Accidentally Pregnant For My Billionaire Boss

Clara's POV

I said, "Bye, Sam," and waved to the manager.

He saw me race out of the bakery and grinned.

I glanced at my watch at 18:30.

This meant that I had a mere thirty minutes before I had to start working at the hotel. We had a busy day with a lot of orders coming in, so my shift finished a little later than normal today.

I was simply covering for a buddy, therefore today was my final day. This meant I had to hunt for another part-time work because I was back on the job market. I had to leave before I lost my second job, though.

The bus was ready to leave when I put out my hand to stop it.

"Clara," the bus driver grinned as I got on, panting profusely.

"I'm grateful, Brian," I said.

To put it mildly, I was accustomed to being late.

The hotel where I worked was a twenty-minute drive away; if I ran quickly enough, I could make it in time. I tapped my foot tensely, counting every minute. It doesn't help that I'm the last one to arrive-my boss has been seeking an excuse to dismiss me ever since I was recruited.

The motel was just a block away when I got off the bus. It was visible from a mile away. In the district, it was the highest structure.

Reading 'New Ravens suites' made me sigh as I continued to look at the structure as I normally do. If you were a visitor, it was the greatest place to be; if you worked there, it was the worst.

How one individual possesses all of the stuff is absurd. Located on the first floor of one of the best hotels in the city is a five-star restaurant. Among many other things, guests have the greatest view of the city and a private jacuzzi. You have to have contacts to get a room here, not to mention that many of the rooms include precious artwork. It would cost an arm and a leg to stay here for only one night.

I took my uniform out of my bag pack. I headed straight to the locker rooms so I could quickly change.

"Shot," I said as I left the changing areas.

Everyone was already in a meeting at this point. Before we began our shift, Marcus, our boss, loved to gather us around for a short "word of encouragement."

Marcus started speaking, and I blended in with the throng without anybody noticing.

Marcus said, "Maddison Riley," rising over the throng. "That is who you are going to be serving,"

As everyone in the throng exchanged glances, there were whispers.

Madison Riley was essentially a celebrity; she gained widespread recognition after appearing in a well-known advertisement. Her parents possess a sizable construction firm, and she owns a well-known store featuring high-end designer clothing, therefore her family's wealth is mostly responsible for her notoriety.

My buddy Ivy caught my eye from the corner of the room.

Shouting "Hi," I approached Ivy who was standing next to her.

"If you were late by another minute, I'm pretty sure he was going to fire you." She said quietly.

I said, "He always exaggerates."

Marcus was still being heard by us.

He arched an eyebrow, saying, "I don't need to remind any of you how important she is."

Marcus, a middle-aged man who was most likely in his late forties, was a competent manager when he wasn't busy overworking us. Most people claim that Marcus only became manager because his father was the previous manager and had to retire. mostly because he was attempting to advance to a different downtown hotel branch.

"Now that you're all gone," he brushed us off.

He saw me and Ivy, his typical targets. He gestured for us to wait by pointing at the two of us.

Marcus walked up to us while we waited for everyone else to go.

"I need the two of you to personally take care of Maddison. She is one of our biggest clients and if any of the rumors are true, God help us. She is going to be the future madam of this place so I wouldn't do anything stupid if I were you." said Marcus.

Ivy cynically said, "Sure boss, we'll do it gladly. Only because you asked us so nicely."

Clapping his fists together, Marcus screamed, "Now go, what are you still doing here?" He halted, sighing, and turned back to face me. He rolled his eyes, and said, "If you were any smarter, you would be in a mansion with a rich husband," and he went by me.

I muttered to Ivy, "Am I supposed to take that as an insult?"

"Come on, he is just jealous that even the gay guys are turning their attention on you." She was joking.

I strolled over to Maddison's apartment with Ivy. Her belongings were already being brought in by others. The maids from the previous shift had packed and organized her bags beforehand.

I've always been curious about what it's like to be really wealthy and not have to worry about making ends meet.

With a groan, I grabbed the dishwashing liquids. Daydreaming all day was not an option for me; I had a job to do.

Ivy made her usual decision to explore before continuing with her duties.

"Derek Montenegro, the sexiest bachelor in New York," Ivy said.

Ivy was staring at a GQ magazine when I turned to face her.

"He looks amazing," she said, turning the magazine cover in my direction.

Yes, he was definitely deserving of the label of "sexiest bachelor in New York." With hardly even a grin on his face, he posed so smoothly for the magazine cover. Any woman would go crazy at his casual appearance in a blue tux. His influence was so strong that it caused my knees to weaken. If I were to see him in person, I wonder how I would respond.

I had to escape my own thoughts.

I looked away from his photo and reminded her, "Yes, he is also our boss."

I gave the broom to her.

She said, "You really have a way of ruining my mood."

Taking up the broom, she began cleaning the living room. There wasn't much to do at this place; every day, even when no one was staying in the rooms, they were all cleaned.

We had to tidy the bedroom next.

Ivy reached over to the nightstand and grabbed up another magazine-this one was another of Derek's. "How is it possible that a guy looks like that, yet no one has ever tried to have his baby," she said.

I said, laughing, "Are you still on that?"

"I mean, look at him. He is practically a Greek god. If I were those other girls, I'd get pregnant and trap him immediately." She laughed.

"We would have to become millionaires before he gives us a bit of his attention. He is hardly ever seen with a girl in the tabloids." I said.

Unexpectedly, I noticed his images in one of my fifteen-year-old sister Katy's adolescent magazines, which she received every month and which were devoted to boy bands. He was the center of attention for the tabloids.

"Maddison must have the right idea, everyone knows that's the only reason she is coming here, to try and seduce him." She went on.

I said, pretending to speak French, "Maybe she just wants to experience New Ravens suites." I'm not even sure why I did it.

"Come on, we've all seen women like her. Her parents own a mansion just a few blocks from here. She might have her own money but it's the power she craves. We know that she is only after his money. She is just looking for a place where she can target him." Ivy responded.

"That's even if he shows up here," I said. "You've said it yourself; you've worked here in the last two years, yet you have never seen him step a foot here."

Although I've just been employed here for the last three months, I've heard that he seldom really comes up in person because he is constantly on the road. I've never been in there, but I do know that he has a private apartment on the top level, which is only sometimes accessible by the maids with the highest clearance to keep the place tidy.

"Anyways, the guy is a jerk. He won't let his employees take any time off. We work throughout Christmas and if I hadn't faked an injury, I would have missed my grandmother's funeral." She said.

"I think that's a little bit of Marcus' doing," I said.

"That's true, Marcus is a total ass. He is just bitter that he is alone, so he projects it on everyone." She said.

Something buzzed on my pocket phone. I was starting to make the practice of checking my surroundings before picking up the phone. Since we were hosting some celebs, they didn't want us using our phones at this place.

I noticed Waylen's name on the caller ID.

Our relationship ended a week ago. He hasn't stopped phoning me since then. Fortunately, I won't be working at the restaurant anymore, because I was sick of his coming by. He knew my mom would beat him up, so he didn't dare come to my house. She is unaware that I even began dating.

I figured he would stop calling after all of this. For the whole duration of our relationship, he lied to me-even on small matters. When I spotted him at a bookshop, I asked him where he was, and he said that he was at home. Eventually, among other things, I became weary of it.

I hung up on him.

He texted, saying, "Please, I need to see you so we can talk."

Enraged, I turned off my phone and shoved it in my pocket.

Ivy enquired, "What happened to you?"

"It's Waylen," I said.

"You never told me why the two of you broke up," Ivy said.

"Things just weren't working out. He was a liar, and we just didn't have any chemistry and now he won't stop texting me." I said.

"You could have stayed with him; the guy was always around you like a little puppy. You broke his heart." She said.

"It would have been worse if I continued leading him on. He was already planning on children and buying a house." I said.

She raised her eyebrows, "Do you know how many women would kill for a guy like that?"

"Come on, you know what I mean. I just wasn't ready for that kind of commitment; I couldn't picture myself with him in the future." I said.

"I don't blame you; the guy was a bit of a creep anyway," she said.

A gentle tapping on the door was heard.

To answer the door, I came out of the room.

Standing at the doorway was a middle-aged woman with her hair pulled back neatly and a bundle in her hands. She grinned at me. All of them with their covers on gave the appearance of dresses.

"I'm here to drop off these dresses for Ms Maddison," she said with a grin.

"You can give them to me," I said.

As she handed me the outfits, she grinned.

I closed the door after seeing her go away.

I went back to the bedroom and made the beds with the dresses.

Ivy wondered what it was as she glanced at me. Her eyes shimmered, telling me that trouble was what this would bring.

She started to unzip the zipper before I could object. "It's Christian Dior," Ivy cried, tracing her fingertips over a garment.

I read her thinking and demanded, "Put that down."

I've already witnessed this side of Ivy; the last time she let her curiosity get the better of her, we almost got expelled from the pub.

"Come on, a dress like that? It's just begging to be worn." She said.

My remarks went unnoticed. She was taking off the black sparkling beauty's cover and trying to put it on already. That outfit would make me murder for it.

"This isn't Maid in Manhattan. You will get us caught, we will never be able to work another job in New York or anywhere else." I attempted to argue with her.

She urged, "Come on, you could be on the lookout."

Clara's POV

She was off sprinting to the closet with the dress before I could object.

There were several reasons why this was a horrible idea.

We had to get the job done because Maddison was probably going to come soon, so I moaned as I finished the remaining tasks.

It was a few minutes before Ivy came out of the closet.

"How do I look?" she said as she leaned against the door.

"Wow," was all I could say.

The majority of her back was seen due to the floor-length gown's sharp neckline and exposed leg. It accentuated every aspect of Ivy, fitting her flawlessly.

Ivy said, "Wouldn't it be great to be rich?" "I just looked at the price tag, it costs enough for me to buy myself a decent car." She said.

"It's a shame she is probably only ever going to wear it once," I said. "You should take the dress off before you get us into any trouble."

"You're correct," she said.

Looking behind her back for the zip, she extended her hand.

Ivy yelled, "The zipper won't open."

Panicked, I gazed at her.

By happenstance, we heard the doorknob turn.

Maddison showed up!

I murmured to Ivy, "Hide," and flung the dress's covering at her.

Ivy was hoping she could remove the garment before Maddison realized it was missing.

As soon as Maddison entered the room, the door sprang open. She was unmistakable; I knew her from all the tabloid stories.

She was accompanied by two other women.

Before they noticed her, Ivy hurried inside the restroom.

"When I entered the suite, Maddison said, "The weather in Mulan was awful."

"Did you see Layla's Instagram post? That girl couldn't recognize good taste if it punched her in the face," she said.

"Susan sweetheart, that is just what happens when poor people marry into rich families, that's why we just don't mix," Maddison said.

When Maddison finally realized I was here, she gave me a look.

She said, "What are you still doing here?"

"Ma'am, I was still tidying up," I said.

She flung her coat and suitcase on the ground and then threw herself onto the couch.

She pointed at me and said, "Why don't you do your job and put my coat away."

I took her coat and bag and put them in the closet.

She gestured, "Madelyn, get me that tabloid."

The second girl was probably her helper.

She gave the tabloid to Maddison.

Maddison said, "I'm going to marry Derek Montenegro."

Susan, her companion, said, "You shouldn't be so confident," as she sat next to her.

"If you looked like me, I'd also be confident. You should stop hanging around that stupid driver of yours, you are becoming dumber." Maddison took a breath. "Besides, I know for a fact that his parents a having a surprise birthday party for him. I'm going to ask my dad to get me an invitation. Once he sees me, he won't be able to resist."

Ivy was correct-Maddison was genuinely interested in his money. All she wanted was an opportunity to go after him. Who would have guessed that wealthy females might be greedy for wealth?

"Why are you so obsessed with him, haven't you already tried calling him about a hundred times?" Susan said.

"You clearly haven't looked at his pictures long enough. He is an RPH, Rich, Powerful, and Handsome. Plus, my dad and I already agree that it would be good for business. He is probably just busy." Maddison said.

You might assume at first that she is intelligent enough to detect when a guy is neglecting her.

Ivy was back on my mind; I had to support her. I would have to wait for the right moment to sneak out of there.

With a sigh, Susan leaned back on the couch. "Wouldn't it be great to marry the love of your life? Someone who you can grow old with and who will love you no matter what." Susan said.

"Don't be stupid, love is an illusion created for poor people to feel like they are doing something with their lives," Maddison said. "Besides, falling in love with him won't be that hard," she said, her gaze returning to the newspaper featuring his photo.

She let the tabloid fall to the ground.

"If I'm going to be the future Mrs. Derek Montenego I need to look gorgeous. He has to notice me." Maddison said.

"It's not Montenegro," her pal said.

Maddison's eyes rolled.

I had the opportunity to exit the room and assist Ivy. I could finish it now that she was preoccupied.

"You, with the blue eyes," yelled Maddison.

I came to a halt instantly. I looked over my shoulder to see who she could be speaking with.

Pointing to me, she said, "Is there anyone else here, I need you to come here?"

She said, "Where are my dresses?"

With the outfits, we were in serious trouble now. How could we possibly escape this one?

I stammered, "In your bedroom, ma'am."

Once more, she rolled her eyes. That was definitely a habit of hers. I never rolled my eyes because my mom used to tell me that they would stay that way.

With a fury, she walked to the bedroom. Madelyn and Susan trailed following her.

I had to follow her so that when she realized the dress was missing, I could tell a story to hide it.

Perhaps she wouldn't even realize it was missing.

I pretended to dust some furniture and waited outside the door.

While deciding which dress to wear, Maddison spread out all of the gowns on the bed.

Maddison said, "Didn't I ask to have five of these delivered?"

Her helper gave her a bewildered look.

And what would I do? I could say it was never delivered, but that may lead to the termination of another person. I had to figure out how I was going to survive this one.

"I think you are better off wearing the blue one ma'am," I said.

Madison said, "Excuse me," as she turned to face me.

Her companion and her helper both raised an eyebrow at me. I was probably fired for speaking out of turn at this point.

"I mean, a woman like you, the blue one perfectly highlights your curves. It shows your elegance, that you are different and not like the other girls. It says 'irresistible', you need to make him imagine what he could have. You will be the envy of them all." I was speaking while glancing at the gown. "Besides, black is last year's season," I said.

She gave me a sidelong glance before focusing on her reflection in the mirror. As she tucked her hair behind her ear, she said, "I suppose you are correct."

I merely stroked her ego.

Madison said, "Maybe she should take your job," looking at her assistant.

That was a close one, I sighed. Before any of us get into problems, I hope Ivy can remove the outfit.

As fortune would have it, Ivy left the restroom.

As they gazed at the garment in her hand, all heads turned to watch her. I'm hoping she thought of a clever tale to hide this problem.

Maddison questioned, "Where were you the whole time?"

She said nervously, "I was just cleaning up your bathroom ma'am."

Madison yelled, "What were you doing with that?"

"I'm sorry ma'am, I was just looking for some closet space to put it," Ivy said.

She was unable to exit the closet without drawing attention from anyone in the bedroom as she was on her way to the restroom.

Taking the clothing from her hand, Maddison brushed her off.

"Do you need anything else, ma'am?" I responded.

She shooed us away, saying, "No, you can go."

I gave a nod, then quickly left the apartment behind.

Ivy ran on her small legs and trailed after me.

I muttered to her, "Don't ever do that to me again; you know my heart can't take it."

She said, "Trust me, I learned my lesson."

My shift finished at about five in the morning. My feet were arching by the time my shift finished, and I could hardly stand without feeling as though I was walking on molten lava. I could hardly keep my eyes open right now, yet I slept through my little break.

However, I was going to the day shift starting next week, so maybe things would be better.

I walked into the home with my eyes half closed, kicking off my shoes.

Katy and Mom must be getting ready to leave the house right now.

Our front door always makes a loud sound, so I carefully closed it.

My mother's voice came from the living room, "Hello honey."

I listened to her voice.

On the couch, she lay. She was usually up and about, attempting to get Katy ready for school.

I kissed her cheek and said, "Morning, Mom." "Aren't you preparing to get to work today?" I responded.

Mom was employed at a nearby shoe factory. She has been employed by them for the past 10 years; I have always advised her to look for a new position, but given her age, this may be particularly difficult.

She let out a sigh.

"Yesterday on my way to work, someone pushed me on the subway, and I sprained my ankle badly." She stopped. The tears welling up in her eyes were visible to me. "The manager fired me; they said I couldn't work anymore. And because of my age, it didn't make things better either." She broke down.

I embraced her in a hug and said, "It's okay Mom, it's going to be okay."

"How? You are already working so hard. You are supposed to be studying and following your dreams like all your other agemates, instead, I'm just a burden to you." She broke down.

I gave her a closer hug. "I could never consider you to be a burden," I said.

The three of us hugged for a long time before Katy joined in.

"I'm so sorry I can't give you two the life that you deserve," she said in a whisper.

I said, "You couldn't have done better."

The first to pull out of the hug was Mom. "Katy, you need to get to school. I know you are only joining in so you can avoid going to school." Mom said.

I laughed.

"Come on, you know I Studied the whole year's work during my summer break. I already know everything they are teaching; school is a waste of my time." She said.

Our little prodigy, Katy, was constantly reading novels far older than she was.

Mom scowled at her, showing Katy how serious she was without having to say anything more.

"I'm going to go and lay down for a bit," I said.

"I had some food prepared for you in the oven," Mom said.

"When I wake up, I'll just eat," I said, wiping my eyes.

I made my way to my bedroom upstairs.

I heard Mom cry downstairs, "Katy, you need to get ready for school. The bus will be here any moment!"

That was my household.

I leaned my back against the wall and sighed. We were already one month behind on our rent, so I'm not sure how we were going to make ends meet this month. Fortunately, the landlord was understanding enough to make accommodations.

I counted out three hundred fifty dollars, the last of my funds from my tips at the restaurant, and put it into a jar. Maybe by the time I'm forty, I won't be in debt if things continue the way they are. We would need to work another part-time job for me to make ends meet.

I had to make this work, and I would.

Derek's POV

Gazing at the vista of the huge towers behind my desk, I paced my office.

I would begin work on the tallest skyscraper in New York in just a few more months. I was going to transform the hotel sector with this idea.

It takes toughness to succeed in this profession. That required putting those who believe they can betray you in check.

I asked my assistant to summon Hendrik to my office.

"Yes, sir," Luke said.

A gentle tap on my door prompted Luke to open it.

He has helped me out ever since I opened the company, and we have also had a few friendship moments.

Luke said, "Mr. Hendrik is here to see you, sir."

"Please send him in," I said.

Luke said, "The poor guy thinks he's getting a promotion."

I laughed.

I discovered that he was offering our main rival, Peterson Inc., access to some of our trade secrets, including all of our agreements and projects. Ever since, I've been surreptitiously exploiting him to provide our rivals with false information. They were clueless about what was ahead of them. I had already gotten what I wanted, so this game was getting too monotonous, and Hendrik was no longer useful.

Luke gave me a nod and left my office.

When individuals believed they could betray me and get away with it, that was my favorite aspect of the job.

Henrik entered my office with his usual smile. Among the project managers was him.

"I just want to inform you sir that the project is a go sir, we are just waiting for the press release," Henrik said.

"I think that can wait," was my response.

I motioned for him to sit down.

"So, how much were they paying you to betray me?" I inquired.

His demeanor altered.

"I apologize, sir," he said with a smile.

"I know that you are the mole that has been leaking all our private information and selling it to our competitors," I said.

"I don't know what you are talking about sir, there has to be some kind of mistake." He said.

"The only mistake here is you thinking you can betray me," I said.

As he considered what to say next, he cast a glance down at his hands.

"I'm so sorry sir, I had no choice but to do it. They were threatening my family." He begged.

I didn't care about Marc Peterson's justifications since I knew he could use blackmail to achieve his goals.

"You could have come to me first. You know that I never forgive any betrayal or lies." I said. "I hope you realize that I'm going to make sure that you pay for this, I'll destroy everything you own." I've said.

"Please, sir," the man begged.

"I'll see you in court with my lawyers. I need you to get out of my office," I told him.

He was rendered mute, but fortunately, he understood when to give up. I observed him leaving my office.

He was very mistaken if he believed he could convince Marc to let him out of this. Marc would have betrayed anyone to achieve his goals.

I massaged my neck, letting go of some of the stress I was keeping inside.

Luke entered my workspace.

"What's my schedule for today?" I questioned, attempting to control my rage.

He said, "Your mother has been calling, sir," as he glanced at my calendar.

One more issue. When I turned my phone over, I saw that she had missed at least fifty calls. She insisted on throwing me a surprise party despite my repeated warnings to the contrary. I simply didn't come there since I didn't feel like pretending to be startled. She has a lot to say about it, I'm sure.

I said, "Ignore her," as I looked up from my phone.

He went on, "She says that she was in a serious accident."

I exhaled. "You know that she is only going through her five stages of looking for attention, she'll stop eventually," I said.

With a nod.

I inquired, "What else is there?"

"Forbes magazine would like an interview with you, sir." He went on.

"Tell them I'm not interested; I don't have the time to speak to some reporter when I could actually be doing something meaningful with my time," I said.

Once more, he gave a nod and crossed something on the iPad.

"You also have a meeting with the architecture for your new restaurant in Rome, they need your approval. I managed to secure a meeting with Leonardo Pierce, he should be here in less than half an hour." He went on.

I reclined in my chair.

Leonardo needed to sell me the land if I was going to succeed with my new project for my new building. There were rumors that numerous individuals, including our rivals, had already placed their proposals, indicating that it was the ideal development location.

"There is one more thing," he said.

He showed me an image of a magazine cover on the iPad that he had given me.

"A blossoming romance between heiress Maddison Riley and Derek Montenegro"

I inquired, "When was this released?" examining tabloid articles.

"This morning," was his response.

Didn't individuals become weary of concocting tales about the lives of others?

I had a feeling that my grandfather's name was all over this. I was aware of his methods.

"This is ridiculous, don't people have something better to do with their lives?" I said. Returning the iPad to him, I questioned, "Who is she anyway?"

"The obsessed girl who won't stop calling the office," he said.

"Great, another pathetic girl that probably needs to be sent to a psychiatric hospital," I said.

My phone rang once more; it was my mom sending me another text.

I believed that leaving your parent's house was the main goal in order for them to stop being around you.

He said, "Mr. Pierce is here early, sir."

"You can tell the receptionist to send him in," I said.

"I must warn you, sir, he isn't one of your problems you can just throw money at. That ground means a lot to him, you would actually have to convince him." He issued a warning.

He was in his late fifties, based on what I have heard. There were many untruths about him, including the idea that he lost half of his family's wealth in a divorce after getting married young. He has no relatives remaining, and no children. This meant that, given the pitiful state of his life, he wouldn't be all that difficult to persuade.

"There is no person I haven't managed to talk into anything," I laughed.

Perhaps all I needed to do to get out of this predicament was to offer a glimpse of what I saw.

Just as Leonardo Pierce entered, Luke moved out.

As I got up from my seat, I said, "It's nice to see you."

"The pleasure is all mine; I've heard a lot about you." He said.

I had the upper hand on him already.

I motioned to a seat at the cough and said, "Please take a seat." I could convince him much more easily in a more laid-back setting.

I made him a drink offer while he was talking about the weather.

I presented the building's blueprints.

I showed him the planned 1640-foot building's architectural layout and said, "I call her Agatha." I went on to describe the concept to him. "It's going to be the tallest building here, with smart tech all at your fingertips."

I was careful not to provide too many specifics, and he leaned back and listened to my notion.

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

"I have to admit, Derek, that your concept sounds incredibly appealing, but I'd need some time to consider it. It's unfortunate that I was childless since I would have liked for my children to inherit this as it represents my family's heritage and is more than simply a piece of real estate. He said, "I'll get in touch with you before I depart-I'll be in New York for a few weeks."

"Sure thing," I grinned. "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 said. "I'll personally be there to ensure you are comfortable."

I had to make this transaction work, no matter what.

"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 said.

"It was entirely my pleasure," I said.

My hand shook his.

Leonardo left my office with a smile on his face.

"Dorn it," I kicked the chair and whispered.

That's just how deals got turned down, so will he get back to me before he leaves? I guess I'll just have to find another way to win him over.

Luke entered my workspace.

"Well, did you persuade him to do it?"He said.

He undoubtedly intended to damage my ego.

"I warned you this was not about money; you should have at least shown you care about anything other than boasting your ego." He went on.

When did he have the guts to talk to me like this?

I replied, "By the end of the week, I'll have him sign."

When things didn't work out the way I had hoped, it only made me more determined to try again.

"Just a warning, the receptionist downstairs said your grandfather is on his way," Luke said, glancing back at his iPad.

I exhaled.

My grandfather was cruel, and he wanted me to compete against him even as he grew older.

His only rule in life was to get what you wanted, no matter who was harmed.

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, attempting to sound as enthusiastic as possible.

"I heard about what happened with Henrick," He spoke 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.

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

My expression changed, and 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 anyway?" 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 achieve more substantial things than some silly hotels." He said.

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

"I know you are going to need my help and my money if this idea is going to work. Just simply having this structure approved might take years." He remarked.

"I'm all good," I said.

With him breathing on my neck all the time, I'm glad every day that I haven't become an alcoholic. It's a wonder 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 headed. He was ready 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 stopped.

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

"Years later, I am the success you see today. I had constructed an empire. I have billions to my name, and I raised my family effectively. If your grandma could see me today, all she achieved was ending up in a nursing home." he stated triumphantly.

He was merely here to flaunt about his money.

He spoke cruelly about my grandma even years after her death.

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

That's what happens when you leave millions to your kids. They must be angry with their parents since they are unable to lament their lack of wealth as other children may," he said.

Will you also explain to me how and why a fabricated account of me was published in the tabloids?"I shifted the conversation.

"Please, I was only trying to help you. People care about steadiness, especially at your age, since it shows them they can rely on you to accomplish the job well. Your life will be simpler the sooner you marry that girl. Her family has connections, you know that. You can then get a divorce from her. He said, "Women like her understand that's just for business."

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

"I believe it's time for you to mature and join the big boys' table. You have to understand that hard effort alone does not guarantee the sort of money you make. Sometimes you just have to get your lovely little manicured hands dirty," he said.

He served as an inspiration to all narcissists, I'm sure.

He went on, "I think that was it for our chat today."

Grasping his cane, he rose from the chair.

I relaxed into my chair, finally able to let go of all the stress, and watched him walk out of my office.

My grandfather was right about a lot of things, but he was also right about me being way too confident but behind schedule on my project, which needed to be approved. If I went through the regular route, it would take years and I would eventually be turned down. If I went to my grandfather for assistance, I would be acknowledging to him that I was powerless without his support.

I'd have to suck up to my mother for this to work, so my only choice was to approach my father for aid, which had its problems but was still preferable to talking to my grandfather.

Thanks to his extensive network of friends, my father was able to set up a meeting for me with the mayor, who readily approved my concept.

I sat back in my chair, knowing that seeing my parents would not be simple after we had canceled all of our family get-togethers the previous year.

Luke was summoned to my office.

"You should cancel the rest of my appointments for the day and prepare the chopper, I have to pay my parents a visit," I said. "Tell the pilot to make the chopper prepared."