Edge of the Precipice

Chapter 5 - extracts: Michael returns to his UK HQ

Michael continued his prepared ‘pep talk’ for another five minutes. He told them about how the US branch was beginning to expand; a little about the area where their offices were based and of his US partner Andrew. He finished by adding an incentive that he hoped would bond the two headquarters together: there would be an ‘international’ staff conference held in California later in the year and big discounts for anyone who wanted to stay on afterwards to vacation at the new hotel that McGregor Holdings US was currently building in Santa Barbara. He wanted to tell them about Emma, but of course he couldn’t do that yet.

He hadn’t needed to. Most of them already knew.

They continued the conversation until lunch time, going through all the pros and cons. George was hoping for a conclusive answer. Michael needed space and time to think things through properly.

“Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you a.s.a.p.”, he said.

“OK boss” George replied, trying hard to hide his building anger and resentment. The truth was he had always been resentful of Michael. They were exact opposites; Michael: tall, handsome and charming. George: short, fat, ugly and with a very bad case of small man disease. That evening he let loose by relaying the day’s events to his wife in no uncertain terms.

“That bastard pisses off to the States leaving me to handle all of his crap, which I do - and break my balls in the process. Fuck that for a game of soldiers. OK, I know he went through shit with his marriage, but that’s not my fucking problem, is it? He was barking mad to put up with that spoilt bitch in the first place. Now he comes back expecting to take over and start bossing me around again. NO way, fuck it. I’ve earned the right and I’m bloody well going to take things forward in the way that I want. He can just piss off again back to Yankee land with his blond bimbo and leave us alone”. He concluded:

“And if he doesn’t I’m fucking well going to deal with him.”

Chapter 6 - extracts: The Dorchester Hotel, London

Today Michael was to give the keynote speech at the annual dinner of the BIPT (British Institute of Professional Tradespeople). No Royalty, ambassadors, politicians or generals this time, he was standing in front of people he enjoyed being with the most; salt of the earth types, top “soldiers” in the minefield of the building and property maintenance industry. As their Honorary Chairman he had come to serve. They had, he hoped come to give generously to some very worthy causes.

The topic he’d been asked to cover by the Board of Advisors was ‘My life in the hard lane’. It had to have a specific emphasis on abuse because the evening was in aid of several charities that worked in that arena...

snip

“Life is not always kind”, he began “but it is full of excitement, opportunities and beauty. To my way of thinking, most of the misery is of our own making; things that could be put right if we put our minds to it.

snip

He went on to tell them of how he had been abused for the first time when he was eight years old by a headmaster who would later blow his own brains out with a shotgun on the Sussex Downs.
snip

That was the end of Michael’s childhood innocence. At first numb, his attitude declined. He became resentful and rebellious. Even at such a young age he felt as though it was a wake up call to the hypocrisy of the adult world. He remembered the biblical passage often quoted by the School Chaplain: ‘this is the way my son, walk thee in it’. Really, was that so? If these were the rules, the terms of engagement that these perverted pillars of Society played by, he wanted no part of it. “It” stank.

Chapter 7 - extracts: The accident

A few hours earlier

Emma had been on her way to see Michael’s ‘ex’ Sarah and was feeling anxious. Look left, look right, look left again, she told herself. Thinking it was safe to cross to the middle section, she should have looked right but in her state of nervousness had forgotten the discussion with Michael when she had said it was ironic that British kids are taught that way - didn’t they realize that traffic in England drives on the wrong side of the road?

The driver of the Audi A6 didn’t stand a chance as she stepped into the road from between parked cars. She was looking left, the wrong way as the car slammed into her body, scattering the contents of her bag widely; her United States passport clearly visible to the police officers who had been called to the scene.

A love Scene
(adult content)

That's it for consumption on the web, many thanks for reading. I am hoping the book will be published later this year (2010).  I welcome any feedback or suggestions. 

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May you too live life on the edge and beyond. This is such a wonderful world that we live in. As an 82 year old Welsh friend of my mother said to me recently: "Go for it, you've only one life to live and you're a long time dead boyo." She's not wrong. Enjoy!

Anthony.

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