Note: This is the sequel to Turn To You
I can't believe it! My two brothers conspired with the entire family up against me. The probability of this happening should be zero. I've never displayed any desire to be at the top of anything. Responsibilities are like shackles to me.
After knowing in-depth of the Tan family business in worldwide security, I just refuse to take up responsibility for those human lives. Unless my brother is asking for help, I prefer not to have any relation to it. Therefore I decided to help Xavier, my cousin, in business instead.
Never in my life, have I thought my brother and my cousin brother will put me in this tight spot. I am the newly appointed president of the Emperor Empire. Oh believe me, I tried to reject the post until I was called in for the shareholder meeting. There are only three people in the meeting; me, my mom and my aunt! I have apparently 40% share of the empire, my mum holds 15% and my aunt another 15%. They hold presidency over the remaining 30% which will be given to my future wife. My aunt said husband counts too
That is when I knew it's bad. The women in my family are dangerous. Mum used to be a Japanese secret agent with loads of skeleton in her closet. I was brief by dad when I came of age to understand her eccentricity of not leaving within certain perimeter from home unless my dad is with her. My Aunt used to be the COO of Tan security before my brother takes over and her son, Xavier, have nowhere to hide because she can access not only all digital information but your location as long as you use a phone or laptop. I tried to stay low key from them as much as possible so my brother, Chris and Xavier get most of the brunt of things. That is until both found their love one and decided to settle down.
Chris always have to dumb smile on his face and spent most of his free time with his two kids. I love kids, I am the favourite uncle but I never thought of having them myself. Even Xavier just became a dad and seems to settled happily. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for them but this kind of life doesn't suit me. I can't imagine myself being tied down to one person and having a daily routine. I love my freedom and I cherish women in general.
Xavier kicked me out from Lee Group for good the night he announced my position for Emperor Empire. I thought I will still be working under the group hence I could quit but NO. They sealed my fate; either I listen to the two matriarch of the family or find a wife like my brothers to secure the remaining shares in order to be independent entirely.
Emperor Empire is a very old brand of mall chains. They have good reputation but lack of innovation. Too conservative in brand engagement and prefer to stick to old established ones which secludes most of the mass public. What's good a mall if only the upper class visit it to shop? How many actual upper class you have in the society? The potential to expand and room for improvement is there but it need a strategic management overhaul.
The management meetings are the worst. It's like walking into a room full of dinosaurs. The first thing I did the last three months has been reestablishment of authority and replacement of executive. Luckily I used to be a social butterfly and knew everybody in town. Being the second master of Tan Comm and Security also helps a lot of people around me. This new position needs me to call in favors old and new. What I didn't expect was people seems to be attached to me even more now. Maybe I am the most visible one out of the two powerful families.
I have moved out from the family home to set up my own place. It more convenient to managed the empire and since I travel quite extensively, it is quite troublesome to stay at the main house at Dragon Hill. Even it's in the city but the security and our home being at the top takes extra time. Time is something I didn't have fore the past three months. The marathon is finally over and the top management is running like I want it too. There are still some fine tuning to do but at least I don't need to argue with a bunch of old people trying to make them see my point. I make sure their retirement comes with a big comfort package.
Next in my vision is the mall itself. Out of the fifteen mall throughout the country only eight are in the right location. The other seven has to be sold off or redeveloped. Since I have been the COO of Lee Group before, I knew it will be beneficial for them to develop three of them into residential area. There is another four I am still thinking what to do with it. Xavier has agreed but he has asked me to overlook it with his operation team while he goes on paternity leave while Yuki is resting. I am speechless, that guy never goes on leave. What is paternity leave?! Yuki is on maternity leave I could understand but the CEO of Lee Group went on paternity leave that extended from a week to a month....Not to mentioned they scared I will back out of the position that they tied a government project in my name already when I took over the empire. The refurbishment of the old airport in the West City to be tied to a brand new Emperor Mall. In short, my work has triple because of my little nephew.
I have not been resting, sleeping or even have time to groom myself. I bet my mum won't even recognised the usually suave Steven in this state. Still I make it to this old mall in City G to check it out personally in case the reports are not thorough or lack details.