Guard of heart

The Strategy

The silence in the room thickened after Adrian’s sharp remark, his cold gaze lingering on his father. The tension between them crackled like static, drawing everyone’s attention. Adrian’s fingers tapped against the armrest of his chair, the soft rhythm barely audible, yet insistent, as if it was the only thing keeping him steady.

Mr. Wilkins inhaled deeply, his posture straightening as he spoke with measured control, his voice strained but firm. “Adrian,” he began, “you’re the one to take over the company. But you can’t make decisions based on emotion. It has to be driven by logic.”

Adrian’s jaw clenched. "I told you, if I’m going to be CEO, I need full control." His eyes flicked briefly toward the figure near the door.

Aby—silent, still—stood impassively, though a subtle shift in his stance hinted at his awareness of Adrian’s pointed words aimed in his direction.

“I’m making decisions for this family’s future,” Mr. Wilkins said, his voice rising with authority. “I’ve agreed to your demands, but I expect you to understand that leadership means collaboration. You can’t do this alone, Adrian. This is about our legacy. You need to step up.”

Adrian scoffed softly, crossing his arms over his chest. “Step up? Or step aside while someone else pulls the strings from the shadows?”

Mr. Wilkins leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly together. The weight of his authority pressed through his words. “Stepping up doesn’t mean having absolute control, Adrian. It means knowing how to manage, how to lead. You can’t run this company by yourself. You’ll need a strong team behind you—that’s how this works.”

Adrian’s eyes flared with frustration, his lips forming a thin line. “You mean like you always had someone in the background? I won’t be that kind of leader. If I’m CEO, I need full control—no one else calling the shots.”

Mr. Wilkins exhaled sharply, his gaze hardening. “This isn’t about hidden hands. It’s about trust. You don’t get to micromanage every decision. That’s not leadership, Adrian. That’s a path to failure.”

Adrian straightened, uncrossing his arms, though his defiance remained clear. “Maybe that’s how you ran things, but I’ll do it differently. I’ll run this company on my terms, not yours.”

“You will make mistakes,” Mr. Wilkins stated bluntly. “And when that happens, you’ll need people strong enough to help you fix them. That’s what I’ve built here. This isn’t just about being CEO—it’s about making sure the company thrives, whether you’re in the room or not. That’s what legacy means.”

Adrian’s nostrils flared, his fists clenching. “If I’m CEO, I won’t be second-guessed. I won’t have others meddling in my decisions. If I’m taking over, I get full control—or I don’t take it at all.”

The tension thickened, a heavy silence settling over the room. Mr. Wilkins studied his son for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before he finally spoke again. “You think control means making every decision yourself. It doesn’t. You’ll learn that soon enough.” His voice softened slightly, though his resolve remained. “You want full control? Fine. But you’ll be responsible for every consequence that follows.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “I’m not afraid of consequences. What I’m afraid of is this company being run by someone else in the background.”

Mr. Wilkins met his son’s glare with a hard look of his own. “Then prove to me you can handle it, Adrian. Show me with your actions, not with ultimatums. That’s how you lead.”

Aby moved quietly toward the door, the tension in the room still palpable even though he hadn’t said much. I watched him, his movements deliberate, as if he were tiptoeing through a minefield. With a curt nod to Mr. Wilkins, he muttered, “I’ll take my leave now,” before turning to go.