"What are you saying, dad?" Alexander moved closer to his father and stood right behind him to see where he is slowly tracing with his fountain pen.
"I'm going to change my will because I have made a gargantuan mistake." And that is when his finger started moving where he's mentioned Alex in his will that he should inherit the empire while his younger brother have the other assets here and there.
Alexander almost choked on his saliva when he traced the dots of what his father is trying to do. He's been doing all his damnadest best to be the man his father has always hoped he would be but now this? No, they shouldn't do this to him after everything he's done. His father is making a serious mistake he shouldn't have ever thought of but the man looks tired with everything going around him.
Where had he gone wrong?
"Dad, don't do this please. You can't do that to me! I've been trying my whole life to become the perfect son but it's always been Ivan, huh? Why is that? Because he refused to move out of the mansion or he is younger than I am and hasn't seen the world yet like I viewed it?" He demanded in a rough tone that's filled with emotions.
His father lifted his face away from the paper to look at him as if wondering why he is asking such a question. He's always been jealous of his younger brother being the perfect son here and there. He is also great in his own way just that the way he wants to live his life is different from his younger brother's innocent self. The little guy is just in his final year in college which means there is much more for him to see.
"You think we don't know what you are doing? We do and everyone does too since not the entire world is blind or deaf. We've seen and heard so many things about you all over the news, tabloids and magazines. And those things aren't worth remembering talk less of mentioning. It doesn't make any sense to me that you move around people that are totally not for you. Too many women, drunken nights and scandals."
"Alex, you've been a disappointment to me and your mother ever since you joined college. You know I love you more than I do him, that's the fact. But I can't be blinded by that love for you and ruin the empire I've had years of sleepless night for. I can't do that." He shook his head, the pen slowly falling down on the will as he shook his hands in process.
Alexander rounded the table and sat down in front of his father while thinking about what to say to make the old man feel better. He's disappointed his father and it is written all over the man's tired face and slag posture. Things aren't the same anymore and he needs to understand that before he makes any decision.
He is also a billionaire on his own, without his father's wealth added to his but allowing his younger brother to inherit the empire means he's failed his parents and he really is a disappointment. He cannot swallow that bitter pill of truth because that isn't who he is. He won't fail the man that's given him everything and anything he's ever wanted and ones he's never needed to begin with. No, that can't happen.
"I want to change too, dad. I'm not a drunkard. I just happen to love being around alcohol and women whenever I want to but I will change for you." That is totally a lie because he doesn't want to change his lifestyle at all.
He wants to keep living like a free man without any responsibility which is the one thing that will make someone look more mature in the eyes of his parents. The minute you start being mature, then you are a responsible person just like his younger brother but apart from that, you are nothing but a playboy that wants to be all around the tabloid and magazines.
"And what about the paparazzi always following you around? You think if you lie that you want to change to me the paparazzi won't expose you? Don't be naive, son." His father looked away from him as if he won't be able to bear looking at him for another second.
Alexander cursed himself inside his head beverage it's a known fact that he could lie to everyone and anyone in this world but not his parents. He was and still is so close to them that the minute he utter a lie, they see right through it and that shatters them more than the raw truth. He shouldn't have lied to his father. Now the man looks so hurt and disappointed that it left him feeling bitter about himself.
He slide his hands across the table and held both of his father's hands in his. "Dad, I'm going to clean up every single mess that's been following me and replace it with a good one. I don't care what other people think anymore. I'm going to portray a nice image for myself that will make you proud of me."
His father slowly turn to look at him then the hands that are holding his firmly. "That is not an easy work even for you, son. It's going to take a long time for that to happen and I can't wait that long knowing my empire might still be endangered if given to you."
"When I say I'm going to do something, dad, you know I do it. And give me just three months, three months and things are t going to be the same anymore. I can be that perfect son in the papers too." His hopeful eyes held his father's, waiting on baited breath for his father to give him a chance.
Andrew Santos breathe heavily through both nose and mouth. "I'm giving you this one last chance, Alex. Mess this up and you can kiss your inheritance goodbye."