Chapter 4: Nathan
775 Words
They think I’m a disappointment. A filthy, useless, dumb son not capable of taking after his father’s inheritance.
It’s almost admirable, how confidently people believe what they see.
I let them.
At galas, I arrive late. Shirt slightly wrinkled. Smile crooked. I let my father sigh loudly enough for the board members to hear. I let the headlines speculate. I let the investors whisper.
“Useless.”
“Filthy rich brat.”
“Doesn’t even attend meetings.”
They’re right about one thing.
I don’t attend meetings and that’s because they don’t see me there physically and I don’t really put into the morning or afternoon meetings.
The real ones happen at 2:17 a.m., when the city sleeps and the boardroom lights are off. When numbers stop performing for applause and start telling the truth. When my name isn’t attached to the screen—only results.
Acquisitions. Mergers. Silent takeovers.
I built the company’s expansion into three new markets.
I killed two failing divisions before they could poison the balance sheets.
They praise my father for vision.
He smiles. Takes the credit.
I prefer it that way.
Because the moment they know…
The moment the world finds out that the reckless son is the master mind behind the new improvements of the company.
Everything changes.
Especially women.
I learned that lesson early.
When I was nineteen, before I understood discretion, before I understood performance. I revealed too much to the wrong person. Her eyes didn’t light up for me.
They lit up for the number.
After that, I built a rule:
If she wouldn’t choose me as a failure, she doesn’t deserve me as a success.
So I play the part.
The reckless son who hardly shows face in company matters, a son who can’t even take care of himself.
The son who “could never survive without his father.”
The embarrassment.
It gives me something priceless.
Freedom.
Freedom to walk into a café without people calculating my net worth in their heads. Freedom to sit beside someone who rolls her eyes at my supposed incompetence. Freedom to be insulted without being worshipped.
I’m not looking for a model.
I’m not looking for someone impressed.
I’m looking for stability.
For someone who sees the man in the shadow—not the empire behind him.
My father thinks I’m hiding because I’m afraid of responsibility.
He doesn’t realize I’m waiting.
Waiting for the one person who doesn’t care about the throne.
Because the day I step forward, the day I take control publicly, the masks come off.
And when they do, there won’t be room beside me for someone who loved the lie.
“Nathan, he is waiting for your response” Gabriel, my most trusted secretary/ my best friend whispering in my ears bringing me out from my thought
“Ohh, sorry,” I said to my father across my computer screen.
“So have you come to a conclusion?” he said regarding the change that Mr. Simon Thorne made in our contract
“I actually didn’t even like his daughter in the first place. She is a spoiled girl, so thank goodness he changed the contract. You were the one telling me to marry her and I just agreed because you were not giving me peace of mind.” I paused a little to sip my vodka at my side and then continued “And I have made findings and research about this Lara girl, she is actually a hardworking, pretty girl even when her father had money. And I also know she agreed because of her mother’s illness, even though Mr. Simon told us she agreed because she wanted to just marry” I said.
“I knew that Mr. Simon was lying from the start but I just left it for you to figure it out,” she paused a little and continued, “So what you are saying is that you want to marry that girl.”
“Yes” I said with a bored expression “I just gave you a little speech on why I would marry her and you are still asking”
“Ok, ok calm down, I’m just trying to be sure” he said
“So if that’s all, bye” I said and immediately cut the call, I don’t have the time or strength for his speech this night because I know what he wants to say next.
“Go and prepare the car” I told Gabriel.
“Ok” he said and immediately left.
I just hope this lady will be good because I am tired of this pretend life.
- Writer
