The Evolution of Mr. Green

Paul arrived twenty minutes late at his father's office. He was irritated that his older brother, Ron would also be there. Ron was an unmarried, thirty year-old who was clean-cut and had a degree in accounting. He was the assistant to the comptroller in their family business, wore a suit and tie, had neatly trimmed hair and always was polite and respectful. Paul was twenty eight, had long, wavy blond hair and a boyish but handsome face. He married beautiful, sophisticated, twenty nine year-old Mary, two years ago. Today, he was dressed in designer jeans, tan boat shoes and a white, silk shirt open to mid chest and exposing a skull and crossbones dangling from a gold neck chain. Ron called him Mr. Casual and resented the fact that Paul didn't work for the generous allowance they each received from their father. Paul had been extremely close to his mother. She died four years ago and had admonished their father to not expect as much of Paul as Ron as he was"sensitive" and did not have his brother's drive. So, Paul had it made, playing drums on the weekends, drinking and socializing with women who came to hear the group. He felt Mary didn't try to understand that he was engaging in PR for the band and that the lipstick she found on his collar meant he was just fooling around. She had married him for his daring personality and good looks but had been trying to cope with his immature behavior ever since. She came from a wealthy family that was not overjoyed at her choice of a husband.

Father opened the meeting by looking at his watch and saying he hoped Paul hadn't been inconvenienced. Paul said he just wasn't used to getting up in time for a meeting as early as nine AM.

"Don't you have classes in the morning?" Father asked with raised eyebrows.

"Actually I couldn't keep up with the class and dropped out for this semester."

"That brings me to the point of this meeting," Father sighed and proceeded to say he wasn't getting any younger and in a few years expected to turn the business over to the two boys."How do you see yourself getting involved with the company, Paul?"

"Well, I never thought of it. I guess since Ron is on his way to becoming the CFO, I would be the CEO.”

Ron glared at him but said nothing.

Father said,"I feel I've done you a disservice by allowing you to not work or obtain a college degree. Rather than continue the overprotection your mother started, I have decided to let you work your way up in the business (a large landscaping and lawn and garden supply company)."

"Work my way up…," Paul stuttered.

“I spoke to Mary and she agrees with my decision. She said she has reasons of her own to support this plan."

"You spoke to Mary about my future?"

"As you know, she composes some of our advertising material and I’ve noticed she has a good head on her shoulders. She has a degree in graphic arts, you know. At any rate, I‘ve arranged to have your allowance converted to a salary to be administered by Ron. We