Family Business

Target

9:30PM Office of Sternwood Hospitality & Financial Services, Exchange Place New Jersey, Friday May 24th 2019


Prudence wheezes as she reads the of social media post for the umpteenth time on her work pc . Her emotions a mix of annoyance, anger and fear. She taps her finger tips anxiously off her mahogany desktop. The eery office silence broken by the sound of her laboured breathing.

The Police promised to investigate, her IT department told not to delete it so as they can trace it. The donations towards Police and other front line departments proved worthwhile. Prudence knew the poor version of her would probably never get such support.

Her stomach aches as she thinks of Gretchen. She is in no doubt that it is her, she will prove it. Her Lawyer promised to lobby and strongarm the Judiciary to severely punish Gretchen for her office visit and for this too. How dare she target her like this.


'But what if it's not Gretchen?" Could it be some religious freak, could it be a disgruntled ex-employee or current employee or could it be just a pathetic keyboard warrior?.' All these thoughts distracted her from business. She completes another online search of her name, her businesses and this photo didn't appear. Prudence begins to rub her Lower chin as she anxiously tries to remember who she spoke to in that hotel. She was there multiple times on business.

At 10pm Prudence can't concentrate anymore and decides its time to call it a night. 'Her stomach knots with the thoughts that what if the person is in the carpark, surly not, but what if' with this thought she picks up her desk phone and dials security.

Peter Beard has another two hours to go on his shift, he sighed and picked up the phone "Sternwood Hospitality & Financial Services security desk".
He rolled his eyes up to the Heavens when he realised it was her "Okay, I'll meet you at the elevator" and hung up. He stood up "Fucking cowardly bitch", puts on his yellow hi-vis jacket and made his way to the elevators in the lobby and presses for number three.

Prudence hung up and gingerly stands up from her desk. Her eyesight was not the best, she hated the poor lighting in the dark carpark, tonight, she doesn't feel safe going down on her own. On her left shoulder she places the strap of her black Vera Wang handbag and carries her briefcase with laptop in her right hand.

She slowly waddles out of her office locked it and began her slow paced three hundred and sixty feet walk towards the elevators. Prudence lumbers through the open plan office floor, Her pace dictated by the physical exertion required to move her short corpulent frame. She huffs and puffs with each step, the short walk felt like a marathon for her. She tries to ignore a pain twinge in her her joints, Doctor Kelly had warned her she needed to lose weight immediately but she is under too much stress and not enough time. She smiled at the site of Peter "Hello Peter" she gasps "How are you".

"Wonderful" he replies gruffly. Prudence adjusts her glasses on her nose, she knew he didn't like her but her parents always thought her to be respectful to all employees and that they don't have to like you.

He presses the down button on the elevators key pad and waits momentarily for one of the three elevator doors to open. The middle one does, he indicates for Prudence to enter first she gives a half smile "Thank You Peter!!"

On entering the lift she catches a glimpse of herself in the elevator wall mirrors. She barely recognised herself. Her sunken brown eyes are almost invisible behind thick circular gold frame rimmed glasses.
She removed her glasses which leaves everything in a blur and gently massages her tired sore eyes and chubby flush cheeks. The glasses are placed back on her nose and once again everything is visible.

At thirty eight she could of passed for much more. She rubs her double chin with her soft left palm. Peter enters the lift selects 'P1' for parking. He towered over her. She pondered on the thought that he put up the post but rubbished it as he was working at the time "Any nice plans for the weekend Peter?"

"Drinking myself stupid!" he replies as he looked away from her.

Prudence bit her lower lip as a sharp pain began to travel up through her lower back "oh" she replies, quiet unsure what to say. The elevator comes to a halt and the doors open. Unenthusiastically Peter follows behind her. Prudence could feel the hairs rise on the back of her neck, what if Peter wasn't here and the person was' she thought to herself, she was not a fighter, there is no way she could defend herself. "Peter, may I ask you wait until I've driven out fully of the carpark"

"Sure" he grunted.