Never Again – 11

 

New Orleans—the present

"Joe, pay attention. We have to decide which story to lead with today."

Joseph Moncure brushed a finger over his mustache and cocked an eyebrow at his editor-in-chief. "I thought that was your job. I just pay the bills and make certain our technicians keep the site running the way it should with no hang-ups."

Brian Craig sighed heavily, but everyone knew it was all for show. The big man loved his job with BEN.com and wouldn't have traded it for the world, especially since his wife Beth was his co-editor, as well as being Joseph's niece.

BEN.com was an acronym for Big Easy News, Joseph's most recent venture. He had watched as the print newspapers began to fold slowly but surely with the rise of the Internet, and had the acumen to jump in early, hiring the best people he could find for his start-up company. Within five years it was one of the foremost local news sites on the Web.

Now, Joseph was beginning to realize he was bored with it. Not with what BEN was all about, but with his day-to-day involvement. He knew at this point it could carry on quite well without him.

I need to find a new project, something to hold my interest again. The problem is what?

He'd been going round and round with himself about it for the last month. Nothing really appealed to him so far. But then he'd done pretty much everything possible revolving around newspapers since he'd begun by purchasing the Richmond Gazette over one hundred and fifty years ago. He had sold that paper less than six years later after the death of his lover, Rawleigh Travers. Since then, he'd bought and sold three more publications, two newspapers and a small, national news magazine.

He had kept his name, or variations thereof, down through the years. Whenever he was asked, he would tell the questioner he was the son or nephew of his previous incarnation. So far, no one had done more than take his word for it, but if they had checked they would have found the proof needed to back up his claims. He was no fool and had learned well from his parents how to keep his long life a secret from prying eyes.

"Joe, did we lose you again?" This time it was Beth who asked.

"Sorry. No. Go with the various school board decisions on budgeting and contracts."

"And the missing man?" one of the other editors asked.

"Do a crime feature with it and one with the man sentenced for murdering the priest. After that, it's business as usual. Beth, Pat has the new mock up for the home page alterations. Would you take a look, and if you and Brian approve of it, have him set it up."

Beth gave him a mock salute. "You bet. And if we hate it?"

"Work with him on what you want changed."

Beth shot Joseph a surprised look but nodded in agreement. Ten minutes later the meeting ended and everyone dispersed. Beth stayed behind however, cornering her uncle before he could leave.

"What's going on with you? It's like you don't want to be here anymore."

He smiled ruefully. "Probably because in truth, I don't. Everything runs smoothly so I feel like an unneeded figurehead, being asked things any one of you could decide on your own."

"That's not true," she protested.

"Beth, you know it is." He tapped a finger to his lip then nodded. "As of today, I'm signing the company over to you and Brian."

"No way!"

"I'd say 'Way!' but I'm a bit old to use the teen vernacular," he replied with a small grin.

Beth snorted. "Maybe in reality, but you don't look a day over thirty."

"A very world-weary thirty right now, I'm afraid." He walked to the door, holding it open for her. "I'll talk to my lawyers and have them draw up a contract and whatever else is needed."

"Uncle Joe, are you really sure you want to do this?"

He nodded slowly. "It's time for me to move on and find something new."

"Like someone to share your life?" she asked hopefully.

"Elizabeth Moncure Craig," he replied, drawing her name out the way an upset parent might, "that will not happen and you know it. So get the idea out of your head now."

"I was just suggesting…"

He smiled, patting her shoulder. "I know you mean well, but honestly I'm quite content with being alone. It gives me time to do the important things in life, such as find a new project to pour my time and money into."

"All right, I'll drop it… for the time being."

He laughed. "But you won't stop bugging me about it."

She grinned back. "I haven't for the last hundred years. Why start now?"