Chapter 7

How quickly did his informants inform him? It's like he had no life at all.

"It's been taken care of," I answered.

He let out a laugh.

"Derek, I must say that just makes you weaker than I thought." He spoke bitterly.

My expression changed, and I clenched my hand into a fist, holding back my anger.

"If your employees don't respect and fear you, that makes you weak." He continued.

He quickly changed the subject. 

"How is your new project going?" He asked.

"Why do you care so much anyway?" I asked.

"I don't. I'm just making sure you don't become a stain on my legacy. Frankly, I think you are talented enough to achieve more substantial things than some silly hotels." He said.

There he had, the reason I had to become so cold and calculative in business or I would never reach his expectations.

"I know you are going to need my help and my money if this idea is going to work. Just simply having this structure approved might take years." He remarked.

"I'm all good," I said.

With him breathing on my neck all the time, I'm glad every day that I haven't become an alcoholic. It's a wonder that I'm able to stand him while being sober.

"You know, you and I are alike. We are both ambitious." He spoke.

By the tone of his voice, I knew where this conversation was headed. He was ready to start talking about his life history.

"I started this business from nothing, your grandmother abandoned me for a rich guy with three babies, I had no idea how I was going to feed them or what I was going to do with them." He stopped.

My dad along with his brother and sister were born as triplets. My grandma left because she wasn't living the life she wanted, she wanted someone who could offer her power and money.

"Years later, I am the success you see today. I had constructed an empire. I have billions to my name, and I raised my family effectively. If your grandma could see me today, all she achieved was ending up in a nursing home." he stated triumphantly.

He was merely here to flaunt his money.

He spoke cruelly about my grandma even years after her death.

"Grandpa, you neglected your children and most of them can't stand you," I said.

That's what happens when you leave millions to your kids. They must be angry with their parents since they are unable to lament their lack of wealth as other children may," he said. 

Will you also explain to me how and why a fabricated account of me was published in the tabloids?"I shifted the conversation.

"Please, I was only trying to help you. People care about steadiness, especially at your age, since it shows them they can rely on you to accomplish the job well. Your life will be simpler the sooner you marry that girl. Her family has connections, you know that. You can then get a divorce from her. He said, "Women like her understand that's just for business."

"I didn't work this hard so that I can whore myself out," I said.

"I believe it's time for you to mature and join the big boys' table. You have to understand that hard effort alone does not guarantee the sort of money you make. Sometimes you just have to get your lovely little manicured hands dirty," he said. 

He served as an inspiration to all narcissists, I'm sure.

He went on, "I think that was it for our chat today."

Grasping his cane, he rose from the chair.

I relaxed into my chair, finally able to let go of all the stress, and watched him walk out of my office.

My grandfather was right about a lot of things, but he was also right about me being way too confident but behind schedule on my project, which needed to be approved. If I went through the regular route, it would take years and I would eventually be turned down. If I went to my grandfather for assistance, I would be acknowledging to him that I was powerless without his support.

I'd have to suck up to my mother for this to work, so my only choice was to approach my father for aid, which had its problems but was still preferable to talking to my grandfather.

Thanks to his extensive network of friends, my father was able to set up a meeting for me with the mayor, who readily approved my concept.

I sat back in my chair, knowing that seeing my parents would not be simple after we had cancelled all of our family get-togethers the previous year.

Luke was summoned to my office.

"You should cancel the rest of my appointments for the day and prepare the chopper, I have to pay my parents a visit," I said. "Tell the pilot to make the chopper prepared."