Beneath the Billionaire's Pride

chapter 8

Xavier pov:

8:00 AM sharp, I walked into the office, ready to tackle the mountain of paperwork that had been neglected for far too long. As I settled into my chair, I couldn't help but feel a sense of determination wash over me. With my father's return looming, I knew I had to get everything in order.

Aliyah, my efficient and organized secretary, was already waiting for me, a warm smile on her face. "Good morning, Xavier. I've taken the liberty of sorting through the paperwork and prioritizing the most urgent tasks."

I nodded in appreciation, grateful for her initiative. "Thanks, Aliyah. That's a huge help. Let's take a look at what we have."

Together, we pored over the documents, discussing each one and deciding which ones required immediate attention. As we worked, I felt a sense of clarity and focus that had been missing for months. With Aliyah's help, I was determined to get everything back on track and prove to my father that I was capable of running the company.

As I looked at my watch, I couldn't believe the time. 7:30 PM? It felt like just a few hours ago, Aliyah and I were sitting down to tackle the mountain of paperwork. I rubbed my tired eyes, feeling a mix of exhaustion and accomplishment. We had made significant progress, but there was still so much to do.

I turned to Aliyah, who was still typing away on her computer. "Aliyah, it's getting late. You've worked way past your normal hours. Why don't you head home and get some rest? We can pick up where we left off tomorrow."

Aliyah looked up, a hint of surprise on her face. "Are you sure, Xavier? I don't mind staying late to help you catch up."

I smiled, appreciative of her dedication. "I'm positive, Aliyah. You've done more than enough for today. Get some rest and come back refreshed tomorrow. We'll tackle the rest of the paperwork then."

Aliyah nodded, smiling back at me. "Okay, thank you, Xavier. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, she packed up her things and headed out the door, leaving me to my thoughts.

I packed my briefcase, ready to go home to have a rest because it has been a long and exhausting day.

As I walked into the mansion, I was taken aback by my dad's unexpected presence. I had thought he was still out of the country, and his sudden return caught me off guard. I tried to compose myself, not wanting to show my fatigue and stress.

"Welcome, Dad," I said, trying to sound cheerful and nonchalant. I prayed silently that he wouldn't bring up anything about work. I was running on fumes, and the thought of discussing the company's problems was exhausting.

My dad looked at me with a piercing gaze, his eyes seeming to bore into my soul. I knew that look all too well - it was the look of a man who was not happy with the current state of affairs.

"Xavier, we need to talk," he said, his voice firm but controlled. I felt my heart sink, knowing that I couldn't avoid the conversation forever. But for now, I just wanted to rest and recharge for the battle ahead.

RichardThornton, a self-made billionaire, stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his luxurious hotel suite, gazing out at the glittering Tokyo skyline. He had arrived in Japan a week ago, eager to finalize a lucrative business deal that would expand his company's reach into the Asian market.

As he sipped his scotch, his mind wandered back to California, where his company, Thornton Industries, was headquartered. He had left his son, Xavier , in charge, trusting him to manage the company's day-to-day operations. Richard had high hopes for Xavier , who had grown up learning the ins and outs of the business.

But as he checked his phone for what felt like the hundredth time that day, his heart sank. A text from his CFO, Rachel, flashed on the screen: "Richard, we have a problem. Stocks are plummeting. Xavier 's decisions are being questioned by the board. We need you back here ASAP."

Richard's eyes narrowed as he processed the news. What was going on? He had explicitly instructed Xavier to focus on expanding their market share, not to take unnecessary risks. And what did Rachel mean by "Xavier 's decisions"? Had his son made some catastrophic mistake?

He quickly dialed Rachel's number, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. As he listened to her explanation, his anger grew. It seemed that Xavier had indeed made some questionable decisions, ignoring advice from the company's veteran executives. The shareholders were now calling for an emergency meeting to discuss a possible change in leadership.

Richard's grip on his phone tightened. How could Xavier be so reckless? He had always known that his son was a bit of a wild card, but he had never doubted his ability to lead the company.

As he stood there, seething with anger and disappointment, Richard knew that he had to act fast. He couldn't let Xavier 's incompetence ruin everything he had built. He made a mental note to book a flight back to California immediately, ready to take back the reins and restore order to his company.

The Tokyo skyline, once a symbol of opportunity and growth, now seemed distant and irrelevant. Richard's focus had shifted to the crisis brewing back home, and he was determined to put things right.

Richard's mind was a whirlwind of concerns as he pondered the state of his company. He had always hoped that Xavier would take a more active interest in the business, but so far, that hadn't been the case. Despite his nonchalant attitude, Richard knew that Xavier was the only one of his sons who could truly take care of the company.

Henry and Jerry, on the other hand, were a different story altogether. They were both ruthless and cunning, always looking for ways to increase their own power and wealth. Richard had no doubt that if either of them were given control of the company, they would run it into the ground in their pursuit of greed.

Xavier, however, was different. Despite his lack of interest in the company, Richard knew that he had a good heart and would always try to do the right thing. That's why he had always insisted that Xavier represent him whenever he was away. He knew that Xavier would never intentionally try to harm the company, even if he didn't have a passion for it.

But Richard's biggest worry was Xavier's love of partying and spending money. He had always sworn that he would never let his son's reckless behavior ruin the company, and he was determined to keep a close eye on him to make sure that didn't happen.

As he sat in his study, waiting for Xavier to come and talk to him, Richard couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration and worry. He knew that he had to find a way to get Xavier to take the company seriously, but he had no idea how to do that. All he could do was hope that somehow, someway, Xavier would come to realize the importance of the company and take his responsibilities seriously.