With JJ gone I poured yet another cup of coffee and started to cleanup from breakfast. The dishwasher was loaded and I needed a long, hot shower. I laughed as I always needed a shower when JJ spent the night. When I got to my room I realized the room needed cleaned and definitely aired out as it smelled of cigarettes, sweat, male hormones and sex. I opened the window and stripped the bed. After fresh sheets were put on I stripped and headed for the shower. As was becoming my new habit I shaved in the shower and I was very pleased with that "kid" look. I then washed my new shorter hair and started to dry off. I didn't even get to the hair dryer when I heard a banging on the door. I threw on a pair of sweat pants, no top and went to see who was at the door. When I opened it there stood Winnie. I smiled and said, in a nasty tone, WHAT? She smile and asked Mick, can I come in? Nope, I have nothing to say to you. Mick, Alex and I ware just friends and we stopped for something to eat. Look Winnie I know it was more than that and then there is the two of you holding hands walking to class. It's over so please get out of my sight. I pushed the door closed and went back to dry my hair. She pounded on the door a few more times and I ignored all of that. I guess she chose her uncle.
I got on the scale and was surprised that I was 229. That took me to the mirror and damn, I couldn't find those 5 pounds. In fact I thought I looked damn good. The intense workouts, to relieve stress were definitely beneficial. I knew I was eating more and was alway hungry. I got back on the scale and checked my height and was still 6'4". That all worked but I wasn't going over 230. I needed to check my speed and those 5 pounds would stay unless I was slower. I smiled as the damn linebacker coach would be pleased. I put that ll out of my mind as I had a lot to do to get ready for tomorrow. I put on jeans and a hoodie and jumped into the Wrangler and drove to the office.
I parked in my spot and went inside, there was a skeleton security crew but the security guys still did the standard check. I got in the elevator and the 4th floor was deserted, well almost deserted as Doc was in his new office. I stuck my head in and said hi and that I was surprised to see him in. He smiled and said Mike, I had that lovely lady in HR give me some resumes. Doc, did Kyle hire a new HR person? No one has ever referred to Maggie as lovely. He shook his head and I went to my office and fired up the laptop. While that was happening I went outside on the patio. Leaning against the railing I looked over at the quiet landscape and realized that there would be very few days left when there would be no noise. Not to mention dust and dirt. I saw the area Allen had set up for the ceremony and I smiled when I saw 4 backhoes lined up in the bushes on the West edge of the property. I was getting cold so I went inside. I knew the weather was, in theory, cooperating tomorrow as the temperature at noon would be in the upper 40's or very low 50's. That was good for me as I would wear a sports coat but be layered up. Hell I had played football in much colder weather. Still ignoring my computer I locked the door to the office and went to the first floor and the common room was set up with two tables and about thirty chairs. At the tables there was room for about 10 people and it would be me, dad, Kyle, Dillon, Tim and the Major. I would have the other chairs removed. I was glad to see that there was no microphone. I hated them and for a small area like that it wasn't necessary. With that I headed back to my office.
When i got to dad's office, which was next to mine and one of the reasons for the wall, I stuck my head in and asked what are you doing here? Mike, I saw you leave and thought you might be here and I wanted to talk. Dad, let's go to my office as we can go outside or sit in a much more casual area. DD stood up and asked if we go outside for a while can I smoke? I shrugged and said, sure. I unlocked my door and dad asked, so why was the door locked? I replied dad, I left the computer on, let's go outside. Dad immediately produced a pack of cigarettes and lit up. He offered me one and I took it and dad lit is lighter. We both leaned on the railing and this was nice like old times. Well except for the fact that my radar was going off full force. Something was up and I was just waiting.
We quietly smoked the cigarettes and when dad finished his he tossed it over the railing and said let's go inside. I took a last drag and tossed mine and we went inside. We sat in the club chairs and dad finally said Mike, did you and Winnie have a fight this morning? Dad, you could call it a fight but it was actually an end to the relationship. Mike, I'm sorry to hear that. I told dad the story and said dad that was the problem, we liked each other. Sure the sex was good but it was not special. Mike, so you are still not over Carrie? Dad I most certainly am. Dad smiled and said Mike, I know how that intense first love is and how much she hurt you. When you least expect it some girl will come along and you will know at first glance e she is the one. The trick is not to fuck it up like I did. Mike, I just wanted to make sure you are ok this project you are starting tomorrow is different than the others you worked on. You are way out on a limb and I want to make sure you know where the fucking saw is. You could very easily end up on your ass. I just laughed at that as I had never heard it put that way. Dad, I'm totally aware and both eyes are wide open and I'm aware this is the biggest bet I have ever placed. It's me and my money and my reputation and my vision all at stake. Hell dad the start you gave me was more than fantastic, but it could have been a few years down the road. Dad, being out on that limb, so to speak, is why I wanted that money in Brentwood Bank. It will be a very nice cushion should the limb gets cut on the trunk side of me. Also dad, I own this building and the other one, you pay me rent. I can always sell a building. Dad laughed said well son, you mean we pay you rent. So dad, is there anything else? Dad got up and we hugged and he was gone and I noticed he didn't stop at his office. Just then my desk phone rang and it was security. The offices said Mike, a Winnie Tillinson is here asking to see you. I laughed and said please tell her it make an appointment as I don't do walk in's and I hung up. A couple of minutes later the phone rang again and I was told that she refuses to leave. Ok, put her and one of you in the first floor conference room and I'll be down. This time I turned off the computer, turned out the lights and went to the first floor. In the conference I found a very agitated Winnie and a slightly uncomfortable security officer. I opened the door and asked Wally to wait outside by the door.
Winnie started by saying well that was rude. I smiled and said Winnie shut the fuck up and listen. You chose Alex all the while telling me how important I was to you. It's like that Robert Frost poem about the road not taken. Get on whatever road it was you chose and don't look back because I won't be there waiting for you. As I told your piece of shit uncle, make a fucking appointment. I opened the door and asked Wally to please escort her to her car. I walked out, didn't look back and got back on the elevator to the 4th floor. This time I left the lights off and didn't turn the computer and sat in a club chair. My thought immediately went to Carrie and while she didn't live in my head every day that bitch was still there and dad was right. Then I thought please God get me to Blacksburg. I took a deep breath and started to think about the event and what I would say and how I would manage things. After about an hour I went over to Doc, who was still there and said, I won't be in school tomorrow. He looked up from his reading and said well neither will I, personal day. I laughed and said, well then I'll see you here tomorrow. I grappled my laptop and headed to the lobby. In the lobby I apologized to Wally saying I hope I didn't make you too uncomfortable. He smiled and said Mike, I'm way too familiar with breakups to be uncomfortable. I simply got into the Wrangler and drove to my place.
Once at my place I realized that I was hungry. I called and ordered a small veggie pizza. I would drink ice tea. Next I called JJ and I asked if he was up for dinner at Oakmont Tomorrow evening. JJ immediately asked MJ, why can we eat somewhere that doesn't require a fucking jacket and tie? Well JJ, it's for two recruits and Coach B, I just thought you would want to be there. JJ, these have to be local recruits and Coach is even dragging them to the groundbreaking. I can't figure it out but Coach asked and I gave him choices. Before he could say anything I said I'll see you there at 6:00, I have to go see you there. Then I called Clark at Oakmont and made reservations for dinner for 5 at 6:00 and asked for seats away from things. With that confirmed I hung up.
I went to the refrigerator for tea and ended up fighting with myself as the beer looked awful good. I wasn't sure who won but I eventually settled on iced tea. As I waited for the pizza I went to the house and found the Sunday paper and snagged the Business Section and went back to my place. I grabbed my drink and set it on the table and sat on the loveseat. On the third page atop the fold there was the story. The headline was: YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR TRIES TO SHAKE LOCAL ECONOMY AWAKE. On the land adjacent to his award winning tribute to our heritage Mike Simmons is breaking ground on a new state of the art building and a manufacturing building that will break the long time rusty image. Ceremony is scheduled for noon on Monday and if past experiences this won't be the typical groundbreaking. Star tuned for details. There were a great many details about the first two building and more that usual stuff about me. I actually jumped when the Pizza delivery guy pounded on the door. It was paid for when I ordered and the tip was included at that time. I thanked the guy, refilled my tea and dove in.
I was finishing my last slice when my phone buzzed, I looked at it and it was Major Jim. I said hi Jim, what did I fuck up now? He laughed and said nothing that I know of but you will have a lot of opportunities tomorrow. Your schedule is very full. Mike, I'm going to keep you on schedule and be ruthless in doing so. First, I need you to be in the office at 8:00. At 8:30 ESPN has asked for 30 minutes. 9:15 is 20 minutes with ABC News and Diane. 9:45 is 30 minutes with the new Mayor of Pittsburgh. 10:30 is a 30 minute meeting with the VT Coach. He last meeting at 11:00 is 45 minutes with Kyle, Dillon and the CEO of Textron. Then the groundbreaking and a Press Conference at 1:30. Mike, there will be interviews after that with 3 networks and finally local TV people. I figure you should be done by 4:30. Jim, that's nuts but I also have a 6:00 Inner with Coach B and two guests at Oakmont. Jim, laughed and said well we have left the ceremony and how and what you do and say is up to you. Please don't be so long that the Press Conference is more than 15 minutes late. Jim, one question. Ok Mike what is it? Jim, how the fuck did this get so complicated. Well Mike, this is the first ground breaking in the city since your last one. Then he said, get some rest and dress like a professional. I said thanks and good night and hung up.
I had planned on wearing khaki pants, a tailored light blue shirt with a navy blazer. The tie would be red with blue specs and the shoes were to be cordovan loafers. That was classic and as professional as I was getting. Hell the setting was a muddy field. I would bring backup pants and shoes. I then proceeded to lay all that out on the bed in the spare room. Then I prepped the coffee and set the alarm for the run and jumped into bed, nude and piled on the covers.
I woke in a great mood and 5 minutes before the alarm. I checked the weather which was sunny but a tad windy. It was shorts and a hoodie and I was off to meet JJ. Being early there was a short wait and I stretched some. The run was quick as we both pushed it. We didn't talk about it but just set a fast pace. JJ was all in for the dinner at Oakmont. When we stopped at his place he asked if he could date Winnie. I laughed so hard that I was bent over. MJ, I just want to teach that nerd Alex a lesson. JJ, let the dude alone as he is definitely not worth it and neither is she. He said MJ, Rodger that and went inside.
I turned the coffee on and took a quick shower. I was quickly dressed, packed the extra clothes and filled my travel mug with coffee. I jumped into the Mustang and pulled into my parking space at 7:45. Ten minutes later, I was standing on the patio looking at the river. There was some noise but ignored it and just relaxed. The Major appeared and said Mike we are ready. Inside I found one of the same cameramen who had filmed the sessions during the season. We shook hands and I went up to the other guy and said Ray, it's good to see you again. He smiled and I asked, what do you need now, haven't you interviewed me enough. He laughed and said well we do have plenty of tape on you and your team. Ray, so what now? Mike we would like to follow you for another year and that's just not football. Ray, what does VT say about that? Mike they are thinking it over. Well Ray, I'm not sure it's a good idea and I will need them to agree. Well Mike we would like to ask you about why you chose VT. You have Diane's word and my word that we will only show it to Coach B. I smiled and said well I'll need that in writing. Ray laughed and said damn Diane bet me that you would insist on that. He opened a folder and handed me a document signed by both of them. I quickly read the three paragraph and said Ray you better get to the questions, I'm on a very tight schedule. Mike, what was the most important thing that made you chose VT. Ray, there wasn't one thing there was a combination of things. Ok Mike, I know you answered the question but would you please go into detail for us? Ray, I was very highly recruited and there were great schools I didn't even consider or talk to. A highly rated Computed Sci program was very important. The graduation rate of their student athletics was important. Location was important not too far or too close from home and all this. Then I liked the coaches as even while recruiting me they pushed back. I'm not the average recruit I'm complicated in almost every area. Mike please give me an example of how you are complicated. Ray, as a first year student I will be listed as a sophomore and I'll have a jet in the hanger at the airport and can be here in less than 90 minutes. Jim appeared and I said Ray, I still am not sure about this but you have time for one more question. Mike, these two new buildings, isn't it a chance starting them a few months before you leave for school? I shrugged and said I don't think so. Then I stood up and said thanks and went back outside.
Once my office was cleared out I went inside and the Major asked Mike, why do you do that? Jim, do what? Answer the questions with one word when you know they want more? Jim, I answer the question they ask. They are professional journalists and they should think about how they ask questions. Most of them know how it goes and ask better questions. You see a thoughtful question and a detailed answer leads to fewer questions. Jim just shook his head and went to find my next appointment.
Jim must have had them in the conference room as he appeared very quickly with Diane and she was alone. We shook hands and she sat in a club chair. So Diane it's great to see you. Mike, I wasn't going to come but I have some promotional things to do with our Pittsburgh affiliate and I rearranged the schedule to see what you were up to. I laughed and said well one of the things I'm not up for is ESPN following me around campus my first year. She smiled and said Mike, I told Ray not to ask as it was a bit much even for you. Diane right now I'm a nobody on that team and I'll show up there with JJ and we will have our own jet and two cars. Hell even I would think we were privileged assholes. She laughed at that. So Diana, why are you here chatting with me when we both have better things to do? Mike, is there any chance you and Cole would come to any and be on GMA? Diane, that's not fun but I would do it but you have to set it up with Cole's agent. I have no input there. Mike, just ask and I'm sure you could get it done. Diane, I'll think about it but his schedule is pretty set. She said thanks and I'll call Ray off his project, for now. We shook hands again and she left.
The ever present Major escorted Diane back down stairs and returned with the Mayor of Pittsburgh, Dick Caliguiri. I met them at the office door and I looked at the Major and said Jim, I got this and you should take a break as the Mayor won't be putting anything in the media. Jim smiled and said thanks. The Mayor walked right past the casual seating area and was looking out the window. I was glad as I needed some fresh air so I said Mr. Mayor if it isn't too cold for you we can go outside. He said Mike, that would be great as you managed to get a great early Spring day for this event. Once outside he said Mike, this is a fantastic view and a marvelous building. I haven't had the opportunity to stop by before today. Well Mr. Mayor I'm sure my dad would be available to take you on a tour. I see he is in his office and I'm sure he is free. Then the Mayor is asked if there was anything he or his administration could do for me. Mr. Mayor, you guys have been great and I appreciate how quickly you have responded to our needs. The prior administration wasn't always easy to deal with. Mike, I'm not looking to move on to another state or federal opportunity, I'm hoping to retire after this gig. We need to move on from steel and you are shaking thing up nicely. Oh, please stop the Mr. Mayor shit and I'm Rich. I'm sure we can work together on this and other projects. Well Rich, I have no other projects left to work on, at least for a while. These two buildings and College will be all I can mange for a while. Well Mike, I would bet that whatever else you do you will never forget where you came from. He turned from the view and we went inside and spent the remaining time chatting and getting to know each other. I saw the Major milling around in the hall and I said Rich, let me introduce to my dad and see about that tour. We went next door and I introduced dad to the Mayor and went backs to my office. Jim came in and I said MJor, Kyle and the others will be here in a few minutes, thanks for keeping me on schedule and I'll see you at the ceremony.
I wasn't on time I was ahead of schedule and there was a break built into the schedule all of which resulted that I could have 30 minutes without this nonsense. Hell I was feeling like a Mafia Don with people in line to ask favors or to simply pledge their loyalty. I hated every second of it. I just sat there trapped in my office with a cold cup of half drunk coffee. I really wanted Kyle and Dillon to be early so that I could get to it and meet with the people that mattered, the workers. I went out on the patio and was surprised at how many people were there and it was more than an hour early. I went back inside and for some reason I stared at my wall and realized that it hadn't changed in a long time. Then I realized that I hadn't done anything in a long time. I would need rendering of the 2 new buildings and then realized I need stuff on the first two buildings as well. I was brought back to reality with a knock on the door and it was Dillon, Kyle and the Textron dude. I went right up to him and said hi Jim, it's great to see you. Naturally we went outside and Jim said Mike, thanks for taking the time to meet with me and I see you have an impressive mob waiting on you, I promise this won't talk much time. You may or may not know that your team and mine have been working on a new agreement and Kyle and Dillon and I have finalized a long term deal for MJS Technologies to manage our inventory across all our subsidiaries. I told these two that I wanted to tell you as I feel we should get to know each other on more personal terms. I looked at Kyle and he just shrugged. Well Jim that's fantastic news and I'm guessing that is a good thing that we are renovating our old space. We need room until this thing is built. Back inside Jim asked Mike, do you have a marketing firm as you got our other group fired. Jim How did I do that? Well Mike you filmed a commercial for us and then sat you ass down on the steps of your jet and made their efforts look like shit. We focused group your two commercials and trashed theirs. We have run your "talk" at a number of events and actually sold jets. I laughed and said damn, I should feel bad about that but it was a bad commercial. I'm not AP but I wear well on people. With that Jim looked at Dillon and Kyle and said Mike and I need the room and we will see you at the event. Kyle said Mr. Hardymon, thanks for the business and Dillion and I will see you later. We have dinner at the Duquesne Club. Jim and I chatted for about 10 minutes and he said well Mike I think it's time I turn you over to your people. I can't wait to see all this.
We went to the lobby, out the front entrance and turned left twice and I was mobbed. It took a while but I made my way to the stage, grabbed the microphone and said, Good Afternoon my fellow Pittsburghers and guests. The place simply went nuts. I put two hands up begging for quiet, with no results. Having no other choice, I just started and said, a while back MJS Technologies and Enterprises and many of you (the place was now quiet, so I started over) a while back MJS Technologies and Enterprises along with many of you started on a journey. We built, together, two buildings that paid tribute to our past and men like Carnegie, Mellon, Pitcaren, Ford and others. That building won national awards and it housed inside that interior one of the most technologically advanced companies in the area. Those two companies, in very little time outgrew those structures and its now time to move on. While we move forward we do not forget how we got here, who got us here, we honor and respect that history always. That time has past and our city and region is no longer that Smokey Steel Capital of the world. We seek and we develop a new image and that fledgling image takes a giant leap forward today. There is a new manufacturing building starting today and it is a gleaming shining symbol of our future. It glistens and is state of the art and will provide all of its electrical needs and be pollution free. The large building will be a much larger replica of its tiny neighbor. This area will now be known as the Monongahela Technical Center at Pittsburgh. These two buildings will be marvels of technology and construction will be completed using 100% hard working Union Workers. At that point there was no chance of things being quiet and the cheering soon morphed to chants of Mike, Mike, Mike. Again my hands went up and quiet slowly was restored. I continued I'm serious about moving forward and I want to thank a financial institution that has its roots in our history and traditions, who has developed, grew and moved forward as we hope to do, the people who provided the financing for this project Mellon Bank. It was now time to get the show on the road and I noticed a boy about 12 or 13 and a girl a bit younger. I continued talking and started thanking the Mayor, Senators, City Council but walked off the stage. I got to the two kids and asked who the parents were. They were standing behind the kids and ask if the kids could help me. I asked their names and was told Carmen and Robert. Their dad was a worker on our first two projects. The three of us went back on the stage and I introduced them. Then I continued, the ground breaking will be different as it will not be 5 or 6 guys in suits sticking a shovel into pre-softened dirt. We are actually move dirt. I turned the microphone off and talked with the kids and gave them very simple instructions and handed them air horns. Back with the group I said there will be a lot of noise but I want to invite anyone who want to to walk through the first floor of the old building once that is complete you are welcome to take home a handful of dirt we will soon dig as a proof that you were here today.
Then I said there are two ground breaking sand Car,en will start the Manufacturing building first. I looked at Carmen and nodded my head and she pushed the button on the air none and two backhoes started moving accompanied by 5 union workers. Once in position the backhoes dug and filled their buckets and lifted them as high as possible and simply dropped the dirt and a cheer went up. The backhoes stayed in place and kept their buckets high as a salute. I then looked at Robert and the process was repeated at the site of the larger building. There was a louder cheer and I said that in 45 minutes I would meet with the press inside. I walked Carmen and Robert back to their parents and was mobbed.
Happy Holidays
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