Family Business

Captive

Thursday May 30th Lake Mohawk, Sparta, New Jersey, 2.15am

Prudence back ached from sitting on the hard wooden chair, her physique more suited to soft comfortable furniture. With a sigh she stands up one more time, the stale musty smell playing havoc on her airway and lungs, a permanent look of revulsion etched on her face. She feels the hard bed sofa one more time, it sinks in the middle. 'Who could have lived in these conditions' she wonders to herself. She dare not sleep on it, it will destroy her well pampered weak back and she may not be able to get out of it 'how embarrassing that would be' she thinks to herself 'Gretchen would love that!!'.

The narrow bedroom window sealed tightly with a cheap opaque plastic over it so no one can see in and she can't see out. She tries to free up the window handle but it won't budge. She curses her physical condition, there is no way she can make a run for it. 'Perhaps I could take Florence hostage?'. She discounts the plan straightaway, she is too slow moving and if Florence made a break for it in time she would never catch her, also if Florence fought back, Prudence has no stamina for a long fight. Even if she did hold her hostage, how would she take on three others as well as the fact that Henry is an ex-marine. She moans as she dismisses the plan. She will have to rely on her brains to get her through this.

Next she wonders about it being an inside job. 'Definitely not Tanya' She pays Tanya well and wants her to get the most out of her career, recently giving her more and more management opportunities and management courses. 'Holly maybe, no not Holly'. Holly has been a true friend to her, an ally in the office, everyone needs one of these. 'What about Peter Beard', she thinks about this for a moment 'No, no why would he let himself be tied up and held at gunpoint, that would be stupid, but but not impossible if for the right sum, he was living with his brother and sister-in-law, maybe he had money worries.
Next was Mike Mushford. Mike was their Head of Sales up to last year whom they fired only after 8 months in the role, he was lazy and liked alcohol too much. She thought about the neckties she was tied with an an encounter she had with him two months before he was fired. Her mind casts back to the Event

Friday March 2nd 2018 Sternwood Hospitality and Financial Services 8.45am
Prudence waddles out of her sisters office and shuts the door behind her. She gasps in horror at the shoddiness of Mike Mushfords attire as she sped down the office floors main walkway. Not only was he badly dressed but late. Her body burned with anger. "Mike" she calls just before he took a right midway through the office floor towards his office.

He looks up towards the Heavens "morning Prudence". "A word in my office please!". She waddles into her office with defiance followed shortly by Mike. "What's up" he asks.

"You forgot something!!.

I don't know what you mean?" he replies half baffled and half afraid. Her pursed lips conveying a strong emotion of annoyance.

"YOU DON'T KNOW!!" she barks "Where's your tie, storming into the office, half awake, half hungover and no tie!!, not the professionalism expected from anyone especially senior management"

"Sorry, I forgot it" he responds tamely like a bold child waiting for the outburst from an angry parent.

"Forgot it!!" she yells "You're a businessman, you wear one at least five days a week" raising her voice again "You're a senior manager and meant to be an example to everyone on the floor. My father says a businessman without a tie is like a referee without a whistle. Surely you have a spare one??"

Mike sighs "You're right it's a bad example, I'm sorry and you're right, I should have a spare one but never thought of that". He doesn't really care but to shut her up, he tells her what she wants to her.

"Hah" she grunts grinding her teeth "My father also says a businessman should have a spare tie in close proximity. What if a high-net-worth client walks into the office, what do you do then?"

Her vexed voice was was not helping his hangover, as he massaged his forehead with his left thumb and index finger "Your right Prudence, I apologise, I will buy two at lunch and keep one as a spare!"

"On no!!" she retorts, she wades towards her desk opens a drawer and pulls out four ties.


She glares at him and Shaking her head in disgust "You're not leaving this office without a tie!!"

She examines the ties like they are a rare painting "A businessman should choose his tie carefully, a tie isn't just a piece of clothing, it's a part of your professional image".

Mike pretends to give a damn as best as he can.

Prudence selects a light blue silk tie, she places it around her neck as she begins to size it up for tying "I will go with a nice double windsor knot. My father thought me how to tie a tie. A businessman should take time to ensure his tie is properly constructed. Nothing worse than a tie not knotted properly or hanging loose".

Prudence completes a double windsor knot. "Close up your top button, rise up your collar".

Mike Lowers his head as Prudence places the tie over his head. She lowers down the collar and adjusts the tie until its sitting properly.

"That's better don't do this again".

She re-enters the room from her flashback. She now doubts it was him. 'Who could do this, someone or some people betrayed her, how could she trust people again. Could it be someone she never thought of, a dissatisfied employee or greedy one'.

She thinks of her family and tears begin to run down from her eyes. Her two nephews, she tried to recall the last fun thing she done with them and can't remember.

She begins to struggle to fight tireness, her eyelids want to close, she has to sleep, again she touches the mattress, her soft fleshy body not used to such poor quality. Resigned to her faith, wearing her suit she sits on the hard wooden chair that creaks again under her weight. She hopes it will not give way". She begins to sleep.