Chapter 5 5

I offered him a drink while he spoke about the weather.

I laid out the plans for the building.

"I call her Agatha." I demonstrated, showing him the architectural design of the soon to be 1640 feet building. It's going to be the tallest building here, with smart tech all at the tip of your fingertips." I continued to explain the idea to him.

He leaned back as he listened to my idea. I made sure not to share too many details.

"Money is not the problem, I'm willing to accept any of your offers." I continued.

"I must say, Chris , your idea sounds really tempting but I'd need a few days to think this over. This isn't just a piece of property to me, this is my family legacy, it's a shame I never had any children otherwise I would have wanted them to inherit it. I'll be in New York for a few weeks, so I'll contact you before I leave." He spoke.

"Sure thing," I faked a smile. "While you are in New York how about you stay at my hotel, you can get to know a little bit more about me," I suggested. "I'll personally be there to ensure you are comfortable."

I needed this deal to go through at any cost.

"I think I'll take you up on that offer," He said. "It was great meeting you, but unfortunately I have another meeting I need to get to." He spoke.

"The pleasure was all mine," I spoke.

I shook his hand.

Leonardo smiled and then stepped out of my office.

"Dorn it," I whispered, kicking the chair.

He'll contact me before he leaves? That was just how people rejected your deals. I was just going to have to figure out another way to convince him.

Luke stepped into my office.

"So, did you talk him into it?"

He was surely trying to hurt my ego.

"I warned you this was not about money; you should have least showed you care about anything other than boosting your ego." He continued.

Since when did he get the courage to speak to me this way?

"I'll have him sign by the end of the week," I answered.

It didn't go as I expected, that just meant that this time I was more persistent.

Luke looked at his I-pad again. "Just a warning, the receptionist downstairs said your grandfather is on his way." He spoke.

I sighed.

My grandfather was ruthless, even in his old age he still wanted me to compete against him.

He lived by one rule only, get what you want no matter who got hurt.

Just minutes after Luke had left, my grandfather stepped into my office with his signature smirk, he leaned into his cane to support his weight.

"Grandpa," I said, trying to fake the least bit of enthusiasm.

"I heard about what happened with Henrick," He said, taking a seat.

How quickly did his informants inform him? It's like he had no life at all.

"It's been taken care of," I answered.

He let out a laugh.

"Chris , I must say that just makes you weaker than I thought." He spoke bitterly.

My expression changed, I clenched my hand into a fist, holding back my anger.

"If your employees don't respect and fear you, that makes you weak." He continued.

He quickly changed the subject.

"How is your new project going?" He asked.

"Why do you care so much anyways?" I asked.

"I don't. I'm just making sure you don't become a stain on my legacy. Frankly, I think you are talented enough to do more meaningful things than some stupid hotels." He answered.

There he has, the reason I had to become so cold and calculative in business or I would never meet his standards.

"I know you are going to need my help and my money if this project is going to work. Just simply getting this building approved could take years." He spoke.

"I'm all good," I answered.

With him breathing on my neck all the time, I'm thankful every day that I haven't become an alcoholic. It's a miracle that I'm able to stand him while being sober.

"You know, you and I are alike. We are both ambitious." He spoke.

By the tone of his voice, I knew where this conversation was going. He was about to start talking about his life history.

"I started this business from nothing, your grandmother abandoned me for a rich guy with three babies, I had no idea how I was going to feed them or what I was going to do with them." He paused.

My dad along with his brother and sister were born as triplets. My grandmother left because she wasn't living the life she wanted, she wanted someone who could give her power and money.

"Years later, I am the success you see today. I had built an empire. I have billions to my name, and I raised my family successfully. If your grandmother could see me now, all she achieved was ending up in a nursing home." he spoke proudly.

He was only here to brag about his money.

Even years after my grandmother's death, he still spoke of her bitterly.

"Grandpa, you neglected your children and most of them can't stand you." I retorted.

"That is what happens when you give your children millions. Since they can't complain about growing up poor like the other kids, they have to be resentful to their parents." He answered.

"Are you also going to tell me why you got a fake story of me put in the tabloids?" I changed the subject.

"Come on, I was only helping you. At your age, people care about stability, that's how they know they can trust you to do the job right. The sooner you marry that girl, the easier your life will be. You know her family has connections. You can divorce her right after. Women like her understand that it is just purely for business." He spoke.

"I didn't work this hard so that I can whore myself out," I answered.

"I think it's time you grow up and come to the big boys' table. You need to realize that you don't just make the kind of money I make by working hard. You have to get your pretty little manicured hands dirty sometimes." He spoke.

I'm sure all narcissists drew inspiration from him.

"I think that was it for our chat today." He continued.

He got up from the chair holding onto his cane.

I watched him leave my office. I leaned into my chair, finally able to release all the tension.

My grandfather was wrong about a lot of things, but he had a point. I was way too confident but behind on my project. I needed to have it approved. Going through the usual process would take years, only for me to end up being rejected. Asking my grandfather for help would be admitting to him that I couldn't do anything without his help.

My only option was to ask my father for help, which had its troubles, but it was still a better option than speaking to my grandfather. I'd have to suck up to my mother for this to work.