2 april 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2694: he coerced me

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“Vanderbilt, how could you! How could you do this to your own brother on behalf of one of your cousins with grubby fingers not even living like a proper gentleman! How could you let Robert just coerce you like that – are you that weak?”

Mrs. Glendella Ludlow, wife of Astor, was flipping out on Astor's younger brother because to save the Ludlow Winery, Vanderbilt had recommended Astor's removal from the board of directors. He had done this because he had no choice. Capt. Robert Edward Ludlow had bought up the patents and the majority of the water rights the winery needed to survive, and had insisted on Astor being removed after Astor had threatened to ruin the Ludlow Bubbly that Robert had founded.

Vanderbilt knew Glendella didn't understand, and wouldn't understand no matter how he tried to explain it. To Glendella, Astor was a god, but like all false gods had fallen, and this was a complete crisis of faith and love for her.

But Vanderbilt was also tired, tired of Astor and Glendella's high-handed attitudes and harsh mouths, and aware: they needed him as CEO way more than he needed them. His position was secure because “nobody is dumb enough to want the job right now,” he said to his wife Susanna. So, he answered this way: “Yes, he coerced me. Yes, I am that weak. If you think you are that much stronger, you try Robert and find out. I have a company to keep alive in the meantime.”

And wouldn't you know it, Glendella called Robert to tell him how dare he put Astor in that position when Astor was this and Astor was that …

“Oh no,” ten-year-old Andrew Ludlow said. “Cousin Glendella decided she wanted in on the April Fool's action – in September!”

“Because you know Papa isn't hearing any of that,” eleven-year-old Eleanor said.

Sure enough, Capt. Ludlow just gently set the phone down, and then waited until Glendella was tired and hoarse.

“I'm not arguing with you, Glendella, because I do not want or need to,” he said as he picked up the phone. “You have enough to deal with. I am not going to add to the burden. Good night.”

“Sometimes you just gotta hit 'em with the gottagobye,” six-year-old Grayson Ludlow said.

“Yep,” his grandfather said as he hit the block button. “Who needs the drama?”

“I'd rather be Legoing,” Grayson said as he turned back to his favorite thing to do.