The Story of My Life (Read 31,224 times)

[mae00]

I get the feeling that Chloe is fixing to be carrying her own secret pretty soon (if not already) instead of "being in this together" with Philip.

[fluffysmom]

LoL at Chloe's ideas for helping with Victor's visit.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 3a


Philip got to the office at sunrise on Monday. He wanted to beat Victor there and have everything set up when his father arrived.

He opened the door to his office and his eyes went wide. “Dad. Wow. You’re here early.” Philip stepped inside and began to approach the desk. To this day, he never knew how to greet Victor. Most fathers and sons who don’t see each other often will embrace, or at the very least, shake hands. Philip was open to hugging, but Victor usually had a force field around him.

Victor was seated at Philip’s desk holding the Wall Street Journal open. He looked up from the newspaper. “You have an online subscription to the Journal. Why are you wasting money getting a paper copy?”

Philip set down his briefcase and took off his suit jacket. “We have a few hard copies of the Journal for guests.”

“People visit often,” Victor asked. Philip wasn’t sure if it was a sincere question or patented sarcasm. So Philip didn’t answer.

He put his suit coat on a hanger and hung it on the hook on the back of the door. “Tracy’s getting your workspace ready.”

Setting the paper aside, Victor grunted. “It should have been ready before I got here, not after.”

Philip smiled at his father. “That was the intention. We didn’t know you were going to be here at the crack of dawn.”

“You’re a businessman, Philip. You run a company,” Victor scolded. “You always have to be prepared, expect the unexpected, exceed expectations….”

Philip wasn’t in the mood for a lecture so early. “Are you reciting a chapter from “The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People”? Because if you are, I already read it.”

“And forgotten everything you learned,” Victor shot back. Philip took a deep breath and counted to ten, hoping Tracy would have that room ready by the time he got to seven. “Where’s Parker?”

Philip’s head was starting to spin from Victor’s ability to change directions without signalling. “Chloe’s bringing him to day care when she gets in.”

“Hmmm.”

“What?” Philip asked with irritation. “What’s the problem?”

“I assumed she’d commute with you. Save fuel.”

[doolfan4life]

This is why you should never work for family lol
When did victor become so cheap ?

[André DiMera]

Well, that's Victor for you. It'll be interesting to see what happens now that he's here.

[melly]

"Good morning, Philip--how are you? I'm excited to see Parker. Can we all have dinner this evening? When are you coming to visit?"

I'm ready to send my dad to Salem to give Victor some lessons in fatherhood. Any of the sentences above would have been a more suitable greeting. Sheesh. I love Victor but the man does try my patience in his relationships with his children.

[heroicmuse]

Well Victor didn't waste any time finding things to criticize. LOL. Is the company about to go bankrupt? He's sure acting like there's no money.

[mae00]

Is Victor trying to "economize" and save the planet or is he just being his usual nit-picky arse self?

[sportsgirl]

Since when is Victor so frugal, actually cheap?

[fluffysmom]

Maybe it's good that Chloe and Parker didn't arrive with Philip. Victor never seems to have a kind word for Philip.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 3b

“Where’s Parker?” Victor asked.

Philip’s head was starting to spin from Victor’s ability to change directions without signalling. “Chloe’s bringing him to day care when she gets in.”

“Hmmm.”

“What?” Philip asked with irritation. “What’s the problem?”

“I assumed she’d commute with you. Save fuel.”

“Of course,” Philip said, struggling to keep his tone even. “We’re usually more environmentally conscious, but I wanted to get here extra early today and there’s no way we’d be able to get Parker out the door at this hour.”

“Well, as soon as he gets here, send him to me.”

Philip felt his blood pressure rising. Parker wasn’t a servant. “He’ll be in the daycare center downstairs. You’re welcome to visit him there.” His father shot Philip a look and before he got another lecture, Philip said, “What time did you get to Chicago this morning?”

“I didn’t. We flew in last night.”

“We? Is Maggie with you?”

“She’s at the Ritz Carlton.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming in last night? We could have all had dinner together.”

“I preferred a quiet dinner with my wife. We went to Ruth’s Chris.”

If Victor set out to hurt Philip’s feelings, he succeeded, but Philip was not about to let him see that. “Good choice. Ruth’s Chris is one of the top five steak houses in Chicago.”

“My meat was tough.”

“I’m not surprised,” Philip mumbled.

“What’s that?”

There was a knock at the door and Tracy popped her head in. “Excuse me, Philip." She looked toward Victor. "Mr. Kiriakis, good to see you again. We have Conference Room A all ready for you.”

“It’s about damn time.” Victor rose from his desk and walked toward the door. “I’ll call you when I’m ready for you,” he said without looking at Philip. Then to Tracy, “I’d like a cup of coffee ASAP.”

“It’s already in there, sir. Nonfat cream, no sugar, just the way you like it.”

“Don’t forget the spoiled milk,” Philip mumbled when he was sure they were out of earshot. He lifted his briefcase off the floor and opened it on his desk. He took his laptop out. Then he picked up the Wall Street Journal and looked at the folded newspaper for a moment before angrily flinging it across the office.

[André DiMera]

Gee, Victor's not setting out to make any friends at this business trip.

Can we please have previews, Kpatch?

[heroicmuse]

LOL at Philip's mumbled comment about spoiled milk.

Victor is in rare form today. I hope Philip's day improves.

[sportsgirl]

Wow, Victor sure is a huge grouch!!! UGH!

[fluffysmom]

Victor is his usual cranky self today. Philip should be use to it by now. Tracy is likely to be at Victor's beck and call all day. I hope Philip's day gets better.

Will there be previews Kpatch?