The Heirs

Am I worth it

  You are not even my real sister.
Those were the words that kept me awake throughout the night as I threw away the bed cover.
       Everything is going the opposite of what I want, James woke up later in the afternoon and he requested to see Adrian and Richard. The outcome of what they discussed led to a huge argument between Adrian and his father.
      "I don't want your damn property nor do I wish to marry Cinthia", I heard Adrian say inside the hospital room.
     To be honest I also don't wish to marry Adrian and I feel sad for him, it's because of me his relationship with Claire is being broken and all I want right now is to go back home.
        I was broken out of my reverie when Kyle came into my room.
       "Is something wrong",I asked as I placed my phone on the bed.
      "You must be wondering why you are being asked to marry Adrian", said Kyle.
      My silence made him continue.
   "Dad lost his hotels, the media doesn't know yet,he took a huge amount of loan to work on a project but the client's company was taken over and the new CEO doesn't recognize the project  and now dad's in a huge debt", said Kyle.
    "What about dad's business partners why aren't they helping",I asked.
     "Our biggest shareholder withdrawn and the members of the board of directors are also leaving", said Kyle.
     "We can't lose dad's hotels,what are we going to do",I asked.
    "James made a deal with dad,he would help dad but he needs you..", said Kyle
   "To marry his son Adrian",I whispered more to myself.
     "Yes", said Kyle.
   "I thought they were friends,why can't James just help his best friend",I practically yelled.
        "I guess he just wants to see Adrian settle down immediately he becomes the CEO of the Anderson Enterprise", said Kyle.
      "But why me,I don't even wish to get married", I said as I fell unto my bed.
    "You are the only one who can save us all,I know this sounds extremely selfish but marrying Adrian will be beneficial to us all, please think about it,more than a thousand employees in dad's hotel rely on your decision, Cint do something", said Kyle.
       This left me crashing down as I felt so confused.
     But I love Richard,I don't want to marry Adrian.
       Richard's POV.
     Staring at the property transfer document in my hand,I calmly reassured myself I was doing the right thing as I made my way into my dad's room.
     My pop was awake now and he was looking at me then he tried to sit up .
    I rushed to his side "Wait dad,let me help you",
    He grunted as I helped him raise the bed a little.
        "How far has the stock price reduced", said my dad.
      Those were the very first words my workaholic dad said to me after he had practically given me an heart attack.
     "By 25%,but I'm currently handling it so you don't have to worry dad",I said as I watched him arch his eyebrow which means he was thinking.
     "That's not so good boy,is it ", said my dad
   "Dad you don't need to worry about the company right now,all we want is for you to be okay so please stop worrying and rest dad", I tried to convince him.
           "I barely have enough days to live , call me your brother,I need to talk to him", said my dad.
      "Why do you need Adrian", I asked
  "The media has gotten carried away lately over my health so I believe it's time we give them something different to talk about", said my dad so easily like he was just talking about the weather.
       "Please don't tell me you plan to give the CEO position to Adrian",I asked nervously as I couldn't help the feeling of my heart falling into pit.
    "It's about time that brother of yours realizes who he is, he's the rightful heir to my empire, don't you think so ", said my dad
       "To be honest dad, I am not sure I would like to see you hand over the CEO title to anyone else but me ",I asked.
     "What are you saying, Richard,that position has always belong to your brother ,he is the right guy for the job", said my dad.
        "Why is he always your first choice,dad,I gave my all for that title father, when he left six years ago I was the one who cleaned up his mess,I became the acting CEO of the company and now that your prodigal son is home you wish to give him what already belongs to me", I practically lashed out as I felt my blood rising.
     "You don't have it in you son, you know that ,your brother was able to raise his own company from the scratch and that's what it takes to be a good CEO,you could have been the best hockey player in the world", said my dad
        "You are wrong, the only reason why you can't give me that title is because I was never your son to begin with,you have just proven it to me that I'm not an Anderson", I said angrily.
      I could see his expression changed as he couldn't say a thing.
     "I have always loved you like my own son, Richard", said my dad softly while I scoffed.
         "You don't have to keep lying to my face, I'm afraid dad,but your words doesn't support your actions ",I said
       "You are my son, Richard believe me or not I see you as one of my kids, my decision to give the company to your younger brother is to give you the chance to focus on your true purpose in life,my boy was destined to be an hockey player and I want you to be happy, Richard", said my dad as he looked at me.
           "Dad,I want to be the CEO so give it to me",I pleaded as I watched him rub his forehead with his hand.
      "Richard, I'm sorry son but I have made up my mind, just call your brother in,we don't have much time to waste", said my dad looking at me.
        I even pleaded,he really doesn't think I'm worth it.
       The next thing I did was to on the TV and change the channel to the news channel and it was currently displaying what I want.
       We have the tragic news of the CEO of the Anderson Group of company currently in the Green hospital due to Brain cancer, according to our source,Mr James Anderson is in the last stage of cancer which means he has been hiding his state of health from us,can the numerous business partners trust their leader of he is in this state and this tremendous decline in the stock price of the company reveals to us that the Anderson group of company needs a serious business strategy to rise up again,with this we want to show our condolences to the Anderson family,Mr James Anderson is a father and a role model to young entrepreneurs all over the world, please get well soon.
       Listening to this news ,I hope my father changes his mind.
       "Give me just one chance dad and I will make all this become history, give me the company", I said praying silently for him to agree.
        "Ask for any other thing,son and I will give it to you , Adrian is what the company needs you also know that", said my dad
      "Son,son you just keep calling me that but the truth is you never even considered me as one I'm just your step son ",I  said
      "It's been more than a decade Richard and you still haven't forgotten that you are not my biological son, son the very moment I laid my eyes on you,I have already accepted you as my child Richard you have always been my elder son and I just can't give you what you want, I'm sorry my decision still remains intact", said my dad
       "No you are lying to me,you are doing this because I am not your son , you are just lying to me....
      "Hmmm what's going here",asked Adrian who just walked into the room.
     "Adrian, dad here is just telling me you are his rightful heir so apparently you are going to be the new CEO of the Anderson group of company",I said with every word acting as two-edged blades piercing my lungs so much that I suddenly felt suffocated.
       I never belonged here,now I was clearly reminded of the blood I had running in me ,the one I so verily despised - Raphael
      I couldn't bear the curiosity written on Adrian's face as he looked between dad and I hoping he would get a clue of the argument he had just missed.
         I may not be an Anderson but what I want I will get and I want the property ,every little part of it, I'm not stopping until I get your precious signature dad, I'm coming back.
      "Richard,Ric .. wait", said Adrian while I walked out of the room.
      Then my phone rang in my pocket so I picked it.
          "So what is the story",asked the constant deep voice of the man behind my sleepless nights who has been pestering me since that night six years ago.
     "Well I have got news for you, you can't keep threatening me with a video I know clearly you don't have",I said
    "Son, I'm not your enemy I'm your best friend who did you think cleaned up your mess six years ago,do you really think no one will know you were there that night six years ago,I mean the police couldn't have been stupid to forget the fact that there were CCTV cameras in the buildings around the accident scene ", said the man
          I suddenly felt cold as the hair at the back of my neck rised knowing he was saying the truth and this really scared me.
        "I take your silence as you have realized how foolish it will be for you to think of disobeying me,I can send you to jail for the tangible evidence I have of you and yes remember your statement that night at the police station,you clearly told the police man you were not able to get to the accident scene on time despite answering another call after Adrian's, don't you see that this evidence will contradict the other what a shame will it be if your dear father gets to watch this amazing video I'm sure the whole country will be attending his funeral before the end of the day, so Richard what will you do to save yourself and as your good friend I will suggest you get your dad's signature on the papers very soon", said the voice.
            "How much do you need to keep your  mouth shut", I asked.
      "Money,money money, that's all you think about , I'm hurt to know that James was able to teach you something so valuable because that's all your father knows and you are also beginning to think like him,you believe money is the most important thing in the world ,how Stu..
    "Name your price and let's get this over with",
      "Don't you ever cut in when I speak ,I hope you will understand me because if you don't, you will be on the news soon and the whole world will have no one else to blame for the accident six years ago but you,I hope you obey my instructions", said the man then he hung up on me before I could reply.
       "Shit", I cussed running both hands in my hair
      What mess have I gotten myself into
    "I'm sure we have a lot of things to talk about, especially this Richard", said a female voice catching me unaware bringing me back to reality where I stood before my car and the lady standing in front of me.
                    Claire