Conor awoke to a strange buzzing. He rolled over and his hand found the lamp. As he clicked on the light, he didn't recognize the room he was in. A red light blinked next to a toggle. He clicked it and a familiar voice filled the room through a speaker.
"Well, where is he? Jess said that turd worked here."
"Yes, Mr. Brantley works here but it's early sir. I don't believe anyone else is in yet."
"So, one of these offices is his then?" came Nyman Banks' voice.
Conor rolled out of bed and flicked open a monitor screen. He watched as Nyman walked down the far hall where the new unoccupied offices were.
"This one maybe?" Nyman shoved open the door to the empty office. "Empty? Does anyone actually work here?" He moved on, opening five more doors, each an empty office. Nyman cackled, "The poser actually set up a fake business to fool us all? Wow, how desperate he must be to go through this much effort to please her. If only he knew all he had to do was actually be good in bed. OH CONOR! Come out, come out wherever you are!"
The secretary desperately tried to stop Nyman as he continued opening empty office doors.
Conor threw on some clothes and made his way out of the office to confront Nyman. When he pushed through the double doors the exited the executive suite, Nyman was rounding the corner.
"Ah, Brantley, so we were right. You did sleep here all weekend."
"What do you want Nyman?"
"What do I want? Well, I wanted to see your new digs for one. Sweet place you have here. You have the whole floor for your make-believe world! Impressive commitment! The second thing is to give you these." Nyman shoved a thick envelope into his hands. "Congrats, Brantley. You've just been served. Oh, and don't bother looking for Jess at that apartment of yours. She has already found my bed much more accommodating." Nyman laughed as he turned and walked out, leaving Conor standing in shock, holding the packet of documents.
The secretary walked over, "Oh, I am so sorry, Mr. Brantley. Go, wash your face and get some cold water to drink. I will call the team and have them come to review the documents right away."
"Thank you, Kayle." Conor handed her the packet, then returned to his room and splashed cold water on his face.
His room... Office... What day was it?
'Monday, child.'
'Celia?'
'Your... ex now I suppose, had to wait till this morning to serve you. She only just figured out where you were. You have been in and out of consciousness since the Gala. Not that I really blame you. I suppose she couldn't face you personally so she sent Nyman to do the deed.'
'Celia, what do I do?'
'Have your team review the documents. Then you pick your life up and seek purpose in yourself. Seek ways to improve the lives around you. Some will choose to not be a part of that life. Those are not worthy of your effort. That bitch and her family are certainly not worthy. But you will repay them with virtue, and by proving all of their notions wrong. You will light your candle, and burn bright, and in turn, light those around you.'
'She hurt me badly. And then there's Nyman.'
'Let their actions be their own punishment. You become more than they could ever hope to become and let them suffer simply by being left behind and knowing what could have been.'
Conor splashed more cold water on his face. Was Celia really talking to him or was he just talking to himself? Regardless, he went back into his room and put on his full suit, slipped on a tie, and combed his hair. A fresh start required he look the part. Revitalized, he walked out into his office and down to the executive conference room with a U-shaped table. He took a seat in the center and waited.
A few minutes later the team began to arrive. Mr. Nuri took a seat across from him at the top of the U, while Miss Anna Brooks sat at his right, while Jarad and Abby Wiess were on his left. Anna's orange blossom perfume caught his attention and he smiled despite his glower mood.
"Let's begin. How bad is the damage, Mr. Nuri.?"
"In terms of a divorce, it's clear your wi- Jessica," he corrected, "Doesn't know your potential. Overall, she has instructed her lawyer to strike her name from anything that has to do with any business you ever touched or ever will touch. For her, well, let's just say she might regret that in a year or two. For you, it simply means she keeps any asset that is in her name and is cleared from future rent payments on the apartment. She leaves you with nothing, but she gets nothing from Vokrizin or any of its assets."
"Fine. If that is how she wants it. How soon does it take effect?"
"As soon as you sign."
Conor took the pages and looked down at the signature spots Mr. Nuri had flagged. "Four years. Just like that, four years and she is done. Just when I was about to make her life something amazing." His pen hesitated over the signature spot, but then he dashed it across and continued through each spot. "Fine. Now that we are free of that, it's time for the Vokrizin light to start shining. Mr. Nuri, where are we with Celia's Blessing?"
"For the moment it exists as a non-profit in name and paper only. The filings are complete but... without a building to call home, it really doesn't exist. I can have accounts open by the end of the day for donations to start but it still doesn't have a direction or purpose yet."
"Let us fix that then. Please contact Mr. Johnathan at the old Jinstain Community Center. See if he is interested in taking on a new position as acting head of the new charity."
"Of course. I remember Johnathan! Your mother worked with him some years ago. His last name was.... Egerton, I believe. Johnathan Egerton was an honorable man from what I remember. He should do well if he is willing. "
"Last I saw him; he was still working with the youth at the old community center. Please see if he is willing to be the new chairman of Celia's Blessing and work with him to come up with a budgeting plan moving forward."
Anna sat forward, "Mr. Brantley, such an organization will need a new facility correct?"
"Yes, that is true. Perhaps start looking for a building that can act as a youth center. However, keep in mind that it will also need to be multipurpose. It needs to be able to serve many needs of this community."
"Such a building is likely not in our current budget... we will need partners or a mortgage from the bank. With our contacts that shouldn't be a problem."
Conor frowned. "I would prefer we avoid Nyman Banks and any association with him but do what you must. I agree that a building will be the first step for Celia's Blessing and I think I want that to be Vokrizin's first step into the public eye."
"Of course, sir." Replied Anna.
"Ok, Let's get started, team. In the coming months, I plan to move fast, so be ready. Jinstain is about to change. And hopefully for the better.
Conor spent several hours outlining what he wanted to see happen in Jinstain and asking opinions on how to accomplish it. It was incredible how effective this team was at laying out plans and forcasting how long it might take to accomplish the goals.
After the meeting, Conor needed to clear his head. He remembered a small promise he had made and not fulfilled. He stopped by a local store and found several large boxes of street chalk in many colors. He smiled thinking of the kids at the community center. He made his way there and was thrilled to see Cara working with a group of the older kids, scrubbing on some of the windows.
"Good to see the place getting cleaned up! I might be able to help with getting some more supplies for that!"
"Conor! Perfect timing, we need someone tall for the upper windows."
"Oh, ah, well..."
Cara smiled and she pushed a sodden rag into his hands. "Ladder is around back."
"But I actually came to bring -"
"Oh, I am sure you have all the intention in the world to come and have fun," Cara grinned, "but like we try to teach the kids, a small bit of work before play will help make this place better than before. Everyone pitches in. Maybe while you are at it, you can try washing away some of that glower from your personality hanging around from the weekend before you try playing with the kid."
Conor sighed and went to retrieve the ladder. He heard the girls giggling behind him as he left. He was glad Cara had not pried about the banquet and hoped this could remain a safe place. True to the mission of this place, Cara kept the focus of the conversation on the kids and the community center.
An hour later, the front windows that were still intact were washed and clean. The kids were excited to start playing and Conor went to his car and retrieved his treasures. To the young one's delight, he produced several boxes of chalk.
Little Hannah wrapped herself around his leg. "Thank you, Mr. Connor!" she said before snatching one of the boxes and scampering off to a corner to start a new masterpiece. Some of the older kids grumbled a bit about the chalk being boring.
"I have an idea that Miss. Cara might be able to help with."
Conor gathered several of the older kids and with Cara's help began tracing their figures onto the wall, forming a mural. "See, you can create some rather interesting art with this... plus it will wash off. So... Cara, think you can preserve their work with some photos?"
Cara beamed at the suggestion. "I think we can come up with something, Peter would love this."