Like Father, Like Son?
1345 Words
Los Angeles, California.
The boardroom of K.R Technology was packed full. The CEO; Marcus St. Clair had earlier sent a memo that he would be announcing the new Managing Director and everyone knew who it would be, but it still didn't stop the atmosphere from being filled with tension because Marcus was as strict as he was unpredictable. No one knew what would come out of each board meeting so the staff of K.R Tech. knew to be cautious whenever any meeting took place. It was way past closing hours, but everyone waited with complain, each member of staff dreaded to be made a scapegoat by Marcus.
Marcus St. Clair the head of K.R. Tech., a man in his late fifties but rather handsome for his age had a dark aura around him that made people tremble. No one ever dared to mess with Marcus. There were often whispers around K.R. Tech. that a man who once disagreed with him disappeared and was never seen by his family again.
Words passed from lip to lip about how much time he spent in his lab with his assistant Olivia who has been by his side for ten years. Everyone feared that he experimented with things no one could speak aloud on, and the government would never bother him because of how much control he has over the city of Wingshire and its politics.
Soon enough Marcus walked into the boardroom and took his place in the CEO's chair, everywhere went silent.
A junior staff proceeded to close the door and another placed a cup of coffee in front of him steaming hot and black as his soul.
"Good evening everyone, we all know why we are here, so this meeting will be very brief" He said, while all the partners seated at the table and other staff who stood listened on, knowing better than to interrupt Marcus.
"K.R Tech. has grown to be the most powerful and successful Tech. Advancement company in years since its start up. We all made it what has become today" Marcus gives a dramatic pause and everyone quickly applauded to compliment his statement.
"Our inventions..." He continued "...has paved way to many new turns in medicine and has helped the environment achieve a good balance ten times faster than anyone could have projected"
"Today I say congratulations to us all as K.R. Tech. is now a decade and half. Fifteen Years! Of course we have enemies but..."
Suddenly the door swung open. A secretary who has been taking the minutes gasped. Many turned to look at the CEO, waiting for a reaction.
They knew he hated to be interrupted, even worse Marcus did not tolerate lateness. Who could have been that idiotic to make such an entrance at that moment?
A young man walked through the door and as he strode into the boardroom, the air seemed to shift, like it was quickly filled with an undeniable attraction that radiated from the man himself.
This tall, magnificent and sinfully handsome young man walked with a stride that would make any lady breathless, he kept his gaze upon Marcus as he walked towards him. His every movement watched in dead silence by everyone.
Partners were too stunned to speak, the females staff were dazed and the air was thick with extra tension, even much more than when the meeting had begun. One could have heard a pin drop.
As everyone waited for Marcus to snap, his normally stone cold face broke into a tight smile.
"Carl, I was begining to think you would not show up, such an entrance you made" He said to the handsome gentleman.
"Good evening father, I apologize for my tardiness, the weather was bad so my plane had to wait"
Several whispers went across the room as the participants of this unfolding drama realised that the young man who just came in was Carlisle St. Clair, Marcus's only son who had been running the branches of K.R. Tech. across the country.
The last time any of the partners had seen him, he was a much younger boy who had been sent to learn the ropes of the business under Marcus's manager as a punishment for his non-chalance towards the family business. No one expected to see Carl, as a calm and collected gentleman with the air of a boss, almost comparable to his father but not as strict.
Marcus cast a look across the boardroom and the whispers hushed immediately. The news of seeing a handsome young billionaire was exciting but not exciting enough to cause you Marcus's fury.
"As I was saying, regardless of this Company having enemies, we have continued to thrive above all but I cannot do everything." He cast one more look at his son, Carl who has been offered a seat close to him.
"That is why I have decided to take a back seat and let my son take over as the CEO while I devote more time to my latest invention that I must release before my retirement"
Everyone is shocked, even Carl himself, he had come here on his father's orders to be the Managing Director, but a CEO? He definitely was not prepared for this.
One of the partners at the table Mr. Smith, raised his hand quietly waiting for Marcus to signal him to talk. Mr. Smith was a white-haired man with kind small eyes, he had been able to survive working with Marcus for years because of his passive nature and love for peace. He hardly argued with Marcus whenever he made a decision without the board.
"Yes Smith?" Marcus said, finally noticing him.
"Mr. St. Clair, the board is very pleased with your decision, but we will be sad to see you go, we weren't prepared to hear you announce a planned retirement"
Marcus knew Smith chose his words carefully but he didn't stop him from snapping at him angrily.
"Smith, this remains my company and I will make whatever decisions I deem fit, and also, this is all for the good of this company". He barked.
"We haven't had a new software or invention in years and we cannot continue to glory on the old ones, so I am confident that my son will take this company to where the future is"
Marcus stopped and stared Mr. Smith down as though to challenge someone else to gain some audacity to speak up.
"Yes sir" Mr. Smith replied subtly, while the other partners shared a look, happy that they didn't speak at all.
"See to it that my son has all he needs to start from where I have stopped. His position will be effective in six weeks" Marcus added
"You are all dismissed"
The staff knew better than to wait, they quickly packed up their things and cleared out of the boardroom. Many females were eager to start a gossip on the handsome new CEO, others were just glad to close for the day. They all filed out, speaking in hushed tones.
Marcus signaled to Carl to wait behind and they waited till the last staff vacated the boardroom before Carl spoke up.
"Dad? Why C.E.O.? I came here to..." But Marcus cut him off
"I want you to understand that we have enemies and I will never stand a chance for them to take away everything we have built" Marcus said keeping a straight emotionless look at Carl.
Carl grew uncomfortable, enemies? Who? Was that why his father suddenly called him to leave Minnesota last minute?
"Dad? We are the most powerful family in the country, who would dare to go against us?" Carl asked, genuinely confused.
"Carl, all I can tell you right now is, in this entire company, you are the only one I can trust"
"What about your partners? They have been with you for years".
Marcus did not answer his son immediately, instead, he took a sip of his coffee then set it aside before looking at his son square in the face.
"Someone is planning to kill me"
- Writer
