Pryce Towers
Theo Pryce's Office



Theo knew that teleporting off to Paris to spend some time with Lila spur of the moment might ruffle some feathers at work. Add to it that he dodged Erica’s calls and the ever dangerous cocktail of being a female and pregnant meant that Theo was in for a treat when he got back to the office.

Which is now…

No sooner does Theo enter his office and shut the doors behind him do the doors reopen and of course it is Erica and her ever expanding waistline standing there. The look on her face is pure anger.


“Theo where the fuck have you been?”

“You know Erica, you should really calm down, all this yelling and anger is not good for the fetus. It’s true, I read it on WebMD.”

“Fuck WebMD. Answer my question.”

“I was busy.”

“Busy doing what? I can tell you what you weren’t busy doing, attending a meeting with the Chinese to finalize the deal that we have been working on for months.”

“Oh rightttttttttt. That.”

“Yes that. God damn it Theo, why do you have to make me so angry at you?”

“It’s not me that makes you angry. It’s your hormones. Seriously Erica, your hormones are more fucked up than a low budget slasher film.”

“Fuck you Theo.”

“And that’s another thing; you are really going to have to tone down the language when baby Adolph is born.”

“His name will not be Adolph.”

“So it is a he?”

“Yes it’s a he.”

“Damn.”

“What? Why is that a bad thing?”

“Well I was hoping it was a girl. I am still not a huge fan of a guy who wants to slaughter most of the world being the progenitor of a son.“

“Well get used to it because it’s going to happen.”

“Apparently so. Do you two have names picked out?”

“No we don’t. And that’s besides the point.”

“What is the point Erica? I’ve been here for 5 minutes and you’ve spent 4 and half of them yelling at me.”

“The point is that you had a meeting yesterday, it was on the books for weeks and you didn’t show up. You know the Chinese are about that stuff, they are very old fashioned, they felt disrespected.”

“Fuck them. They need us, I don’t need them. Is the deal done?”

“Yes it is. Thanks to Jimmy.”

“Jimmy? Jimmy who? Jimmy Fallon?”

“No, Jimmy Durance.”

“What? What the fuck does Jimmy Durance have to do with the Chinese? Did he let one of them fuck him up the ass? That’s his thing now you know.”

“Yes of course I know, I’ve know for years. Did you just figure it out?”

“Ughhhh no, I’ve known for a while.”

“Oh My God you just figured it out. How did you not know that Jimmy was gay?”

“I don’t know because he had a girlfriend that used to work downstairs. And he didn't have "I take it up the ass." on his resume.”

“So what? Elton John was married to a woman once but he’s obviously been gay since birth. Jimmy is no different.”

“Whatever Erica. What did Jimmy have to do with the Chinese?”

“He saved the deal.”

“What do you mean he saved the deal? How can Jimmy, the guy who could barely make a coffee save a multi-billion dollar deal?”

“Well apparently while he had been in New York doing his training one of the things his mentor had him looking into was the deal with the Chinese. He seemed to know more about it than anyone else at the table.”

“Including you?”

“Yes.”

“Well then I guess Jimmy can step in and fill your shoes while you are out on maternity leave.”

“What? You have to be kidding me, Jimmy’s not ready.

“Trial by fire Erica, trial by fire. Now, did you come here to do anything other than show me that your hormones are out of control?”

“I came here to find out why you weren’t at that meeting yesterday and to remind you about dinner on Saturday night.”

“Yes I plan on having dinner Saturday night. What about you?”

“Are you serious right now?”

“Right now yes, most times, no.”

“That dinner date that you forced Nathaniel into accepting, it’s this Saturday night at our place.”

“I didn’t force him into accepting anything. If memory serves that was all you. I just broached the subject and you ran with it.”

“That’s not exactly how it happened.”

“It’s how I remember and that’s all that matters.”

“Whatever.”

“So what are Lila and I to bring? A summer salad? Some wine?”

“A salad would be nice. As for wine, if there is something that Lila likes than by all means bring that. Obviously I can’t drink and Nathaniel isn’t a big wine guy.”

“No he’s not. You forget Erica, there was a time that he and I were friends, I do know some things about him. Like the name he yells when he has nightmares or the dimple on his right ass cheek.”

“He doesn’t have a dimple on his right ass check.”

“Are you sure Erica? Are you really sure?”

“Yes Theo, I am positive.”

“If you say so sis. So tell me, how is this whole pregnancy thing going for you? Morning sickness, bloating all that fun stuff, are you enjoying yourself yet?”

“It’s been a life changing experience that’s for sure.”

“And he’s not even born yet. Just wait until he blows your lady parts open and then your social life goes right out the window, if it hasn’t already.”

“Can we not talk about my lady parts?”

“That’s fair. So yeah, Saturday night we will definitely be there. Are you guys going to give us a tour of the “Lions Den”?”

“The what?”

“”The Lions Den” I assumed that's what he calls your dwelling. Do you not know what that is?”

“No idea.”

“Wow! Nathaniel hasn’t sat you in front of a TV and made you watch NAZI documentaries yet? Or made you read “Mein Kampf” cover to cover?”

“No! Why would he do that?”

“Gee I don’t know, because in his mind he is the next Führer and his consort should probably know a thing or two about Nazi history.”

“He has never asked me to brush up on my Nazi history, not once.”

“Well word of advice from one egomaniac to someone who is about to marry one, you might want to learn a little bit about what he holds most dear. And just so we are clear, that’s not you, nor is it that thing in your belly.”

“Fuck you Theo.”

“There you go again with the potty mouth. You really are going to have to work on that. Before you know it your little Heinrich’s first word will end up being “fuck” or “Heil”, in which case you should probably hope for “Heil’. Also, any chance he comes out with that little Hitler moustache? That would just be too cute for words.”

“I’m done. I’m not having this discussion. I’ll see you and Lila Saturday. 6:00pm. You have the address.”

“Bye Erica.”


As Erica leaves Theo presses the button on his phone for his secretary and then waits a second for her to respond.


“Yes Mr. Pryce?”

“Get Jimmy Durance on the phone for me.”

“Yes Mr. Pryce.”

“Oh and Joan, how long have you been my secretary?”

“Three months sir.”

“Three months, that has to be a record for me. Tell you what, because I’m in such a good mood today why don’t you buy something nice for yourself co commemorate this occasion, say $500 bucks, put it on the company.”

“That’s very kind of you sir but how would I do that?”

“When you get Jimmy on the phone ask him for my company card number, I know he has it memorized.”

“Yes sir, thank you sir.”


Theo ends the call and walks over to his dry bar and then pours himself a nice healthy glass of Whiskey. He takes a sip and then walks over to his desk waiting for his phone to ring, a moment or two later and it does. Theo reaches down and hit’s the speaker button, beginning the call.


“Jimmy my boy, how the hell are you?”

“Good Theo, very good.”

“Theo? We are on a first name basis already? Just because you are in Executive training and your balls have dropped don’t forget where you came from, you will always be the guy who made shit coffee.”

“Yes sir.”

“Good, very good. Now, I heard you saved the deal with our small dicked, slanty eyed friends in the West.”

“Who said that?”

“Erica.”

“Well I wouldn’t say saved sir, more like, helped to nudge them along and see that they were truly valued customers for Pryce Industries.”

“I see. Well you did good Jimmy. I just wanted to tell you that. When are you back in town?”

“Not sure to be honest, things here are rather busy as I am sure you can imagine.”

“Well they certainly should be. That’s the only way you’ll learn. Take care Jimmy.”

“Thank you. You too sir.”


Theo finishes off his Whiskey which he had been sipping during his call with Jimmy. He walks over to the dry bar to return the glass and then walks over to his couch and decides that after 15 minutes of work it’s time for a nap. The life of a CEO.