Nepotism - In business and life

The two slid into MJ’s vehicle and headed to MJ’s parents’ home. Both men were sated and ready for anything. They were in this together and would be together forever. The only thing they had any regret about was that their family was not in attendance but they both knew this was the right thing for them.

They parked and headed into the house. Charlotte was the first to see the couple, she ran up to the two men, grabbing their left hands – “Congratulations, it’s great to have another brother but know the rents are a bit annoyed with the two of you. I think they have come to the conclusion that Jules was right – you did get married but I think they are worried you two are moving too fast.”

Both men kissed Charli’s cheeks and made their way out onto the large patio. Everyone saw the two of them standing there dressed in tuxedos and realized they had indeed gotten married. The siblings all rushed to their brothers, hugged them, and congratulated them. They all warned them the rents were not happy.

Once the ‘happy’ was done MJ and JT headed to the parents. Jonathan and Anna were both hot and let the boys know it. They both thought they were impetuous, childish, and totally out of their minds. The ranting continued for several minutes. When there was a break in their rants MJ spoke loud enough for everyone to hear – “Well, that was fun. Now we know where you stand. Mr. O’Reilly and Mr. O’Hanlon, please consider this my notice to not return to De LORS Technology. I will be starting my own company on Monday morning that will directly compete with yours and we all know that the last 8+ years of key wins this company has had were because of me. Pops don’t even try and deny it, you know it, I know it and now everyone knows it.

I love you all but I will not be talked down to or chastised by the four of you for a decision we made that we are 100% committed to. As far as I’m concerned, I am an orphan and am done with the four of you. JT, I'm sorry for not talking with you before stating my piece…”

JT cut him off – “Mr. O’Reilly, Mr. O’Hanlon, and Ms. O’Reilly consider this my notice of immediate separation from De LORS Technology. My husband and I will be starting our own company on Monday.

I am so utterly disappointed in you as parents. I hope you all have a great life. MJ, it’s time for us to head out.”

JT led MJ toward the front door with the volume of conversation rising on the patio. As they reached the front door both men stopped dead in their tracks. Sofia yelled for everyone to shut their mouths immediately, her voice was loud and clear – “I have stood by your side for 35 years and built a business with you but you are an absolute idiot if you think I am going to stand idly by and let my son walk out of our lives. Anna, I love you like you were my own flesh and blood but what in the hell is wrong with you? Our children are not stupid, impulsive, or in any way prone to making bad decisions.

Matt, I know we are on the same page in this situation but if anything has changed, please correct me. All right then – the two of you will fix this mess and you will do it tonight. Jon, if you want to share our bed again you will make this right, I suggest you not push me at this point. Everyone here knows that the funds that built this business came from my trust fund and that is why I am the Chairman of the Board. If you want to keep your job and not have me replace you Monday with your son – FIX THIS MESS you made.”

With that Sofia walked into the house. She ran into her son and his husband – “Matteo, Johan I am so sorry that your mother and your father thought it was a good idea to deal with your news in such a fashion. I love you both and am very happy for you, don’t mistake my happiness for a lack of frustration with both of you, you made a decision that left all of us out of your happiness. That said – it may have been ruined had you included us. I’m going to bed, I am hoping Jon and Anna took my words to heart because I am dead serious – you will not be leaving the company, you will either continue in your current role with the family behind you or you will be the new CEO and your father will be unemployed.”

With that said, Sofia headed upstairs to her bedroom. MJ and JT headed for the front door; they could still hear the argument on the patio. As they made their way to MJ’s car, Matt rounded the side of the house and let the guys know he was in their corner and was heading home. He also let them know he would be talking with Sofia to keep them both in their positions as he understood the key to the future was MJ and his intellect as well as JT’s ability to sell the strategy and vision that MJ puts together.

Jon and Anna made it to the motor court as MJ and JT pulled out of the driveway. They both turned toward their respective homes but before they took more than two steps Julianne was all over them – “Where in the hell do you think you are going? Your spouse’s made it clear that if you don’t fix this, they are done with the two of you. Anna, I don’t know Matt well enough to know for certain but I know my mother and dad if you don’t fix this you will be outside looking in. She controls the board and I will guarantee you, she will win a vote to terminate you on Monday and she WILL do it.”

With that said she made to leave. Charlotte piped up at that moment – “Mom, Jules doesn’t know Dad well enough to state emphatically what the outcome will be but I do – he was VERY clear that you were out of line and you needed to fix this or he was done. You two need to understand that EVERYONE in this family is behind Matteo and Johan and we are choosing them over you, just like you chose to let them leave the family over putting your fucked up opinions aside. “Alicia, I’d like to stay with you tonight, I can’t imagine being under the same roof as our mother.” Alicia hugged her little sister and let her know all was good. They bid the O’Reilly children goodnight and headed down the street to grab their vehicles and head to Alicia’s. Jules, JC, JonJon, Shea, and Colton all headed for their cars.

Anna and Jon were left standing alone in the motor court at the side of the house. Jon spoke first – “Well that didn’t go as I thought it would. How do we go about fixing this mess?”

Anna was at a loss – “I totally read that wrong. I didn’t think Matt and Sofia’s silence meant they were on the other side of this mess. Do you really think she will go to the board and move you out and MJ in?”

Jon was obviously beaten – “There is absolutely no doubt she will go to the board to gain support but in all reality, she doesn’t need to even go to the board, she owns in trust 60% of the outstanding stock of the company and by herself has the control to make the change. Honestly, I have never seen her so angry with me. Do we want to head there tonight or in the morning?”

Anna half smiled – “Probably the morning, it will give us all time to calm down.”

Out of the shadows they heard from two different directions – “Are you serious?” Matt and Sofia stepped into the light with similar looks on their faces – did you both lose your fucking minds? Sofia was the first to speak – “Jon, I love you with everything I am but I am steadfast in this regard. You will fix this mess you and Anna made tonight. If it is put off until tomorrow, you will be retired from De LORS, period end of discussion.

I have no idea why you both decided to go head-on into the marriage of our children. Yes, it was fast, but let’s be clear here, we were all hoping they would date and get married. They are smart, level-headed, and focused young men. I cannot recall a major decision that either of them made and went in the wrong direction. Who are we to question whether they moved too fast? The looks on their faces as they walked out hand in hand, dressed to the nines were absolutely priceless and showed the love they have for one another.

That look stayed on their face even throughout your diatribe. The determination they have to separate themselves from this family was complete for both of them. You went at them and they came together and pushed back hard.

If they go after this new company, we are flushing so much money down the toilet that I can’t even begin to think through how we compete with MJ’s brain. Jon, you know as well as I do that MJ was 100% correct, the bulk of the winning ideas for the last 8+ years were his, period end of discussion. Each of those ideas was a billion-plus dollar idea – the revenue from those ideas currently sits at 50+ billion. That amount of revenue for them would catapult them into a very real competitor to De LORS. That jeopardizes our employees so you will fix this tonight.”

Sofia kissed her husband’s cheek, and hugged Anna and Matt – “good night”. She left without another word. Matt chuckled – “That was the nicest mike drop I have heard in a VERY long time. The two of you screwed the pooch tonight. Fix it now.” Matt kissed his wife and hugged his long-time best friend and returned to his house.

MJ and JT’s phones were ringing and pinging as they drove to MJ’s house on the lake. MJ was holding his husband’s hand and kissed the back of it almost every 60 seconds. JT was trying to respond to texts with his right hand while giving his husband the attention he deserved. MJ laughed openly – “La mia anima gemella, why don’t you take my phone and… screw it… Hey, google conference Julianne, Shea, Alicia, and Charlotte.” While the Google assistant connected the conference call JT asked MJ what ‘la mia anima gemella’ meant, which MJ was answering as the sisters started talking. “It means, ‘my soul mate’.” Ohhhs and ahhhs came over the car’s speaker system along with a blecchh from Shea – “JT, I can’t believe you turned my brother into this romantic nudge in less than 12 hours.”

Charlotte jumped in and let her know it was adorable, as did Alicia, Julianne, JC, and Keegan. Colton was told to remain quiet, he slipped in his agreement and an ouch as Shea smacked his shoulder. Before the conversation could ramble further, MJ took control – “Why are you all annoying my husband with all the texts and calls, ouch JT that kinda hurt. Well?”

JT was chuckling – “First of all la mia anima gemella – I definitely love that about as much as I love you. They weren’t really bugging me; I just couldn’t keep up with only one hand.”

The conversation devolved into comments about where the other hand was and what was it doing to MJ. That stuff is not safe in a moving car and pointed question from Keegan – “JT, you know we fooled around one time, I know how big that thing gets, does your hand fit around it, and what about your mouth?” JT blushed but plowed ahead – “Keeg, I have not had it in my hand or mouth, but I will tell you it fits nicely in my ass.”

MJ was laughing uncontrollably. “MJ, watch the road; it wasn’t that funny.” MJ finally got himself under control – “JT that was priceless, if I’m right Keegan is sitting at Alicia’s with his mouth hanging open trying to figure out how that is even possible, what the heck do you all want?”

Julianne took control of the conversation – “You two cannot quit. The company and family need both of you involved. Pops and Anna were out of line and should have approached the conversation in a better and more appropriate way…

JT interrupted Julianne – “Jules, we both love all of you but let me make this perfectly clear – we will not be demeaned by anyone including family. My mom and your father have their heads up their asses, we may have made a quick decision but it is our decision to make, no one else’s. When I said ‘I do’ I meant it for eternity so anyone that doesn’t get that can go fuck themselves. You all have a great night, please stop calling and texting. I’m going to go home and make love with my husband. Goodnight.” JT disconnected the call. MJ brought JT’s hand to his mouth and kissed it for the hundredth time since leaving his parents’ home – “I’m not sure if you know this or not; I love you with everything I am. With that speech, I will even offer to bottom for our next go around.”

They pulled into the garage at what was MJ’s home, now theirs – “I just assumed we would move in here as I don’t want to live in a condo near your sister but am willing to look at other places if you want to.”

JT laughed at MJ – “Are you freaking kidding me, we are right on the water and it looks like there is a yard, is there a pool?” MJ kissed JT’s hand again – “I’ll show you around tomorrow but for tonight there is a big bed upstairs and an awesome shower. Who the hell is it now?” MJ looked at his phone – it was his Pops – he hit the answer button and his voice was heard in the car – “I’m glad you answered, Anna and I are on our way to you.”

MJ chuckled – “How would you know where we are? We could be at a hotel, JT’s place, mine, or the airport. I’m not trying to be difficult here but I said all I intend to on the subject so this conversation can play out sometime in the future.”

Anna cut in – “We know you are at MJ’s home because your siblings told us you were headed there. We will be there in about 10 minutes and we need to hash this out.”

JT lashed out – “To be clear, we are completely content with where things stand. You both have a good night.” JT hung up the call and got out of the car. MJ slid out of his side of the car and they headed to the door.