Chapter 2

Caleb angrily stormed back into his office, too angry at Kirsten's defiance to notice his secretary's attempt to capture his attention.

"Mr. Nichol!" his secretary exclaimed running up to him before he entered his office.

"What Amy?" Caleb growled, clearly not in a good mood.

Amy gulped. Caleb Nichol angry was not a pleasant sight and after hearing her news, he probably wasn't going to be any happier. "You have some guests waiting for you in your office at the present moment," she replied meekly.

"What? I don't remember having anything scheduled," Caleb shouted annoyed.

"I know but they're from Councilman Bernstein's office. They mentioned something about a development project and how it would be beneficial to both the city and Newport Group's image."

"There is nothing wrong with our image," Caleb snapped. "I'll handle them."

Caleb entered his office to encounter two men standing in the middle of his office looking nervous, obviously having overhead his less than pleasant conversation with Amy.

"Mr. Nichol?" one of them asked walking towards Caleb and pulling out his hand.

"Yes?" Caleb asked impatiently, not bothering to shake it.

"I'm Karl Livingston and this is John Whitten. We're in charge of the development for Councilman Bernstein's youth center."

"Youth center?" Caleb asked confused. "What does that have to do with the Newport Group?"

"Well we were hoping that you would want to donate Newport Group's resources and help build it," the man identified as John Whitten spoke up.

Caleb laughed. "And what's in it for me?"

"Well first off, you'll be helping out the community by giving today's youth a safe place to go and people to help guide them," Mr. Livingston started. Seeing Caleb's grim expression, he decided to try a different approach. "And we know the Newport Group hasn't been getting the best press but your involvement with this project will surely improve your company's image in the public eye."

Before Caleb could respond, Mr. Whitten interrupted," And we talked to your daughter. She loved the idea but said we had to run it through you first. Your grandson was there too and said he would love to help out as well. He even looked at the plans and made some helpful suggestions."

"My grandson?" Caleb couldn't imagine Seth taking any sort of interest in development projects or in The Newport Group in general. Despite Caleb's numerous attempts, Seth has never had any interest in the family business.

"Yes, I believe his name was Ryan. He certainly inherited the family genes," Mr. Whitten said helpfully, hoping that Caleb had a soft spot for his grandson. Caleb's angry glare at his response made Mr. Whitten's heart sink.

"That boy is certainly not my grandson! He is a juvenile delinquent that my daughter and her no-good- for nothing pot-smoking husband decided to take into a house that I own and paid for! So as you can see gentlemen, I have done my share of charity work. Now if you would please excuse me, I have business I need to attend to. Good day." Caleb said dismissively.

The two men sputtered their apologies and hastily left the office. Caleb couldn't help but overhear one of the men whisper to his partner, "God that man is even worse than Scrooge!"

It was way past dark when Caleb entered his mansion, only to be greeted by an empty house. All the other houses in the neighborhood were gaily decorated with Christmas lights and decorations making the Nichol mansion stick out like a sore thumb. Caleb couldn't help but recall past memories of a decorated house when his wife was still alive but he quickly shoved those memories away, not wanting to revisit the past. He grabbed the dinner that his maid had prepared for him and entered his study. It was less depressing to eat his dinner here than at the huge dining table. Pouring himself a glass of scotch and settling down at his desk, Caleb started eating but discovered he had no appetite; his argument with Kirsten still ringing in his ears. Sighing Caleb reached for his phone to call his daughter but after a moment's hesitation placed the phone back onto the table. A headache was starting to creep through and Caleb closed his eyes. He wasn't sure if he dozed off but after some time, he thought he heard rattling noises approaching the study. It sounded like chains clanking against each other.

"Who's there?!" Caleb shouted angrily. The rattling noises continued towards the study and then stopped abruptly. Caleb felt himself relaxing but then his heart stopped when he looked in the direction of his study door and saw himself staring at a familiar face.

"Jeffrey Chambers!" he shouted. There standing in front of his door was his old business partner in a tattered business suit. Caleb looked down and saw that his feet and hands were cuffed in chains and then he looked back into Jeffrey's soul-less eyes.

"This must be a dream," Caleb muttered to himself. "It's the scotch. I can't possibly be seeing this. Jeffrey Chambers is dead. He's been dead for nearly 10 years now!"

Caleb shut his eyes and opened them only to be greeted by Jeffrey staring at him quietly. "Caleb," Jeffrey started and Caleb's blood ran cold. The voice was eerie with so much sadness behind it.

"Jeffrey, what do you want from me?" Caleb asked frightened.

"I want you to see the error of your ways," Jeffrey replied calmly.

"Huh? What are you talking about? And why are your hands and feet chained?"

"These are the sins from my old life that I have to carry with me now," Jeffrey cried. "All the shady business dealings I did and the lives I screwed."

Caleb laughed. "Oh come on. That's what we all have to do to get by!"

Jeffrey wailed angrily and the sound made Caleb shiver. "Don't you dare joke about this!" Jeffrey shouted angrily. "It might be too late for me but I have come to warn you, Caleb."

"Warn me? About what?" Caleb asked warily.

"Tonight you will be visited by three spirits. They will each take you on a journey. Hopefully they will open your eyes to what a sad and pathetic life you are living now."

"I love my life," Caleb countered.

"You do?" Jeffrey asked skeptically. "Then why are you sitting alone in your study nursing a drink during the holidays?"

"This is how I like to spend my time," Caleb answered defensively.

Jeffrey laughed, a sound that Caleb decided he hated. There was a menacing quality to it. "We'll see about that. Remember Caleb, the first spirit will be visiting you at the stroke of midnight."

"What? Who is visiting me?" Caleb asked angrily but before he knew it, he was again sitting alone in his office.

"Jeffrey? Where the hell did he go?" Caleb looked down at his empty glass of scotch. "Damn alcohol messing with my brain."

Feeling thoroughly chilled and exhausted, Caleb decided to turn in for the night. He couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension, recalling Jeffrey's warning of a spirit visiting him at midnight. "What hogwash," he thought bitterly to himself. But when Caleb settled in for the night after swallowing some sleeping tablets, he couldn't help but nervously glance at his clock. 11:45 PM. Caleb shuddered inwardly but started to feel the effects of the sleeping pills. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep only to be interrupted by a huge gush of wind fifteen minutes later.

TBC…