THE IMPOTENT BILLIONAIRE

••HARPER WINERY••

"And the new world begins," the guy concluded his presentation with a smile as the spotlight was on him.

Claps echoed in the room and the lights were switched on, everyone was amazed by his knowledge.

Well almost everyone, Nathanial was not moved not even a bit. He had his gaze fixed on his laptop as he went through the files in front of him.

"This is good," a man commented and the young guy smiled broadly.

"Mr. Harper," a middle-aged man tapped him and he raised his head in confusion.

"Are you not going to sign the contract?" The man gestured at the file in front of him.

"Oh, the contract," he mouthed and sat upright, pulled the file closer, and picked up a pen.

He was about to sign it when something struck him.

"We will do this later," he said and dropped the pen, raising his head to look at the guy who gave the presentation.

"I don't like this, it is not good enough," he said and murmurs filled the room.

"W... What do you mean, sir?" The guy asked as his smile slowly faded, It took him months to come up with this idea.

They are about to release a new product, a wine to be precise.

"How much will it cost?" Nathaniel asked.

"Half a billion sir," he replied.

Money was not the problem but he was going to make less profit, rumors have it that he foreseen the future.

"It is going to be a loss, bring down the capital with the same value and I will consider holding another meeting," he said with a smile.

He always does that to intimidate people, he is unreadable, and you have no idea if his smile is a blessing or a curse

However, in this case, it is a curse because it is nearly impossible to bring down the capital and let the wine have the same value.

"That is..."

"Impossible?" Nathaniel finished the sentence

"You don't deserve to stand here if you think that," he said with his usual smile and the guy bowed his head in fear.

"No sir, I will make it possible," he replied though he knew it was not possible.

"Good, see you when you get it done," he uttered with a straight face this time before leaving.

He walked straight to the elevator with his assistant at the same time his secretary trailing behind him.

"What was that? You know he can't bring down the capital and maintain the value? Do you know how expensive things are these days? Just give the project to another team," Drake Fallon his secretary uttered as he pressed the elevator button.

"Do you want me to waste my money because a dude can't do his job right?" He questioned stepping into the elevator.

"How are you sure it's going to be a loss?" Drake asked stepping in after him.

"The majority won't be able to afford it, we will have to sell a bottle for twenty thousand dollars. How many can afford that?" He asked randomly.

"30%, I don't sell to the rich alone, I need high schoolers to be able to afford my product," he said and Drake furrowed his brows.

"Why high schoolers?" Drake asked

"Don't you read the news?" Nathaniel asked and he shook his head sideways.

"Alcohol is banned for high schoolers, they need a way to quench their thirst, How are they going to quench it if they can't afford it?" He further asked.

Nathaniel is right, there was lots of accident in the past weeks due to drunk driving. Celebrities and children of Conglomerates were killed.

It affected their beer product too.

"Was that why you are making the new wine 85% alcohol?" Drake gasped as he got the picture.

"Who would suspect a wine contains that much alcohol?" Nathaniel asked rhetorically.

He sure runs the business smoothly, everything would have been perfect if he hadn't...

★

"I guess that is why he got the impotent CEO nickname, he is such a dîck!" A lady groaned.

The guy reported the outcome of the meeting to his team.

"He is a dîck but he doesn't know how to use himself," another lady said and the rest laughed.

"But guys we are going to lose the project if we don't do what he wants," a guy said.

"How are we going to do that? He has no idea of how much we work yet he makes us work harder than anyone," the First Lady mumbled.

"I would have seduced him to letting us keep the capital the way it is but he is impotent," another lady groaned.

"Well," a guy moved his chair closer to hers.

"I am not impotent you can seduce me," the guy whispered and she rolled her eyes before turning in a different direction.

"Guys, we have to work," the team leader said and they all groaned.

"What is the point of working so hard if the company does not have a future?" A lady asked rhetorically.

Rumors are going around that the companies will be sold if Nathaniel can not provide an heir before he turns forty.

"I wish to have a capable CEO," the lady said dreamily.

"Why? So that you can seduce him?" the first guy asked

"What if it is an old man?" the second lady asked

"I will seduce his son then," she replied and they all laughed.

★

Nathaniel sat majestically on his swivel chair while Drake dropped some documents on the table.

"This needs your approval while these..." he dropped two different documents.

"They are proposals, After this, you have a brief meeting with Harper Construction," Drake stood straight in front of the desk.

"Have your sit," Nathanial gestured at the couches randomly, Aside from being good at what he does he is a nice and gentle human.

Echoes of laughter filled the room as Mrs. Harper walked into the office with her phone placed on her ear.

"Mrs. Harper," Drake gasped and stood up immediately whilst Nathanial kept his gaze on the document in front of him, he could guess what his mother was there.

••LINDSAY NEWS AGENCY••

"What? Are you kidding me? Makeup up something I don't care, my agency can not be like this," Mr. Lopez scolded workers.

They have not released a new article in weeks, and, within two weeks he has lost three billion dollars.

How is he going to keep the company running if there is no article to release or a way to pay his loans?

"Get them working!" Mr. Lopez snapped at them.

"They are trying their best sir but, nothing is working," a man uttered.

"We are not getting adverts either, it is getting worse more like our agency is being targeted," a woman said

"Darn! Makeup something, I don't want to listen to the stories you made up to cover your incompetence, I want results. Positive results!" He snapped and the staff flinched in fear.

Why is she blaming them? How is the situation their fault?

"Everyone leaves," a lady ordered and they left the office immediately, Spending another minute in there could cost them their jobs.

"Alfred," the lady called now standing.

"What was that you said? You don't mean it do you?" She asked with a straight face.

"I mean every damn thing I said and I am going to repeat it if that is what it takes to snap some sense into them," he replied furiously.

"What? Do you want them to make up something? Are you out of your mind? Who would want to read your news if they are fake?" the lady asked

"I don't care I just want to keep my company running?" He replied and stood up from his swivel chair.

He suddenly turned to the lady.

"Got any model for our magazine yet?" He asked and the lady shook her head.

"What the fúck are you all doing then? You come here to play? Is this a playing ground to you?!" He snapped

"We are trying our best Alfred...," the lady tried to explain.

"Your freaking best is not enough Jessica!" He yelled.

"You are not going to get a solution with this attitude of yours, you need to calm down," she suggested.

"How am I to do that if I am slowly losing everything Jessica? How can I calm down?" He asked in a shattered voice.

"You are going to be fine, I made sure of that," she assured resting her hand on the table.

"What do you mean?" He inquired calmly.

"I booked an appointment with Nathaniel Harper..." She was interrupted by his question.

"Nathaniel Harper himself?" He asked and she nodded

"You are meeting with him this afternoon, in next..." she glanced at her wristwatch.

"Two hours, he is ready to give Lindsay a loan but he just needs to meet with the CEO," she informed him.

"I'll head there immediately," he agreed and grabbed his phone before rushing out of his office.

"tsk, tsk... impatient," Jessica clicked her tongue as she watched him run.

They have been friends since high school and now she works under him but she is still a friend and an employee.

••HARPER INVESTMENT••

Mr. Lopez sighed as he waited patiently for Nathaniel, he had been sitting for about thirty minutes.

He was offered a cup of coffee but he couldn't even sip because that was the last thing he wanted to do.

After five minutes Nathaniel walked in with Drake who read his last schedule to him which was an interview.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Harper," Alfred greeted on his feet.

Nathaniel turned with his usual smile on his face, however, the first thing his eyes caught was the untouched coffee.

"Don't you like it?" He asked with his eyes now on confused Mr. Lopez.

"Pardon?" He furrowed his brows.

"Your coffee, don't you like it?" Nathaniel asked and he swallowed hard.

He just realized he was thirsty.

"Get him an iced cappuccino," Nathaniel ordered Drake who raised a brow at him.

Nathaniel was up to something and this mam is at the mercy of God.

Nathaniel walked to his table not uttering another word, Mr. Lopez sat back on the couch and silently tool over until Drake returned with the ice mug of cappuccino

"I will be outside," Drake informed and left the office.

"Satisfied?" Nathaniel asked after Mr. Lopez finished his cup of cappuccino.

Honestly, he had no idea why he drank it. He was not thirsty until Nathaniel asked why he didn't drink the coffee.

Tapping his feet impatiently on the floor, his eyes roaming the room, sweat running down his face thought the AC was on.

Nathaniel smirked as he knew he was vulnerable.

"So you need a loan worth Twenty billion for your company?" He asked going through the contract, as he walked to the armchair beside the couch Mr. Lopez was sitting on.

"Yes sir," he responded

"How are you going to pay me back? Your company is not worth the money and you have

no other collateral, Why should I entrust my money to you?" He asked.

"Umm... I will work harder, I will do whatever you want, I will pay you back with my life! Whatever you want, please grant the loan," he pleaded with his head bowed.

"Really? You are willing to pay with your life?" Nathaniel asked with a smirk.

"Yeah," Alfred agreed not minding the consequences of his actions.

"But I don't want your life, I want something else," he said and Alfred raised his head.

"Will you give it to me?" He asked with his usual smile.

"Yes, name it, whatever you want!" He screamed, he has nothing worth Twenty billion but he is willing to give him whatever he wants.

"I heard you have a daughter," he rested his back on the chair.

"She is twenty-two, a third-year university student," he continued.

"Do... You want Emma?" Mr. Lopez shuttered for a moment.

"Can you give me... Emma?" Nathaniel asked making eye contact with him.

Nathaniel stood under the shower recalling the conversation he had with his mom a few hours ago.

~~~

Mrs. Harper ended the phone call before stepping into the office, Drake bowed respectfully while Nathaniel dropped his pen for a second.

"Good Afternoon, Mrs. Harper," Drake smiled.

"How have you been?" Mrs. Harper asked casually before sitting on the couch.

"What brings you here, Mom?" Nathaniel had a straight face as he questioned.

Drake hit his forehead slightly in embarrassment, Why does he lack a sense of humanity?

"Is that a way to welcome your mother? By questioning?" Mrs. Harper shook her head wondering where she went wrong in raising him.

Is it not enough that the family, not just the family but the nation has acknowledged him as impotent Some even say he likes men.

How can she help him if he does not want to be helped?

"This is my workplace mom, I am busy... You can visit the mansion if you want to be welcome properly," he resumed reading the proposal.

"I will get you a cup of tea," Drake smiled awkwardly knowing they would soon drag him into the mess in a matter of minutes.

"Do not take a step!" Mrs. Harper ordered and he obeyed instantly.

"Aren't you the only friend he has? Don't you talk to him?" Mrs. Harper inquired.

"He is my assistant, not friend, Mom," Nathanial corrected.

"I am an employee ma'am," Drake added.

"But you are always with him, you are his friend... or are you his boyfriend?" She gasped turning to face Nathaniel

"Is this all a lie? Did you hire him so you can always be together without suspicion?" Nathaniel's eyes widened at her crazy assumption.

"No, we are not!" Both were denied simultaneously.

"Mom! How could you think that," Nathanial shook his head in disappointment.

"How could I not? Aren't you aware of the rumors going around? People think you are impotent, some say you are gay... as a mother how could I have not wild thoughts, tell me!" She snapped.

"Drake tell her what she should not," He ordered.

"Umm... Boss is just occupied with work," Drake mumbled.

"He has never dated or kept a female friend, how can you prove he is not impotent? Tell him to provide a piece of evidence to back up his claim," she demanded.

"I have nothing to prove to anyone, they can believe whatever they want," He rolled his eyes funnily.

"Tell her that," he added and Drake sighed, As he parted his lips to speak Mrs. Harper beat him to it.

"He is going to lose the company and everything that ought to belong to him if he does not get his act together," she had her gaze on Nathaniel who pretended to have zero interest in all she was saying.

"And... he should prove to the family that he is not impotent," she added and stood up grabbing her bag.

"I am leaving," She waited for a few seconds hoping Nathaniel would say something but he didn't.

Drake breathed in relief after she was gone, and he scurried to Nathaniel's desk.

"Boss..."

"I have signed it, Get to work," he dropped some documents in front of him shunning whatever it was he had to say.

"Yes, boss," Drake picked up the document before walking out of the office.

Nathaniel could not concentrate anymore, his heart and mind were disrupted.

As much as he hates to admit his mother was right, he is going to lose everything he has worked so hard to build if he does not provide a wife.

His grandpa is yet to say anything but he knows he can only keep his thoughts to himself for that long.

He slowly got up from his chair and walked to the transparent wall with his hand pocketed.

'How do I keep what's mine?' Was the question that lingered in his mind.

Drake who watched from his office could sense his disturbed spirit, even though he has no idea that his boss does not like women.

However, he is sure that he is not interested in men either.

"What a poor soul," he shook his head slightly before walking away.

~~~

"I will wait to see what tomorrow brings," Nathaniel muttered to himself walking out of the shower.

He fell on his bed in his shorts, his body was still wet but he care less.

His mom coming into his office means his grandpa must have been up to something.

He needs to speed up his game if he truly wants to win.

"Alfred Lopez, I hate to say this but your decision will determine my future... I hope you make the best one," he muttered with his eyes closed.

★★

Emma was dressed in blue jeans with a white crop top revealing her perfectly flat tummy and beautiful belly button.

Her hair half curly hair graced her shoulder as she strolled into the hall.

She sighted her best friend Nora immediately she stepped in, Nora whose gaze was fixed on her phone was oblivious to her

"Good morning, Nora," she greeted and Nora hurried after her.

"Lindsay is trending online girl," Nora informed Emma as they strolled down the hall together.

Lindsay is her dad's news agency, It was named after her mom Linda because her dad became successful after he got married.

"I'm glad it's back on its feet," she smiled and suddenly turned to Nora.

"What is the news?" Emma asked.

"Your wedding?" Nora read with a confused expression.

"What do you mean?" Emma asked with a smile, She was trying not to laugh because it sounded funny to her.

"It says here that you are getting married to Nathaniel Harper," Nora responded.

"What?" She snatched the phone and read the headline.

There it was written boldly.

THE WEDDING OF THE YEAR, A BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY

"The Impotent Billionaire?!" Emma freaked the phone falling from her hand.

Most students were staring at her by now.