Conflicts
Chapter 1
John Sheppard walked into the huge office building of his father company a place he has not been in several years, but since his father's death a couple weeks ago and the subsequent funeral a few days later, he knew there were certain business matters that had to be dealt with. He had meetings with the trustees, board members, and departments head to deal with. Now, he felt he was ready to deal with the matters at hand after spending a couple days to reflect on his relationship with his family, his father in particular. Has he walked through the offices of Sheppard Industries and greeted everyone he felt curious eyes followed his every moves. When he reached his late father's office, he saw his father executive secretary coming to greet him.
"Good morning, John it has been a long time." she replied as she extend her hand to shake his hand. "I am so sorry about your father's pasting. He was a good man." she said softly as tears formed in her eyes.
A frown made it way onto John's face. Thoughts of his father filled his mine. Feeling of regrets pierced his heart. He hesitated before he replied, I know.
John sat back in the chair and looked at his watch "Oh wow is almost six o'clock already." he thought. He ran his hands through his unruly hair. Man it has been a long day. He had spent the hold days in meetings meeting all kind of people. There was so much information to process but there also been a certain face that haunted his thoughts all afternoon. He could stop thinking about her every since he first laid his eyes on her this morning. She had intrigued him. She was one his father legal counsel.
She was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his life and he has met and dated quite a few beautiful women, so he should know. When she walked into the conference this morning, heads turned males and females. The men were admiring her striking beauty and he had noticed the women quiet assessment of her. She was wearing a tailored black pinstripe suit, a lavender shirt, the epitome of latest style in fashion but classy. He had tried not to stare at her through out the meeting with the legal staff.
After the meeting, he was introduced to her by one of the senior attorney, "John Shepard, I want you to meet, Teyla Emmagan one of our firm finest young attorney. She will be assisting you regarding all the company legal matters."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Sheppard." she softly said while shaking his hands and with a beautiful smile on her face. When their hands touch, besides the softness of her hand, he felt an excitement coursed through his body. John looked into her eyes to see if she felt it also. Although she smiles at him warmly, her eyes told him nothing.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Emmagan and you can call me John." he replied with a smile on his face.
"No I am not married and you can call me Teyla." She has heard a great deal about him throw the office grapevine the last few days. How handsome he was, but that his relationship with his father had been strain for the last few years. She had noticed him looking at her several times during the meetings.
The senior legal partner asked John "Have you make a decision about the company?"
John turned his glaze from Teyla to answer the gentleman's question. "Well, Mr. Sumner, no I have not. There are so many things I have to make sure that are in order. Then there are the employees I have to think about." he responded with concern.
"Excuse me gentlemen, there is a phone call I must take." as she reviewed the note the secretary handed to her.
"But Mr. Shepard, we will need to get together to discuss your father's estate. I will have my secretary schedule a meeting for us within the next week after I have had a chance to review your father's will as well as the company financial records. William, I will meet with you later. Please excuse me" then she hurriedly walked away.
John watched as she walked away.
Back to the present, John got up from the chair and walk over to the window to look at the city night skyline. Thinking about the decisions he had to make and a certain woman.
Teyla sat at her desk at the Law Offices of Beckett, Caldwell & Sumner deciding to called it a day when she thought of John Sheppard and smiled. She knew John was flirting with her when they were introduced. Through out the meeting she felt him watching her. Although, she found him attractive, she felt she could not afford to get involved in any romantic entanglements right now, especially with a client of the firm as she had her own family issues to deal with. But, she could sympathize with the position that he found himself in though.