Michael met Alan during one of their scheduled late night runs/meetings in Piedmont Park. When he saw him round the well-lit bend, he fell in with him. “So how’s the old man?” he asked.
“He’s fine, good as new, the doctors say. Apparently, as they had hoped, the coma gave him time to heal. They’re going to keep him two to three more days for observation before releasing him. He’ll be back at MEEG within a couple of weeks at most.”
“Do you think he’ll go along with the plan my mother and Deborah have to give me the seat on the board?”
Alan stopped and began jogging in place. Michael did the same.
“That one’s hard to gauge. Your mother and sister need to talk to him, tell him what they want to do. They may be able to guilt him into going along with it. Of course, I’ll do my part to see he goes along.”
“Of course.”
“We have to be patient, Michael. After Josette has the baby, per the bylaws, she’ll get a seat and then we’ll control the board. I’ll be the deciding seventh vote in all decisions. It’s perfect.”
“And Abraham won’t know what hit him when you vote with me instead of with him.”
“I can’t wait to see the expression on his face.”
Alan resumed his jog, and Michael had no choice but to follow after him.
“I wanted to talk to you about something, Alan.”
“What?”
“Are you dating my sister?”
Alan glanced over at him. “I don’t think I’d call it dating. She has questions about Abraham and I answer them. I enjoy her company. We’ve shared a few meals. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Not a problem exactly,” Michael said, wiping sweat from his brow. “More like a concern. I don’t want to see her hurt.”
“I don’t plan to hurt her, Michael,” he said. “Like I told you, I enjoy her company.”
Michael glanced over at him. “You know how you feel about Abraham because of your sister. Well, I’ll feel about the same way about you if you hurt Deborah. I don’t want her to feel used after our plan unfolds.”
Alan stopped running but kept jogging in place. “I get the message, Michael,” he said, breathing heavily. “Loud and clear. I’ll keep things friendly but professional with Deborah.”
Michael stopped and then bent over, hands on knees. “Good.”
“You realize,” Alan said, “that in order to carry out our plan, you’re going to have to lie to your sister and your wife. Something tells me they’re not going like it.”
“They won’t,” Michael said, “but they’ll forgive me eventually. I can always count on them to stand with me.”
Michael started moving again, and this time Alan had to follow him.