Chapter 20
Todd picked up the phone and said, “Yes, Nancy, what is it?”
“Alex is on the line and asked if you had time he wanted to talk to you.”
“Put him through and thanks.”
“Alex, what can I do for you?”
“Your yacht arrived and they are at this moment unloading it and it will be transferred to the water tomorrow morning.”
“Great, and thanks for the news. Let’s go down there and watch it launched. I want Jen to christen the Penny Too.,” he said with a pleasant tone of voice.
“I’ll call you in the morning and let you know what time it will be ready to launch.”
“Fine, and by the way, let’s plan on a shakedown cruise to Jamaica in a week or so after we make ready the craft for sailing,” Todd told him and hung up the phone.
I should call Jen and tell her the news, he thought. I’ll tell her to make a list of passengers for a cruise to the Caribbean. A month should be enough time to cruise down to Jamaica.
He picked up the phone and called her office. Jen came on the line saying, “What’s up my handsome doctor?”
He laughed and told her about the boat coming in and that they should plan on going to the dock tomorrow for the inaugural launching of the Penny Too. “Why don’t we take the Penny and go down to Jamaica for a shakedown cruise? Make up a list of passengers you would like to go with us.”
“Wow, I love the spur of the moment things and let’s talk about it tonight when you come home,” she said.
“Fine, see you later. Love you wife and how is the baby doing today?”
She told him the baby was fine and to stop bothering her while she was working. He laughed at her and hung up thinking about hiring a captain and crew.
The first person that came to mind was Mario. He picked up the phone and called finding him in his office once again practicing his putting. Todd said, “Mario my boat came in and now I need a captain and a crew for a shakedown cruise for about a month's voyage. Would you and your new wife like to come with us?”
“Todd my young friend, we would love to go with you. I presume you will bring LL with you?”
“Of course, but not sure she will want to go,” he said with a little sadness in his voice. Can you help me out finding a good captain and a crew of four?”
“Have I ever let you down,” he said with a chuckle. “I will get back to you tomorrow and have some folks for you to check out.”
“Thanks again and don’t forget to bring some sun block.” He said joking.
“I’ll bring some, but not for my brown Sicilian skin, but for my wife’s white skin,” he said.
Todd hung up and thought what a great friend he had in Mario. Not once did he let him down. So far he had backed Todd on every step of the way with his plan. Todd also had another reason for asking him to come on this trip. He wanted total privacy for this risky idea he had to present to him. This one, without doubt would test their friendship to the limit.
Todd decided to see Hugh about some law matters and called him on the phone to see if he had some time for a short meeting.
Hugh said, “Want me to come over or do you want to come here and stretch your legs?”
Todd laughed and said, “I’ll come to you. See you in a few minutes.”
Todd strolled out of his office and stopped at Ann’s desk and said to her, “Send a case of sun block to Mario’s office please.”
Ann looked at him strangely and saw a twinkle in her boss’s eye. She thought, must be something going on but who am I to question him?
“I’ll call right now and have it there by later today.”
“Thanks and I’m going over to see Hugh for awhile.” And he walked out the door whistling off key. Ann shook her head and wondered what was up.
Sitting in Hugh’s office Todd relaxed with a cup of green tea. Hugh had caught on to China’s green tea and fell in love with it.
“Hugh, what is the latest on the wrongful dismissal suits pending?”
“We are in for a fight. Some of those guys had nice golden umbrellas and are looking for more. Our legal fees will go through the roof, but we will win in the end. We knock down the first two and the rest will dismiss their suits, I believe.”
“Sounds good Hugh, I know you are on top of it. Now I have a cruise planned for my new yacht and make sure I’m covered with liability and anything else you can think of.”
Hugh made some notes and told him he would take care of it. He went on to say, “We have most everything under control, but in Asia we are having trouble communicating with the Chinese.”
Todd said, “Hire an English speaking Chinese language teacher from a university and double his or her salary.”
Hugh’s eyebrows rose up and made a note to that effect. Todd stood up and said he would talk to him later and be sure to keep Damion informed of the law suits. Hugh assured him he would and thanked Todd for turning him on to the green tea.
Todd decided to take a walk through the new office. He’d made the tour before, but never really looked at it from a critical side of things. He would stroll over to Jen’s office and see what was happening.
His feelings were overwhelming and probably were too much for her to handle these days. He thought he must back off and let it develop. Tension was mounting between the two of them and if he didn’t give her some space, he felt his was in trouble with his relationship. The plan he had for Mario would take him out of the country for a month or more and that is what Jen needed for some time alone.
He turned the corner and walked by many offices poking his nose in the doors and looking around. He was not looking for people who were dead beats and slackers, but at the effectiveness of the building. So far so good he thought to himself. I must call a meeting and see what or where we can improve our productivity by suggestions from the department heads; he made a note to him to tell Ann about his meeting.
Coming up to Jen’s office he went in and found everyone busy doing something. Jen was on the phone and waved to him and he waited for her to finish her phone call. Her office was three walls of glass so she could see all of her staff at anytime she wanted to. Also they could see her and if they needed something, could choose the time to ask her a question.
Jen finished her call and said, “Come in and sit down. I have,” looking at her watch, “about ten minutes before a staff meeting.”
He sat down and said, “Jen you are so beautiful attired in your soon to be mothers clothes.”
She smiled at him with her baby blue eyes and replied, “I have you to thank for the condition I’m in and now if you are finished Mr. Lincoln; I have work to do.”
He took the hint and walked around her desk and planted a kiss on her sweet smelling head. While he did that she grabbed him in the crotch and sent him squealing out the door.
God I love that man, she thought. He’s everything a man should be, but sometimes he smothers me to no end. I must be patient and enjoy the attention.
Todd back in his office sat looking at a map of the Caribbean. It was a nautical map showing depths and currents. An hour later he had a plan and route he wanted to take. He would spend some time with the new captain. He sat back and dreamed of the upcoming cruise.
Later that night he sat around the new library talking to Jen and his grandmother about the launching tomorrow and his plan to sail to Jamaica and other islands in the Caribbean.
“Grandmother would you like to go with us. Mario and his wife are coming and it might be a nice time for all of us to get together to show our appreciation to him.”
“Todd let me think about it and I will let you know in a few days.”
Jen said, “Lucky we would love to have you come and I think my parents are coming too. My mother can’t swim, but our new boat is so big she is not worried. My father is excited about going and has been practicing his golf game in anticipation of playing some Jamaican golf courses.”
That perked grandmother’s in
terest and both Todd and Jen could see that might have changed her mind about going. Todd went on to say they would dock in Montego Bay for a few days to check out the markets for native made items.
“Ok,” she said, “you have piqued my interest and let me know when you plan to leave. My house keeper will go with me of course. She won’t like it but she will get used to the idea after awhile.”
Todd was beside himself that she was going. He thought this might be her last trip away from the house. She was getting a little frail and some tropical atmosphere might do her good.
She left them in the library and went to bed. Jen and Todd sat there talking about the list of people going. Jen asked him, “How many people can we take or have room for?”
“Well, we can accommodate more than we will ask to go. So far we have your parents; grandmother and the housekeeper; Alex and I suppose we must take Maria; Mario and his wife; and you and me. Do you want to ask Beth if she wants to go and how about your sister?”
Jen thought a minute and said, “I’m not sure. I will think about it and sleep on it tonight. Speaking of sleeping on it, how about a bout in the hot tub?”
It was a warm summer’s night and they both stripped down and entered the hot warm swirling water. They relaxed together and talked about the baby coming. The tub was a stress reliever and soon they were grabbing each other and making lots of noise.
Soon she was sitting on his lap and moving around teasing him. He stared into her lovely eyes and soon her eye lids were half down in the first signs of passion. Todd closed his eyes as he entered her. Jen leaned forward and held his head against her chest and as their passion mounted, both reached the top at about the same time.
Todd had poured him a glass of wine and they both relaxed for a little longer before getting out. It was then he told her of his secret plan to put forth to grandmother and Mario.
“Jen, I know this will sound crazy, but give it some time and think about what it might mean twenty years from now. I really think this is for the future of the Lincoln Group.”
Jen was all ears; she had learned that when he had an idea she should pay attention and not say a word until finished. From her father she learned to be conservative, but after Todd’s past plan for the Lincoln Group, she had learned to trust his farsightedness.
Todd began his story, “Jen I want to build company towns like in the past when people lived where they work. Like at our vineyard, we have proven the system works. We’ve never had labor unrest and over the years we have shown a profit most every year at the vineyard. On occasion we have not met expenses, but that was due to weather conditions, not people problems; such as market demand or employee complaints. Education is the key and on-sight schools in our company towns will insure a steady flow of labor. And more importantly, labor cost that we can afford. I want to start a pilot program in Argentina raising organic beef and another pilot program in the Philippines rebuilding their rice production and building manufacturing plants.”
Jen sat there with her mouth open and finally said, “Honey if you think it will work, then of course I’m behind you one hundred percent. I think I see now why you wanted grandmother and Mario to go on this cruise.’
“You got that right my dear wife,” he said with a grin. “The cost will be high and it will take five to eight years for a profit, but after that, the returns will far outweigh the initial cost. Also, think about what it would do for the people and the countries we set up in.”
“I know you have the people in mind. That is what sets you apart from the others. We have our whole lives ahead of us and if you can get Mario’s’ and your grandmothers’ support, go for it.”
Todd and Jen went to bed and both slept the night away in each other's arms. The next morning both worked out and rode together to the office; she could tell he was excited about the ship launching today and she had dressed for the occasion: A formal light weight pale yellow pant suit complete with a wide brim white hat rimed with a dark yellow ribbon. She was not showing much yet and Todd thought she looked like a million dollars.
He was dressed in his usual custom tailored clothes. An off white suit with a blue dress shirt with white stripes along with a dark blue silk tie, made him look like a business man from the tropics.
Alex was waiting in Ann’s office for him to arrive. He gave off a whistle at the looks of Jen and his boss. He said, “This is not the Queen Mary we are launching today, but I guess it is just as important as its launching and christening by the Queen of England.”
Todd and Jen both laughed and Todd said to Alex, “When do we leave for this happy event?”
“About nine we should leave for the dock.”
Jen said, “I must go to my office and get Glenda prepared for the advertising department to be there with cameras and so forth.”
Todd went to his office and asked Ann to come with him. Todd asked her to sit down and told her about hiring a ship's crew and the bare bones of his intended trip to South America after returning from their ocean cruise.
Ann made some notes and then asked him, “Do you want me to make travel arrangements and if so, do you have a date in mind?”
“Yes, make the travel date for the end of August and I will take the Gulf Stream down to Argentina. I will take Alan and Pete with me. They have not been informed of this plan yet, so keep it close to your chest until you hear from me aboard ship on our return journey.”
The phone rang and Ann picked it up and told him Mario was on the line.
Todd took the phone and said, “Good morning Mario.”
“Same to you. I have some names for a prospective captain for you and I will send the files over for your approval.”
“As usual you work fast. Say, we are launching my new yacht in an hour or two. Would you like to be there and afterwards we could have some lunch?”
“Now that sounds like a good idea to me. I was wondering what I would do this morning. Where is this event taking place?”
“If you are willing we can stop by and pick you up.”
“Can’t beat that service with a stick; give me a ring when you are near my office and I will meet you out front.”
“Keep the files until then and see you in about an hour or so.”
Todd hung up and asked Alex to come in as he was waiting outside in Ann’s office for Todd to finish his phone call.
Alex sat down and Todd outlined his plan to hire a captain and three crew members to pilot the boat. He went on to tell him his plan for a shakedown cruise and wanted Alex on board to help him run the boat. Alex had a big grin on his face and Todd noticed how excited he was about a cruise to the Caribbean.
“Let’s make a date from two weeks from now to outfit the boat and make it ready for sailing. I will interview this week for a captain and the two of you can make the necessary arrangement for provisions and other things like safety. Make sure the life boats are in good working order and familiarize you with the boat from top to bottom. My grandmother is going as well as Mario and his wife. Along with Jen’s parents and of course for your pleasure, Maria will go too,” he said with a smile to Alex.
They picked up Mario and headed to the dock area. It was a long drive down to Mario’s office but Todd wanted to discuss the applicants with him after the launching over lunch.
Pulling into the dock area about eleven Todd saw their boat ready to slide down the slip into the water. She glistened with new paint and on the bow he could see Penny Too in bright black letters. He felt so proud and gave Jen’s hand a squeeze.
Todd’s first interview for a captain resulted in a no go. The second ended the same, but the third one piqued his interest as she walked into his office short, but standing military straight. He told her to sit down and refreshed his memory from her file. He’d saved her for last as his hope was she would fit the bill. She sat rigid and at attention. Todd smiled at her saying, “Andrea. May I call you by your first name or would you rather I addressed you as Captain Andrea?”
> She smiled through perfect white teeth and replied, “You may call me Andrea, but when I’m aboard ship I prefer to be called Captain.”
Very good as he took stock of this lovely woman sitting in front of him; she had short coal black hair, tan skin, a little weathered from being on the seas; and a little stocky looking like she could take care of herself in a scrape.
“Please tell me about your qualifications and why you would like to captain my ship,” he said with a soft voice so as not to intimidate her.
“Since I mustered out of the military for the last ten years I’ve captained two vessels. Both were about the size of your vessel. I quit both jobs due to sexual harassment and to be frank with you Mr. Lincoln, I’m a little nervous of taking on a third vessel. I’ve heard you were recently married and have a baby soon to be born. From that knowledge, I decided to have this interview and see for myself what you were like and of course, what my duties are or will be.”
Todd with a concerned look on his face said, “I can’t guarantee nobody will make advances on you, but I can assure you if someone does, they will be dismissed without an explanation. You only have to mention it to me or my secretary Nancy or Ann and I will deal with it promptly.”
Andrea smiled at him and replied, “Thank you and would you explain what you expect of a captain and how many crew members will staff the vessel?”
“Andrea, I was thinking four or five crewmembers but that is totally up to you. The galley staff and stewards will be under my Security Chief as well as the people on his staff. You will have total command over the ship and your crewmembers. I really don’t think you will have any problems, but one never knows. This shakedown cruise to Jamaica and other places will take us a month or more. I would like to depart in a week, so not much time to prepare I’m afraid.”
“How often would you guess we would sail in a year’s time,” she asked through full eye contact.
“I have no idea, but prepare for short notice. I will always try to give advance warning.”
“Would you expect me to live on board?”
“Your choice Andrea, I can provide you an apartment or house. It is your choice. One thing I can tell you is I expect loyalty and discretion on what you hear with my family and guests.”
“That goes without saying,” she replied with firmness in her voice. “When I was in the service I held a very high security ranking.”
“Yes, it is here in my file, and I have no doubts about your ability. Now, if there aren’t any more questions, what do you think?”
She said there for a long moment and looking him in the eye, said, “I’m not married as you know. No, I’m not gay, but if the right man walked into my life I would jump at the chance for family life.”
“Happy to hear that you are a family person, but do you want the job?”
“Yes, I do. What kind of salary are you offering?”
“I’m offering you two hundred K a year plus housing of your choosing in my housing development near this office. In addition a company car and all expenses and of course the usual stock options and retirement benefits I give to all my executives.”
Andrea’s mouth dropped open and she sat back for the first time totally shocked at his generous offer.
Todd stood up smiling and she struggled to her feet and shook his hand. He led her to the door and turned her over to Ann for the paper work. He thought to let her adjust for a day and then bring her back in and get the crew and staff hired with Alex helping.
Alex and Andrea spent the next week with their heads together hiring a crew and support staff. Todd and guests were notified of departure day and when the casting off took place, Jen and Todd stood at the back of the boat arm in arm.
Sailing past the cove they both grinned to each other knowing their special place would always be remembered.
The weather was perfect and Todd dressed in blue shorts and white polo shirt looked every bit like an executive that he was. Jen had on a long summer dress in an off white smelling like protective sun screen lotion.
It was close to lunch time and Alex was nervous as hell. They had a lot of important guests and wanted it to come off without a hitch. He knew, however, this was the first time the staff had worked together. He’d hired the best he could find and told them all in a meeting to not let their egos get in the way or he would throw them overboard. No doubt he put the fear of god in them. His five security guards stood behind him smiling at the poor crew.
Both lunch and dinner went off fairly smoothly. When nine pm chimed in the dining room all went to bed a little tired from the excitement and good food.
Andrea hugged the coast down to Florida and then made a direct route to Jamaica.
The next afternoon Todd, grandmother, Nancy and Mario sat in the dining room sequestered by security guards. Just to be on the safe side Alex had his men sweep the room for listening devices.
Todd began his story or plan for the Lincoln Group to establish a company town in Argentina to grow organic beef for worldwide distribution. He used the winery in Napa for an example of success. They would buy ten thousand acres to start with and take out options for more. A factory, school, hospital and the infrastructure would be state of the art. At first they would use the existing power and with the Argentine government construct nuclear power plants to deliver power at cost to the population and their town.
Nancy handed him a file and Todd said, “My best estimate for cost is around one billion.”
Mario about fell out of his chair, but grandmother just smiled and said, “That’s my boy!”
Mario had faked it a little bit and then said, “Todd my boy, I thought you were on your honeymoon and now I find out you were making a plan that will shock the business world.”
Todd just smiled and said, “I don’t like to think small when bigger is better for the people of the world; and I might add, the animals too.”
“Give me a little time to digest this idea and are there any more surprises today,” he says to the table of friends.
“Matter of fact there is Mario. I want to do a similar thing with rice in the Philippines.”
Mario let out a long sigh and asked for a glass of wine. “I need a bracer to wash the taste of money flowing out of Lincoln’s coffers.”
A few days later they docked in Montego Bay. The trip down was enjoyed by all. Jen’s parents felt like they were on a second honeymoon. Doctor Curtis had been practicing off the back of the boat. Todd had ordered a thousand range balls and a driving range place set up on the aft deck.
Jen was a little sea sick on top of morning sickness, but she always had a smile on her face. Maria helped her never leaving her side.
After docking Todd had a surprise for them. A Bob Marley concert was playing that night. A few weeks ago he had Nancy check around for a night out in Jamaica and got lucky by finding the famous Bob Marley.
Everyone needed to get their land legs back and in the afternoon went street shopping. Jen was a little tired so she stayed behind with Todd. Maria went shopping with Alex.
Security was tight around the yacht. Todd was a famous man and Alex was in no mood to have someone kidnap or worse, terrorize the yacht. Listening devices underwater detected any sound of scuba divers and on deck an electronic swing gangway prevented anyone storming onto the vessel.
Next to the engine room, a sound proof room housed the high tech listening equipment and computers. It was manned twenty-four seven. Nothing was left to chance or any communication from the head office would be transferred in a matter of seconds.
Todd and Jen sat on the aft deck drinking a sweet run drink famous in Jamaica. Todd said, “Honey do you know if you will miss me for a month?”
“I’m way too busy with work and the baby coming to even think about missing you,” she said with a wicked grin.
“Now I will go and pout and get drunk on this Jamaican rum.”
“Sounds good to me, but tonight if you can’t rise to the occasion, I might ha
ve to go to the engine room and check the oil.”
He broke up laughing and they gazed into each other's eyes with both knowing how much they meant to each other.
“Jen, did you know our captain has a thing on for Alex?”
“Yes. And so does Maria. She is not happy and I think the sooner they get married the better.”
“Alex doesn’t have a clue about our captain having a crush on him,” Alex said with a smirk on his face taking a long pull on his drink.
“What say you and I go for a swim in this nice tropical water about dark,” she said with a seductive look.
“Don’t say another word. It is as good as done.” He picked up his phone and called Nancy who was in the market shopping for some things to take home.
“I’ll have a boat at the dock when you want to leave.”
“Thanks Nancy, you are way over due for a bonus so hit the American Express for all it’s worth,” he said to her with gratitude.
At six it was getting dark out and a boat waited for them to board for a swimming excursion. The driver took them to a secluded beach and told them he would be back in an hour to pick them up.
Both stripped down to their birthday suits and hit the water. They spent the next hour frolicking around until both were ready for a shower and something to eat. The boat picked them up and delivered them to the Penny Too.
For the rest of the cruise the passengers and crew enjoyed themselves to no end. Todd felt sad it was coming to an end, but he was anxious to put his plan into action. In Belize they decided to fly home and their Gulf Stream came down and picked up Jen and Todd, Mario and Maria. Jen’s parents decided to take advantage of the experience along with grandmother and Mario’s wife. Alex stayed with the vessel must to Maria’s chagrin.