Fatal wounds

16

Theo

As scheduled by Allison, Daniel miller walks through my office doors today at noon. I watch as he takes a seat across from me.

"Mr Castano." He greets. He's on medical leave but from what I see there's no visible sickness. The only difference I can spot is on his face. A tad bit paler and slimmer.

"Theo. Please." I clear my throat and nod at Allison to close my door.

"Theo." He nods.

"May I ask, what this meeting was for?" I tap my fingers against my pants as he leans forward a bit and gets himself comfortable on his chair.

"I'm no fool." He says looking around my office. "Trust me on that much. I know my son will drive my company into the ground by the end of the month."

My eyebrows raise to the top of ny hairline. I'd never guess that Daniel Miller of all people would meet with me to talk about his son's incapability to run a company.

"I built my company from the ground up. I put hours upon hours into it. He doesn't get to work for nothing his whole life then have my empire fall into his arms." He huffs and shakes his head, "he made his choice the moment he declined working as my employee."

I squint my eyes at the older man trying to figure out what it is that he wants. He must be trying to get me to allow his son to work under me or something of the matter. "You want me to employ Ryan as you return as ceo?"

"No." He chuckles rubbing at his chin. "That's just it Theo. I will not be returning as ceo."

At this I pause. "You can't possibly leave your company in his hands."

"I don't want to." He shakes his head, "my board sure as hell doesn't want to."

"So then why resign as ceo?" I lean back in my chair resting my arms on the arm rest.

"I have early onset Alzheimer's." My eyes snap to his as he continues, "my brain is deteriorating, soon I'll be admitted to a retirement home. I'm no use to a company if in a few months I'll forget my own name."

"Have you told any of this to Ryan?" Either his son doesn't know this or he is blatantly ignorant.

Daniel drops his head, "I haven't. But that isn't what I came to talk about." He sits up straighter, "as I said, I can't leave my company in Ryan's hands. So I have a proposition."

I'm already shaking my head before he continues. "Hey- Theo. Listen." He raises his hands, "I know you won't take over as ceo. And trust me I've thought about it. But I also know what kind of person you are. You're loyal to your family, you won't take over another company when you know you're inheriting this one. It's your duty to be ceo of Castano Air corporation when your parents retire."

"Yes. Which means I don't want to buy out any part of Miller Wind." I clarify but Daniel doesn't falter.

"I understand. Which is why I wanted to ask, if you'd be my board chairmen instead."

I purse my lips getting ready to decline. Board chairmen is the most important member of the board. They lead the board, run the meetings, manage the team, oversee the work.

It's a great job but it's very time consuming.

"Before you decline." He interrupts immediately, "it'd be temporary. A few months at most. My son is getting overturned as ceo." He says calmly.

"And you're fine with your company falling out of your family?" I can't help but feel confused. Daniel seems relieved if anything that his son is getting voted out.