Story #1 - Boss of My Heart Chapter 2. A Sad Day For All

Gwen arrived at Mr. Hampton's funeral just in time to get a chance to talk to and meet many of his family and friends, more friends than any one man should be allowed to have but that was Mr. Hampton, he never met a stranger and if they were, it wouldn't be long before they would become friends.

His laughter filled a room, he was infamous for all his crazy jokes And he could sing with the best of them in his church choir.

His favorite song was Amazing Grace and when they started playing it at the funeral, tears roll down the eyes of many of his friends and family that knew this was his favorite song.

Mr. Hampton's funeral was not a sad one because he made sure that there was laughter in his own written words that he left for everyone should he go home to be with his Saviour.

Still, even with all of the laughter, once it had died, sadness took its place.

After the funeral there was a reception at Mr. Hampton home. It was such a beautiful home and had been filled with so much happiness. Gwen, herself, had visited many times and considered herself a close friend of Mr. Hampton and his family.

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After the funeral and reception, Gwen said her goodbyes and hugged those she knew and loved and she shook Brad's hand telling him she would see him on Monday. Then she quietly left in a taxi and went home leaving the family to relax and visit other family and friends.

Monday morning promptly at 9 AM, Gwen entered Brad's office (Mr. Hampton's old office) and welcomed him and then took him around the office introducing him to his new employees. Each one offering their regrets over the loss of his father and extending him a welcome as the head of the firm.

Joe Finley, one of the employees, had met Brad earlier at Mr. Hampton's funeral and had taken a liking to him from the start. Joe felt that Hampton and Hampton were on solid ground with Brad at the helm.

After introducing Brad to everyone, Gwen and Brad rolled up their sleeves and dove into the current case load being handled by Hampton and Hampton. Brad was especially interested in the one Gwen has been handling.

About 1:30 PM, they were thoroughly sick of looking at paper, so Brad invited Gwen to lunch but requested she name a good place since she knew where to go out in Houston more than he did.

Gwen knew of a lovely little Chinese place just off Bell and they could walk over. On their way, Brad and Gwen discussed everything from Apartments to what was currently showing at the local theaters.

Gwen found out that Brad,indeed, had a sports-oriented background and he confessed to having a wall filled with trophies accumulated during both his high school and college years. He also told her he still keeps active by going to the gym to work out two or three times a week and that he also jogged.

Lunch was delicious and both Gwen and Brad stuffed on the Chinese delicacies. Brad thanked Gwen for her help that morning and told her he was ready to tackle the task of running Hampton and Hampton but he regretted not being able to work with his father.

Gwen went back to her office and began to work on a new case Brad had assigned her.

It seems that the father of a little three-year-old girl has been accused of beating her and the mother was filing for divorce. The little girl had spent two weeks in the hospital from the beating.

In a temporary hearing, the father had been prevented from seeing her until he had completed psychiatric care of one year minimum.

Criminal action was also being filed against the father by the District Attorney.

The mother was to have custody after she was exonerated from being there when the beating happened. That was no problem since the mother had been at work and was not aware of the beating until she returned home and called an ambulance for her little girl.

Gwen finished signing papers at 5:30 PM and was going out the door to catch the counterflow bus.

"Hey there, wait up, Brad called out from down the hall. I've got a question for you." Gwen stepped inside Brad's office and answered his question, an obviously easily answered question, one Brad should have known. Gwen looked up and saw Brad smiling at her.

"I really wanted to catch you before you left to see if you would mind showing me around Houston, since it's been a while since I've lived here.

Gwen agreed. but what about work Gwen protested. "It will keep, Brad replied. Besides sleeping in that huge house since everybody went back home is plum spooky.

Your dad was never "spooky" to me, Gwen replied, kind of smiling.

"No, not dad, it's that creepy old squeaky house. I used to be scared as a young boy because we had a mean butler that wasn't exactly fond of kids and when mom and dad were gone, would put me in one of the dusty old rooms where all the trophy animals lined the walls (dad was an avid hunter but he always donated his deer or moose or other game to the local shelters for food. Dad never killed the big animals for sport. It wasn't his way.

Anyway, Mr. Green made me stay there until I promised to behave! I hated him. He would say things like "that big moose seems to be watching you and he would rattle a chair and scare me half to death. I was only seven years old at the time and it didn't take much to scare a seven year old boy!

"Why didn't you tell your dad?" Gwen remarked.

Mr. Green told me if I told my dad or my mom that he would put me in the cellar and forget he put me there and just tell tell my mom and dad, I disappeared.

"Wow, he was terrible, wasn't he?" Gwen replied.

Yes, but now you know a secret about me that I have never shared before.

Don't worry, your secret stays right here in my heart never to be revealed to your employees.

Good. I'll make arrangements at work and get my driver to pick you up at 9 AM sharp. Dress casual. See you in the morning, my new friend, Brad said.

Thanks, that will work, replied Gwen.

Good night replied Gwen as she smiled.