Surrender to My Prodigal Billionaire

Drake The thundering voice of my father hits my ears long before he makes it to my office. Since I knew this was coming, I keep looking over the current merger and wait. After Alicia made such a scene leaving this morning, it was only a matter of time before I got a visit from dear old dad. Dad and I have a different relationship than most fathers and sons. We have love for each other, but it was never a close bonding experience. He was always busy with business, and I wasn't useful to him until I was old enough to start learning the ropes. Being the oldest son, it was my destiny to lead Calloway Industries when my father, Sterling, was ready for retirement. At only 26, I know this business like the back of my hand. In my opinion, that should matter more than the s**t he's about to ream me for. "Drake Isaac Calloway!" he booms as he slams my door open. "Right here." I deadpan, not bothering to look up at him. "Ellen just told me what transpired this morning! When will you grow up? This is your legacy! I busted my ass to have the reputation and wealth that we have, and you are letting your d**k ruin that!" I glance up at him, and as I expected, his face is crimson with the little vein popping up on his forehead. Of course, I knew Ellen would run back to him with everything. She has been his faithful secretary for almost 30 years now. Anytime anything happens around here, he knows instantly. I don't blame her though. No one around here wants to be on my father's bad side. Being his son, I'm immune to his blow ups. He needs me in this position and we both know that. His business partner, Alec, has no children to pass it down to and my little sister, Ana, wants nothing to do with it. There's always her husband, Cole, but he doesn't have what it takes to run the family business. Too much of a pushover for his own good. That's why I'm so good at what I do. I refuse to back down until I get what I want but have the demeanor to have people see things my way easily. I'm not a genius, but I'm not an i***t by any means. Besides the family name, people know how powerful we are. It doesn't take much convincing for people to know that it works our way, or we can make life hell for them. Not that we have ever had to, and we wouldn't. They don't need to know that though. "Alicia was becoming too clingy. It isn't my fault she reacted the way she did. All I told her was that certain services of hers would no longer be required." I shrug. I watch as my father's eyes widen. "She shouldn't have had any other "services" than her job duties around here! Damn it, Drake! If you have to find someone to warm your bed, do it outside of the company! That is the sixth secretary in four months! It is bad enough to hear about your escapades all over the press, let alone it being found that they are all employees of ours!" "Now that isn't fair. There were a few in that time span that I met out elsewhere. But I work so much it just makes sense to keep it close to home." He slams the door close behind him and flops into the chair in front of my desk. Taking in his features, I can see the wariness and exhaustion lying under the anger. As much as I tell him to retire already and hand it over to me, he refuses. No matter how much time and effort I put in - the final decision will be his. "This was the last time, Drake. I hoped and prayed that you would mature and realize the gravity of your choices. Your mother said to give it time, but I can't anymore. This is doing neither of us any good." His words pique my interest and I sit up a little straighter in my chair as I lay the folder on my desk. "What are you talking about?" Dad lets out a heavy sigh and closes his eyes while he rubs his forehead in frustration. "What I'm saying is this was the last time you play with your secretaries. Ellen is going to be hiring your next one and you will keep it in your pants. If you can't, you will be cut off completely." Staring him down, I do my best to keep my composure. There is no way in hell I can allow this. Leave it to my father to overreact. He acts like I was caught with blow and a hooker. I had a little fun with a female co-worker. It isn't like I'm the only person in history to have done that. Just because I'm more high profile doesn't mean he has to go to these lengths. "Oh really? And who would you hand this all over to?" I raise an eyebrow at him as I gesture around the office. Never breaking eye contact, a wicked grin spreads across his face. "Simple. Taylor's boy has been wanting to merge our companies for years. It would be easy for me to sell it to him for a hefty profit and go into my golden years with no stress or worry." Clenching my fists under the table, I can't believe what I am hearing. Taylor Berg is the owner of our biggest competitor and his son, Ashton, is the biggest asshole I have ever met in my entire life. His private affairs are no better than mine; he just has a better PR team that can make it all go away before it blows up. That and the fact that he has everyone fooled that he is the innocent boy that he tries to portray. I know better and there is no way in hell I'm going to let him have what I have worked so hard for. "Are you trying to tank this place?" I grit out. "Not at all. Ashton would do well by the company. But I want you to realize that you aren't as invincible as you like to pretend. I'm serious this time. No more fraternizing with co-workers. If I find out you have, you will be stripped of your title, and I will freeze any money going into your account from us." Seething on the inside, I put on my best poker face, so he doesn't know that it is affecting me. The last thing I want is for him to know he found my weakness. "Fine. You have my word. Which I'm sure that Ellen will ensure with whatever troll she decides to send me." "You don't get it," he sighs as he hangs his head. "Your actions reflect on us, and it could cause outcomes personally that you will have to live with for the rest of your life. I'm doing this for you." I nod and grab the folder from the desk once again and busy myself with it. Sensing that I am done with this conversation, he silently gets up and lets himself out. Once I'm alone again, I let out a low groan. Not sleeping with my assistant won't be an issue, but the manner my father went about it is infuriating. Take my title and freeze my accounts? First off, I have enough of my own money I made to live well without taking another dime from him. But the money he would cut me off from was what my grandmother left for me. It is mine. I could also easily start up my own company that would make his crumble. But it is the principle of it all. I'm his flesh and blood and he didn't even bat an eye when giving me his terms. Getting up from my seat, I make my way over to the liquor cabinet and pour myself a glass of whiskey to take the edge off. It may only be ten in the morning, but I can already tell that it will be a s**t one. A knock at the door pulls my attention. Before I can say anything, my best friend pops his head in. "Just wanted to make sure you were still breathing." he grins widely at me. Flipping him off, I sit back down at my desk with drink in hand. "He wouldn't kill me. That would cause a speck of shame to his reputation, and we can't have that." Jordan takes the seat that my father vacated and puts his feet up on my desk. "With the way he was screaming, people two miles away could hear him. I thought this would be the day you would cease to exist." I chuckle at that and some of my anger ebbs. Jordan has always been at my side. That's why the moment I had a spot to bring him on board, I did. We grew up together and there hasn't been a day that I haven't been thankful for him. Our mothers are best friends as well and we always blame that on the connection we have. But truth be told, we would have been close even if we had met each other another way. We are similar in every way. The only difference between us is that we will both call the other one for the stupid bullshit they are about to do - without realizing we can never take our own advice when it pertains to us. "He threatened to give the company to Ashton and cut off my grandmother's funds if I sleep with another secretary," I confide in him. Jordan lets out a low whistle and shakes his head. I don't miss the smile on his face. "Damn, man. He isn't f*****g around this time." "Nope. And to top it all off, Ellen is choosing my next assistant." Jordan can't control his laughter and I want to punch him square in the face. Now is not the time to be reveling in my misery. "Dude," he says as he gets himself back under control, "I can just imagine who she will send up. Possibly a man." Nodding my head in agreement, I think it over. I have known Ellen my entire life. The one word that would best describe her is stubborn. She also has never agreed with the way I have lived my life. She is under the impression that you find that one special person and don't bedhop. That may have worked for her in her life, but I'm not for that way of living. I'm young and rich. I could have any woman that I wanted with a flick of my wrist. Why not enjoy it while I can? "I just came to check the damage," Jordan says as he stands. "I have a meeting soon, but I will check back in with you later. Drinks tonight?" "Yeah. Come find me at the end of the day and we will go down to Monica's." He gives me the thumbs up before leaving my office. Monica's is a nice little bar a few blocks from our office. It is the one place where I'm sure to find something, or someone, to take my mind off of everything that happened today. Shaking off the recent events, I dig back into my work trying not to dread what may lie ahead of me with a new assistant. There may be some mystery as to what Ellen will send my way, but I'm confident that no matter what, I will keep my hands to myself this time.