Excerpt: Windspun

"And the corporation...?"
"Ah, yes, we're just getting there. The succession of the Zephuri Corporation in its current states, including the management, buildings, employees, and finances. The recipient will also receive the lodgings in the Zephuri Building for his own. Mr. Dreyfer here will debrief him on the state of the company, a matter on which I am assured he is quite knowledgeable. Now then." He shuffled through his papers.
"Using masculine pronouns?" said Posie. "That's already ruled me out, then. Pity."
"You wouldn't want to be CEO anyway," said Alton, nudging her.
"I only want it more than you do." She quirked a grin at him. "Very well, let's get on with this before Charles wets himself with excitement."
Alton tried hard not to laugh, and had to try even harder at Charles' indignant expression. He glanced at Anthony, who was trying to cover up his own amusement with annoyance.
Ah, Posie. The only one of us who could ever get away with taunting Charles. Is it any wonder she always won our games?
"Mr. Zephuri made this decision rather late, I'm afraid," said Hale, ignoring Posie's joke with professional nonchalance. "Practically on his deathbed." He sighed, gave his papers one last shuffle, and laid them down, folding his hands over them. "I suppose there's no beating around the bush about it. I wasn't sure myself when he made the decision, but he was definitely sound of mind, and assured me that he was making the right choice for the right reasons. We'll all have to trust him, I suppose."
"You say there is no beating around the bush about it, then don't beat around the bush about it," reprimanded Charles. His eyes were narrowed; he didn't like the direction Hale's words were going in. Charles was and had always been the obvious choice to take over the company, and it was beginning to sound as though he was not.
Can't be Anthony, though, thought Alton. He's been left his own business and Father has always supported it, he can't manage that and the corporation. We've already ruled out Posie, and it certainly can't be me. He wouldn't leave it to mother, she has no head for business. So it has to be Charles.
A frown creased his brow. He had a thought: What if the Corporation was going to someone outside the family? It would make sense. It was tradition, family tradition of the strongest kind that leadership of the Zephuri Corporation was passed on hereditarily. It had been that way since their ancestor, one of the last old Sorcerers, first spun wind into thread; it had been that way since before it became incorporated; it had been that way for generations. Charles Zephuri had been a strong believer in tradition, and there was no way he would forsake this one on his deathbed, not as long as he had family to give the company to, not as long as they were capable of taking it over after him.
. . .Would he?
"Well," said Hale, "then I suppose you will not like this, Mr. Zephuri, but the corporation does not pass to you." Hale took a breath, and then looked right at Alton. "Instead, your father left it to you, Mr. Alton Zephuri."