Out of Nowhere
By
LaShawn Vasser
Out of Nowhere © 2013 LaShawn Vasser
All Rights Reserved
Chapter 1
Jason stood with his back to his executive team looking out of the window. Discussions were swirling on all around him. Barely any of it registered. The view of CkR International, Inc. was breathtaking. They had moved into this building more than 5 years ago. Why hadn’t he ever noticed this view before? There were several CkR locations throughout the country and overseas but Minneapolis, MN was the corporate headquarters. This was the multi-billion dollar technology company his grandfather, Charles Kincaid Rutherford had built from nothing. A company his father John Kincaid Rutherford had successfully run for 35 years and a company Jason Kincaid Rutherford had been groomed to run since the day he turned five years old. In recent years, Jason mainly worked out of the Atlanta office. That’s where he’d tried to build a life with his girlfriend, Bridget Reed. Lately, that relationship was becoming harder and harder to define. He guessed he could still call her his girlfriend. She’d actually needed time to “think” and had left him the day before yesterday to stay at a friend’s place. “Jason, Jason is there anything you’d like to add before I conclude this portion of the presentation?”. Franklin Roth was one of his best friends. They had known each other since they were ten. They’d met at the prestigious Kirkland School for Boys. There was no one he trusted more than Franklin. He was also the chief financial officer of CkR International, Inc. Jason needed to shake this feeling that was starting to consume him and focus on the task at hand and right now that was discussing the vision of the company for the coming fiscal year. “No Franklin, as usual you’ve manage to paint the financial picture very well. I’ll take it from here”. Basically, revenues were good but stagnant. No one was going to like the budget cuts that were coming but were necessary to streamline processes and get creative juices working. No time like now to lay out expectations.
When the meeting was over Franklin didn’t leave the conference room. “What happened in there? As long as I’ve known you you’ve never checked out in a meeting. Is everything ok?”. Jason wasn’t quite sure how to answer that question. Lately, it seemed that there had to be more to life than just ‘this’. However, he wasn’t quite sure how to even define ‘this’. At thirty-four Jason had to ask himself was he already suffering from a mid-life crisis? “I don’t know how to answer that question Franklin. I just feel unfulfilled. I can’t put my finger on the cause I just know I do. On the outside everything in my life is fine. Not great but fine. Business is fine. Until day before yesterday my love life was fine.” Franklin walked over to the bar and poured himself and Jason a drink “I thought you told me a few months ago that you were going to ask Bridget to marry you? What happened there?”. That was a good question. Why didn’t he ask her? “She wants to get married. I want to get married too. I was all set to propose. I bought the ring and I’d planned a romantic evening at our favorite restaurant and when the time came to ask her to marry me, I just couldn’t do it.”. Jason walked back over to the window he’d been looking out of earlier and took a sip of his drink. “Franklin, I just don’t know. Bridget is perfect. She’s beautiful, witty, funny, and a great partner. The sex is pretty damn good too. Bridget’s been good for business. She gets along great with my friends, my family, and can handle all the necessary social functions required of me.”. As Franklin downed his drink he walked over and clapped Jason on the back “Jason, there is no rush. You are only thirty-four. When it’s right or IF it’s right you will know it. There will be no hesitation. One rule of business that I’ve learned from you is to trust your gut. If you’re unsure don’t make any moves just hold tight. The answers will come”. Jason took another sip of his drink “Yeah, but will Bridget be willing to wait?”. “That’s a good question and a risk you’ve got to be willing to take. At the end of the day it is your life. Not your father’s, not your grand-father’s but your life.”. Franklin’s administrative assistant interrupted them to inform him that his fiancé was on the phone. “Can I call her back”? Jason finished his drink “No need. Take the call and tell her I said hello. I’ve got to get a move on anyway if I’m going to make it in time for my flight home. I’ll call you later”. Franklin looked confused “You’re flying commercial?”. Jason smirked “Dad and Mom have the jet on a second honeymoon or something”. Franklin shook his head “Must be nice. Anyway, safe travels”. Franklin left to take the call as Jason started packing up his files. A few minutes later he headed for the elevators. While on the elevators Jason went over what he and Franklin discussed. He typically felt like he had some clarity after talking with Franklin. Yet, today Jason still didn’t feel as though he’d made any sense out of it.
Chapter 2
Vicky Martin had been working for CkR Industries for a little more than a year in customer service and still had not gotten used to all the in-bound calls that came through. She certainly hadn’t gotten used to her calls being “monitored for quality assurance”. Vicky hated this job with a passion but it paid the bills and there was just no shortage of those. She had been out of work too long not to appreciate having a steady paycheck. Without a college degree and a three year old daughter at home it
