ISOLATED

c h a p t e r 1 8

Chapter 18

"Thanks, Marcus," Gael says and he gets out of the car, and headed into the office that he hasn't seen in a couple of days. "Mr. Mayfield, it's nice to see you again," Sam says from her desk. Ever since she didn't recognize Genesis, she's been acting like a saint and secretly, he loved it. Someone still looks at him in fear to be fired. "It's nice to be back," Gael says nicely and he instantly went up to his office.

He walks in and shuts the door behind him, then he turns to the man sitting behind his desk. "You have no business being here, Johnathan," Gael speaks, looking at the man. "That's difficult when the company needs a CEO because their own isn't here," Johnathan says, looking up at his son. He instantly recognizes the softness in his eyes that the guy didn't have just a few weeks ago. "You've grown soft, that's not why I allowed you to be CEO," Johnathan and he places his elbows on the table, looking over at the guy that he knows is his son.

"You're only saying that so you can try and get my position," Gael says. He stays standing, refusing to give in and sit down when his father is sitting behind his desk. "Johnathan, leave," Gael says, "You are not the CEO and you won't be again."

Johnathan smiles. It's not a supportive and caring smile, it's a meaningful smile and Gael instantly knows the meaning behind it. "The board doesn't agree," Johnathan says and he looks at his son. Gael furrows his eyebrows together. "If you were planning to steal back the company, forcing me into that marriage was kind of unnecessary," Gael answers.

"Little birdie in the sky told me that you're actually falling for her," Johnathan answers, looking over at him and he narrows his eyes, "So not that unnecessary." The pieces fit together perfectly and Gael looks at his father. "You think I'm falling for her?" Guilt flies through his brain the second the words leave his mouth. "I don't know, you tell me," Johnathan says.

Gael swallows his answer and he looks at his father. Johnathan doesn't deserve a proper answer and Gael's not planning on telling him anything that's going on in my life. "I told you, she's a liability, she's good for parties, but she's not fit to be anything else to me," he says and he walks towards his desk, placing his hands on both sides of his desk. "Get out of my seat and leave my company," Gael orders him and he looks down at the man.

Johnathan stands up and he looks at Gael. "You say all that, but you're distracted by her, Gael," he says, "If you're not fit to be CEO, I'll gladly step up to be the CEO this company wants." He'll change the narrative of the past events just so that he'll be CEO again, and if he becomes CEO again, that means the entire marriage was unnecessary.

He married Genesis for this title, and it's like Johnathan sitting here really pushes him back on his priorities. "I haven't been CEO for much longer than a month," Gael says, "If you're already setting your son up for failure, what kind of father are you?"

"The kind whose son hasn't called him father in years," Johnathan says and he crosses his arms. "So this is personal? Not professional?" Gael tilts his head, his eyes narrowed slightly. He's caught the man in a corner. As if Johnathan's never been caught in one before. "I don't mix my personal life with my professional," he answers, "You should've known that."

Gael chuckles quietly and he looks over at his father. "I am a better CEO than you will ever be, and I want you to leave my office," Gael says and he looks at his father, "Before I call security."

Johnathan raises his hands in the air, a small smirk across his lips and he looks at his son. "If the CEO says so," he sneers and he gets up, leaving the office. It's Johnathan who always makes sure that Gael needs him even when he doesn't.