Thomas surveyed from his perch, the movement of smaller people in the far distance. The white glare of snow far away caused him to adjust his eyes. But, no amount of squinting could allow him to clearly focus on what lay outside of his emidiate surroundings. The distance was just to vast, and the brightness of sun was to far reaching. The glass wall between him and the city around, below and beyond served as a much stronger barrior than mountains would for some men. The insulation it supplied could be comforting, but it also shut out the fresh scent of pure air. He could feel his spirit suffocating for the lack of it. Afterall, the thirtieth floor of the high rise in downtown Denver was well over a mile high. The air was supposed to be thin. Thomas knew his grandfather would tell him to focus and toughen up. But, ever since his grandfather died the voice that used to ring down the hallway from his office and even in his head was silenced. There was no thunder clap down the hall just as there was no incessent prodding between his ears. It was quiet. Over the past few weeks, the peace that had overcome his head was slowly spreading to the rest of him. But, with that peace came a restlessness brought on by the void that his grandfather’s absence created.
He glared again at the snow in the distance. When he was younger he would follow his grandfather exactly when walking in the snow, thus avoiding truely getting his own feet wet. The larger prints of his grandfather served not only as a safer way to walk, but also as a path. He still felt as though he had never ventured to place his own footprint anywhere. He didn’t know if he had the courage to do so any more. There was nothing uncomfortable about where the path had lead him, as a matter of fact it was very desireable.
Every investment banker in the city and most throughout the country would have fought with every breath they had to reach the possition Thomas found himself in. His grandfather had. And, he’d trained Thomas to do the same. At a very young age Thomas learned what the smell and feel of money was. It felt natural in his hands and there it stayed. Not only did it stay, it multiplied. In the last three years under his leadership, Montgomery Corp had tripled their earnings over the previous period. This allowed his grandfather the ability to slightly rest and watch knowing that all he’d worked for would continue to prosper after he died. Now that he was gone Thoms felt himself going through the motions, but he lacked the drive and inspiriation he’d once possesed. He felt the only way he could find it again was to wander off the path. Never did the sound of crunching snow under his feet sound so ominous as it would now.
“Mr. Montgomery,” a familiar voice rang out from the speaker phone. “You have three more apointments. Did you want me to have some food sent to you? You wont have much time to catch your plane otherwise”. He thought for a moment. Was he hungry? Forgetting to eat something was common. An apple on his way to the airport would probably be fine.
“No, I’ll be fine.” he said quickly. “And please don’t go advertising that I’ll be out of the office. I’d rather keep that information as quiet as possible.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The phone clicked. He would need to get things in order. The last few appointments were crutial. These trusted men could help him during his absence. But, with his lap top and a few other modern wonders he could still make sure the one thing he cared about most in the world prospered. Montgomery Corp. was all the family he had left.
Four hours later he straightened his desk, clicked his lap top shut and placed it and various other necessities in his briefcase. He’d left a note for Miss Yates to come in his office every two hours and move the papers around like he had been there. He knew he was in charge because of his grandfather and so did everyone else. Men with more knowledge and seniority than he had didn’t need an excuse to undermine his authority. When he called in Miss Yates, she opened the door slightly and slipped in the office quietly. Her large frame wasn’t meant for stealth and neither was her make-up. The dark blue shutters over her eyes opened and shut periodically as she waited for further instruction. Thomas walked over to where she stood and handed her the note that he’d written with specific instructions. He would be keeping regular hours where he was even if it was only four to five a day and wanted her to know how to reach him.
She accepted the envelope with a sigh. “I’ll miss you, Mr. Montgomery. ” The blue shutters fluttered slightly. It reminded Thomas of a large moth getting ready to land. For some reason he felt uneasy. “The instructions will let you know when and how to get in touch with me,” he said. She smiled and he went from feeling uneasy to frightened. A smell wafted in the air. Suddenly one thousand roses acosted his nose all at once. Whatever toilet water she had used this morning need to go back to the toilet.
“Miss Yates, I’m going to be late. I think everything you need is in the envelope. Robert and Lee can help you if you have any other questions. They will be helping me out.” She nodded like an unquestioning soldier being sent off to battle. With that he opened the door and started off outside to make a few footprints in the snow.
Chapter 2 LDS Fiction
(This is Chapter 2 of Free Mormon fiction. It will be available in it’s unedited form.)
Free LDS Fiction Chapter 2
The cold wind bit at her face with more teeth than she ever remembered. It seemed to swirl down her nostrils and into her heart where no warmth could possibly exist. The only remaining life left was the part of her heart that beonged to her brother.
