table.
“Really?” Jayne continued, “How did they coerce you into
having sex in a room filled with windows?”
“Moving on,” Jack said without even looking up.
Suddenly Brenda was up to speed and the look on her face was
priceless. Jack pulled out a pair of reading glasses and began going over
the things he wanted to cover before lunch. I was impressed by how he
instantly turned everyone’s attention back to business. Both Brandon and
Jayne were obviously disappointed that they weren’t going to get more mileage
out of the scandalous topic.
Jack went through the agenda at a blistering pace,
making snap decisions and tabling anything that couldn’t be immediately
resolved. It was obvious that Jack wanted to minimize the time he spent
in the city.
“Are you intent on covering the entire manufacturing line in
one day?” Jayne asked when lunchtime came and went without a break.
“Yes. Then we will go through the supply chain
tomorrow and marketing on Friday,” he replied.
“Okay,” Jayne said, “so you are leaving right away?”
“Yes. I’m scheduled to be in the Bahamas on Monday,”
he told her.
“For what?” Brandon interjected.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who Jack has been
keeping in the dark. What if something went wrong? I understand
he’s self-reliant and doesn’t like people worrying about him, but this is way
over the line.
“Let’s order in some lunch and when it gets here I’ll
discuss it with all of you,” he said as he turned his attention back to the
agenda. “I’m not hungry, so order from wherever you want.”
After that huge breakfast, I wasn’t the least bit hungry
either. Jack seemed happy to check a few more items off the list before
lunch arrived. As the others began eating, he went on to the next item of
business.
“Sorry, Dad, but you’re not reneging on telling us what’s
up,” Jayne insisted.
“It’s no big deal guys. I’m just going down to
Freeport to meet with a cardiologist about the prospects of using stem cell
therapy to regenerate some heart tissue,” he replied as if it were an annual
physical.
“Stem cell therapy? You think that’s a minor detail?”
Jayne said appearing shocked. “Are they using bone marrow? What’s
the risk of rejection? They just passed legislation down there that shut
down several clinics that were promoting unproven techniques.”
“Have you been working on a medical degree that I didn’t
know about,” Jack asked with a dose of sarcasm.
“Really, Dad? The males in our family have been cursed
with degenerative heart disease. You don’t think I’ve done a little
research on the issue?” she retorted.
“Sorry, Jayne, I didn’t mean to insult you.
Apparently, they use my own stems cells, so there is no rejection risk.
There is still contamination risk and of course, there is always a risk when
you insert a catheter and inject anything directly into your heart. If
there are any red flags, I won’t pursue it. You know that I won’t go and
do anything foolish.”
“Why weren’t you going to tell us?” Brandon demanded.
“I haven’t even talked to anyone down there yet. I
didn’t want you all sitting here worried about me,” Jack explained.
“So you were just going to do this and let us know
afterwards?” Jayne reiterated.
“I would never do anything serious without talking to you
guys, but this is minor,” Jack assured all of us. “I promise I’ll be
cautious and I’ll keep you guys posted. Now, is there anything else
before we get back to business?”
“I have one more request,” Brandon said with a smirk.
“Yes…” Jack acknowledged him hesitantly.
“Please stay at the St. Regis from now on,” he requested,
almost causing Jayne to choke on her food.
“I’m sorry you had to witness this, Brenda,” Jack said
shaking his head and trying to shoot his son a serious look.
“Actually, I’m enjoying it. I love hearing some
“Really?” Jayne continued, “How did they coerce you into
having sex in a room filled with windows?”
“Moving on,” Jack said without even looking up.
Suddenly Brenda was up to speed and the look on her face was
priceless. Jack pulled out a pair of reading glasses and began going over
the things he wanted to cover before lunch. I was impressed by how he
instantly turned everyone’s attention back to business. Both Brandon and
Jayne were obviously disappointed that they weren’t going to get more mileage
out of the scandalous topic.
Jack went through the agenda at a blistering pace,
making snap decisions and tabling anything that couldn’t be immediately
resolved. It was obvious that Jack wanted to minimize the time he spent
in the city.
“Are you intent on covering the entire manufacturing line in
one day?” Jayne asked when lunchtime came and went without a break.
“Yes. Then we will go through the supply chain
tomorrow and marketing on Friday,” he replied.
“Okay,” Jayne said, “so you are leaving right away?”
“Yes. I’m scheduled to be in the Bahamas on Monday,”
he told her.
“For what?” Brandon interjected.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who Jack has been
keeping in the dark. What if something went wrong? I understand
he’s self-reliant and doesn’t like people worrying about him, but this is way
over the line.
“Let’s order in some lunch and when it gets here I’ll
discuss it with all of you,” he said as he turned his attention back to the
agenda. “I’m not hungry, so order from wherever you want.”
After that huge breakfast, I wasn’t the least bit hungry
either. Jack seemed happy to check a few more items off the list before
lunch arrived. As the others began eating, he went on to the next item of
business.
“Sorry, Dad, but you’re not reneging on telling us what’s
up,” Jayne insisted.
“It’s no big deal guys. I’m just going down to
Freeport to meet with a cardiologist about the prospects of using stem cell
therapy to regenerate some heart tissue,” he replied as if it were an annual
physical.
“Stem cell therapy? You think that’s a minor detail?”
Jayne said appearing shocked. “Are they using bone marrow? What’s
the risk of rejection? They just passed legislation down there that shut
down several clinics that were promoting unproven techniques.”
“Have you been working on a medical degree that I didn’t
know about,” Jack asked with a dose of sarcasm.
“Really, Dad? The males in our family have been cursed
with degenerative heart disease. You don’t think I’ve done a little
research on the issue?” she retorted.
“Sorry, Jayne, I didn’t mean to insult you.
Apparently, they use my own stems cells, so there is no rejection risk.
There is still contamination risk and of course, there is always a risk when
you insert a catheter and inject anything directly into your heart. If
there are any red flags, I won’t pursue it. You know that I won’t go and
do anything foolish.”
“Why weren’t you going to tell us?” Brandon demanded.
“I haven’t even talked to anyone down there yet. I
didn’t want you all sitting here worried about me,” Jack explained.
“So you were just going to do this and let us know
afterwards?” Jayne reiterated.
“I would never do anything serious without talking to you
guys, but this is minor,” Jack assured all of us. “I promise I’ll be
cautious and I’ll keep you guys posted. Now, is there anything else
before we get back to business?”
“I have one more request,” Brandon said with a smirk.
“Yes…” Jack acknowledged him hesitantly.
“Please stay at the St. Regis from now on,” he requested,
almost causing Jayne to choke on her food.
“I’m sorry you had to witness this, Brenda,” Jack said
shaking his head and trying to shoot his son a serious look.
“Actually, I’m enjoying it. I love hearing some
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