The Billionaire's Fairytale

Chapter 2

“You’ll never guess who just phoned.” He exclaimed at us. He was literally bouncing like 5 year old in a candy store, trying to contain his excitement and trying to provide us with a moment to actually try and guess.

“Just spill it, James darling, don’t want you to pop a vein trying to contain your excitement.” My mother states calmly, but I could see that she was just as excited as my dad.

Am I missing something?  Is there a big deal that I was unaware of?  What is going on around here?  Anyways, who phones at 7:00 in the moring to deliver good news?

The confusion must have been clear on my face as both my parents turn to me with smiles on their faces.

“We have something to tell you, Catey.” My dad says, still trying to calm himself down.  I feel dread building in my chest.  Converations that start with those words never end well, in my opinion. So I take deep breath and tell myself I’m overreacting.

“Tell me what?” I ask, unsure if I really want to hear the answer to my question. I have a bad feeling about this, but I pushed it away while reminding myself not to jump to conclusions

“I just got confirmation that the businessman that I approached, about a new venture in security, has agreed to partner with me and he also agreed that you will be given a prominent role in the new company.” My dad explains excitedly.

This is bad, this is very, very bad.  If I am roped into this new venture I might never get a chance to get away and be my own person, but I cannot dissappoint my dad. He looks so excited.  Sometimes I really hate my strong sense of family responsibility.

“That’s great, Dad, but why do you want me to be apart of this venture? It’s not like I have a degree in safety and security.  I’m merely a psychologist.” I ask tentatively.  I know I have a couple of published articles on the subject of fear and how it affects our psyche and what we perceive as safe, but no where near the experience my dad will need to be helpful with his company.

“I know you’re a psychologist and that is exactly why I wanted you to be part of this venture.  You are gaining more and more attention form the psychological society for your articles on the subject of fear and how it affects a person’s psyche and what a person perceives as safe.  One report even said you’re the rising psychologist to watch, because of your groundbreaking research and insights.” My dad answers as if he is reading my mind and trying to ease all the doubts that I am having about this venture.

“I would like to think about it, if that’s okay?” I ask. I really don’t know what to do about this and need some time to reflect on what my next move should be.

“Of course, sweetheart.  Take all the time you need.  We still have some other work to finish before we will register the company and it’s employees.  However, I really do hope that you would join me in this adventure.” He says with just a hint of hope in his voice.

I nod, unable to think of an appropriate response. Luckily my mom comes to the rescue as she calls us for breakfast.  Somewhere during the course of breakfast I realised I never asked my dad who his partner is.

“Dad, who is this businessman that will be partnering with you?” I ask absentmindedly.  If I were to join this venture or ADventure as my dad says, I would like to know who I would be working with.  Or should I rather say with who’s s**t I will be dealing with.

“Oh, he’s an old friend of mine, Mr. Andersson, but his son will be the one fulfilling the more active role in setting up the company for us, Mr. Andersson will just be investing.” My dad answers nonchalantly.

However, my blood runs cold and my cutlery stills as I hear the name and think of what it could mean for me.  This could be another Mr. Andersson entirely, I tell myself, and not be the one who’s son I have had several run ins with and  have an extreme dislike toward.  I try to keep calm and hope that I’m wrong.

“This wouldn’t be Mr. Liam Andersson from Andersson’s Invest, now would it?” I ask slowly. Please let it be another Andersson, I pray silently while I wait for my dad’s answer.

“That’s the one and only Mr. Andersson, why do you ask?” My dad answers, while both him and my mom take a curious glance at me.

“No reason,” I say, shrugging my shoulders, “just wondering who we will be working with.” I try my best to act indifferent as neither of my parents know about my history with the infamous Declan Andersson, billionaire playboy.

I watch as my parents talk animatedly about the new venture and how exciting they both are and what it could mean for the company.  As I continued to watch, I started wondering if I am ever going to be fortunate enough to have a fairytale of my own, but it seems that I have not been destined for such a fairytale.

My parents have an almost perfect fairytale love story. My father was the handsome prince of the Williams and my mother was the a working class girl with a rough past and not a very bright future ahead of her, but she was a hard worker and believed that she could build a  better life for herself.  They met when my mother started working at one of my father’s companies as a secretary and as they grew close, love blossomed. Some years later I was born and their family was even more complete.