Chapter 65 Legacy's burden
The car arrived at a tall glass monolith that cut through the skyline of the city. It was chilly and gray, a stronghold of business and a tribute to the family name
Carson’s lungs were sharply shocked by the crisp autumn air as he stepped outside.
He felt his shoulders tighten beneath the fitted suit Victoria had insisted he wear as the sun reflected off the polished asphalt.
Although it was a second skin and fit perfectly it felt confining. Victoria moved smoothly out of the back seat, her motions precise and well-honed.
There was a grin already there as smooth as the structure. Her eyes glowed with an almost predatory delight as she turned to face him.
“Welcome to your future, son.” She said in a low purr.
He forced a feeble smile.
“Make sure your tie is straight. Some very significant people are going to meet you soon.” She told him.
The lobby was a steel and marble cathedral inside. The silent productive energy of hundreds of people moving with purpose filled the air.
With her heels tapping the floor in a steady rhythm Victoria took the lead. All eyes were on her but she didn't look at anyone.
The elevator ride was quiet and as the numbers increased on the screen they eventually arrived at the executive floor. The doors opened into a new realm of knowing looks and whispered voices.
Secretaire's faces were expressionless as they sat at sleek desks. They were met by a man with a silver head that was neatly combed.
“Victoria.” He said in a voice as silky as his hair. “This has to be the young man you mentioned to us.”
With her hand on Carson's back and a little pressure pushing him forward Victoria said “James, it's a pleasure as always. This is my son Carson. He is here to gain experience so that he can eventually become the company's head.”
James smiled but it stopped short of his eyes. “A fine young man. Carson, it's a privilege to meet you at last. Your mother has said good things about you.”
A succession of forced smiles and handshakes dominated the morning. Victoria was in her zone. She went from one person to another announcing and introducing a general on the battlefield.
“This is my son Carson who is the company's future.” She spoke with such casual finality as though it were an unquestionable fact like the sun rising in the east.
The names of the shareholders he encountered seemed as ancient as the structure itself. This floor was the site of empires built by men in suits.
They gave him a quick icy evaluation with their eyes treating him like a product they might want to invest in. Some grinned tightly while holding his limp hands.
Others regarded him with an almost palpable skepticism glancing from his face to Victoria's as though to ask is this all there is?
One man with a hawk-like nose leaned in close.
“The future eh?” he asked in a gravelly low voice. “Boy, that's nothing new to us. I hope your backbone is more resilient than it was.”
With a sly smile, he withdrew. Carson clenched his teeth. He looked at Victoria but her expression was one of courteous indifference.
She didn't hear it or if she did she decided to disregard it. The next person she was going after was a woman with a sharp bob and icy-cold eyes.
Victoria said “This is Carson. We will truly benefit from having him on board.”
Martha slowly nodded while keeping her eyes on Carson. “A benefit. Yes, without a doubt. Victoria I hope you'll be putting him to work. The business isn't solely dependent on legacy.”
Victoria's smile was fragile as she said “Of course not. We will ensure that he merits his position.”
This was the way the day went on—a never-ending parade of threats and expectations. It all began to weigh heavily on Carson's shoulders.
He yearned for the straightforward silence of the mansion, the effortless giggles with Annabel and the straightforward sincere labor of using his hands to construct something.
This building was of a different kind and he believed it was designed to destroy him. Victoria finally took him to her office. There was a view of the entire city from this expansive area.
In the center was a throne-like desk made of mahogany. With her hand resting on the polished wood she stepped behind it.
“Well, that was a success.” She said with a tone of satisfaction. “Everyone is captivated. They will all be talking because of James. Carson, you've made a good first impression. I assumed you would.”
Carson had his hands in his pockets as he stood in front of the desk. He peered out at the city through the window. From above it appeared minuscule.
“Mother, this is not what I want.” He said quietly.
Victoria stopped smiling. “What did you say?”
“I said I don't want this.” He repeated in a firm voice that seemed out of place in the lavish setting. “This—this life. The company, the owners and the titles. I'm not the one. This isn't where I belong.”
Victoria said, her voice sharp “Don't be ridiculous. This is a short-term change. You will adjust to it. Everybody does.”
He turned to her and remarked “I don't think I can. I don't wish to grow accustomed to it. I just want to establish a typical life. I want to be happy.”
“Happy?” she laughed. “Happiness is a transient emotion. Carson it's for the simple. It is our duty to live, regarding legacy. Your grandfather spent his entire life establishing this business. He sacrificed his life for it.”
With increasingly agitated movements, she circled the desk. “Carson this is more than just a business. Do you know how many people depend on this company? Do you know what it took to get here? There is a whole ecosystem. You were born into a role that most people could only imagine having.”
There was a hint of desperation in his voice as he said “But it's not my dream Mother—”
“It is yours! That belongs to our family. It doesn't matter what you want.”she stated, raising her voice. “It is your responsibility. You are a Lancaster. You'll fulfill your responsibilities. You're going to take over.”
With her hands on her hips and her eyes burning with a fierce unwavering pride she came to a stop in front of him.
“I’ve dedicated my life to maintaining this business and this company's legacy. Do you think I've had a choice in my life or that I've just been given everything? I have made sacrifices for this. And you're telling me that you're just going to walk away?”