5.

The day I have been dreading has finally arrived the day I decide the fate of all my employees, I don’t know what to do, I can’t fire them because they are the best in the business, and I can’t let them off with a warning because that will make me look weak and I don’t want that. I face my biggest challenge and I’m not prepared for it.

I'm nervous because I just don’t know what I'm going to say to them and that’s not the difficult part of this thing; the difficult part is getting in there and delivering the most terrifying yet influential speech, how do you do that without scaring people away? I'm so conflicted and I'm never been this confused.

I'm in the middle of breakfast; Charles and Damien have left for work. While enjoying my fruit salad with yoghurt, the room goes icy cold and the hairs on my body stand. I at once know what’s happening.

‘Xander James Forsythe, you are a disappointment he says in disgust. I know he is right behind me, but I won’t turn to look at him.

“I’m doing my best father,” I reply, the chair suddenly turns, and I come face to face with my worst nightmare, the man that raised me, the ghost in my life, my father, Desmond Forsythe.

His pale blue eyes meet mine and I close my eyes and open them again to adjust to the image in front of me. His massively built body and pale skin frighten the living daylights out of me. Six foot six is tall and I'm only six foot two, I'm quite insignificant compared to my dad. His jet-black hair only adds to his frightening persona.

‘You're getting weak boy,’ he says shaking his head.

“I'm sorry father,” I say bowing my head.

‘All you have to do is do as you're told, and you fail to do it. Fire them and get new workers,” he says, I look at him ready to protest but something stops me.

“How do you know?” I ask instead.

‘Xander, I know. And please get that filthy whore out of your head,’ he says sternly it sounded more like a warning.

“Stop dad,” I beg, hoping he doesn’t go any further.

‘You like the whore, don’t you? Have you forgotten everything I've taught you? This woman will destroy you, she already has, and you’ve been too busy focusing on her body that you’ve forgotten your duties as the heir to my empire.’ he yells.

“I know dad and I'm sorry, she won’t be a distraction anymore, I promise,” I say quickly.

“Good, you better be careful son, I'm watching you. One more mistake and I’ll be dragging you to your grave,’ he says coldly and before I could answer he was gone.

Fucking hell, I'm screwed…

I quickly gather my thoughts and finish my breakfast; I grab my things and make my way out of the house. I got into my car and drove off. The drive is agonizingly long for some odd reason without Charles with me. When I drive in the guard at the gate calls bodyguards to escort me into the building, upon arrival at my office door I spot Charles and he smiles at me, and I already know he’s going to light up my day.

“Thank you, boys, for escorting my weak-willed brother,” Charles says, they all laugh quietly, and I growl, rolling my eyes.

“Charles,” I warn.

“Yes Xander,” he replies sassily, I turn to look at him and he at once gives me that don’t you dare look.

“Any meetings?” I asked with a smile.

“Boys you're excused,” Charles waves them off and they leave, “Uhm, you do, you have a meeting with Nathan from TechOne, Justin from Universal Music and a surprise call later in the day.”

“Surprise call?” I say I don’t like surprises, so I feel anxious at once. We walked into my office, and I put my stuff on the table and turned to face him.

“Yes, and I won’t tell you who, but you’ll be surprised,” Charles says with a smirk.

Gosh, the suspense…

“I really hate you,” I mumble to myself

“Likewise, James,” he winks and leaves my office.

I take my suit jacket off and hang it over my chair; I take my iPad and disks out, along with my laptop and begin the day’s work.

At about 11:14 my phone rings, at once find it a South African number but I don’t know who it is, fearing the worst I call Charles to answer it.

“Xander seriously, you're so annoying,” he groans and puts the phone against his ear.

“Hello this is Mr Martinez, this is Mr Forsythe’s phone who am I speaking to?” he says, his eyes light up and he puts the phone on the loudspeaker.

“Oh, Miss Mthethwa, how may I help you?” he asks politely.

“I just wanted to speak to Mr Forsythe,” my eyes widened at the sound of her voice; it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. Angelic, soft, and sweet, it gave me goosebumps.

“He’s not in at the moment; I’ll ask him to call you back,” Charles replies with a smirk.

“Thank you, Mr Martinez,” she says, and I know she’s smiling on the other end; I can see it and hear it.

“No problem,” he smiles.

“Have a lovely day,” and she cuts the phone, I continue to stare at the phone as my mind drifts into a world unknown where it’s only me and her on the beach whispering sweet things into each other’s ears and we are…

“Andy!” Charles yells and I shake my head and look at him.

“Where are you daydreaming about her?” he asks with a smirk.

“Uh no I was not; I was just thinking about how I'm not going to call her back,” I lie, and I walk to my chair.

“Xander, you're falling in love,” he says crossing his arms.

“No, no, I'm not. Father would kill me if he was,” I say annoyed with myself and Charles.

“Xander stops being a bummer, there is nothing wrong with being in love,” Charles says sitting on the desk.

There is everything wrong with it

I could not fall in love; I didn’t want to; my father would drag me to my grave. I can’t let him down. I sit down on my chair and sigh; this is not good, not good at all.

Pull yourself together Xander…

“I'm not in love with the girl; it would be wasted time on a worthless woman,” I reply and then the guilt sets in.

“Xander, you do not speak about women like that. The only reason you and I are here is because of our mothers,” Charles says angrily.

“I am grateful for that I am, but my mother was a whore,” I shoot back.

“That doesn’t matter, you and your father need to get over what your mother did,” he says loudly.

“She hurt my father and me,”

“Stop being such a baby and let it go, you're a grown man and you can think for yourself, what if your mom had her reasons or what if your dad lied” Charles yells.

“My father would never lie,” I say defending the honour of my father. 

“Of course, he wouldn’t,” he replies sarcastically, “And FYI I can see right through you. I know you, Xander, remember that.”

He gets up and leaves my office banging the door behind him.

Goddamn, why does he have to be right all the time?

I hate it when he’s right, it makes me feel stupid. I lay my head on my arms and sigh, what the hell am I going to do? What if my dad had lied to me why would he? What would have given him the reason to lie like that, I don’t understand it, and it just doesn’t make sense. Charles was trying to reel me up and said some things he shouldn’t have.

The first half of my day ends quickly and it’s time for lunch. I know everyone is waiting for me because I told Charles to announce to have everyone in the cafeteria.

I make my way down the cafeteria and as I step in the atmosphere changes, everyone is scared, and fear is lingering in the room, and it gives me a confidence boost.

“Good morning,” I greet them, and they all mumble back.

“So, it has come to my attention that people are unhappy in my company. If you’d like to resign, please do so but just bear in mind that you will have a criminal record I own most of the businesses in this entire country and it's quite difficult to get a job with a criminal record. Would anyone like to resign?”

Dead silence and fear are still lingering in the air; just cowering in fear.

“Okay good, now if it ever happens again, you will all end up in jail or on the street, understood?”

“Yes sir,” Charles yells from the back of the room.

“Proceed,” I say, and I walk to the fridge and open it, taking out my chicken salad and bottle of water. I call Charles who is busy having a conversation with Damien and his fellow bodyguard friends, Charles, and the men, he could turn all men gay if he wanted to, he just feels bad that the female population won’t be able to create more men and women, you could always get a surrogate.

I should get one.

Charles walks over to me and I can tell he is angry.

“What?!” he whispers harshly.

“Kiss your man goodbye, we have work to do,” I say, he groans and goes back to his lover and kisses him, “Have you forgotten to follow the rules, Charles?”

He looks at me and smirks; I internally roll my eyes and walk back to my office. Charles follows behind me and I can hear him humming. How does he do it? Stay so happy all the time even when I’m being a complete dick, and yes, I do admit that I can be a dick sometimes.

We walk into my office, and he closes the door behind him, and I go ahead to walk to my desk, and I place my food down.

“So, what do you need love?” he asks cheerfully, as he sits down on the chair across from mine.

“I have to fly to South Africa to meet Miss Mthethwa, I forgot that I had written it down in my book,” I say, placing my jacket over my chair.

“Okay?” he says questioningly.

“What?” I ask sitting down.

“So, you want to go see Nikiwe?” he asks with a grin. My eyes widen.

Ah, crap…

“No, not really, maybe, arg I don’t know,” I groan in frustration.

“Aww Andy, you really are falling in love,” he coos.

“No, I'm not Charles! Dad is already angry with me,” I say running my hand through my hair. He looks at me and his face goes from sympathy to one cold look.

“Xander, get yourself together and do it quickly. I am not dealing with that part of your life again,” he says with pain laced in his voice.

And once again Charles Dante was right…