Between Us

CHAPTER 1

PIERCE

I find myself at the pinnacle of my profession, successful in my career and almost every aspect of my life. 

Except in one department. 

As a father, I know I leave much to be desired and I sigh as I think about my son. 

Okay, Pierce, stop thinking about the boy. Focus. There’s something you need to do.

I stand in front of the mirror, preparing myself mentally for the upcoming head of offices meeting for King Investments. I'm the head for Human Resources, and the youngest among all department leads. 

I've been working for this company for more than eight years. I started from the ground up to reach the level I’m currently at. 

I worked my ass off, striving to ensure I get to the top of my chosen field. It wasn't a walk in a bed of rose petals, by any means, but on thorns and against savage wolves. To say I'm a slave to my work is an understatement of massive proportions. 

With my drive, you can understand why the arrival of my son, Joshua, came as a major surprise. His mother wanted nothing to do with him and she left after she gave birth to him. 

Raising him was difficult, but I managed.

"Sir, they’re here." My secretary's head pokes through the doorway. "They're waiting in the boardroom." 

"I’ll be right there." I fix my tie and straighten any creases on my clothes, checking the way I look in my private bathroom. There are no imperfections, but I go about the ritual anyway. The double-breasted gabardine suit fits my body perfectly, and I had my hair slicked back to add to the overall look. 

"Great!" I say to myself, after giving my reflection one last glance. 

I walk confidently into the boardroom where the heads are already seated and waiting. The CEO arrives a couple of minutes after I come in.

Prepared files for each attendee are on the table, and the presentation is ready on the huge screen. I've crunched up methods, insights, and metrics on improving workforce performance. 

"As you can see, there's an increased output in our yearly quota, and workforce accidents have decreased since we implemented the newer and more advanced safety measures…"

I drone on about management, strategic staffing plans, and other related topics. I've prepared for this meeting for a while now, and I'm confident with my reception.

In the middle of my report, my secretary comes in, looking panicked and pale. We all turn toward her, and even the CEO is waiting for her to explain. 

"What is it?" I'm slightly annoyed, but I try not to let it show in my voice. 

She knows she shouldn’t interrupt this important meeting. Seeing her standing by the doorway fills me with foreboding. She would never dare come in if it wasn’t an emergency.

It's company policy that no matter what you do, family comes first. The CEO who’s a family man himself instituted this when he first came into the position.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm sorry to interrupt this important meeting, but there's an emergency for Mr. Williams," she announces apologetically. 

I excuse myself from the others. "What is it?" I walk down the platform and ask her. 

"Sir, we received a call from the school, it seems your son got into an accident. He's in the hospital," she tells me. I pale at the news. 

What is it this time? These last few months, I've received a lot of calls. This isn’t the first time. 

"It seems you need to hand the floor to your assistant, Mr. Williams," the CEO says. He has an understanding look on his face. "You can go now.” 

“Don’t worry about your presentation, no one will hold a family emergency against you. If we have further questions that can’t be handled here, we will email.”

"Thank you, sir," I say as I hurriedly walk out. Hospital . . . the word echoes in my head, and the hand holding my briefcase trembles. 

I leave for the hospital as fast as the law allows.

*******************

"What did you fu–" I take a deep breath, stopping myself from cursing in front of my kid. "What did you do this time?" 

My boy, Joshua, is on the bed with a broken leg and arm, both of which are in a cast. A cast! Because, apparently, he got into a goddamned fight!

"As I've said, Dad, I got into a fight with a group of kids," Joshua explains, his exasperation clear in his voice and expression. "I've told you already." 

"Don't you dare take that tone with me!" I yell. Shit, I can't help it; his cavalier attitude is making my blood boil. "I want a proper explanation, young man!" 

Joshua frowns and sighs as he looks down. 

"Dad, I got into a fight. That's it. I refused to concede to them, so they ganged up on me," he replies simply, shrugging it off as if it was no big deal. 

Am I a failure as a father?

I’ve asked this question plenty of times in my head. Joshua has been involved in too many fights these past few months. All I can do is yell at him, take away his gadgets, and punish him.

I feel like a tyrant, which was never the kind of father I’ve envisioned being. 

But I think his tantrums and rebellious nature are getting worse. How am I supposed to deal with a seven-year-old who already knows his own mind? Who’s stubborn and set in his ways? 

Even at seven, I can’t force him to do what I say. His strength of will is formidable – and I can hardly blame anyone else but myself. 

My little boy is growing up fast, and it's making me frustrated. Not because of the speed of his growth, but that it seems to be going in the wrong direction. This downward path he’s taking will only ruin his future.

He won't even talk to me! How am I supposed to know what the fucking hell he wants me to do? 

"Are you happy now? Are you happy you’re injured this badly? How can you possibly make trouble after trouble? Two weeks ago, you had a black eye!" 

That fiasco is still fresh in my mind. Joshua got into a fight with an older kid, and the latter gave my son a panda eye. I shudder as I remember how swollen and purple his eye had become.

I seize my hair in frustration and slump dejectedly on the sofa. 

"Now, you're in a cast, how will you handle school? How will you do your homework? I need to work, and I don't have time to take care of you like this," I blurt out, emotions spewing unchecked from my anger. 

Joshua's face pales, and he looks down at his feet. I close my eyes, pinching my forehead in the process. I shouldn’t have vented my frustrations on him, but I can’t take the words back. 

I take a deep breath and open my mouth to say something, but someone interrupts. 

"Excuse me, can I come in?"