Chapter Photo credit:
@rcarner Depositphotos.com

Ted Calhoun was home on Monday morning when Mia left for work. He saw her from the window of his second bedroom as she walked to her car. He had never seen her in heels before and with her narrow skirt, her legs looked wonderfully long. Maybe if he had been more receptive to their dinner together, he could have tangled with those legs.

He didn't think that was Sage's goal for the dinner which he should never have agreed to attend. Sage was hard to say no to. Although he had accepted Aidan into his circle, Ted didn't expect Aidan's sister would be accepted. She was really quite an enigma given her appearance, her brains, and her ability to bake. The cookies she left on his doorstep were delicious.

Ted looked around the bedroom. He had finally finished the second coat of paint on Saturday night after dinner, although he had been yelled at for listening to music while painting. Pleased with his efforts, he was eager for the furniture to arrive.

Ted wore a suit because he had a meeting with his father at their company headquarters. He stepped away from Calhoun Construction when he acquired his father-in-law's company. The agreement was he would return to his rightful place before his father's retirement. Unfortunately, the agreement didn't prevent him from being summoned at will by his father.

Calhoun Construction Company built skyscrapers and other commercial buildings. Calhoun's size allowed them to win bids on government buildings, including schools and other municipal buildings in every corner of the country. Ted hated when he had worked for his father and spent his days in meetings. On his school breaks, he had trained as a carpenter. His father felt the knowledge would be useful, but hadn't expected Ted to enjoy it. He had an MBA to help him run the business which was his legacy, but he enjoyed the hands-on work better.

Restoring the Victorian had been a labor of love. He did most of the work himself. Even Mia Reilly didn't understand why he was living in half a house. She probably expected him in a condo like the one he owned in Brookline. He hated the condo long before he hated his marriage. Maybe he needed some place completely opposite. The day he stopped at the light and looked at the 'for sale' sign, he only saw potential in the rundown house. Potential and freedom, because he knew he needed a place to live if he planned to end his marriage.

He loved Elaine enough to marry her. She checked all the right boxes required to be Mrs. Edward Calhoun. They had the same friends and lifestyle. She was sexy and satisfied him in bed. The fact his father saw business potential in his marriage didn't bother Ted. He intended to make it work, and it did at the beginning.

The company he acquired though his marriage was in residential construction. Homestead Builders built sprawling neighborhoods on undeveloped land across the country. When they finished, former farmland and forests became cul-de-sacs and four-bedroom homes with granite kitchens and stainless steel appliances. It had been their principal focus, but Ted was working on an alternative approach to business. His newest projects took old and made them new, similar to his Victorian.

The one thing both his father's company and Homestead had in common was they were both privately owned. He didn't have to answer to a board of directors when he diversified. He also took a cue from Elaine's grandfather who started the company as an actual builder and began getting his hands dirty. Even though it was necessary to spend most of his time dealing with business, he worked a part of each day on site at his pet project.

He typically started the day on the job site, before heading to his corporate offices. His company was not like Calhoun and unless he had meetings outside of the company, he wore jeans and work boots. It was a less formal environment and his staff was more relaxed and productive than those at Calhoun.

He didn't miss the steel and glass tower of the Calhoun Headquarters. He exited the elevator to a chorus of 'good morning Mr. Calhoun' and nodded toward the various voices. Outside of his father's office, his executive secretary, Ms. Chapels greeted him.

"Mr. Calhoun will be with you shortly. Can I get you your coffee, Mr. Calhoun?"

"Thank you. What's his mood?"

She smiled. "Your father is looking forward to seeing you this morning."

His father appeared before Ted's coffee arrived. "Ted." He stepped aside as Ted entered his office. Once he sat, the older Edward Calhoun started. "We rarely see you. You've been ignoring invitations."

"I went to your party last month." Ted reminded him. It was a miserable night, Elaine had clung to him the entire time.

"You need to keep up appearances."

"I don't care to see Elaine socially."

"You will learn to get along for the sake of everyone involved." His father always looked imposing when he sat behind his desk.

Ted rubbed his temple feeling tension building. "You talk to her. She's the one who's acting unreasonable."

"I didn't call you to discuss your wife. We have business matters."

Ted spent most of the morning with his father. He left agreeing to his mother's invitation for dinner. He had purposely been avoiding social engagements, but his father was right, he needed to go see his mother and start circulating again.

By the time he reached his own offices it was almost lunchtime. Reed, his assistant, raised an eyebrow when he saw him.

"My meeting was fine. Bring me up to speed."

"The permits went through in Albany, but they're being held up in Providence."

"I'll call Denny. Maybe he'll have to take a drive."

He would send his corporate attorney to push the permits through. In business, nothing was impossible with some persistence.

"Trey Hayes left a message for you."

Ted nodded. "I'll call Trey first. Find out where we are with the designs for Harrisburg."

Reed nodded and went right to work. Ted wasn't sure he could do what he did without him.

He dialed his friend's number. When Trey's assistant answered, he greeted her by name.

"Ted, he's on the line. Are you available now?" Before he could answer, she said, "Scratch that he just hung up."

"Teddy." Trey was one of his best friends, but also his divorce attorney.

"Tell me you have good news."

"I heard from Elaine's attorney, she's digging her heels in."

"She's being ridiculous, and I paid for those heels."

Trey laughed. "Don't worry. When have I ever let you down?"

Ted paused. "There was that time in high school when..."

Trey laughed. "You'll never let me live that one down will you?"

"You promised me a date, and I spent the night as the third wheel."

"If I remember correctly, my date spent the night eyeing you because the Calhoun name goes a lot further than mine. I don't have a building with my name on it."

"Listen Trey, I need to get to work. I spent the morning meeting with my father."

"Say no more. I'll keep on them."

His afternoon flew by and he was itching to get home and into work clothes. He had a few touch-ups to do before the furniture arrived in the morning. Maybe he would even put in some earbuds, so he didn't disturb his neighbor. He needed more cookies, because he had already eaten half of the ones she left.

Thanks for voting ⭐️