The CEO's Surrogate

Chapter six

We finally got settled in the large living room of my grandmother, waiting for her arrival.

Her living room was painted brown, with nature portraits hanging on the wall.

A large portrait of her and my dad also hung in a corner, and my eyes got transfixed by it.

My dad had passed about two years ago, shortly after Stan was announced as a part of the family.

He was a great man and the only son of his mother. All his life, he was nurtured by his mother alone, as his father left when he was only a year old.

Finally, his mother reinstated her company after so many years of struggling.

She nurtured him in business and in no time, the family had become so famous in the city of Texas.

I took in a deep breath as I took my eyes off the portrait and focused them on my phone instead.

“You look great, by the way”, James commented with a wide smile that almost got me embarrassed.

“Thanks”, I replied calmly, as my mind drifted off to thoughts of my assistant.

I had no idea of what her name was, and I intended to do that once I was done with the meeting.

“Still not intending to have a relationship soon?” James asked in a voice that sounded like a whisper.

“Never!” I replied almost immediately, giving him a gaze that suggested the need for him to keep mute.

He made to reply but swallowed hard and kept mute, picking up his phone and getting busy with it.

I hated hearing about anything relationship because my last experience in love got me shattered.

All I was concerned with currently was the need to retain my position as the CEO of the company. That was my consolation after my heartbreaking experience in love and, if taken away from me, might become my doom.

“Grandmother!” I heard Stan’s elated voice boom through the living room.

I rolled my eyes at him as I stood to my feet and bowed in respect.

My grandmother was short, dark and had dense white hairs. She was in her late 80s, but always vibrant and aware of everything happening in the house and company.

She loved laughing as well and made jokes about random things. However, she ensured that nothing such interfered with work and perfection.

I always see her as a perfectionist because she wanted the best out of every single thing.

That single trait of hers caused her to call for this meeting, and I was extremely sure about that.

“My boys”, she said with a big smile on her face as she approached Stan and me who had walked closer to her.

“Welcome grandmother”, I said calmly, trying to sound firm and bold.

“Nice to see you again. It’s so bad that nothing changed since the last time we saw each other. You both are still single and without plans to be responsible!” She dropped and for a moment, everywhere turned dead silent.

“Sit”, she ordered and walked towards the dining hall where the meeting was going to hold.

The table was set with different meals and since they looked delicious, I had no appetite.

Usually, whenever my grandmother had something serious to talk about, she would ensure that we get treated to a great meal. After which she would peer into our eyes and drop the news.

“James, my dear, how are you today?” She said to James, who smiled widely at her.

“I’m as strong as you are!” James said as she broke into loud laughter that got me frowning.

I couldn’t decipher why it was so easy for her to laugh at any slightest joke that comes from James.

“Can we eat first?” She said as she proceeded to dish out the meal for her plate.

James followed, smiling widely and salivating already.

And then, Stan picked up his plate and picked out everything that caught his interest on the table.

I stayed still, not in the mood to eat or utter any word to anyone at the moment.

“Nathan, is there a problem?” My grandmother said as she lifted her head and glared at me.

“I, I…” I was saying when Stan’s voice cut in immediately.

“Grandmother, you shouldn’t worry about him. He’s probably scared that he is about to get poisoned. These days, he feels so insecure and scared of the slightest things”, Stan said in a voice of mockery.

I clenched my fist and shot him a death glare that caused him to chuckle even more.

“This isn’t funny, Stan!” James said with a large frown on his face.

“I’m sure Stan is joking with his brother. It’s so cute to see both of them making fun of each other. It gives me the feeling that they love themselves, and I’m so proud of that”, my grandmother said while I stared at her unbelievably.

“Well, I’m not just hungry”, I said to her calmly, causing her to scrunch her brows in surprise.

“You didn’t forget, did you? Everyone must be hungry before a meeting with me. It is the norm here”, she said in finality.

James gestured for me to pick up a plate and have some food.

Taking in a deep sigh, I picked a plate and dropped a piece of chicken on it, munching on it calmly while glaring at my grandmother who seemed to be preparing to say something.

“So, I have been thinking of doing something since the both of you have refused to be responsible”, she started as my heart skipped a beat.

“I want a great-grandson! That would be evidence of being responsible for me”, she stated as I choked on the chicken in my throat.

“Ma’am, I’m sure they are both blank about what you just uttered. Could you be more elaborate?” James said to my grandmother, who nodded her would be held and the new and permanent CEO of the company would be announced”, she said as I caught a glimpse of Stan smirking.

“That would be dependent on the son who has birthed a son!” My grandmother announced as I jerked up in surprise.

“What the hell!” I blurted out angrily.