Do Us Part

4. "Memories are for life"

Sam

Many people pass through our individual lives, and while some of them fade into beautiful or sad memories, a few become a part of who we are.

For me, Mr. Anderson belonged to the latter group.

Sir Anderson, as I loved to call him, died at age 84, but had the energy of a 40-year old.

I have known him since I was five years old. He, of course, knew me since I was born as he shared a close relationship with my family for many years. He and my grandfather were friends, and he was a mentor to my late father. Mr.

Anderson was the chairman of the Anderson Group, which has 22 subsidiaries, all of which have sub-divisions both at home and abroad. He was the biggest businessman in the country.

Taking over control of Sanderson and Sons after my father's death was anything but easy. It was the toughest time of my life.

My marriage had barely crashed for a week when I got the tragic news of my father's sudden passing. I didn't get enough time to process and mourn, as I soon learnt that he made me his successor as Chairman.

I couldn't understand how he made his twenty-five year old son, who was a third year intern at the time, the Chairman of his multimillion dollar company.

The very first week after officially resuming work as the Chairman was very suffocating. There was a lot..too much that I had to sign, read and approve. So many things and projects that I had no idea about and that couldn't proceed without my signature.

I was so bad as Chairman, and it was visible to the entire world how weak our leadership was becoming.

It became a difficult and nearly impossible task to try to maintain the standard and image of the company after his death, because even investors were starting to pull out of proposed and ongoing projects.

I started having panic attacks. Neither could I sleep nor think properly. The pressure, the workload; it was all too much.

That was when my father's best friend and the vice chairman at the time, Richardo, said that handling such a big business wasn't "my cup of tea."

And honestly, I didn't think it was either. Taking over the family business wasn't what I planned on doing with my life..at least not that early. I was young and naive and almost handed my family's long years of labour and sacrifice to a selfish jerk who wanted to build a name from something he didn't even toil for.

Thank goodness for Maria, who, realizing my plight and struggles, got Mr. Anderson involved.

He and Maria helped make me the formidable man that I am today. He helped me in many ways, first by assigning the best handlers and helping me learn the ropes quickly. He trusted and helped me build the business back, and more importantly, helped me love it.

There was one thing he always said each time I got frustrated about work: "Give it up, not when you are tired, only when you're done."

And that has kept me strong.

Today, the company is ten times bigger than it was when my father was here, and I owe my success and fame to Mr. Anderson.

*****

His funeral was an elaborate affair. Important dignitaries were in attendance, from owners of the biggest businesses from different walks of life to the special advisers to presidents and governors of different countries and states.

The army was also in attendance. Mr. Anderson was a philanthropist who donated hugely to the betterment of society and its citizens.

He used the profit made at the yearly festivals to make donations to several underserved communities, provide scholarships, and create job opportunities for people in several sectors all over the world.

He was the best and I'll miss him a lot. Especially during our fortnightly Sunday meetings, where I forget to act mature and in control and just truly express all of my insecurities to my mentor.

Natalie

Nostalgia filled the air as I walked into the very familiar skyscraper building. The walls were the same, but the interiors were all different and very modern.

I immediately went over to the receptionist.

"Hi."

"Hi, ma'am. Welcome to Sanderson and Sons. What can I do for you today? "

I told her my business and she directed me to the boss's floor. Apparently, they own the entire building now.

Sure, Sam's father was a millionaire and owned the top three buildings, but Sam, he made the impossible happen. He bought the whole six-story building.

We interned here couple times while I was in my third year and Sam, in his finals so I pretty much knew of some of the happenings, one of which was Sam's father attempt to buy the whole building. However, the other companies just didn't seem to buy the idea, so there was quite the competition considering their services were interchangeably related. But now, it seems all that is now history.

Sam always told me he was going to buy the whole building one day, and well, that day surely arrived. Trust Samuel Sanderson to make something like this happen.

Finally, I got out of the elevator on the third floor and went right like the receptionist instructed.

"Maria?" I said, once my eyes landed on the familiar face. She looks up and strains her eyes trying to look at me, but after a clearly failed attempt, she picks up her glasses to look up at me.

"Hello. Do we know each other? "

"I am Natalie. Natalie Bryce? "

"Oh my God. Sam's Natalie? " Her face instantly broke into a smile as I nodded, and she instantly came up to hug me.

I hugged her back and smiled as she playfully moved her bodies together while we hugged.

we pulled away. "Oh my." Look at you. You precious child. " She used her hands to hold my face as her tears began to fill her eyes and smiled at me. I smiled back. Then we hugged again.

"It's so good to see you."

"You too, Maria." I agreed.

"How have you been?" How is everything? "

"Great.. great..you? How's your boy, Ben? "

"He's great. And Ben's a grown man now. " "Of course

." We chuckled.

"Oh my... Ben will be psyched if he hears you're around." "After you left, he couldn't stop talking about you and how you guys helped him.

"Oh,c'mon." I shrug.

"I'm serious. If that kid is making me a proud mama today, it's because of Sam and you. "

I just smiled at her.