were moving away. He caught her as she jumped into his arms, curled her legs around his waist and held him tight.
"I'm going to miss you," the young eighteen-year-old boy said to his best friend. They had been best friends right from kindergarten. Though their social status was different—he was from one of the wealthiest families in Bastrop while her family was middle-class—it meant nothing to them.
His father reproached him for being unserious because of "that girl" but no one understood that Candace made him happy. She taught him how to live carefree, without the burdens of his family's expectations.
Her body shook in his arms and he wondered if she was crying or laughing. She cupped his face, grinning. "You are such a softie," she teased and rubbed her nose against him like they usually did as kids.
Sterling's cheeks flushed red as he waved goodbye to Candace and her family.
"...He’s unfit to continue as the COO of this board, and I call for a vote for his removal...”
Sterling downed the shot of whiskey and grimaced as the hot, gold liquid burned his throat. He should be used to it, just like he should be used to betrayals in his company.
He'd been restless after Candace moved away. Pressures rose from all sides. He knew they were there but never felt them because his best friend shouldered them with him. She made life easy.
When she left, he felt he was racing against time…an expectation but he had no idea what it was. The race was heightened by his father's demands to finish university and become the next CEO of Caldwell Holdings.
He finished summa cum laude and his father, the Chairman of the Board, placed him in the role of Chief Investment Officer, a position he loved because he had a passion for investment. Perhaps it was a family trait but the older staff grumbled.
His father gave him deadlines to come up with innovative investments that would make Caldwell Holdings the best in Bastrop and their family, the wealthiest. Sterling did not have a life. His office was his home. He dreamed of investments and acquired more portfolios for himself and Caldwell Holdings. He always met the dealines, made his Dad proud and the shareholders were satisfied.
On his twenty-fifth birthday, his Dad announced his promotion to the position of Chief Operating Officer, two years after he started. No staff had climbed that fast.
His friends took him to a bar to celebrate that night. He was going to park in a spot when a coupé slipped into his space. The driver, a young lady, stepped out and locked her door. He left his car in the middle of the street and stepped out to meet her.
"You know that is downright rude," he started to say and froze when he realised it was Candace. The two of them stared at each other for a long moment before she screamed in excitement and hugged him.
She'd just gotten into town and came to get some food supplies at the market close to the bar. In their eagerness to catch up, Sterling left his car in the middle of the street. It was the loud honk of irritated drivers that made him realise and move his car to a parking spot.
Sterling made sure to keep the information of Candace's presence in Bastrop a secret. He wasn't too burdened by work anymore. By five pm every evening he was out of the office and on his way to Candace's. They would eat, drink and chat into the night. Some nights, she would let him sleep on her couch rather than drive home.
Caldwell Holdings' profits began to slip just a little but Steve Caldwell noticed and investigated.
Sterling got home from Candace's place a few minutes before midnight. He dropped his car keys on the table and noticed, too late, a figure sitting in his favourite armchair in the dark living room.
He went to reach for his phone when the lights turned on. It was his father and he did not look too happy. Sterling knew the cat was out of the bag.
"I hear your girlfriend is back in town and you are slipping back into your old ways," he said, his gaze grim.
"Dad, she's my friend—"
"I don't care whatever she is to you! Your figures are falling and the shareholders are beginning to grumble. I had to pick up your slack today and work with Graham on some of the portfolios!"
"I have everything under control—"
"No, you don't!" Steve Caldwell boomed, his chest heaving. He stood and pointed his finger at his shocked son. "You want to flirt with the help? I'll drop you and let's see if she would still want you after."
Sterling watched as his father walked out of his house and banged the door shut. The roar of his sports car and the sound of screeching tires showed the old man was pissed.
He wasn't happy either. Only when Candace was around him. That night, he realised that he was in love with his best friend but did not know how to tell her.
Sterling paced his room for hours and after he'd formed a plan, he went to bed.
The following morning, an emergency board meeting was called at the office. He walked into the boardroom and the eyes of the members drilled into him. They seemed to know something he did not.
The room was cold and over air-conditioned but the air was chilled and hostile. His father sat at the head of the table and gave him a piercing glare.
Sterling took his seat calmly. Every muscle in my body went rigid as his father cleared his throat and pronounced his demotion from COO to CIO.
Sterling formed a fist and pounded the glass table in a rush of anger. He wouldn't be disgraced before the same people who had held him in high esteem before.
"I resign," Sterling declared and walked out of the boardroom but not before seeing the shocked look on his father's face.
"Sterling!" Steve Caldwell called but his son walked away.
Sterling felt light and truly happy. He grabbed his car keys and practically raced to the parking lot.
He couldn't wait to see Candace and tell her how much he loved her.
I hope you enjoyed reading this short story. This is my response to The Ink Well May Writing Contest inspired by the prompt "race".
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