Where's 'it'

03

"Sir, Fighter from the R&D Department is here to see you." said the secretary via the intercom.

"Come in." said an old man gravelly in response as he pressed a button on his rosewood desk.

The sensor on the door beeps and unlatches. The door opens automatically. Fighter steps into the room with a heavy heart. His head moved across the room analysing the playing field and evaluating the situation. He then continued to walk towards the rosewood desk before standing at a decent distance away.

"Fighter from the R&D department reporting in, Sir" he said in a flat tone.

"Come have a seat." the CEO said in a honeyed voice as his hand gestured to the furniture in front of him.

Fighter sat down on the black upholstered office chair with his arms crossed in front of him. This was not proper manners for an employee sitting in their employer's office but Fighter couldn't care less. Today's discussion was not regarding work. He knew that because of the verbal cues the CEO gave. He only talked in that manner when he expected something to be done - not from Fighter the employee but instead Fighter the son.

Yes. He was the CEO's son and was working "undercover" as a normal employee without a title. It didn't have anything to do with being humble or starting from rock bottom. It was just a selfish wish from a controlling father to restrain his disobedient son.

In his father's eyes, he was similar to the stubborn and capricious Icarus from greek mythology - the one who did not heed his father's, Daedalus, advice and flew too close to the sun and eventually fell to his demise. In a sense, his father had built a business empire just like how Daedalus was a master craftsman and Fighter was Icarus the free-spirited boy who did not listen. His father only had one fear - that his son would cause the downfall of his name and legacy.

Previously, Fighter had worked in various established companies before getting swindled into tying down in his current company. He had ventures and opportunities robbed from him due to foul play. At first, he blamed himself for the lack of experience and knowledge but it was all for naught. His proposals were copied and given to the same clients for less. Some of the prices quoted were even at a loss.

He couldn't understand how and why until he had figured out who had done it. His father was behind all this scheming. His father whom he only had interaction when required was meddling with his affairs.

It said much about his father's disconnected personality to sabotage his own son's success just to prove that Fighter couldn't do much without the help of his last name. He was still a malleable and impressionable young boy in his father's perspective.

His father knew he was capable of much more yet he did not give him a significant role to play citing partiality as a key reason. His father had a hand in restricting his rise up the career ladder in the company too. Afterall, there was no formal manager for the R&D Department despite being selected to be the next by the previous manager. He was somehow denied promotion from the upper management. Thus, he sat on a seat that did not exist as the shadow manager of the R&D Department.

It frustrated him but he could not fight the circumstances as he had a promise to keep. He understood where his father came from - using and manipulating his position in order to control him. It did not mean that Fighter would take it standing down.

He was okay. He had made a resolution. He could gain control of his life back all in due time.

"Son. I called you here to remind you to not forget your family duty. How old are you now? 29? 30? You're not getting any younger. When are you going to propose to Phomphadungcheep's daughter? What's her name?"