On Monday afternoon, Howard traveled to the headquarters of Lovecraft AeroSpace, which was located in Arkham's business district. It was situated in its own high-rise building, and it served as the company's international headquarters.

As he entered, he saw the latest advertisement for the world's largest aerospace conglomerate. It featured a large ship approaching Mars. Just as the ship was about to dock with the station, Mars 1, the Lovecraft AeroSpace logo appeared, as well as the company's long used tagline, 'Bringing you the technology of tomorrow... TODAY''

https://youtu.be/FVBJQBgJX0o

'That should sell some tickets to Mars and back,' Howard thought as he watched the short commercial.

The man who had founded the business had done so after a chance meeting with one of the Wright brothers when he was still just a boy. The child had always dreamed of flying and traveling to space, so it wasn't long before the imaginative youth had come up with a major improvement to the existing airplane designs. Then, after convincing his grandfather to invest the remainder of the family fortune into the fledgling company, Lovecraft Aeronautics was born.

Today, mainly because of the company's invention of the fusion reactor in the late nineteen sixties, Lovecraft AeroSpace was known throughout the world. Because of their hundreds of patents and the Alliance's careful stewardship of this incredible technology, every fusion reactor in the world was produced, sold, and distributed by the corporation. Needless to say, Lovecraft AeroSpace stock was worth a fortune.

As he approached the reception desk, the young brunette on duty looked up from her newspaper with a smile. "Welcome to Lovecraft AeroSpace. How may I assist you today?"

"I would like to talk with Edwards, please," Howard asked politely, hoping that his principal contact with the company was in town. While he knew others who worked there, Edwards could get what he needed to be done far more rapidly than the rest.

"I'm sorry sir, but which Edwards are you referring to?" the receptionist asked, perplexed.

"Mr. Chester Edwards," Howard clarified.

The young woman's body language suddenly changed, sitting up straight and trying to conceal her newspaper. "Do you have an appointment? Sir?"

"No, but give him a ring and tell him that Howard is here to speak with him."

"I'm sorry, sir, but company policy dictates that we do not accept visitors to Directors or higher without an appointment. Nor are we allowed to contact them without prior approval."

Howard couldn't help but sigh. Then after pulling out his wallet and riffling through it he found the card he was looking for.

"Please call this extension," he asked as he gave the receptionist the card. "It is for an administrative assistant, so it should be okay."

"Yes, sir," the young woman replied as she dialed the extension.

"Yes, this is the front desk. We have a person named 'Howard' here who is asking to speak with you." Then after a pause, "He is a well-dressed man in his mid-thirties, five foot ten, dark brown hair, blue eyes, and wire-framed glasses." Then, after another pause, the eyes of the receptionist became very large. "I will send him up immediately."

The girl opened and reached into a drawer. Then she took out a key and handed it to Howard. "Sir, you will need this to reach the upper floors. Do you know how to use it?"

"Yes, I have been here many times," Howard replied. "I hope that you have a good day."

"Good day to you as well, Sir," the young woman said as she stood from her seat and gave Howard a deep bow.

Howard responded with a nod and headed towards the executive elevators.

"I did not know that he was a major stockholder," the receptionist whispered as she returned to her newspaper.

---

"Hello, is there anything that I can get for you, Mr. Phillips?" The administrative assistant to Edwards asked as he emerged from the elevator.

"No, I am fine. I take it that Chester is in?" Howard asked.

"He is on the line with our branch in Edo, but the conference call should be over in about fifteen minutes. Would you like a cup of coffee or tea while you wait?"

"No Doris, I am quite content thank you," Howard replied. "Although while I am here could I see the current projections for this quarter? It will help pass the time."

"Certainly, Mr. Phillips," came Doris' prompt and polite answer.

---

Fifteen minutes later the large oak door to Edwards' office opened and a heavyset man in his late fifties emerged. "Mr. Love...." only to stop mid-sentence at Howard's sudden glare. "Mr. Phillips, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Edwards asked with his hand outstretched for a handshake.

"Let's discuss this in your office," Howard ordered as he took the man's hand and shook it.

Then, after practically dragging Edwards into the office and closing the door, Howard looked around the room. —

Edwards had a large corner office at the top of the skyscraper and the view was spectacular. The tower dominated the business district, so there were no buildings to block the view. On a clear day, Howard bet he could see all the way to Boston with a pair of high-powered binoculars.

Behind Edwards' desk, there was a large portrait of the founder of the company, HP Lovecraft or Howard Phillips Lovecraft. They had commissioned the portrait late in his life after he had survived his first bout with cancer and it clearly showed the bespeckled, browned-eyed man's greying dark hair.

"Chester," Howard began, "Please remember not to use that name in front of others. Even if it is someone as discreet as Doris I don't want to start rumors. Are we clear?"

"Understood, sir, but I do not understand why you try to hide your identity," Edwards retorted.

"Because if word got out, then I couldn't lead the quiet life that I do now. I'd have reporters constantly hounding me like Princess Diana was, God rest her soul. Also, remember what happened to Howard Hughes towards the end of his life. I want none of that for myself nor for my children."

"Look you own ninety-two percent of the stock in Lovecraft AeroSpace split across various holding companies. With that type of money, you could buy all the security you wanted. Plus, I doubt your family would allow you to become a recluse."

"What of my medical practice? What of my high society patients who refuse to see a 'normal' doctor?"

"I'm sure that they will find someone else to treat them."

"But I WANT to practice medicine. It is what kept me going after the death of my parents. I never want to give it up."

"Okay, okay, I won't ask again." Edwards finally acquiesced. Then, after waiting a few moments for Howard's ire to settle, he continued, "So, what can I do for you today?"

"Yes, I need the Information Technology group to break an encoded book for me." With that, Howard produced Mr. Wiltshire's alchemical notebook.

"I will send it down to them, top priority," Edwards said as Howard handed him the notebook. "I believe they still have the program they wrote the last time you needed something deciphered. Do you mind if I ask what this book is about? It will help to speed up the 'transcoding' process."

"It is about magic, astrology, necromancy, and magic," Howard replied without a moment's hesitation. This wasn't the first time that he had had a text decoded by the IT department, and he doubted it would be the last. All of them had something to do with the occult, so Edwards knew quite well that Howard was interested in such things. At the best, Edwards probably thought Howard was a bit eccentric. At the worst, Edwards probably thought him stark raving mad.

"Yes sir, I will have them begin work on it right away. I will even tell them to run it on the brand new Cray to speed things up a bit," Edwards responded.

"Good. I am in a bit of a hurry to get this one translated."

"Yes sir."

"I believe that is all for today. Thank you, Edwards."

"You are welcome. It is my pleasure."

Then, after taking one last glance at the portrait of his grandfather, Howard left the office of the CEO of Lovecraft AeroSpace.