matter how new
or luxurious, wasn’t the most welcoming place, especially in his state of mind.
Drew figured he would be better off getting an early start at the office.
Returning to Harper Falls after a ten-year absence had not
been an easy decision. His life was right on track, right where he had imagined
all those years ago. He and Jack took their company to the top, billionaires
before the age of thirty.
They were an interesting pair, he and Jack Winston. College
had been their meeting ground, computer geeks with a similar vision. Jack had
arrived there on a football scholarship. Fast, agile. He was born with the
ability to outrun almost anyone else on the field. Throw the ball in his
vicinity, his sure hands would haul it in. Jack could have gone pro. More than
one sports analyst shook their head in amazement when he chose to follow his
real passion, designing software.
They met in class, clicked immediately, became best friends
and partners. Long hours tinkering with the first program that had to be
perfect. Starts and stops, never enough time or money. A bond had been forged
that could never be broken.
Hitting it big changed nothing. Their first million, the
ones that followed. The billion-dollar mark they had hit in September. They
progressed here together. The arguments were inevitable. Two strong
personalities didn’t get here by rolling over to anybody.
Knocking heads with Jack, if Drew were honest, was part of
the fun. His partner knew when to push and when to pull back. Growing up in a
large, boisterous, family gave Jack the ability to fight without getting nasty
or holding a grudge. The Winstons did everything in a big way. Big family full
of love. The exact opposite of Drew’s childhood.
He pulled his car into the large, climate-controlled garage
he insisted be included in the H&W compound. He considered his cars his
babies. They needed a warm home without harsh lights or fluctuating
temperatures. Most of his collection was in a three-story garage near his home.
Some were over one hundred years old. Those never moved. Others, like the
Mustang, were for driving. He rotated ten or twelve cars between the compound
and home, depending on his mood.
Drew waited for the garage door to close before getting out
of the car. One of Alex’s recruits would give it a wash tomorrow morning. There
were perks to having big, anxious-to-please security guards in training around.
They could always be counted on to buff the boss’ car.
Through the door, he had to pass by the barracks. At any
given time, anywhere from five or six to over a hundred men stayed at the
compound. When he and Jack hit it big, they had discussed dropping the personal
security side of the business. It was more of a pain in the ass than an asset.
Jack thought it was good luck, a way of not forgetting their humble beginnings.
In the end, they had kept a nominal staff catering to an exclusive clientele.
The man they hired to run that end of things had turned out to be a mean drunk,
putting Jack in the emergency room with a stab wound.
The current head of H&W Private Security division was an
ex-Army badass and Jack’s old high school buddy. Instead of cutting back, Alex
expanded the business — and did a damn good job. Business was booming all
around.
At the moment, though, Drew was the only living soul around.
Alex stayed here when he first came to town. Now that he and Dani were engaged,
he had moved into her loft. Security cameras and sensor devices eliminated the
need for a night watchman. They were a high-tech company. If they couldn’t keep
their own compound secure from a distance, they weren’t very good at their
jobs.
Drew used the retinal scan before typing in his personal
corresponding code to disengage the alarm system. His office was east facing,
the bank of windows gave him a view of Crossfire Hill. Most people would have
chosen a westward view. Jack and Alex’s offices both
or luxurious, wasn’t the most welcoming place, especially in his state of mind.
Drew figured he would be better off getting an early start at the office.
Returning to Harper Falls after a ten-year absence had not
been an easy decision. His life was right on track, right where he had imagined
all those years ago. He and Jack took their company to the top, billionaires
before the age of thirty.
They were an interesting pair, he and Jack Winston. College
had been their meeting ground, computer geeks with a similar vision. Jack had
arrived there on a football scholarship. Fast, agile. He was born with the
ability to outrun almost anyone else on the field. Throw the ball in his
vicinity, his sure hands would haul it in. Jack could have gone pro. More than
one sports analyst shook their head in amazement when he chose to follow his
real passion, designing software.
They met in class, clicked immediately, became best friends
and partners. Long hours tinkering with the first program that had to be
perfect. Starts and stops, never enough time or money. A bond had been forged
that could never be broken.
Hitting it big changed nothing. Their first million, the
ones that followed. The billion-dollar mark they had hit in September. They
progressed here together. The arguments were inevitable. Two strong
personalities didn’t get here by rolling over to anybody.
Knocking heads with Jack, if Drew were honest, was part of
the fun. His partner knew when to push and when to pull back. Growing up in a
large, boisterous, family gave Jack the ability to fight without getting nasty
or holding a grudge. The Winstons did everything in a big way. Big family full
of love. The exact opposite of Drew’s childhood.
He pulled his car into the large, climate-controlled garage
he insisted be included in the H&W compound. He considered his cars his
babies. They needed a warm home without harsh lights or fluctuating
temperatures. Most of his collection was in a three-story garage near his home.
Some were over one hundred years old. Those never moved. Others, like the
Mustang, were for driving. He rotated ten or twelve cars between the compound
and home, depending on his mood.
Drew waited for the garage door to close before getting out
of the car. One of Alex’s recruits would give it a wash tomorrow morning. There
were perks to having big, anxious-to-please security guards in training around.
They could always be counted on to buff the boss’ car.
Through the door, he had to pass by the barracks. At any
given time, anywhere from five or six to over a hundred men stayed at the
compound. When he and Jack hit it big, they had discussed dropping the personal
security side of the business. It was more of a pain in the ass than an asset.
Jack thought it was good luck, a way of not forgetting their humble beginnings.
In the end, they had kept a nominal staff catering to an exclusive clientele.
The man they hired to run that end of things had turned out to be a mean drunk,
putting Jack in the emergency room with a stab wound.
The current head of H&W Private Security division was an
ex-Army badass and Jack’s old high school buddy. Instead of cutting back, Alex
expanded the business — and did a damn good job. Business was booming all
around.
At the moment, though, Drew was the only living soul around.
Alex stayed here when he first came to town. Now that he and Dani were engaged,
he had moved into her loft. Security cameras and sensor devices eliminated the
need for a night watchman. They were a high-tech company. If they couldn’t keep
their own compound secure from a distance, they weren’t very good at their
jobs.
Drew used the retinal scan before typing in his personal
corresponding code to disengage the alarm system. His office was east facing,
the bank of windows gave him a view of Crossfire Hill. Most people would have
chosen a westward view. Jack and Alex’s offices both
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