Changing Places with Yourself

Chapter 21

I know that Grandpa wants time for the men to speak privately away from the lady folk.  Dylan handed me my tablet so that I could continue to monitor Conference Room A feeds as they did my hair and makeup.  I saw Bruce was giving Adam and Albert the skinny on how many policemen were waiting to step out and take them both into custody for conspiracy to commit fraud if either of them said anything other than what they were told to say.  Once they were sure they had waited long enough for me to get their mother into the other room, the younger boys could confront their “father” on everything he stolen from them while they worked for him.  They talked about all the threats he made about what he would do if they tried to either move out of the house or find work somewhere else.  Adam became outraged the new information he was hearing and blew up on his dad again, “I am going to help my brothers prosecute you to the fullest extent the law allows, old man.  You single-handedly turn them all against me by playing favorites, and then you top it all off by not only stealing from them but you added insult to injury by threatening to make their lives a living hell.  Well, ‘Father’, you’ve accomplished that goal.  I’m sickened to be related to you.” He left Conference Room A in a huff and came to Conference Room B and gave his mom a great big hug. “I am so beyond sorry Mom, but that man you’re married to a slime.” He communicated to her, “You and my brothers are welcome to have our Sunday dinners at my place each week from now on because I will not be stepping one foot back in that house as long as he is there.  If you need me to, I will gladly help you get a lawyer to divorce his pasty white ass.”  By now the other brothers had left Conference Room A to join us adding their own offers to pitch in and pay for her divorce lawyer as they walked in.  

Albert stood at the door looking smug as he declared, “Oh, she won’t leave me, will you Amanda?” She shook her head and almost whispered, “No, I won’t.  I can’t.”  I could see the tears welling in her eyes. So, I leaned over and spoke softly in her ear, “Mrs. Stovard, I know your secret about your boys.” Her face shot up as her eyes search mine trying to find the truth in them. “How?” She mouthed.  “Is that what he’s holding over you?” I inquired and she nodded, “I sent samples from all of them to the lab and the results will be back next week, but you know what they will say, don't you?” She nodded again. “Then stand up to that condescending jerk face and tell him where he can stick it.  After the conference today, you and your sons can move into my building, rent-free. Hell, my security team will even help you pack.  My penthouse alone has five bedrooms, plus there are four apartments on the floor below me and they have four bedrooms each with roof access to a pool, hot tub, eating area, bar, BBQ grill/smoker, and a helicopter pad.  Tell him he can't touch you anymore because you and your boys are beyond his grasp.  You don't need to put up with him and his chauvinistic, narcissistic, prickish ways.” I pleaded with her.  She resolved her facial expression as she stood up to looked at the men who were arguing again, “Boys, please be quiet.”  “Yes, listen to your mother...” Albert started to say.  “Albert, shut up! You ASS!” she states plainly, oblivious to the shocked look that crossed his face.  I had to fight to keep from laughing well as I texted Bruce to get Jimmy and Judy there ASAP only to be told that they were already in the building headed up. 

“WHAT?” Albert yelled back furiously.  “I said, shut up – as in close your mouth, and stop talking.  For once you're going to listen to what I say.” she began.  When he opened his mouth to try to interrupt her, I signaled Steve who cuffed his hands behind his back and shoved a towel in his mouth to gag him.  “Thank you, young man.” she expressed her gratitude before continuing, “Ok, Albert, I’m done.  I will be finding a divorce lawyer to sue you.  Then I will get away from you as far as possible.  I know you think I have to stay with you for my sons’ sake, but it seems the jig is up.  Mrs. Novell, Becky, figured out my secret and will be getting the test results back next week.”  Her boys immediately asked if she was ill and she shook her head, “No, my loves, the tests will give the DNA results for Asher, Allen, and Tony.  Boys, I should have told this years ago, but I was threatened at what would happen if I did, Albert isn't your father.”  Just then, Jimmy and Judy walked into the room.   He heard what she said and he looked upon the faces of his three older sons.  “If Albert’s not our father, Mom, who is?” Asher probed.  “I am!” Jimmy announced answering for Amanda, as tears ran down his cheeks. “Oh, Amanda if you had just told me, I could have helped.”  He turned a hateful glance toward Mr. Stovard, “Albert, I’m going to have you arrested for k********g my sons.  You illegally put your name on their birth certificates and forced Amanda to keep them hidden from me.  Nevertheless, the real kicker of all of this is how you treated them like crap all their lives.  You won’t get away from with this, and I will damn sure make you pay.” Jimmy said with steely determination.

Albert finally was able to spit the towel out of his mouth, “Whatever, they were nothing but nosed bratty kids before and they still are.  Have fun finding somewhere to stay without my money, Bitch.” he sneered.  “Oh, Becky has offered to let us move in with her today and we will after we are done downstairs with the media.  I’m going to get a hold of some movers to help pack and she offered that some of her security staff will help as well,” she informed him gleefully.  “Yeah right, all of you stuck in what her tiny little apartment...” he began until laughter cut him off, “Stop talking out of your ass, Albert. Becky owns the Lexar building.” Grandpa told him.  “Bet she bought it with your money.  Harold, you should keep a tighter hold on the purse strings.” Albert's words were full of contempt. By now, every one of my guards were unable to hold their mirth in any longer at Albert stupidity and they laughed in his face. “You have no idea who she is, do you?” Dylan mocked him.  Albert glared at me, “She’s a gold-digging b***h who trapped Evan into marrying her somehow. That's who she is.”

“BUZZ!!!!”  Bruce used his phone to make the sound, “Wrong answer! Boss lady, tell this loser what he's won.” he answered in his best fake announcer voice, which I, kinda, imitated.  “Well Bruce, given the charges he’s facing I’m guessing anywhere from 20 to life at one of this fine country’s federal penitentiaries.  I just thought of a way to avoid him having him with us downstairs.  He can now go directly to jail.” I dropped the voice, “Dylan, gets with Claude and help him transfer the evidence that we already have to the detectives waiting in Conference Room C.” I start giving out instructions.  “You said, I wouldn't go to jail if I agreed to stick with the stupid script.” Albert roared at me.  “No, we said we wouldn't tell the press about your illegal activities.  You were always going to be arrested, but now we don’t even need you down in the pressroom with us.  Mrs. Amanda, if you give me 2 minutes to fix your part then we’ll be good to go.” I declared.

Albert demands to know as they are leading him out of the room, “Who the hell are you?”  “Me? Well, my full name is Rebecca S Novell, nee David.  You see my parents were Julius and Jody David, nee Gillows, which means I’m the grandchild of Walter and Jessica Gillows, their only grandchild, in fact, and sole heir.  That’s who I am, Mr. Stovard.” I apprised him.  His jaw, as well as Amanda’s and the boys, hit the floor at finding out this information.  “Definitely not a gold digger.” Allen finally stated as Albert was taken by security to be held in Conference Room C until the press was gone.

“Yeah, I dread to think what it would be like if Evan had actually paid attention to the prenup.  He’d be one of those whiny, clingy husbands.  Lucky for me, he’s too narcissistic to look further than the nose on his own face.  Sheesh, Grandpa, I just realized, it’s a good thing Amy didn’t have a clue either.  I shudder to think what could have happened if she has gotten to look at my bank balance.” I shiver at the thought, “It's a good thing, Bruce, Steve, Dylan, and the rest of our security team are so good at their jobs.” He announced, “Amen to that.” Judy grabbed into a hold, “I would have lost it if those hooligans had actually gotten hold of you.”  “Which one of my boys here jumped in to help?” Jimmy asked looking full of pride.  “I did, Sir,” Tony said standing up to walk forward.  “Sir??? No, no, no!  That won't do at all, please feel free to call me Dad, Tony.” Jimmy advised him, “The same goes for the rest of you.  As to you Adam, if you try anything with my little girl again, I’ll let Judy at you.”  “You saved your little sister just like a big brother should.”  Tony was stunned as Judy said that right before she wrapped him in a bear hug, while Jimmy held out his hand to shake Tony's.  Judy turned to Amanda and announced, “Given what you went through, you did an exceptional job with your boys. You should be very proud of the men that they’ve grown up to be.” “Thank you.” Amanda began as her eyes filled with tears and Judy pulled her into an embrace letting her cry. 

“You know what?  Mom, why don't you and Dad stay here?  I figured out how to explain how both of the older Stovards’ absences to the press today.  Grandpa, I’ll be in my office while the rest of you get made to look ‘pretty’.”  I smirked at him, I got this.”  Claude came with me back to my office as I reworked my opening statement.  I printed it so he could look it over and when he nodded his approval I sent it to the podium monitor.  He gave the printed copy to Grandpa in the elevator to read as we headed down to the pressroom with everyone together.  I started to work on Grandpa’s statement on my tablet as we rode down the 40+ floors to the ground floor.  There were just a few tweaks to make, which Claude and Grandpa approved.  They finished it while in the hallway during my speech before it was uploaded to the podium as well.  As far as what the others would say, everything was able to remain the same.  I walked into the pressroom alone to get the media’s attention.