Chapter 10
Every time I walked down the hallway, people would stop what they were doing and stand frozen in place, making me feel terrible. I didn’t want people to fear me unless absolutely necessary, but I also knew that I was powerless to change it. I was aware that my personality was difficult to get along with and easily misunderstood, but my father had told me that in the family business, especially as an heir, it was important to make those who worked with you fear you.
Besides my parents, I was afraid of no one. I was afraid of my father because he held great power; I was afraid of my mother because of her untimely comments. No matter what perfume I sprayed or what suit I wore, Elizabeth could always find fault and criticize. My mother rarely praised me, unless it was to show off how handsome and successful her children were to her friends.
I thought of my siblings. William, twenty–seven, was intimidating to many. He was married with two daughters, Sophie and Charlotte. Stern but reliable, he always took care of everyone. Derek, twenty–five, was a troublemaking playboy, but serious when necessary, not someone to be trifled with. Ashley and Megan, nineteen, as stubborn as I was, but very intelligent, currently in college.
After I obtained my business degree, I had no time to rest. Everyone immediately expected me to take over the family business. This was the choice of other families, but most importantly, it was my father’s decision. If all went well, everything would be passed
on to me.
I didn’t mind. I was prepared. Since childhood, I had witnessed Richard taking his sons to important meetings, showing us the dark side of the family business. Richard passed on everything his father had taught him to us. He taught us how to make the business thrive, how to make others fear us, how to handle a gun, and how to get rid of someone. “Family comes first, regrets and tears stay by the pillow,” he would always say after wiping away
our tears.
“I’m going to check on Victoria,” James said, standing up, “I think you really hurt her feelings. I’m not used to her being so quiet.” He walked towards the kitchen, leaving
Michael and me alone.
“Will you attend the family’s annual gathering next month?” Michael asked. Every year, Elizabeth would organize a grand family reunion. On the surface, it was an opportunity
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Chapter 10
for family members to come together and bond, but in reality, it was a chance for Elizabeth to showcase her life and an opportunity for Richard.
I shrugged, “I don’t know, we’ll see when the time comes.” I didn’t want to attend the family gathering because every year I had to hear the same questions.
Michael chuckled, “Are you afraid of Grandpa and Grandma asking you grandchildren again?” He hit the nail on the head, and my face flushed.
about
When it came to asking embarrassing questions, no one did it better than my grandparents. I loved them, including my grandfather, who over the years had shed his reputation for being cold and had become a kind family man, but that didn’t change the fact that I wasn’t ready to face their annual “interrogation.”
“I just don’t want to go,” I said, hoping my cousin would drop it, but he knew as well as I did that he wouldn’t give up easily. Michael didn’t believe my words. He teased me, then placed his hand on my shoulder.
While I didn’t like being disrespected, to some extent, knowing that he wouldn’t treat me differently because of my status was reassuring. I had a close–knit group of friends who treated me sincerely, like an ordinary person.
“Just go to their gathering,” Michael grinned, “You decide to ignore their questions every year, and Grandpa and Grandma are getting old.” It shouldn’t have been funny, but to Michael, who always found humor in his own jokes, it was amusing. I didn’t find it funny
at all.
If my parents couldn’t convince me to go, why did Michael think he could? “When I show up at that gathering on the day I’m going to be a father, then they’ll have something to talk about,” I said dryly. The implication was clear: it was never going to happen.
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