Dallas, Texas

"I have to say, Bobby did an excellent job with that meeting, and I think he could really be an asset for us", JR stood in his father's office as they discussed the current state of Ewing Oil, recapping the past few months of business and looking toward the future. JR had had a plan for a long time and it was finally coming to fruition, he would soon be back in his rightful position, his power his alone, not shared with Bobby. He had to make sure that he acted slowly and carefully though, because he couldn't have his father getting suspicious of his motives, that would just set him back. Jock nodded and agreed, he was proud of the progress that Bobby had made and he was glad that JR was acknowledging it; he really seemed to be maturing and seeing his brother as an ally, not an enemy, exactly the way it was supposed to be. They talked for a little longer and then JR returned to his own office, finishing catching up on paperwork that had accumulated and ending the day with a drink to congratulate himself for planting the seeds for the next phase of his plan without seeming suspicious. On his way home from work he stopped to pick up flowers for Sue Ellen, he was a happy man, and he wanted to make sure that he had a happy wife, he couldn't have anything distracting him from his plan.

Sue Ellen was pleased with the way JR had been acting since they had come back from their anniversary weekend, he really seemed to be making an effort to keep her happy and satisfied and she was enjoying his attention immensely. She had purposely cut him off from making a promise when they were at the lake house, because she didn't want him to make promises that he couldn't keep; but so far, he hadn't presented her with any opportunity for dissatisfaction, he was the JR that she knew and loved, and she hoped that he continued to stay that way. In the past few weeks, since returning from their trip, instead of coming home from work angry or frustrated, he was relaxed and happy; she didn't know exactly what his plan was, but he kept reassuring her that he was about to be back in power again, and his constant conflict with Bobby would be a thing of the past. She was truly thankful that things seemed to be getting back to the way they were before; it was both a selfish thanks and a selfless thanks, she really wanted him to be happy, but she selfishly enjoyed the way he changed when he spoke about regaining his power, it was a turn-on, and she liked it.

Sue Ellen was just getting ready for dinner when she heard JR's car in the driveway, she didn't really know how, but she had come to recognize the difference in engine sound between the cars at Southfork. Standing in her closet, she could tell that it was JR's car and that he was in a good mood, there was something about the force that he slammed the door with, it wasn't angry, but it was powerful. JR walked up the stairs with a grin on his face, he'd finally done it, he'd finally convinced his father that Bobby was perfect for a specific division of their work, and his father hadn't suspected anything other than genuine concern for the future of Ewing Oil. He needed someone to share the excitement with before his father made the official announcement, he hadn't even told Bobby yet, but he'd liaised with JR and they'd come to the decision to 'promote' Bobby. Ordinarily, the idea of Bobby getting a promotion would have bothered him, but he had orchestrated this whole thing, and he knew exactly what he was doing; Bobby wouldn't be getting any work that JR hadn't already had first refusal on, not that he'd be told that, he would just be happy with the new role he was playing. When Bobby had first worked for Ewing Oil, JR was bothered by the fact that he was given the fun, easy jobs, and that he really didn't have to do a whole lot of work, but he'd quickly come to realise that he actually preferred it that way, it was better than the alternative. He liked having control of the actual decisions within the company and he didn't enjoy having to consult with his brother before making any little moves, it was bad enough that Jock sometimes tried to control his deals, but at least he knew when to trust JR and leave him to do his own work. He didn't see his months of training Bobby as a total waste though, because he was now a much better oilman than he had been when he first joined the company, and three great minds were always better than one. Bobby's training would benefit Ewing Oil in the long run, because he would be out on the road representing Ewing Oil, something JR wouldn't want any old idiot doing, they had a reputation to maintain and he needed someone with a sharp business mind, even if it was mostly a social job. "Sue Ellen?" he entered the bedroom and found her standing waiting for him, smiling as if she already knew that he had good news, though he didn't quite know how she could have known, he'd been pretty tight-lipped with the exact details of his plan, he couldn't risk her accidentally saying something that would tip-off his father or brother. He handed her the bouquet of yellow roses and hugged her, wondering exactly how much she had already known when she whispered that she was proud of him; he hadn't even explained the situation, but she knew that he had good news, she just knew.

"…and so, I'll be around a lot more often, because I can send Bobby to do all of those unimportant and boring out-of-town meetings while I focus on the work we have here in Dallas. It's perfect, Bobby's much better at that superficial social rapport than I am, and he is perfectly able to handle the work I approve for him", he grinned as they lay in bed together, it felt good to finally be able to explain his plan, though he still left a lot of information out, she didn't need to know everything. Sue Ellen smiled, she loved seeing him happy like this, and she loved that the change meant that he would be able to spend more time in Dallas with her rather than having to leave town for extended periods of time for out-of-town meetings, leaving her all alone. "I knew you could do it", she turned and kissed him on the cheek, she wanted him to know how proud of him she was, and she was, she couldn't believe that he'd been able to change things without anyone really noticing his manipulation. She had been confused when he had first accepted Bobby into the company without argument, but she had quickly realised that he was playing a long game and that she just needed to watch and learn, and she did just that, marvelling at the way he slowly worked the situation to suit his own personal preferences. "Thank you darlin'", he kissed her lips lightly before looking at the clock, "I hate to say it, but we have to get up, otherwise we'll be late to dinner, and you know how daddy hates that". He kissed her once more before they got out of bed and eventually made their way downstairs for cocktails and dinner with the family. Sue Ellen knew not to say anything to the family, but secretly she couldn't have been happier, things were finally going JR's way again, and when things were good for JR, they were good for her, and their marriage.

To be continued…