Chapter 3 Yeah

"Roger, please, just hear me out!" Chris pleaded, his voice trembling with frustration as he wrestled free from his brother's grasp, his chest heaving with emotion. Adjusting his disheveled attire and running a hand through his tousled hair, he straightened himself, his resolve firm.

Their father, entering the room with a calm demeanor that belied the tension, surveyed the scene with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "What's happening here?" His voice, deep and steady, cut through the charged atmosphere like a beacon of reason.

"Roger's accusing me of trying to steal the family legacy," Chris blurted out, his eyes wide with disbelief, his voice tinged with desperation. "Dad, tell me it's not true. Tell me you haven't already made up your mind."

Will, momentarily lost in his own thoughts, snapped back to reality at the sound of Chris's anguished words. His brow furrowed with the weight of responsibility as he contemplated the implications of his actions.

"Isn't that what you're doing, Dad?" Roger interjected, his tone defiant, his stance unwavering. "You're grooming him to take over, while I'm left in the shadows. I won't stand idly by and watch my birthright slip away."

***********

The car glided smoothly along the winding road, the grandeur of the mansion at the end of the drive coming into view with each passing moment. As it came to a halt before the imposing entrance, the driver sprang into action, eager to assist his passengers.

With practiced efficiency, he opened the car door, allowing a young man to emerge first, his demeanor exuding a blend of confidence and warmth. He extended a hand to assist his wife, who cradled their toddler daughter in her arms, her expression a mixture of anticipation and delight.

Stepping onto the elegant pavement, they were greeted by the butler, whose welcoming presence enveloped them like a comforting embrace. With gestures of deference, he guided them through the threshold and into the opulent living room, where an air of anticipation hung palpably in the air.

Before they could settle into their seats, the sound of joyous laughter echoed down the grand staircase, drawing their attention like a magnet. Smiles exchanged between husband and wife spoke volumes as they awaited the arrival of their host.

Descending the stairs with an air of genuine warmth, Will Park, the master of the estate, greeted his guests with open arms and genuine enthusiasm. "Ah, you've arrived! Allow me to introduce Mr. Logan Russell, the newest addition to Crates, a man of remarkable dedication and talent." Will's voice resonated with pride as he presented Logan to his wife, Nancy.

Nancy's eyes sparkled with genuine interest as she extended her hand in greeting, her warmth and hospitality evident in her every gesture. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Russell. Will has spoken so highly of you, it's a delight to finally make your acquaintance."

The warmth of their exchange extended to the youngest member of the party as Nancy enveloped Tracy Russell and her daughter in a heartfelt embrace, the bond of motherhood transcending boundaries of acquaintance.

As dinner was served upon the expansive dining table, the atmosphere buzzed with lively conversation and conviviality. However, the tranquility was shattered by an unexpected disturbance, the sound of shattering porcelain reverberating through the room.

In the midst of the commotion, two figures emerged, unmistakably the sons of Will Park, their presence commanding attention. With features reminiscent of their father but eyes that hinted at their own distinct personalities, they entered the room with contrasting demeanors.

Roger, the elder of the two, bore a stoic countenance, his grey eyes betraying an air of intensity that belied his youth, while Chris, his younger counterpart, radiated a sense of innocence and curiosity, his cerulean gaze alight with wonder.

As Will made the introductions, the dynamics of the gathering shifted, each member of the party drawn into the orbit of familial bonds and shared experiences. Amidst the laughter and camaraderie, alliances were forged and connections deepened, weaving a tapestry of relationships that would endure far beyond the confines of that singular evening.

Five years later.

"Hi Trisha. Is the Chairman in? I got his message a while ago to see him in his office."

Logan Russell approached the head secretary to the chairman and asked.

Trisha flashed him a seductive smile and nodded with her eyes narrowed into slits. She'd had a crush on him since she started working at Crates for the past four years and now, she was the head secretary to the chairman.

She knew the chairman was out of her reach since he always had his face set in stone but Logan, who was the Vice President always had a smile for everyone he came across.

"Yes, he's in. Let me inform him." She told him and began to dial the connecting land phone. She spoke quietly into it and flashed him a smile to go in.

Logan walked to the door in trepidation. He wasn't sure what was going to happen. He got into the spacious office and noticed with a frown that the chairman had suddenly grown older in the five years he had began working for him.

"Mr Logan, you're here. Have a seat." Will Park welcomed him warmly and gestured towards one of the seats before him. Logan settled into it relieved and folded his hands in his laps like the gentleman he was.

"Gave you had lunch? I was thinking we could have lunch together at the cafeteria?" Will asked with another smile.

Logan was too polite to decline. He felt it would be an insult to the chairman. So, nodding his head to the chairman's request,he stood up while he waited for him to lead the way.

They got to the cafeteria and the chefs on duty all rushed to attend to the chairman's order. Soon, they are comfortably seated in a private corner that allowed them a great view of the cafeteria.

"I called you here because I had something to discuss with you." Will Park started after eating a few bites of food and wiping his mouth.

Logan dropped his cutlery and paid attention to what the chairman wanted to say.

"I take it that your daughter is now six years old, right? He asked as Logan nodded in assent wondering where this discussion was heading.

"If I may ask sir,I hope there's no problem?" He asked a bit reverently.

"Oh! There's nothing to be scared of. I just like her. Would you bring her to the house for a visit on Saturday? I just love her being around my boys, especially Chris."

The chairman said wistfully and sipped from the up 9f tea before him. For some reason, Logan found it weird that the chairman was drinking tea on place of coffee but it wasn't his place to ask why so he kept mum.

He kept ruminating in his mind why he had to bring his daughter to the chairman's house on Saturday but he didn't find any answer.

He simply shrugged his shoulders and felt that it wasn't the first time the chairman was making such request, however,he found it weird this time around.

Logan Russell, impeccably dressed and exuding an air of professionalism, approached the head secretary, Trisha, with a sense of purpose. "Hi Trisha. Is the Chairman in? I got his message a while ago to see him in his office," he inquired, his tone a blend of formality and courtesy.

Trisha, the head secretary to the chairman, responded with a seductive smile, a subtle acknowledgment of her longtime crush on Logan. She nodded, her eyes narrowing into slits as she spoke, "Yes, he's in. Let me inform him." With that, she reached for the connecting land phone, her fingers dancing across the keys as she whispered quietly into the receiver, granting Logan permission to proceed.

As Logan entered the spacious office, a furrow appeared on his brow as he observed the chairman, Will Park, sitting behind his desk. The passage of five years seemed to have etched age onto the chairman's countenance. Nonetheless, Will greeted him warmly, gesturing for Logan to take a seat.

"Mr. Logan, you're here. Have a seat," Will welcomed, his demeanor still gracious despite the subtle signs of aging. Logan settled into the offered seat, maintaining his composed and gentlemanly posture.

"Have you had lunch? I was thinking we could have lunch together at the cafeteria," Will suggested, his eyes crinkling with a friendly smile. Logan, ever the polite professional, nodded in agreement, standing up to follow the chairman.

In the bustling cafeteria, the chefs hurried to attend to the chairman's order as Logan and Will found a secluded corner. With a panoramic view of the bustling activity, they engaged in casual conversation before the chairman steered the discussion toward a more serious note.

"I called you here because I had something to discuss with you," Will began, pausing to savor a few bites of his meal. Intrigued, Logan set down his cutlery, giving the chairman his full attention.

"Your daughter is now six years old, correct?" Will inquired. Logan, a bit taken aback, nodded, uncertain where the conversation was headed. "If I may ask, sir, is there a problem?" Logan added, a tinge of reverence in his voice.

Will Park quickly dispelled any concerns, expressing admiration for Logan's daughter. "There's nothing to be scared of. I just like her. Would you bring her to the house for a visit on Saturday? I adore having her around my boys, especially Chris," Will said wistfully, taking a sip of tea from the cup before him.

Logan, though puzzled by the chairman's unusual request, didn't feel it was his place to question. As he pondered the chairman's words, he couldn't shake the sense of strangeness surrounding this invitation. Nonetheless, he simply shrugged, deciding to comply with the request and bring his daughter for a visit on Saturday.