way out of your league

Black sheep of the family

Nathan's POV

I have always been a disappointment to family from birth. It started with my parents expecting a girl since they already had a son but I turned out to be a boy.Then when other kids my age started talking I didn't utter a single word till I was three.Finally when I could speak it was said that I was aggressive and rude that my parents wondered if it would have been better I never spoke and remained dumb.I was the exact opposite to by elder brother Nelson,the golden boy of the family or Nora my younger sister who was daddy's little princess.All these became worse when I showed little interest in the family business of oil and gas which was formed by merging two big oil and gas companies from my maternal and paternal grand parents due to my parents getting married to make them billionaires not that I care.

My name is Nathan and I am the supposed black sheep of the family.In highschool I tend to make friends with those that my parents thinks are beneath us,ignoring every effort my dad made to educate me on the how the family business works until he gave up and focused on grooming Nelson to be the next CEO with Reece Nelson's best friend to help him with managing the company. At this point I'm seen as nothing but a selfish rebel.This reputation of mine kept getting worse when the friends I had always requested that I do things for them,not that I mind cause if you have it why not make everyone around you comfortable. My mum despises this thought of mine and saw my friends as gold diggers but I couldn't care less cause to that woman everyone below her social status coming close to us were gold diggers, annoying right? My mum and I never got along too and the fact that I lost most of my friends through highschool cause the moment I turned down a couple of their requests they just withdrew from me,gave my mum the ammunition she needed to prove her point.

By my senior year I had only one close friend Sandra Clarke,the rest of my guys were just people I partied with,and would only call me when there was a party to go to or to support their party,it was also awesome cause bitches were so easy for me to f**k at those parties but Sandra Clarke was different,we hanged out together,had same classes and talked a lot that most people thought we were dating,we always had to remind them we weren't. At some point, I noticed she wanted more but I was not going to ruin the only close friend I had by dating or even f*****g her, to me she was off limits besides I just didn't feel that way about her. I introduced her to my parents and ofcourse they didn't like her and told her every time she came around.She began putting more effort to get their approval which I told her was unnecessary but she still tried and when she finally got their approval she was just as stuck up and irritating as they were.She became a snub who put people down,it was very shocking. Gone was that sweet girl who was my friend and as we left highschool she began dating my elder brother not caring about the fact that he never cared about her but was forced into that relationship by my mum which I find suspicious.He cheated on her constantly,but she always ignored that.

The crash of our friendship came after highschool when she joined my family in always telling me how much of a disappointment I was. After that I joined a construction company just before college, I met Hansel James there, he was trying to save up some cash just before college,we became very close but when my dad threatened to ruin this small construction company we resigned and went to NYU together. I met Andre Martins on my first day of college,we had similar classes,and we just hit it off. The three of us became inseparable,we got an apartment together off campus not that we got to rent cause it was owned by dad anyway and so we read and partied together.The fact that I choose civil engineering over petrochemical engineering disappointed my dad once again.

"Nathan at some point you need to put all these childishness aside,grow up and start taking responsibility in this family" he said,I never cared so why start now. Everything was going fine in my life so why fix what isn't broken.I'm going for a company dinner with my guys,My parents demanded that the whole family must be present so I decided to attend to avoid a situation where my dad drives to campus to irritate me.Walking into the hall with my guys we decided to mingle a little and leave early cause the heavy makeup,fake smiles and stuck up attitude of the people here was irritating.I wanted to talk to my brother but seeing that his girlfriend Sandra was all over him, I decided to wait till later,I mean when she was not around cause if I hear anymore of her stupidity tonight I would snap.Even though we attend the same college we don't talk, she is always with Nelson and Reece when she is not on campus or out shopping with my younger sister Nora since they are good friends. I decided to introduce the guys to my parents first and talk to my brother later.

"Hi mum and dad" I said "hello Nathan, nice of you to make it on time, add a little seriousness and ambition and you would be a perfect son of the Johnson's family" my dad said and I rolled my eyes as my mum cut in "Nathan maybe if u mingle you could get a little influence on the board of directors" "Actually mum I want to introduce you to my friends Hansel James and Andre Martins" I said "A pleasure to meet you sir and Ma " the guys said as they shook hands with my dad "oh,thank you" my mum replied "are your parents here?" My dad asked and I silently warned him with my eyes "no" they replied "what exactly do your Parents do?" My dad asked Hansel answered first "my dad is an accountant at Laurel Inc. and my mum is a nurse" while Andre said " my dad is a civil engineer and that was how I got my passion for what am studying and my mum....... "Cutting him my dad turned to me and said "Nathan how long would you continue this irresponsibility and foolishness " " can we talk in private dad" I asked fuming "After you mingle,enjoy the party boys" my mum cut in and we walked away.

"That was intense" Andre said "are they always like that" Hansel asked quietly "Yes,that's why we don't get along" I replied pissed "let's look around guys and leave but first I need to talk to my brother" I said as I saw him alone "hey Nels" I said and the both of us smiled "hello Nathan,I noticed things were getting heated up as you were talking to mum and dad" he said "As always, as f*****g always" I said irritated "don't let them get to you,be you and do it proudly cause at the end of the day as long as you are not hurting anyone you need to be happy" he said and continued "oh and I set up and account with cash to help you with whatever business you want to go into but know that dad and mum are not aware of this and note that you would always be a shareholder in the company even though I'll be managing it soon" he is just 5years older than me but he talks like he is way older and it can be creepy I thought and smiled "And Nathan just know i'm rooting for you and I love you my brooding brother" he said laughing "oh pls stop,guys don't say that s**t to each other" I said acting irritated which I wasn't anyway "OK Nate" he said laughing "hey babe" I heard Sandra say to my brother "mum and dad were just complaining about Nat......" She paused noticing me "oh,hi Nathan" she said and continued "Nathan you need to act more responsible,you are way out of the league of those leaches you call friends" "sweetheart don't talk to my brother like that you don't understand him" Nelson said " but I do,he loves taking new charity cases and I know cause we were friends" she sai at this point I was not only irritated but done with playing nice to her so I snapped "You were also a charity project,no my charity project and look at you now,does that make you a leech" I replied "you know what, ruin what's left of your pathetic life,that's on you, i'm done" she replied

"That's enough Sandra or do you need me to drive you home?" Nelson said. "Nathan go and cool off" he said "I'm sorry Nelson" I said cause I know although he wasn't interested in her before they were now serious and talking about marriage even though I know she initiated that conversation.

As I walked away to cool off trying to find my guys I met some of theboard of directors who riled me up again "Hello Nathan" they said "hello Mr and Mrs Campbell and Davis" " I heard you are still not interested in the company boy" Mr Davis said "you need to grow up boy,wealth is a generational thing and you need to take your place in preparing things for the next generation" Mr Campbell added "I hope you shape up soon" Mrs Campbell added "And I hope to introduce you to my daughter" Mrs Davis said "You would make a fine pair" she said smiling, I nodded politely and left to get a drink cause I was officially done with this function at that moment I heard and announcement being made calling my family to the stage.I just need to get the guys and leave,I couldn't care less but Nora quickly grabbed my arm linking hers with mine saying"hello nathie" "hello norie" I replied amused "You can't leave when its time to get the camera on us,oh I love the spotlight" she said I looked at her and laughed "Attention seeking princess, you would be worse than mum" I replied and she said "is that suppose to be a compliment cause it doesn't sound like one besides mum is old" we both laughed as we stepped on the stage

I was surprised to see Sandra on stage holding my brothers arm and smirking at me "how responsible of you to join us on stage,thanks Nathan" I smirked too and replied "how irresponsible of you to join us on stage with your parents down their with the other company staffs" raising an eyebrow I continued "Throwing away the clarke's name for a name that is not yet yours?" She frowned and was about to say something but was cutoff by my brother "if you won't behave Sandra you might as well get down from the stage now and that goes for you too Nathan" I nodded and kept quiet,after the speech they all clapped,while my mum waved,so dramatic I thought and we stepped down.

I was looking for the guys to leave this place when I heard "hey Nathan" I turned to see Reece my brother's bestfriend "hi Reece" I replied and he continued "Are you done being the black sheep of the family" I replied "Are you done kissing my dad's ass" he laughed and said "I admire your courage but I sometimes wonder if it is just plain stupidity but it looks good on you so no hard feelings man" I sighed and said "see you around Reece"," same here Nathan" with that I went to my guy and they said although they enjoyed the party which I was shocked to hear,they were ready to leave so we all left together.