Chapter Four.

“If Mr Jeff Lark does not have a child in the next five years, every share of the company will be transferred to Mr Micheal Lark.” Barr Ivan had stated while looking at the will and also at me directly, I had blinked in confusion, not understanding what he meant, well I did understand but chose to not believe the words he had uttered, nor believe it was written by my very own father. 

“What do you mean?” I asked, needing an explanation as to this madness

“Mr Jeff, your father wants you to have a family of your own and he believes having a child of yours will make you more responsible. So, he declared that without a child of yours in the next five years, all your shares in the company will be transferred to your uncle.”

I could feel my uncle’s grim look turning into a sneaky smile. Father knew how I feel about women after Rachael, so I have no idea why he chose to do this to me. He knew how much I just wanted to be on my own.

Staring angrily, alarmingly as well as confusingly at the lawyer,

“Why will my father say that?” I asked the lawyer stupidly. I know it’s stupid but yet I find it hard to comprehend what’s going on. 

It was my uncle who responded, “Who knows how Gabriel thinks?” He had laughed at his dry joke and walked out of the room.

Barr Ivan also had a smile on his face before he left the mansion. Everyone had been in a good mood, except me.

How was I supposed to trust women again? This question still hadn’t changed even four years after and with my timeline drawing near.

“Hello, earth to Jeff!”

I open my eyes to see him tapping the table, while subtly touching the name plaque, I clutch my fist in my hand. “Dearest Uncle, are you in any way insinuating that I can’t father a child and that gives you the privilege to become the next C.E.O of my company?”

His smile gets wider. “What I am saying is you can’t settle with a girl not to talk of having a child together. In the past four years, you’ve changed girls the same way you change clothes.”

I smirk

 “Uncle, don’t dream about a goal you can’t achieve anyway. My father’s will simply stated that I should father a child, he didn’t say anything about me getting tied down in a marriage. Learn to choose your words carefully and also understand the instructions given. One other thing, don’t count your chicks until they are hatched.” I lean back on my chair as I smile at him.

The smile that has been on his face has finally worn off and is replaced with a glare towards me.

“To be honest uncle, my father won’t want his company to be run by the likes of you and I will do everything within my capacity to make that dream come true.”

He flared up. “What do you know boy? I built this company together with your father, and it is only rightful that I take over from him.”

I very well know the story of how Carrie’s group of companies came to be, and my delusional uncle has nothing to do with it. If anything, he was part of the people who dissuaded my father from forging ahead. He said in the way my father likes to quote, “Do you think you are smart enough to start a business and succeed? Starting a business is not child’s play. I’d like to see you succeed.” He had blatantly told my father back then 

Of course, my father succeeded but my uncle didn’t apologise. He took it as his right and just joined the company, saying his words were the motivation my father needed and had, and that had resulted in his success. Although, I am going to make him lose that right soon enough. I am going to make him lose the five per cent share my father gave him.

With a look of a new determination, he glares at me. “You have one year left, nephew. Just a year, and if there is no baby, consider this entire company mine.”

With that, he leaves. I couldn’t care less about his opinion 

“ close my door on your way out” I call out to his retreating back, to spite me, he turns deaf ears and does the direct opposite.

What my uncle doesn’t know is I’ve decided to use a surrogate to get what I want and fulfil the will.

I find myself drifting back to the reading of the will of my father's four years back, at my uncle's insistence, the lawyer had been forced to read the will only a mere two days after burying my father.

To the various emotions displayed at the reading of his will,  and to my unexpected clause

I snap out of the reverie,enough with the past time I have work to attend to, and a plan to build. 

Just as I settle into my work, my phone rings, picking it up, the voice at the other end doesn't waste time in delivering his message,

“There’s being a new development”