Dad’s Big Announcement

Logan's POV

Working for dad has never been part of my plan. He may be the almighty Arthur Carter, founder of the multinational company Carter enterprise but that's none of my business. He is living his own life and I'm living mine.

From childhood, I've wanted to do something different, you know. Start something and create a name for myself. If I'm being honest, I can't take away the fact that I got all these ideas from him. Dad is my biggest inspiration.

Over the years, I have worked very hard. At the age of twenty five, I started a small business. Today, when I think of what my small business has become in twelve years, it gives me this sense of satisfaction. It's not where I want it to be yet. And by this I mean it's not yet as big as the Carter enterprise.

“But I have time. We will get there. The Carter enterprise didn't get to where it is today in one day. At the very least, I know the Carter enterprise is older than I am. So we will get there. But before then, I need to get ready for dad’s company party”, I thought to myself.

I jumped off my king size bed and hurriedly got dressed. The party was supposed to begin in forty five minutes and I already knew I was not going to be there early. Dad made an extra effort to call me by himself in the morning.

“Latecomer. Welcome”, David shook my hand and laughed when I saw him.

“You know I'm not always this late. It's just these past years, I've been a little too busy managing my company. Traveling from one state to another. So sometimes I'm not available for family functions. But I do my best to be there when I can”, I squeezed his hand and he laughed.

“Hi dad”, I hugged my dad when I was finally able to talk to him.

He had been busy since I arrived at the party. Attending to guests, shaking hands, hugging some, and receiving gifts. The Carter Enterprise was hosting an elaborate company party and dad invited many of his business associates and some of his elite friends. We were all expecting him to make a big announcement about the future of the Carter Enterprise at the party.

“Hello son, I'm glad you could make it”. Dad looked happy to see me.

“Congrats on the new opening dad”, I shook his hand this time.

Then just before he could even reply to me Nathan showed up with his fat face with an older man walking beside him. The older man shook dad's hand and the two of them walked away.

“Hi bro. Did you just get here?” Nathan said, flashing me his overly friendly smile that always made me want to knock off his front tooth.

“No, I did not just get here. Perhaps if you weren't so engrossed in yourself you would have noticed that I was sitting two seats away from you, stepbrother”, I sneered, glaring at him in disdain.

“Oh really? I didn't think you would show up. Should you not be busy managing your company? What are you here for?” He raised his hand above his head and made the quotation marks symbol with two as he mentioned company.

Then as if he just remembered he said,“oh I forgot you're here for the big announcement”. He laughed “you’re joking if you think father will hand over the company to you. I mean we both know you don't have what it takes”.

I felt like punching him at that spot. Just standing there listening to him talk. I made a fist and was about to raise my hand to punch him when a voice suddenly sounded.

“Don’t let him get to you Logan. He's just trying to pick on you so you can do something stupid and annoy your father”, David said, holding my hand back.

I paused and thought about what David said, realizing he was right. The old man wouldn’t like it, if I did anything to disrupt his party, and knowing Nathan, that’s exactly what he’d be wanting.

“You are right my friend. Thank you for your advice”. I said, then shifted my gaze toward Nathan maliciously, “Sorry Nathan, you're not going to make me hit you today. I'll save this punch for another day”.

Clink! Clink!

“Everyone! Everyone! It's time for my big announcement”, dad announced in his usual jovial way and everyone clapped, turning their attention toward him.

When the room was quiet, dad went on.

“For many years now I've occupied myself with running this company, but now I think I want to take some time off and live life to the fullest, enjoy the rest of my days. I want to announce that I will be leaving the management of Carter Enterprise to one of my sons. I have not decided who yet but in order to ensure the continuity of this prestigious company, any of my sons that give me my first grandchild will be the next president of Carter Enterprise”.

As soon as I heard those words, I froze in shock, my eyes widening, unable to comprehend what I was hearing.

“A child?” The words echoed in my mind.

“What kind of condition is that? He doesn't even care who is more qualified for the position. A child? Can you even imagine. This must be my stepmother’s doing. I'm sure she influenced this decision. She knows I am not interested in getting married, that's why. She must be using this tactic so dad will make that stupid son of hers, Nathan the president.”, I was so angry my face turned red. It was so obvious what was going on. This was my stepmother’s work. She and I had never had the best relationship and now she was trying to push me out completely from the company.

“And who says Nathan will be the first to give your father a grandchild?” David’s question annoyed me even more. We had talked about this before.

“You know I've sworn never to get married, David. You know what my last relationship did to me. If not for friends like you I don't know what I would have done. That's why I'm so angry. How could my dad do this to me when we have already talked about this whole marriage bullshit”, I said, clenching my fist in annoyance.

“You don't have to be married to have children, Logan. You could hire a surrogate mother and have a baby with her. In fact if you're interested I think I know someone who will be willing to do this job. And so you know she's really beautiful. You know you need good looks too so the child comes out beautiful”, he joked.

David’s words offered a fresh perspective, but I wasn’t sure if this was something I wanted to do.

“I don't know if I really want to do this. I don't know if any other method really works and I don't want to have any attachments with the mother”, this was very confusing.

“It would definitely work. It really suits your situation. You have the baby first, take over the company and still stay single. Why don't we go see her first before you make a decision. She'll be at the Santos bar. Come on, let's go see her. Trust me my friend Tara is special and highly admired. You'll like her.” David said.

We finished our drinks and were off to the bar where we met up with the lady David was talking about.