CHAPTER 2

OWEN'S POV

My phone kept buzzing on the table and I flung it away in anger. I was in the middle of an important meeting yet my father kept on calling me just to annoy me. Caleb snorted beside me and I glared at him. He raised his hands in surrender, trying to suppress his laughter and focus on the meeting.

Sometimes I wish I was like him, so calm and collected. I shook my head and focused on the meeting, feeling my anger increase as the worker presenting kept spewing nonsense. I banged the table hard as I stood up and everyone flinched in fear.

“Is this what I pay you to do? How many months have we been working on this project huh? Why can't you guys ever get anything right!?” I yelled, anger and frustration written all over my face as everyone bowed their heads in fear. Caleb sighed and placed his hand on my shoulder, urging me to calm down.

“This meeting is postponed, the next time we'll be meeting here, you better have something better to present. Or your sack letter will be presented to you instead.” Caleb said calmly and everyone immediately filed out of the meeting room.

I sat back down and ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm myself down. “Just calm down Owen. I'll take a look at the project again and I'll work on it. I totally understand how you feel. Don't worry, I'll handle it-” He was interrupted when someone pushed open the door and I almost groaned out in frustration when my father walked in.

He had that disapproving look on his face and I knew I was in for an earful. Caleb stood up and greeted him with a smile while I remained in my seat, my eyes glued to the projector in front of me.

He walked up to me and slapped the back of my head as he sat beside me and I braced myself for whatever he wanted to say. Caleb gave me the thumbs-up sign and excused himself from the room.

“When will you ever learn to control your anger? You should treat your subordinates with love and respect! How will they do well if you keep threatening them like that? Did you see how your cousin handled it? Very calm and efficient. All you do is work, shout, work, shout. This is why you don't have any friends.” He said, disappointment dripping from his tone.

I sighed and was about to reply when he suddenly changed the subject. “When will you bring a wife home?” He asked, his eyes boring a hole into my soul.

I groaned and stood up, not ready for this conversation. “Dad, we've talked about this. I'm not ready to get married and I don't want to! I'm content with working and you're gaining from my efforts, aren't you? Our company is the largest in Michigan, are you satisfied with that?”

“You're turning forty soon Owen! Forty years old. Shouldn't you be ashamed of yourself? All you do is work, work, and work! You stubborn brat. Now listen to me, you better bring home a wife before you turn forty or else… I'll give all of your inheritance to your cousin!”

I gaped at him in disbelief as all the blood drained away from my face, his threat caught me off guard. “Caleb? You'd give all that I've worked long and hard for to Caleb? How is that fair?”

“And how is it fair that you've refused to give me my grandchildren? You heard me well. If you don't get married before you turn forty, forget about all that you've worked for. It won't be yours.” He said with a very serious expression and I knew he wasn't just bluffing.

Dad had always loved Caleb because of how smart and calm he was and I know he sometimes wished Caleb was his son. I sighed, my shoulders sagging with fatigue and stress. “Dad… you know it isn't easy for me. Most of the ladies out there only want the money. At least that's what I heard.”

My father sneered and looked at me like I had two heads. “And who told you that? I asked you to look for a wife, not a girlfriend. Have you met anyone you're interested in? No. Because you're always working. I wonder how I produced a workaholic like you, I always loved to enjoy my life. Why can't you take after me?” He shook his head and walked away, not leaving me a chance to give excuses again.

When he got to the door, he looked back at me and repeated his threat. “Remember, you have only two months to find yourself a wife or else…” Then he walked out and slammed the door.

I took deep breaths to control my anger but I knew it wasn't helping. I flung my chair across the room and it hit the projector, damaging it immediately. Well, it seems like I need to get a new one. Why is he treating me like this? Must I get married? If he wants a child then I can adopt one for him.

I was about to fling the chair next to me as well when Caleb walked in. He gave me that are-you-serious-right-now look and I quickly put the chair down.

“What was it this time?” He asked, offering me a bottle of rum which I gladly accepted and took a swig, immediately feeling better as it sent a burning sensation down my chest.

“You know what he was here for. Doesn't he get tired? I'm frustrated from work and all and he wants me to add marriage to it? Shouldn't marriage be by will? Why am I being forced to do it then?” I lamented, taking another swig and gulping the whole bottle at once.

“Whoa whoa, easy there bro. It's not the end of the world. You're just getting married. Why are you making it sound like you're going to war?” He laughed and grabbed the bottle from me, surprised to see that I had drunk everything. “You just threw away this rum's dignity… Poor thing.”

“He gave me an ultimatum Caleb. I have to get married before I turn forty. Or else I won't get my share of his properties.” He looked at me wide-eyed, as he realized the gravity of the situation I was in.

“But… You'll be forty in less than two months! How are you supposed to find a decent girl before then? Marriage isn't something to play around with, what if you end up marrying a golddigger?” I almost cried because of how understanding he was. He was the only one that understood me to the core.

“Everything I've worked for, everything will be gone. Why does he hate me this much!?” I was so close to crying and I knew it was the effect of the alcohol in my system. I always act like a child whenever I get drunk and there's nothing I can do about it. Suddenly I got an idea and I felt like a bulb lit up right above my head.

“I got it! I know what to do now!” I was beaming with happiness and it took a while for Caleb to calm me down and finally get the words out of my mouth.

“You look like you just experienced Eureka. You're acting like there's a light bulb hovering over your head right now.” He laughed and made me sit down while he sat in front of me. “Now tell me, what did you think of?”