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Post by heroicmuse on Jun 9, 2021 21:29:22 GMT -5
I'm glad Chloe reached out to Mary. I don't blame her for being anxious after everyone's well meaning questions.
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Post by fluffysmom on Jun 9, 2021 22:37:18 GMT -5
That's a lot for Philip to process right after seeing Victor. He obviously wasn't even considering that he'd be stepping in as CEO now. He needs Chloe and Parker in Salem.
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Post by Kpatch on Jun 10, 2021 7:14:34 GMT -5
Chapter 8
Philip wandered down the hall to the corner office and spotted a diminutive older woman at the desk outside Victor’s office. It was Marie, Victor’s longtime secretary. Marie had been in Victor’s employ almost from the beginning, since Titan was formed. There were times when Philip wondered if Victor was having an affair with Marie, but Marie had been married to the same man forever. By now she had children and grandchildren and she didn’t strike Philip as the type of woman who would cheat on a husband.
Philip remembered his mother dragging him to the office when he was a little boy to confront Victor about some heinous transgression or other, and Philip would sit with Marie in the outer office. He would never forget how kind she always was to him. Years later when he became a Vice President at Titan, Philip occupied the office adjacent to Victor’s and they shared a secretary. Marie treated Philip with the same respect she always showed his father.
He approached the desk and smiled. “Hello Marie.”
Marie looked up from her work. She immediately came around the desk. Philip extended his hand and she clasped it between both of hers. “Philip, it’s good to see you, although I wish it wasn’t under these circumstances.” Philip nodded and she said, “Please tell your father he’s in my prayers.”
“Thank you, I will.” He pointed to his father’s office. “Mind if I go in?”
“Go right ahead.”
Philip walked into Victor’s office and stared at the big leather desk chair. In his mind’s eye, he saw Victor barking orders and expressing disapproval. He walked behind the desk, but didn’t dare sit in Victor’s chair. The only time Philip ever sat in that chair is when he was Parker’s age and Victor shouted at him to never sit there again. He had no idea why he couldn’t sit there, but it left an impression. Philip mindlessly picked up a glass paperweight with an etching of the famous blue-domed church in Santorini, Greece. He set the paperweight down and wiped a tear from his cheek.
He left the office and headed toward one of the empty conference rooms. In the conference room, Philip pulled off his leather jacket and tossed it onto the floor. He plopped into the chair nearest to the phone, but instead of using the office phone, he took his cell out of his pocket and hovered his finger over Chloe’s phone number. He set the phone on the table without dialing.
Right now he was in shock, not just because he’d just been appointed CEO, but because of everything that had transpired the past few weeks. He found out he and Chloe were going to have another baby. They got married. They were on vacation when he learned his father had a stroke, and he was still grappling with the fact his father might not survive. They had finally made peace and he was grateful for that. His father finally expressed the love and respect Philip had longed for all his life. And now he might lose him.
Then there was Titan. He wasn’t expecting to get handed the whole company. He was perfectly comfortable running the Titan Media division in Chicago and he was damn good at it. He knew he was well-prepared for this moment, well-prepared to run Titan Corporation, but it was still overwhelming. And life-changing.
To top it off, he wasn’t even married a week and he and Chloe were miles apart. She was in Chicago with Parker. She was expecting a baby, and he should be there with her, he should be there for every moment of it this time. But he knew that might not be practical given all the circumstances. He didn’t want Parker exposed to all the sadness and anxiety, and he didn’t have the energy to put on a happy face for his son. Sure he knew he couldn’t shield Parker from life’s realities forever, but Parker had already been through so much in his young life and if Philip could hold back some of those realities so Parker could be carefree for just a little while longer, then that’s what he intended to do.
Running his hands through his hair, he felt torn. Torn between his duty to the family business, Titan’s employees and shareholders and to his responsibilities to his family—Chloe and Parker and their unborn child.
He reached for his phone again and opened the FaceTime app to call Chloe.
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Post by André DiMera on Jun 10, 2021 7:21:50 GMT -5
This has to be a lot for Philip to take in. It feels weird seeing Titan without Victor.
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Post by gapeach on Jun 10, 2021 7:30:26 GMT -5
I am so glad that Phillip is calling Chloe. He is in a tough position and there is no easy answer.
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Post by doolfan4life on Jun 10, 2021 8:18:28 GMT -5
Poor Philip
This is a lot
I’m exhausted thinking about
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Post by heroicmuse on Jun 10, 2021 10:05:43 GMT -5
OMG what an emotional scene. I really felt for Philip here. I'm glad he's calling Chloe.
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Post by mae00 on Jun 10, 2021 12:13:57 GMT -5
Poor Philip!! A roller coaster of emotions is putting all of this mildly. I kinda like how even now he won't sit in Victor's chair. I think deep down, it's not a fear or something like that, but a sign of respect. I think it's also a sign that he's refusing to believe that Victor won't sit in that chair again.
Bless his heart. I hate that he's by himself going through all of this. I hope he calls George soon.
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Post by meemz on Jun 10, 2021 15:24:03 GMT -5
I felt im right there with philip in victors office, so good kpatch.
The 30 days wait surprised me, so sad. Titan without victor , hard to imagine.. actually philip without victor is just as hard.
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Post by Kpatch on Jun 11, 2021 7:07:41 GMT -5
Chapter 9
Philip reached for his phone again and opened the FaceTime app to call Chloe.
“Hi handsome,” she said brightly.
Just seeing her face made him feel better. “Hey yourself. Looks like you’re in the office.”
“I am. I’m in your office in fact,” she sighed, heading to the door and closing it for privacy. “I wanted Parker to see his friends in daycare, feel normal, you know? And I needed a distraction.” She returned to Philip’s desk and sat down again.
“From?”
“From worrying about you,” she admitted.
“I’m fine.”
“Philip, it’s me you’re talking to. I can see you’re not fine. So, how’s Victor? Did you see him?”
“Yeah. He’s not doing great.”
“Oh Philip. I’m so sorry, honey.”
On a sigh, he said, “It is what it is. The doctors are meeting with us tomorrow to talk about his prognosis.”
There was a long silence before Chloe said, “You look exhausted.”
“I am. But, Chloe, there’s something I have to tell you. It’s big. I just talked to Justin here at headquarters. Apparently, I’m the new Chairman and CEO of Titan Corporation.”
Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “Ironically, it’s something I’ve wanted my whole adult life, but … not under these circumstances.”
“Oh honey, I know,” she said empathetically. “Is there anything I can do?”
He shook his head from side to side. “I’ve got to wrap my arms around this. My mind too. And I’m — I’m gonna need to stay in Salem for a while.”
“I figured you would.”
“And? Are you okay with it?”
“I have to be. I mean, we don’t have a choice. That’s where you need to be, for your father and Maggie and all the employees, and—”
“What about us?” he interrupted.
Smiling warmly, she said, “Well, we need you too, of course. But like we said on the plane, Parker doesn’t need to be in the middle of all this, at least not yet. He needs to be near Mary and he’s starting school soon, and—” She choked back tears thinking how difficult this situation was on each of them in so many ways. “We’ll make it work.”
The truth is, Philip desperately wanted Chloe and Parker with him, but at the moment it felt like a selfish need. It wasn’t in their best interest to be thrown into the middle of this turmoil. “I’ll come home on the weekends,” Philip added.
“That’ll be wonderful.”
“Speaking of Parker, how’s my big guy doing?”
“He’s good. Like I said, he’s downstairs with Lucinda in daycare. He misses you. Probably not as much as I do though.”
“I miss you both too. It feels like I’ve been gone way longer than a few hours. So how’s everything in the office?”
“Fine, I guess. I got bombarded with questions the minute I walked in.”
“About the wedding?”
“That, and about Victor. Mostly about Victor. I think all 250 people who work here stopped me to ask about him.”
“How did they find out so fast?” Philip wondered out loud. “I guess that means I need to get with Public Relations to draft a communication about the transition, let people know that Titan isn’t about to fall apart with no leader at the helm.”
“Can I help?”
“I’ll probably bounce it off you. You’re really good at being the voice of the people.” He glanced at the time. “Listen, let’s continue this tonight when I can think straight and then I can talk to Parker too. Right now I need to call Tracy and have her courier a few things to me here.”
“I can talk to Tracy if you want. She’s just a few feet away.”
“It’s fine.” He rolled his shoulders to try and relax his body. “I have a long list of things I need her to take care of. And I need to catch Corporate Communications before close of business. And I guess I need to figure out who’s going to take my place in Chicago in the interim.”
“Is there anything I can do? Can I take something off your plate? I really want to do something.”
“I know you want to help, sweetheart, but there’s nothing for you to do right now, except —.” His voice cracked as he paused to collect himself. “Just be patient with me.”
“Of course. Philip, you don’t even need to ask.”
“I mean, I have no idea how long I’m going to need to be in Salem. I kind of can’t believe this is happening. We just got married.”
“We’ll make it work, honey. You have enough on your plate without worrying about us. We’ll talk all the time. Just remember, you’re not alone. You don’t have to go through this alone. You’ve got me.”
“Thank you for—” He choked up again and couldn’t finish the sentence.
“You don’t need to thank me.”
He sighed audibly. “You’re the best.”
Smiling, she told him, “No, you are.”
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Post by krw627 on Jun 11, 2021 9:33:55 GMT -5
Love the call and the communication happening between Philip and Chloe!
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Post by doolfan4life on Jun 11, 2021 9:43:35 GMT -5
I’m glad Chloe is being understanding
I hope they can figure out something more long term than home on weekends it’s fine temporarily but not long term
Parker is vulnerable but if victor doesn’t make it they can’t really keep that from him
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Post by meemz on Jun 11, 2021 15:57:45 GMT -5
I love how they are communicating and vocal about everything, Mary sessions really coming into effect . I wonder though are they too dependent on mary now, seems she is chloe’s safety net and chloe needs to let go
I also love how descriptive you are about the corporate stuff.. another great chapter
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Post by André DiMera on Jun 11, 2021 16:27:14 GMT -5
Nice to see Philip and Chloe communicating like this!
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Post by fluffysmom on Jun 11, 2021 17:17:15 GMT -5
Philip walking into Victor's office was very emotional. I'm glad that Philip called Chloe to fill her in.
I think Philip and the rest of the family need to consider that Philip could end up continuing as CEO even if Victor survives.
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