CHAPTER 2

A.J. was across town, sitting in a stuffy conference room, listening to Ned and Councilman Gordon argue about plans ELQ had to raise money for Port Charles commerce. He checked his watch and couldn't believe it was after nine. He hoped his secretary had remembered to call Keesha. After nine, he thought. Keesha would have given the twins their baths and put them to bed. Maybe even read them a bedtime story, although it was his turn to read to them, but, of course, thanks to the disagreements which had developed over ELQ's plans, he couldn't be there tonight. His eyes were growing weary and his thoughts trailing away when Ned's voice brought him back to the conference room.

"Isn't that right, A.J.?" Ned said again, trying not to convey his annoyance at A.J.

"What?" A.J. asked, having to admit he hadn't caught the last part of the conversation. "I'm sorry. I didn't hear what you said."

"How could you not hear, boy?" Councilman Gordon asked gruffly. "You're sitting ten feet way."

"Long day," was A.J.'s reply.

"It has been a long day," the councilman agreed. "And we're no closer to an agreement. I wish your grandfather were here. He'd see my reasoning."

Ned and A.J. looked at each other.

"I understand your reasoning, councilman," Ned said, as restrained as he could. "I just don't agree with it."

"Well, until you do, we have nothing to discuss. If you boys will excuse me, I'm calling it a night. I'm getting myself some dinner."

They said goodnight and rose from the table. It felt good to stand up, A.J. thought.

"A.J.," Ned said, once they were alone. "I need your support on these projects. Most of the people we're dealing with looked to Grandfather and respected his opinion. I don't have that luxury, and I need us to present a united front. You've got to stay involved."

"How much more involved can I be? I attend every meeting with you, supporting you, even when I don't agree with what you're saying. I take care of every mundane item *you* don't want to be bothered with at the office. I've arrived early at work every day for the past month and stayed late every night. What more do you want from me?"

"I just think we could present ourselves and our situation better. Let them know that ELQ is still functioning and functioning well, despite Grandfather's illness."

A.J. shook his head. "You want all the credit, don't you, Ned? You want ELQ to do better with you heading it up than when Grandfather had it. Well, there's more to my life than ELQ. I have a wife and family waiting for me at home. I'll see you at the office tomorrow."

A.J. headed for the door while Ned remained where he was. A.J. turned as he opened the door. "And I may be in late."

I have a wife, too, Ned thought, as he watched A.J. leave. But I don't have a family.

As soon as he hit the road, A.J. thought about calling Keesha but decided against it. He didn't want to wake the twins. He'd be home soon, he reasoned. He thought how strange it was not to have seen the kids all day. He had left too early in the morning for them to be awake, and even though he had seen them in their beds, it wasn't the same as talking with them and asking how they were doing. And when he arrived home, he would check on them again but wouldn't have spoken to them all day.

This is crazy, he told himself. Ned and I are going to follow in Grandfather's footsteps with heart attacks of our own at this rate. A.J. had initially been disappointed and somewhat hurt that Edward had chosen Ned over him to run ELQ when he'd had to relinquish control. A.J. felt he had made great strides in the company over the past seven years and was just as competent as Ned. But now that A.J. looked back on it, he realized he should have been grateful. He would never have seen Keesha and the twins if he had been in charge. Let Ned take all the credit, A.J. thought, as he pulled into his driveway, so long as he also took back some of the responsibility he had so easily shifted to A.J. when he was named Acting CEO. I've had enough, he thought, as he unlocked the door and entered his home.


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