Chapter 1: Linc - A New Contract

Linc periodically hosted a special party, and today was such an occasion. He surveyed the scene before him that included 17 of his closest friends. ‘I need to do this more often,’ he thought. He certainly had the resources and the venue.

He inadequately, and perhaps incorrectly, referred to this as his family room. He no longer had a family since his dad passed two years ago. And this room was the size of most hotel ballrooms. But with multiple levels and detailed architecture, it displayed little resemblance to the vast emptiness found in even the finest hotel venues. Pool tables, ping-pong, foosball tables were just the start. One side room contained the latest video games to go along with a two-lane bowling alley. The bar, complete with a bartender, was part of a kitchen and serving area that rivaled most commercial operations. A 32 seat theater room bordered the video room. Comfortable seating areas were scattered about for either intimate or group conversations. Then there was the indoor portion of the indoor/outdoor pool. The rainy weather had no impact on this gathering.

This group was his inner circle. To many outsiders, these 17 friends would be best described as a flock of nerds. All were very intelligent, most were painfully shy, and all shared a secret not known to many others—Linc was rich. Filthy rich.

With his dad’s passing, it was all Linc’s. He was the last in his direct family. His dad owned a large portfolio of companies but he maintained a low profile, preferring to let strong local management run each business since they understood it better than he did. He only stepped in when absolutely necessary. He compensated top performers well, and they supported his anonymity. Linc wanted the same support from his friends, and they kept his secrets.

Linc scanned the room to find several of his friends he needed to see and found Brad who worked for a pharmaceutical company Linc would be starting a contract with on Monday.

“Hey Brad, good you could make it.” Linc both liked and respected this friend.

“How could I miss it? This room is my favorite destination.”

“Did I see you come in with Kelsey?”

“Yeah. We actually started dating since the last time our little group got together. What was that—maybe seven months ago?”

“I guess it has been that long.” Linc made a mental note. ‘I need to get these guys here monthly or every other at least.’’

“So, Linc, you ready to start tomorrow? I saw them preparing an office for you.”

“Yeah. Thanks for putting me on to Amherst. The stuff they’re doing in immunotherapy is a real area of interest.”

“What exactly are you working on?”

Linc hated keeping secrets from his friends, but he had no choice. He signed a non-disclosure so he was legally bound to confidentiality.

“I wish I could tell you, Brad, but it’s confidential.”

“Even from your own teammates?”

“Especially, unfortunately. The HR guy told me there’s been a leak of some tech from the team to Schein Pharmaceutical. R&D is strictly ‘need-to-know’ for now.

Linc’s mind was working. ‘I gotta change the subject. I may have told Brad too much already.’

“So tell me about Kelsey. Are you guys getting serious?”

“I think so. She’s pushing for a ring, but there’s this girl at work that has been putting the moves on me and I want to be sure Kelsey is the right one.”

“You and Kelsey have known each other for a long time, and you even studied the same branch of microbiology. You should have a lot in common.”

“We do. And, don’t get me wrong, I love Kelsey and think she cute as hell. I just want to be sure. But what about you—are you seeing someone?”

“No. Just finishing my doctorate, I’ve been too busy to look.”

“Linc, why don’t you ask Dany out? I mean, you two are like peas in a pod and seem perfect for each other. Plus, look at her in that swimsuit. When she’s not wearing those dumpy clothes, she’s really pretty and that body looks snuggle-perfect.”

Linc often asked himself the same thing. ‘Brad doesn’t know how much I want to do just that. Why can’t I just suck it up and ask her? I’ve loved her since we were kids. What the hell’s wrong with me?‘

“I don’t know, Brad. Dany and I have been friends forever. I don’t want to take a chance and jeopardize what we are now.”

“Linc, we’ve been friends for a while and I’ve never seen you date anyone. I don’t want to offend you, but are you gay? I mean, it’s okay if you are, I’m just wondering and would support you no matter what.”

Linc laughed. “No, I’m not.”

“Asexual? I mean, you’re interested in sex, right?”

Linc was getting embarrassed now. ‘Do I really need to get into this?’

“I’m as interested as anybody. Just haven’t found the right woman yet, and I don’t buy into humping anything in heat the way dogs do. When I find the right girl, I’m sure I’ll be quite sexually active. Can we drop this?”

“Sorry, man. I just hope you’re happy—that’s all.”

“No problem, Brad.”

“Hey, Linc, excuse me. I need to talk to Thad. Catch you later?”

Chapter 2 »