The House of Duncan

We sat around the conference room table on a Sunday morning. It was unusual to find us all here. A modest media company, started by my grandfather, grown by my father, and now threatened by a larger media company attempting a hostile takeover.

My name is Jackson Duncan, Jack for short, I'm the President of Duncan Media Properties. My father John Jackson Duncan, John for short, is the Chairman and CEO. My wife Debbie is the Editor in Chief. My father's brother Jamison Duncan is Chief Counsel. By the way, Jackson was my grandmother's family name.

I'll spare you the lurid details, however I'm not the legitimate son of my father. In fact it wasn't until about 20 years ago I found out the truth. I thought my father was Jamison until I graduated college. Then I was told the truth. My father was John, never married, instead choosing to have various mistresses throughout his adult life, married instead to the family business. He was ruthless and highly successful. One of his mistresses it turns out was my mother, his Brother Jamison's wife!

Showing up 20 years later doesn't make someone your Dad. Jamison is my Dad. John might be my biological father, but he isn't my Dad. I guess all was resolved between them because they are able to get along today. What animosity still exists is on my father's part as he is resentful of my continued father-son type relationship with my now 'uncle" Jamison.

Ten years ago I met Debbie, then 21, at a job fair. Not only was she hired by Duncan Media, she became my wife shortly thereafter. Although nepotism abounded within the company ownership, the four of us are the only family members working in the business.

What brought us together at this unusual Sunday meeting was a takeover attempt by DellaHouse Publishing. DellaHouse is controlled and run by a man that went by one name, DellaHouse, supposedly meaning Of the House.

Jamison was running the meeting, explaining the situation. He pointed out the high probability of success of the takeover due to an aging shareholder population and the lucrative offer price. And even though we had a predominately insider board, an unofficial polling of members suggested they would vote favorably for the takeover.

"So you're saying the chances are high DellaHouse will be successful and we will lose the company," I repeated?

"Yes," replied Jamison flatly. "They have been very shrewd in structuring the offer. It's a very lucrative stock price for those shareholders only concerned about money; they have also offered to continue the Duncan family leadership of the combined company addressing those family members concerned about the family legacy; and to put a crown on the deal they are proposing to rename the combined business The House of Duncan, again reinforcing the Duncan legacy and addressing the value in the Duncan name."

"Isn't there anything we can do," my father asked? "A poison pill perhaps?"

We all sat silently for what seemed like 5 minutes, but was probably far less. Then Jamison leaned forward and very evenly said "perhaps there is."

"What is it," my father eagerly asked?

"A reverse merger," like the lawyer he was, Jamison replied without emotion.

"How do we do that," Debbie quickly probed?

"There is this Article 18 in their offer agreement. On the surface it would appear to be intended to preserve the Duncan family leadership of the business. However if you extend the time line through to where John ultimately steps down, it is really a vehicle to wrest operating control of the business from the Duncan family," he explained.

We all leafed through the document in front of us until we found the Article in question. "It's titled Succession," Debbie said.

"Yes, that's it," he answered. "This explains that the merged company will remain under the current Duncan family management so long as John remains active in the business, essentially Chairman. However, when he steps down, or the board votes to remove him, the Chairmanship will be assumed by a legitimate Duncan heir, DellaHouse, or his legitimate heir. As part of the merger DellaHouse will assume the position of Vice Chairman in the merged company." He paused before continuing. "It goes on to define succession is to John or DellaHouse as the patriarch of their respective families, and that an heir must be by a legally binding marriage as of the date of the offer."

"Dad isn't married," Debbie remarked. "So what happens when he steps down? Does Jack take over?"

My father sat with a perplexed look on his face, then spoke up, "no, they obviously know Jack is my illegitimate son. This clause is how they wrest control of the business from the family!"

"How so," Debbie asked?

"I will have no legitimate heir, DellaHouse will become Chairman and CEO with the ability to oust Jack and put his own President in and anyone else he chooses," my father explained. Turning to Jamison he asked "so what's the reverse merger angle you have in mind?"

Jamison sat quietly for what seemed an eternity before speaking. "We can use this clause. They don't think you have a legitimate heir, and you aren't married," he looked around the table before continuing. "Hold your tongues and hear me out. We disclose that you are married and your wife will assume leadership of the company."

"Jamison, are you suggesting I get married and back date the marriage certificate," my father asked?

"No, too many loose ends I'm afraid," Jamison replied.

"So how do you propose to circumvent the succession," I asked?

Turning to me he explained "they don't know you and Debbie are married. In fact, nobody here knows you two are married to each other. You have been very adept at keeping that private. And because you live in adjoining penthouses, no one living in the same building knows either. We have checked," he explained. "However once they are given access to all our files as part of the discovery, they will uncover that fact."

Leaning forward my father said "so?"

"A fortunate set of circumstances are in place here to turn the merger on its head," he began turning to look each of us in the eye.

"Get on with it Jamison, we're sitting here all ears," Debbie scolded.

"They have been focused on John and his life. They have found no marriages, nor any children born within a marriage of course. They know Jack was not conceived within a marriage thus this clause excludes him from succession, intentionally of course. So they think the path forward is clear," Jamison rattled on in true lawyerly fashion, ignoring our plaintive requests to get to the point.

He sat with a smug look on his face. Finally he said, "Jack, you and Debbie were married in the islands. Your marriage certificate is located there, not here. There is a copy of course in the company files, which I keep. With some slight editing of the paperwork files, a little change to the official marriage certificate, and some other papers we make Debbie John's wife. They would be married 10 years, long before the date of this offer."

Incredulously I shouted "what" coming out of my chair, nearly launching myself into his face?

"Calm down Jack," Debbie cajoled, then turning back to Jamison, "You mean just changing some paperwork is all it takes?

My father sat back in his chair, seemingly absorbed in the idea. "No, we'd have to set up house, we'd have to live together. And we'd need a history, photographs, and other things that would confirm our life together."

Stunned I turned to him and said, "You're not considering this seriously? Do you honestly think this ruse would work?"

"How long," Debbie asked?

"I have a team of professionals in place waiting my word from this meeting. Just a couple days I should think," Jamison answered.

"Debbie," I cried!

"Settle down Jack," she shot back. Turning to Jamison, "no Jamison, I meant how long would we have to keep this pretense up," she asked?"

"John can step down any time after the closing and you would become Chairman and CEO and have the full authority and discretion of the office," he explained. I slumped in my chair with a mixture of resignation and shock. They can't be seriously considering this foolish idea.

"I understand that, I mean how long would we have to continue this," she paused then "charade and how do we go back to our existing lives," she questioned.

"Oh," Jamison exclaimed! "Well, the simple answer is after you have assumed the leadership of the company you get a divorce."

"A DIVORCE," I bellowed! It was clear to everyone I was not onboard with this idea at all.

Jamison remained calm and turned to look at me. "Yes, Jack, a divorce. Notwithstanding how we got there, to everyone else your father and Debbie will be married. It will be out in the open, the shareholders of both companies will know, the Boards will know, the employees will know, and the business community will know as this merger will certainly be in the papers, so a divorce is how we will undo it," he explained. Then turning to Debbie he continued "as for how long, a few months, perhaps as long as a year. I'm sure it will be salacious but a divorce will be the cleanest way to return to your present lives."

"We will be living together during that time as husband and wife," Debbie reiterated?

"Sleeping together," I blurted out.

"Jack," Debbie shouted firmly standing from her seat glaring angrily at me.

"Sleeping arrangements can be dealt with, Jack. Besides you live in adjoining penthouses, I'm sure we can figure something out," he replied.

We all sat in silence for nearly an hour, well not me. I paced the floor for probably half that time before sitting in disgust.

I studied my father trying to read his mind. He is 80 years old but hardly looks 60. At 6 feet tall, he is lean and muscled, with a quick step. He is well tanned with a shock of white hair on his head, otherwise he is clean shaven and always sharply dressed and coiffed. His most notable feature aside from his tough personality, is his eyes, piercing blue. He has an aura about him that commands admiring looks and attention from women of all ages, including my wife.

I looked to Debbie who sat quietly with her hands in her lap. Like all husbands, I think she is beautiful. At 32 years old she is a little over 5 feet 7 inches tall, about 120 pounds, with shoulder length blonde hair and lovely green eyes. She is shapely with full breasts, hour glass curves falling to long eye-catching legs. The epitome of a trophy wife, my trophy wife.

Finally my father broke the silence and spoke. "Jamison, do you think we should do this?" He nodded. "Debbie, what about you?" She first looked at me and then turned to my father and said "yes, I see no other viable option." He mulled over the situation and then turned to me. "Jack, under the circumstances it appears your vote is the only one now that counts. We'll leave the decision to you."

I felt sick to my stomach. "Jack," Debbie softly spoke, "we must do this," and then her voice dropped off. Silence ensued until almost imperceptibly I choked "I agree."

Jamison slid a folder to each of Debbie and me. "That is an itinerary for a business trip, you are leaving this evening. You will take different flights to different destinations, but will end up at the same location tonight. I have you scheduled to be out of town on business for the week. It is really so you can be alone together," he offered. It was a nice gesture even if he had made a huge assumption as to the outcome of the meeting.

The gears were set in motion immediately. Changing the company paperwork was easy. How Jamison managed to pull the original marriage certificate and other public documents and swap them out with ones that stated Debbie married John Jackson Duncan, I'll never know, but it was done. Jamison's team of professionals digitally altered photographs redacting me and inserting my father into wedding pictures, vacation and other personal family photos as well.

Two days after our meeting, DellaHouse was granted permission to come in and perform their due diligence. Jamison had informed DellaHouse in accordance with Article 18 that Debbie and my father were actually husband and wife. This sent them into a tizzy as they scurried about interviewing and searching for any evidence that might prove a fraud on our part.

We were called back from our week away for an urgent meeting at the office on Friday and Jamison told us that DellaHouse was furious with his team. He had ordered them to leave no stone unturned, including spying on us to gather any evidence against us. He wasn't just suspicious, he was adamant this situation was a deception and his people had to prove it. At stake now was his business! "So, just know we are all being watched closely. They are likely listening, videoing and lurking everywhere. Don't assume you can say anything even in private. I have taken the precaution to put encryption software on all your mobile devices and computers. So assume they are trying to capture even your text messages and email. Also they could be using listening devices that can pick up conversations from 100s of yards away. From now on, if you want to have a private conversation take a random taxi or ride a public bus or subway."

It seemed we were walking on egg shells! While all this subterfuge was going on the details of the merger continued to be worked out. That weekend DellaHouse had invited us all to a private island resort for two weeks to work on the deal negotiations. We left directly from the office. Jamison warned us again to assume everything is bugged and that DellaHouse's people would be watching every move we made. When we arrived my father and Debbie were assigned a luxury suite next to me with an adjoining balcony overlooking the coral blue inlet and white sandy beaches at the resort.

That night DellaHouse hosted a cocktail party with live music. It was a dressy affair so all the men wore black suits and ties and the women wore evening gowns. I couldn't take my eyes off of Debbie. She was wearing a beautiful powder blue floor length gown slit all the way to her hip, showing off the full length of a shapely leg. What had me hypnotized however, was her top was shear with a plunging neck line and she was braless. Her breasts, and nipples were on full display. It was later that I realized all the women wore see through gowns of one style or another. Obviously a staged choice intended to disarm the gentlemen by the highly stimulating scenery. I had a perpetual hard-on throughout the evening.

At one point I was talking with Jamison when he commented that my father and Debbie made a good looking couple. I had been watching them closely and had to agree. They were flirting, kissing and warmly touching each other. I felt a rush of jealousy flow through me as I bit my tongue to avoid making a scene. Overcoming my jealousy I discovered a voyeuristic lust in watching them.

I retired to my suite about 3 AM. I was still torn inside from the obvious intimacy my father and Debbie had shown each other, so I poured myself a stiff drink and went outside on the balcony to sip my scotch, choosing to reflect on the evening in my solitude. At some point I became aware that the sliding doors to their suite were open. I could hear her moaning and gasping in what could only be the throes of intercourse. I immediately was erect, uncomfortably so. I was eves dropping on my father fully engaged in sex with my wife. I found myself wanting to turn and watch, lust and desire overwhelming my own dread and jealousy. It seems they had no limitations, as the moans and murmurs and whispering went on till the first rays of sunlight shown on the horizon over the bay.

I finally went into my room and relieved my own lust before falling to sleep. I woke mid-morning to the sound of the shower next door. I called for room service and cleaned myself up before taking my breakfast and coffee on the balcony.

"She had sex with him last night," I quietly mumbled to myself. I just hung my head looking at the food on my plate.

The day's events were preplanned, sailing and snorkeling the afternoon's entertainment. Later that day as my father, Debbie and I boarded the boat a drink was immediately put in our hand. As we left the dock everyone was comfortable lounging on deck. DellaHouse leaned over to my father and said "you know, if I didn't know you two were married for 10 years I would swear you acted like newlyweds."

Ever the quick witted one my father let out a big laugh and replied "I have her every chance I get," he looked directly at me when he said this, laughing loudly. I felt a sinking in my heart realizing that my own father was enjoying this at my expense.

It was then that DellaHouse's wife got up and said "come on Debbie, let's give these boys something to look at." With that she unhooked her bikini top and dropped it, and then slid her bottoms off. Standing stark naked she looked at Debbie and challenged her "well, you weren't shy last night, let these guys get a good look at that body of yours."

Not to be out done, my father stood up and took Debbie's hand pulling her to her feet. Turning her to face me, he unhooked her top tossing it aside as he whispered in her ear. Then he stooped down and pulled the strings that held her bikini bottoms in place and tossed them aside too. I marveled at my naked wife in front of me. The sunlight seemed to weave a spell on me. My eyes traced the smooth curves of her long legs, sweeping across her round bottom and womanly hips, the graceful arc of her belly up to her firm, supple, pert breasts. I lingered studying the softness of her nipples before rising to her face, framed in golden blonde shoulder length hair, a gentle smile and sparkling eyes.

I watched as my father stood behind her, both intently watching me, sliding his hands up over her belly to cup her breasts, lightly pinching her nipples, before sliding one hand to her sex. Only a light curl of golden hair announced what was hidden beneath, demonstrating for all to see she was a natural blonde. With apparent ease my father pushed two fingers inside her. I looked intently as she closed her eyes and turned slightly, parting her lips to kiss him deeply.

The day proceeded with one-upmanship after another. It wasn't long before both men were nude and engaging in vigorous foreplay with the girls. It wasn't lost on me how huge my father's cock was, easily the thickest cock I'd ever seen, and half again as long as mine. Debbie's fingers could not touch as she grasped his sex. She ran her tongue over the length, moistening the soft skin before closing her lips over the head. Pulling back her tongue teased along the crease. Her lips closed around my father's thick, rigid cock as she moved her head taking it further into her mouth. His hands pressed down on her head as he fucked into her throat. Her lips are stretched and her jaw painfully wide, still she can't take him all the way in. She pulls free and uses her tongue to moisten his cock, sucking on his sperm filled balls until she again takes this sexual plunderer deep into her mouth, surrendering to the cock before her. It wasn't long before her cheeks puffed out and she gagged as he spewed his cum into her throat. She worked valiantly to swallow it all, reveling in the taste.

Amazingly he wasted no time to recover. Soon I watched in what could only be termed a perverted state of arousal and a fitful jealousy as my father rubbed his cock head over Debbie's swollen clit, and slowly pressed it into her. It seemed to take forever as his cock slowly inched into my wife's sex. He was getting a perverse enjoyment with her begging him to "please fuck me." Her intimate treasure was now invaded by my father's sexual organ. His huge cock, the one that conceived me, was now planted entirely and firmly within the belly of my wife. Yes I sat like a depraved voyeur, mesmerized by the explorations of Debbie's body by his hands, his mouth, his tongue as he thrust in and out of her.