ISOLATED

c h a p t e r 2 8*

Chapter 28

"Mr. Mayfield, you're back?" Sam's eyes widen at the sight of her boss storming through the entrance hall. Gael completely ignores her as he marches through the hall and into the elevator. He presses the button to get the elevator to his floor and he waits for the elevator to move.

The doors open, too slow for his liking. His eyes shoot towards his office and he spots his father, Johnathan, sitting behind his desk. He fixes his shirt, straightens his back and he walks to the office. "Look who decided to finally show up for his company," Johnathan says the second his son shows up in the office.

"Get out of my seat," Gael hisses and he walks behind the desk, towering over his father. "Gael, you weren't here," Johnathan says, looking up at his son. "And I cut my vacation short to be here, so get the fuck up and get out of my company before I call security," Gael threatens, his voice darkens and he leans forward.

Johnathan leans back and he turns the chair to face him. "Gael," Johnathan says, chuckling as he looks up at his son, "You come here in jeans and a shirt and you think that I'm just going to get up and leave?" Johnathan asks, looking over at the guy. "Why did you make me CEO?" Gael asks, looking down at his father, "Why did you force me to marry a girl I have to carry around with me all fucking day just so you could make it worth nothing."

The man chuckles.

"Gael," Nate's voice interrupts the conversation, "A word." Gael gets up and he walks out of his office, following Nate. "I told you to call me immediately," Gael spits, looking directly at him after he shuts the door behind him. "I did, he came in yesterday and called an emergency meeting," Nate says, "When I called you, you were on your flight."

Gael stares at his friend and he shakes his head. "There must've been something," Gael says, "I knew I shouldn't have left you in charge." Nate scoffs. "Now it's my fault, asshole?" Nate looks at him. Gael crosses his arms. "It's not your fault, but you could've prevented it," Gael says.

His emotions are getting the best of him and for the first time, he feels genuinely alone fighting someone who can't be defeated. Johnathan is going to keep going until he wins.

Gael's shoulders drop and he walks back to his office. "What do you want?" Gael asks his father as he looks down at the man. "You know what, don't answer that," Gael hisses and he takes a breath, "Next week the company is hosting an auction for charity, I'll leave you in charge of it." He holds his hands up in the air. "You want to be the boss," Gael shakes his head, annoyed with how things are going between him and his father, "Be the boss."

Johnathan crosses his arms and his face falls. He didn't expect Gael to give up this fast, which is exactly what Gael wanted. "After the auction, we'll let the board vote," Gael says, "But until then, you are the CEO and I will not be in the company."

Gael furrows his eyebrows together. "If you need me, my wife and I will be at my house, and you will pay me for a job you want to do," Gael says, his eyes piercing straight into Johnathan's soul. This is exactly the way Johnathan taught him, this is who he created his son to be.

Johnathan doesn't move, he stares at his son. Then Gael leaves and he walks to Sam, he leans his elbows on the counter and he looks down at the girl. "I won't come in for another week, Johnathan is in charge until the auction next week," he says and he taps the desk, "I'll see you later."

Genesis opens the front door, greeting the delivery guy. "Thank you," she says and she takes the two bags. Gael didn't say anything about having lunch or eating out, so Genesis decided to have food ready for when he got back.

She quickly unbags the food, checking which order is what. The front door slams closed and that combined with the way Gael's walking through the hallway, she knows that he had a shit day. "I got us some food, come sit with me," Genesis calls out to him. Gael was on his way to his bedroom but changes in his steps and he turns around to the living room.