Chapter 2

• SHANE
• “Isn’t the morning beautiful?” Chelsea, my Secretary beamed in front of me as she knotted my tie in my living room brightly illuminated by the morning rays coming from the Ceiling-to-floor window a few meters behind me.
• “I don’t think so,” I responded and brows inquisitively arched a bit.
• “Did I do something wrong?” she asked and I shook my head. “Then can I ask what’s wrong?”
• I reviewed her for a bit, she seemed to have done an extra styling to her long brown hair and she dazzled in her white shirt and pink skirt that clung to her curves perfectly.
• I shot her a smile, “nothing to worry about, okay?”
• “How can I not worry about you when you seem to be troubled.”
• “What’s my schedule for the day?” I asked and she left my front to pick up her tablet on the glass center table while I glanced at the TV on the wall, they were talking about the famous reporter, Sierra Banks, drugs scandal. My morning had started on a perfect note as usual until I saw the news. It has been years now since we last spoke with each other, it wasn’t like we were friends in the first place. More like rivals yet for some reason, I was bothered by this news.
• “Justin set up an appointment for you with a client by 3 PM,” she said as she came to my side while my gaze reverted to the full-length mirror before me. I was wearing a black suit, a white shirt, and a blue tie.
• “An appointment?” I queried. “I already have a lot of work to deal with and you allowed him to make an appointment.” I patted the side of my pompadour-styled black hair even though it needed no adjustment, it was a habit of mine whenever I was before the mirror.
• “It was a special request from him,” she replied.
• “And who’s this client?” my left eyebrow arched upwards.
• “No idea, he didn’t tell me.”
• I nodded.
• “You also have Mr. Henderson’s celebration party to attend tonight. He especially wants to celebrate with you for winning his case.”
• “Chelsea, you’ve been working with me for about seven years now, you know I don’t like parties.”
• She smiled, “of course, I’ll inform Mr. Henderson about your tight schedule.”
• I gave a brief smile.
• “Anything else?” I checked my silver watch reading 7:03 AM.
• “It seems you have forgotten, but your father asked you to join the family for breakfast.”
• I froze while my heart skipped a bit. The last person I would ever want to see was my father.
• “I know what you’re thinking but your father won’t be buying any excuses this time,” she said, tousling my thoughts. “Please I want you to go.” she wore an endearing smile and I nodded.
• It wasn’t a long drive getting to the highly revered Tristan mansion in New York. Yes, I was the second son of Chairman Richard Tristan of Triad Group but not many people knew that fact after all, I had been keeping my identity a secret since I was little and I didn’t mind that the family tagged me as the black sheep.
• “I must say, it feels unreal seeing my dear little brother with us after so long,” Marcus, my step-brother chirped, he was seated opposite me on the rectangular dining table while my father sat on my adjacent right and my stepmother, Rose, occupied the left.
• “The last time we saw our dear boy was your wedding right?” Rose interjected with a beam.
• “Yeah,” Marcus chuckled but I kept my hands busy with my cutleries, deciding not to pay any attention to either of them. They might be all smiles but they were nothing but hyenas who would jump at the chance to kick me out of the family for good. “You can’t blame him though, he’s a busy man. I hear he won Mr. Henderson’s tax evasion case. We all thought that man was a goner for real.”
• “Isn’t that wonderful?” she gasped. “Congratulations Shin!”
• “You asked me to join you for breakfast, certainly it isn’t to discuss my work right?” I dropped my cutlery noisily, challenging my father.
• My father placed his cutlery on his plate gently and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I see you still haven’t learned any manners.”
• My teeth gritted as our eyes locked in a way I couldn’t dare waver. As much as I hated him, I still feared him. We all feared him especially when those blue eyes of his carried this much iciness. It was one of the many reasons I hated myself, I took after those eyes rather than my mother’s loving hazel eyes.
• “How do you intend to be my successor if you lack manners,” He stated.
• “What?!” Marcus and his Mother exclaimed at the same time while I frowned. I was just as perplexed as them too.
• “I’m getting old, it is high time that I find a successor to inherit the Group,” My father said. “As far as I’m concerned only one person gets to inherit everything between the two of you,” his eyes wavered from me to Marcus.
• “Dad!” Marcus protested.
• “You seem to be lacking your manners too,” My father snapped at him and he lowered his head immediately.
• “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
• My father’s domineering gaze reverted to me. “When are you getting married?”
• “I already told you, I don’t have any intention of getting married,” I retorted and I immediately noticed the glimmer of anger in his eyes.
• “You’re no longer a child, you’re thirty-two, it’s high time you throw away that rebellion nonsense of yours.”
• “It is my choice–”
• “You are a Tristan, you have a responsibility to the family!” he thundered and fear ruled my insides. “You should learn from your brother, he’s been heading one of the companies with great success.”
• “I have my own–”
• “Do not interrupt me!”
• I gulped down my saliva as my left palm clenched into a fist.
• “I have given you more than enough time but it seems you’re hellbent on remaining the spoilt child that you are. Get married before the month runs or else, you will cease to be part of this family!”
• My eyes exclaimed in horror, “There’s only about two weeks before the month is over, how do you expect me–”
• “None of my business, Shane! You have been useless to the family and the business for far too long. If you can’t prove yourself, then you don’t deserve to wear the Tristan name.” He said and left the dining table furiously.
• There was an awkward silence in the room before Marcus laughed mockingly. “Every time you come home, you must always make a big fuss right?”
• I glared at him but he smirked.
• “He is the son of a mistress after all, shameful like his mother,” his mother interjected.
• “Triad Group is mine, the race might be between us but you should know better, a bastard like you don’t even deserve to be a candidate,” he stood up. “I look forward to your wedding.”
• “Wedding? He’s a loner,” his mother said as she stood up. “All that handsome charm of his and he’s unable to get any lady.”
• Both of them laughed as they eased out of the dining room. I couldn’t contain my rage that in oblivion, I banged the table.
• I was against marriage but I couldn’t risk losing my place in the family. My father would make my life miserable, besides, I still had a score to settle with the three of them. Then again, how was I going to get married in the coming weeks when I had no ladies to choose from?