Relentless to Succeed: Pinnacle of the Business World Book 2 of 2

By Lawrence Wilson

This book is a continuation of Book 1 where a boy grows up in a large poor family, shy and timid and cowardly and transforms into an aggressive no-nonsense business man who becomes Relentless to Succeed and challenges himself to to reach the ultimate heights in the business world. It has action and adventure and love situations and smart business decisions along with total dedication to the love of his family. All his achievements are accomplished fairly and honestly without discrimination and his final challenge is to give back to his beloved University where he was accepted when all others denied him. A success story of sincere dedication and determination, which proves anyone can accomplish if they want it bad enough.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664190559

Lawrence Wilson

Lawrence Wilson attended classes at the University of Cincinnati in English composition, business writing, literature, and other electives to broaden his scope that were not in his major of engineering. The skills he learned along with personal experiences and a vivid imagination emboldened him to tell an interesting story, albeit fiction combined with facts in most cases. He is the author of other books: Ole Buford, Crack of the Whip, and Chopper Chaplain. He is a widower and a veteran living in southwest Ohio.

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Copyright © 2021 by Lawrence Wilson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/25/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Author’s Note

Preface

1 Recap What Transpired in Book 1

2 Settling in for a New Challenge

3 Tommy Learns of Discrimination

4 Tommy’s Plans Are Stifled, and He Meets Mrs. Applegate

5 Tommy Visits Marina and Yacht Dealer

6 Tommy Studies Yacht Business, Is Attacked Again by NK Agents

7 Tommy Reads Letter from Helen, Checks on Injured Jasper

8 The Initial Gathering of Information by Committee

9 The General Recaps His Experience with Tommy

10 Rachel Explains Her Transformation

11 Tommy’s Yacht Business Develops

12 Janice Caught in Bed with Lorna’s Son; Pamela Dates Jeffery

13 Tommy Barters for a Tavern

14 Tommy Is in the Yacht Business, Buys a Hotel

15 Tommy’s Business Ventures on the Move

16 Tommy Sells the Luxurious Yacht Shooting Star

17 Tommy’s Sister and Family Come to Visit

18 Tommy Contributes to His Sister Beth’s Business

19 Tommy Buys a New Car

20 Beth Goes Home; Tommy Calls John Griffin, Invests in Electronics

21 Tommy Hires an Architect to Renovate the Hotel

22 The Hotel Renovation Begins; Pamela Sets the Wedding Date

23 NorthStar Buys Dealership; Rachel’s Mother Dies

24 Tommy Explains Relationship with Helen; the Wedding Is On

25 Tommy Inherits Templeton Industries and Marries Rachel

26 Tommy Burns Rachel’s Dad, Harold

27 Janice Buys the Hotel; Beth Accepts the Money

28 Tommy Moves into Helen’s Office

29 Tommy Reviews All Facets of the Company

30 Tommy Widens Sales Area

31 System Smooths Out; Tommy’s Nephew Arrives for School

32 Tommy Buys a TV Station

33 Geraldine Dies, and Tommy Controls Applegate

34 Tommy Intends to Modernize Applegate

35 Tommy Hires Helicopter Pilot and Buys a Mansion

36 The Heliports Are Finished, and the Helicopter Delivered

37 Tommy Plans His High-Rise Office Building

38 Tommy Builds an Airstrip and Hangar

39 Tommy Sells the Toy Factory and Sporting Goods Factory

40 Twins Graduate; Both Grandmas Die, Leave Retirement Home to Helen

41 Tommy Meets Helen’s Beau

42 Tommy Reminisces of Time Gone By

43 Tommy Joins the Faculty at USC

44 School Begins, and Tommy Gets His First Class

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to all who sacrificed and struggled in their endeavors to successfully reach the pinnacle of the business world. Honestly!

AUTHOR’S NOTE

It is not easy to reach the so-called ivory tower. Only a very small percentage reach it, and of those, only an exceedingly small percentage make it honestly. It takes tireless energy and diligence and wisdom to propel to the top in big business and overcome any stumbling blocks that tend to get in the way. It appears, once you get over the hump, then it gets easier and not as demanding, and that allows you to go with the flow and continue your journey to the pinnacle, the pot of gold. Can anybody reach it? Of course! That is all part of being an American and living the American dream.

PREFACE

As mentioned in book 1, this is a continuation of a story that is generally fiction. Our hero, Price Thomas Walker (a.k.a. Tommy), met his preliminary challenges head-on and is now ready to tackle the upper echelon in the business world. He is relatively young for all that he has accomplished and is now ready to start a family as he begins to expand his ventures. As stated before, names and places may only be coincidental and not intended to infringe on anyone’s personal life. This book contains action, adventure, drama, suspense, and love situations.

Whip Wilson

Maineville, Ohio

CHAPTER 1

Price Thomas Walker, more commonly referred to as Tommy Walker, was born in southwest Ohio in a relatively large poor family. He was very smart, albeit shy, bashful, and cowardly all through his life growing up. He had no financial means of going to college, so he did not take college prep courses in high school but spent his final two years in the school-sponsored vocational machine shop. Following his graduation, he was employed by a local factory where he worked the third shift as a machinist operating a machine. He had always been kind and friendly to everyone, but all the coworkers in his department who were old enough to be his parents refused to accept him because they felt he acted above them, starting in a position that they had been working in for years. This was a new experience for him, and he couldn’t comprehend what prompted this ill feeling, and anger was instilled, replacing his substandard traits of being shy and timid.

He had received his draft notice for the army, which he had been expecting, to be inducted, with the Korean War in full swing, and in his final week at the factory, a coworker solidified the negative feeling toward him by all those in his department, except his supervisor. This was hurtful to this kind and gentle young man, and it deeply angered him to a point that all through that final week, his anger grew to where he vowed he would never be the same but change his persona forever. His coworkers had taken up a collection and bought him a going-away present, which he refused to accept. This prompted him to be proud of himself, and all the way home, he was encouraged by his actions. He went straight to bed, and the following morning, when his mom asked if they gave him a nice send-off, he had a meltdown and lit into his family for raising him to be a weak-minded and uninspiring human being and teasing him and making fun of him all his life with no encouragement or advice.

So, with his newfound courage and attitude adjustment, he alienated his family, all except his elder sister, Beth, who always stuck by him and understood him. He stormed out of the house and drove directly to his friend Betty’s house to say goodbye and let himself cool off. Betty had always been a tease, and when he generally made efforts to make out with her, she would let him get so far and then laugh it off, but not this time. She was now engaged to a promising college boy who left her wanting, but having heard Tommy was leaving for the army, she invited him to her bedroom to give him a goodbye present, and it lasted for a couple of hours. Tommy was introduced to sex when he was five years old by an older woman; she was seven, so although he was normally shy, he was never shy with girls, or females in general. As the girls became aware of the size of his gifted equipment, they would come around and ask him to play ‘doctors and nurses,’ or any of the other well-used terms. While he was banging Betty, her mom showed up and said she should not be doing that since now she was engaged, but Betty said her fiancé didn’t satisfy her like Tommy did.

He spent his final weekend saying goodbye to his friends and neighbors, and being he was to depart for the army on Tuesday morning, he went back to Betty’s house on Monday morning, and her dad invited him in to have coffee. Betty was at work, and after her dad left for his job as a builder, her mom invited him to the bedroom, and he banged her till she was satisfied. He sold his car because he didn’t want it to sit and deteriorate for the next two years, and then after he returned home, he went across the street to say goodbye to his neighbors, and he banged the daughter and her mom before he finally gave it up to finish his final packing.

The army said to pack whatever he would need for three days. The draftees were transported from the Induction Center to Cincinnati by bus, where they were given a second physical and sworn in and boarded a train for Fort Meade, Maryland, where he spent eight days being tested again and getting shots and uniforms and boots and learning how to make a bunk and salute and other army particulars. They flew in a propeller transport plane to Evansville, Indiana, and then took a thirty-mile bus ride across the border into Kentucky, where they reached their predetermined destination at Camp Breckinridge, the home of the 101st Airborne Infantry.

The company commander addressed the newcomers and welcomed them to the 101st Airborne Infantry, where they were to train to be replacements in Korea; in other words, cannon fodder. He took a particular interest in Tommy because he resembled his son, who was killed along with his wife in a traffic accident, and challenged him to be a top soldier. Tommy met the challenge head-on and did become rated among the toughest and meanest in the top 10 percent of the company of 180 men, which was now the new Tommy. He was challenged again in Korea to survive, more notably kill or be killed, and because of his efforts, he saved a lot of his fellow soldiers. He assassinated a mayor of a small town and wrote his name on the dead man’s forehead with his blood. That act was to haunt him in future years because the family members of the mayor were set on revenge since he disgraced the family. He and his friend Robbie saved the life of a colonel and a lieutenant, and the colonel was subsequently promoted to a general in later years and was assigned as an officer in the Pentagon, which turned out to be a great benefit for Tommy.

After his military service, he went to college on the GI Bill and was challenged again because he had no academic credits from his high school to attend college. With total dedication and drive, and pushed by a tutor, he excelled and graduated with honors in business administration at the University of Southern California. After graduation, he was awarded a position at Templeton Industries in Los Angeles, but seeing advancement was limited, he moved on to a better position with Applegate Enterprises in San Diego, and that is where his career really took off because they gave him the opportunity that this bright and energetic and ambitious young man needed to work toward his goal of reaching the Ivory Tower. He purchased the failing munitions plant in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, for his employers, Applegate Enterprises, and was challenged again to turn it around, and in three plus years, it became the top munitions producer in the country, a name it held at one time during the World War II years. His success was aided by the general in the Pentagon, whom he saved in Korea when he was a colonel. He was able to provide more benefits for the workers of the plant than they had ever dreamed of, but they were not satisfied and wanted more and threatened to join a union, but Tommy wanted no part of that, and he was angered because of what they intended to do, so he sold the plant for twenty times more than he paid for it, loaded up his secretary, Pamela Meyer, in her car, and drove back to San Diego, where he was ready to pursue his goals once again.

Pamela was given the position of number-one secretary in all of Applegate Enterprises plus given the penthouse vacated by Geraldine Applegate, half owner of Applegate Enterprises, being she had retired to her country home; all because of the recommendation of her boss, Tommy Walker. She was formerly recommended to Tommy by her brother, who was the FBI agent that worked the case of espionage in his plant in Pine Bluff, after Tommy killed his Korean-born secretary who was plotting to blow up his house, getting revenge for him assassinating her brother, who, it was discovered, was the mayor that he wrote his name on the forehead with his own blood. After arriving in San Diego, they unloaded all their belongings from her car and put them in their respective penthouses and then went to the market to purchase provisions. After he explained things to Pamela that she must become familiar with in her penthouse, they settled down for the night. {Note: all this, to this point, is spelled out in detail in book 1.}

CHAPTER 2

Tommy arose early, as usual, cleaned up, and opened the door for Lorna Jones, the black cleaning lady, to come in for coffee. This was the ritual they practiced prior to him leaving for Arkansas. If he did not open the door, that meant he was not ready to accept her into his penthouse.

She pushed her cleaning cart inside the door and grabbed him and squeezed him and remarked, Mr. Walker, I sure am glad to see you are back.

Lorna, I am glad to be back, and you look as fine as ever, he commented.

He walked to the phone legend and pushed number 6, and Pamela answered, and he said, Pamela, come over here! I want you to meet the finest lady in all of Applegate, and we are going to cook us a fine breakfast.

Pamela came over, still in her pajamas, and Tommy introduced her and Lorna. Lorna, have you eaten? he asked.

I had cereal, she answered.

Pamela spoke up jokingly, Lorna, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That brought a chuckle from all of them because they had all learned that was Tommy’s favorite comment.

Kate, his former secretary, popped in and remarked, I heard you were back, and gave him a hug from a distance, because she was five months pregnant. He introduced Kate to Pamela because it was agreed that Pamela was going to replace Kate as top secretary of Applegate.

This is great, ladies, so let’s get to work. I’ll fry the eggs and sausage and hash browns. Pamela, make the toast and get out the jelly and butter and the salt and pepper shakers. And, Lorna, make the coffee and get out the cups. And, Kate, get out the silverware and napkins and set the table, he instructed.

Kate replied, I don’t know! The Applegates are probably expecting me to come right back down.

Nah, you got to eat, and now you have to eat enough for two or maybe three. I’ll take care of the Applegates, he responded.

They are anxious to see you, and Geraldine is coming into town, so when do you think you will be coming down? Kate asked.

In a couple of hours, as soon as we eat and clean up the mess, he replied.

While they were eating Tommy asked, Lorna, how is that scrubber working?

I think I wore it out, she answered. It shoots sparks and rattles and makes funny noises.

You need a new one, he responded. Kate, when you get a chance, look in the yellow pages of the phone book and call the company we bought this one from and order a new one, a heavy-duty one, and have it delivered today. The name of the company should be on the old one. If they give you any guff, let me know and I will set them straight. That’s what I had to do with the first one. Right, Lorna?

You sure did, Mr. Walker, and they came over lickety-split.

Lorna, you should have that house all fixed up, and the kids should be growing up. They were pretty big three years ago, he remarked.

I got that house lookin’ good, and I have a little garden in the back where I raise fresh greens and tomatoes. Jamal is graduating this year, and Sybil is a sophomore. Since we moved away from that old place, they associate with a better class of friends and are getting real good grades. Jamal has been working for Kate’s husband, doing landscaping, she explained.

Is that what your husband does for a living, Kate? he asked.

Yeah, that is how we met. He does the landscaping around all the Applegate buildings, or I should say his workers do. He goes around and inspects and supervises, she answered.

I better get down and make my grand entrance, Tommy stated. After all, they are paying the bills, and I certainly don’t want them to think that I am shirking my duty. Kate, would you go over with Pamela and, when she gets dressed, take her down and show her where she will work? Then on Saturday, if you will, take her shopping to buy some new clothes. We only brought what we could fit in the back seat and trunk of her car. Lorna can help me clean up this mess, and the first chance you get, call about the new floor scrubber.

She saluted him and replied, As you wish, Mr. Walker. Geraldine should be here by now.

Tommy entered Mr. Applegate’s office as Geraldine arrived. She grabbed him and hugged him so tight, he could barely breathe and kissed him on the cheek. You sure gave us some nervous moments with people trying to kill you. Are you all right? she asked.

Yeah, I was always one step ahead of ’em, he answered.

He then shook Mr. Applegate’s hand and got quite a squeeze, and Mr. Applegate remarked, Glad to see you got back safely. We really missed you.

Then Tommy said, Kate is with my secretary, Pamela, and they will be down shortly.

Then Mr. Applegate said, Close the door and have a seat. We have a few important things to talk about. Since you were hired in here, you have brought in hundreds of millions of dollars to the enterprise, more than all the other divisions combined, and we are now a billion-dollar company. We have talked at length of how we can reward you, and the first thing we want to do is promote you to first vice president, and you will occupy my late brother’s former office, which is identical and right next to mine. We have held it empty in hopes the right person would come along that was deserving of it, and you fit the bill. We will take you over and show it to you when we finish here. You sold the munitions plant for over $200 million, twenty times more than you paid for it, only three short years earlier, and we want to reward you with a bonus of $25 million, and just so you know, first vice president pays $1 million a year. Tommy was sitting with his mouth gaped open in disbelief. Mr. Applegate continued, And we want to reward you with 20 percent of Applegate Enterprises, so you are now a part owner. Tommy almost lost it at that and started to tear up; Geraldine had already started to tear up.

Tommy collected himself and replied, You two have been the best thing that ever happened to me, and I love you both more than words can say. I must say that I honestly gave you all I had to give, and I appreciate all this, but I am not sure I deserve it fully. I was just trying to do my job.

Geraldine commented, You earned it, working eighteen hours a day, seven days a week, something that is unheard of, and you made every minute count.

Looks like Kate is back and with the new girl, Mr. Applegate remarked. Let’s go over to your new office and let them both come in and see it.

They walked out of the office, and Tommy requested, Come on, ladies, and see my new office.

He then introduced Pamela, and Geraldine commented, Tommy, she is beautiful. Geraldine and Mr. Applegate gave Pamela an endearing hug and welcomed her. Pamela was at a loss for words and blushed a little because this was something she had not expected.

They walked into Tommy’s new office, and he and Pamela remarked in unison, Wow, this is fantastic.

Then Tommy added, Pamela, look at all this leather and mahogany, and the size of that desk. Beats the hell out of Arkansas, doesn’t it?

Pamela responded, Sure does, Tommy, and I am so happy for ya. You have worked so hard and deserve it.

Geraldine, standing next to Pamela, put her arm around Pamela and said, I think we are going to be a big happy family.

Then Kate remarked, I better call about that scrubber or it will be too late for them to deliver it today.

What scrubber? Geraldine asked.

That scrubber we bought for Lorna several years ago is worn out, shooting sparks and rattling like it is going to fly apart, so I asked Kate to call and order a new one, Tommy answered.

Then Mr. Applegate offered, I think we should all go out tonight and celebrate. Kate, call your husband and see if he is free for dinner, and we can all go to a nice restaurant.

Geraldine added, Yeah, the prodigal son has returned, and we can tell them to prepare the fatted calf.

Tommy smiled and said, Geraldine, you have been reading the Bible.

Yeah, I have more time now, and I have found a lot of good stories in there that still pertain to living today. I guess times change, but people don’t, she answered.

The scrubber was delivered, and Lorna acted like it was Christmas; she fired it up and started cleaning the floors full speed ahead.

Kate called for reservations, and they all went to a nice restaurant that had dinner music. Tommy danced a slow dance with Geraldine, and she held him tight and commented, You are like a son I never had, and I worried the whole time you were gone.

Thanks, Geraldine. Coming from a grand lady like you, that is the highest compliment anyone has ever paid me. Mr. Applegate and Kate’s husband danced with Pamela; Kate didn’t dance because of her condition.

Tommy had to ask, Geraldine, did you get your country home all fixed up?

Yes, I did, and it is beautiful. I took your advice, and the manager of the builder’s warehouse recommended a contractor, and what we didn’t have in stock, we ordered from catalogues. Kate’s husband and a few of his men came out and landscaped it, and I am truly pleased with it, she explained. You and Pamela must come out and see it.

Yeah, we’ll get out there, maybe this weekend. I am not sure it will be Saturday because Kate is taking Pamela to buy some new clothes. We never had room in the car to bring everything, so we had to leave most of our wardrobes in Arkansas, Tommy remarked. They had a joyous time and enjoyed each other’s company, and they all became well acquainted. Pamela was so excited with her new life, she could hardly wait to call her brother, Freddy, and describe everything in detail.

CHAPTER 3

The next Monday morning, the door was open, and Lorna came in and greeted Tommy with her usual good morning. Lorna, I got the coffee made, so get a cup and sit with me at the table. I want to talk to you. Are you still paying on the land contract for your house? Tommy inquired.

She hesitated to answer for a moment like she was searching for the right words. I have most of the time. There were times I needed the money to buy clothes and shoes for the kids. They are growing so fast, she answered.

I’ve been thinking of canceling the contract and signing the house over to you and then you will own it. I want you to understand that when I do that, you will be required to pay the taxes and insurance and the utilities. Will that put too much of a burden on you? Tommy asked.

I think I can do it, she responded. Jamal has been bringing in a little from his part-time job, and Sybil has been making a little from babysitting.

Well, how much do you make? he asked.

I make $2.50 an hour, she answered.

That’s a hundred dollars a week, but, of course, with all the deductions, you don’t take home all that. When was the last time you got a raise in pay? he continued to ask.

It’s been over three years! she answered.

How many cleaning ladies are there all together? Are they all black like yourself? he questioned.

There are six of us, and, yes, we are all black. We vacuum and dust and clean the floors in all the offices and the halls in the building, she answered.

Who is your supervisor? he asked, trying to get information.

His name is Jim Saylor, but I don’t want to cause no trouble, Lorna responded.

Nobody is going to know anything you tell me. Is he a hard man to work for? Tommy continued to ask.

He is strict, and he inspects our work, and if it ain’t exactly right, he can make ya feel mighty small. He would kill me if he knew I told you any of this stuff, she replied.

Has he said anything to you about you having coffee with me? Tommy searched further.

He knows about it but hasn’t said anything because I cover my area pretty good, and he has no complaints, she responded.

I understand all I need to know, and don’t hesitate to use my account at the market if you get in a bind. Keep that between me and you—I can’t feed everybody in the company. Let me know if you have a problem keeping your area clean. How is that new scrubber? Tommy inquired.

Oh, it is wonderful! I can clean twice as fast as I could with the old one, she praised.

Kate, is the maintenance manager over the cleaning supervisor? Tommy asked.

Yes, he is! she responded.

I want both of them to come to my office this afternoon, he requested and went into his office.

Pamela was listening in on the conversation and said, Uh-oh, I’ve seen that look before. Wonder what they screwed up?

I don’t know, Kate answered, but if they are giving Lorna a hard time, they will regret it. He has always guarded her closely. I’ll fill you in on their history when we get a chance.

The two walked into his office with a puzzled look on their faces after reading first vice president on the door. What could he want from a couple of schmucks? He introduced himself as Tommy Walker, the first vice president of all of Applegate Enterprises, and they each introduced themselves as Frank Casada, maintenance manager, and Jim Saylor, cleaning supervisor. Gentlemen, I have been the president of a munitions plant in Arkansas for the last three years, and I have learned a lot about how to get the most out of the workers, and that is to be firm but fair and treat them with civility. Since I have returned, I have begun looking at all the departments, starting at the very bottom, and I am going to work up through all levels. I have started with the lowest level, and that is the cleaning crew. From what I have observed, they do an outstanding job keeping everything scrubbed down and vacuumed and dust-free and everything in the restrooms equipped with soap and fresh towels and toilet paper and clean mirrors. The most disturbing thing I have found is they have not been given a pay increase in three years. Jim, have you been given a raise each year? How do you explain that? Tommy questioned, coming straight to the point.

Jim responded arrogantly, "The reason they do such a good job is because I watch them closely and inspect their work, and if I find something that is not up to high standards, I address it. I learned years ago that if you give these people too much money, they start getting independent and slack off."

"By these people, you are referring to them as Niggers because they are all black? Is that right? Tommy questioned, wanting assurance because it made his blood boil, but he had to maintain restraint. Do you feel the same way, Frank, or you just don’t interfere as long as they do a good job, and you leave it up to Jim?"

As long as I don’t get any complaints, I figure Jim is doing a good job, and that’s one more thing I don’t have to worry about, Frank answered.

"I fired a vice president in Arkansas for an attitude just like that. I believe in treating everybody the same regardless of their skin color or their gender, but I also agree that they must be held accountable for their work, so, yes, you must bring it to their attention and give them a warning not to continue to do inferior work. I also think that calling them names is disrespectful, and they deserve the same respect as anyone else. I saw black soldiers lying dead or wounded in Korea in a puddle of their own blood just like the other races, and the blood color was the same in all cases. I fought right alongside of them as they fought for our country the same as I did. From now on, they will be referred to as custodians, and not scrub ladies or these people or whatever names you think of. Since Jim has twelve years in this company, I am removing him from supervisor and sending him back to maintenance where he had been promoted from, and, Frank, I am moving the custodians directly under the factory manager so that is another thing you won’t have to worry about, effective immediately. I am going to change discord to harmony in this company, so get out and go back