Looking at the view of the bustling city from his office, he sighed tiredly.
His phone rang, and Cassandra flashed on the screen
" How's my favorite sister?" he said with a smile
"I'm good big bro" she giggled "how's work"
"Busy"
"As you should be
Dad wants you home for dinner tonight"
"Okay, I'll be there"
"for real?" she asked surprised, the last time her brother was home, he'd got into an argument with their father and he left without saying goodbye
"Yeah"
"I'll leave you to work then
see you tonight" she said in a cheery voice
He had to be in a meeting in an hour, so he had the time to rest a bit.
Then he remembered her... he hasn't texted her, so he pulled up his message app
"Hi"
Jasmine is at work, watching reels on Instagram when she got the text
"Hi, good afternoon"
He was mildly surprised at the quick response, and it was polite too
"good afternoon, it's Khaleed
remember me?"
"No, I don't"
oh yeah, he didn't tell her his name the other day, so he sent her a selfie of him
She recognized him Immediately "How are you?"
"I'm fine, thanks
How are you?"
"I'm good"
"Can I call you on video?" He just had to see her face
She stared at the text for a while, at least he asked first
"yeah, sure"
she swiped the answer button when the call came in "Hey you"
she couldn't fight her smile, he looks so handsome in a white crisp shirt and a tie, he seemed to be at work.
"Hi"
"How's work going"
"It's going great...
how's work going?" she asked
how's work going?...really? is that all you could come up with, how dumb__her subconscious mocked her
"Busy...but thanks for asking" he replied grinning
she was about to ask him why he was on a call with her when he was so busy when he looked up and away from the screen.
She heard a lady's voice telling him he had a meeting in 10 minutes
"Thank you, Lydia," he said
"I'm sorry but I have to go now," he said with a forlorn look
"Can I call later?" he asked
"sure__bye," she said but didn't hang up, and neither did he, they only stated at each other
what was it about him that always had her frozen, staring like a loon
"later," she said quietly before ending the call.
He put the phone in his pocket and then stood shrugging on his suit jacket, enough daydreaming about Jasmine, back to work.
Talks had been going on about a merger between HADI HOLDINGS INC and TECHNICS INC, a video game console and publisher company owned by a friend of his father's.
A merger is what his father, his finance team, and the board members had proposed. He says they need divine intervention or in this case, a total takeover.
He wasn't going to sugarcoat anything, there isn't going to be a merger in any way, they are straight out buying them out.
The company is barely staying afloat, on the brink of bankruptcy and all logic made investing money in it a risk.
But it's a risk he's willing to take, provided they accept his offer.
He drove into his father's mansion later in the evening, packed his car then, and rang the bell.
Cassandra came to the door, and he picked her up in a big hug, twirling her around to which she giggled delightedly
"It's always good to see you K"
She linked her hand through his "You're just in time, we're at the table"
"Great...I'm starving"
He smiled civilly at Sophia, his stepmother
"Good evening, ma
" Dad"
His father nodded at the greeting "Welcome son, have a seat"
He took a seat beside Cassie, and watched smiling as she dished his food, she always made him a plate whenever they ate.
Always claimed it was her duty as his first love.
"Thanks, sis"
"How's work?" Sophia asked
"Hectic, but I'm used to it
Thanks for asking" he smiled at her, Sophia has always been the voice of reason in the house since she got married to his dad.
To put it simply, she made life easy for him and he was grateful, she's such a beautiful soul.
"Cassie, did you tell your brother about the endorsement deal you got?"
To which Cassie grinned, he raised a brow
"Oh no, she didn't think to tell me that
Congratulations love"
Cassie has ways wanted to be a supermodel, so he knew this was a huge deal for her
"Thanks, but having the Hadi name helped too
I'll give you the details later" She whispered conspiratorially
"Don't be modest now
all this is because of all the hard work you put in, you deserve it and more"
"Thanks, dad" she smiled
He glanced at his father and he looked content with a smile on his face, he seemed genuinely happy for her.
Small talk was made around the table and Sophia went into the kitchen to get Dessert which was Chocolate cake and frosting.
Sophia is a renowned chef, with a line of restaurants in different cities.
"Dinner was scrumptious as always
Thanks, ma" Khaleed thanked her
"You're welcome dear"
"See me in the study son
after your talk with your sister that is" His father said knowing Cassie would drag him to her room for their bonding time.
He couldn't be more pleased with their easy and loving relationship, Khaleed adored Cassie since she came into his home, and she looked up to him.
His father got him a bottle of scotch and a glass, while he got a glass of red wine.
If he noticed the unusual change in his choice of drink, he didn't comment on it.
"So how are things going at the company
The merger?"
"Yes, had a meeting with the board members and told them about my decision of buying the company"
His father frowned "Buying the company?
It's a merger"
"No dad, Your friend wasn't honest with you
Why would we merge with a bankrupt company?"
"Bankrupt? what are you going on about Khaleed?"
"So you didn't know?
Let me ask dad, is this friend of the one heading the company?"
"Not exactly, his son is"
"I got the intel, they're in debt to a bunch of loan companies, Underpaid staff and all
It's all a mess, but we should buy it from them and do a major restructuring"
His father leaned back in his chair at the new information.
"That means we'll be straight out buying the company but they will have shares"
" No dad, I'm taking over
and the money they'd be getting from selling to us is the best offer they can get
It's a risk buying it from them, but I'm doing this because you insist on helping them"
"I heard his son is reckless and caused most of the company's problems
I don't want that kind of person working with me"
"But still__"
"No, Dad" He cut him off, his father was a stubborn man and always liked to have his way with things
"I either run this company how I see fit or I don't, you put me in charge for a reason
I'm more than capable of calling the shots.
This is business and I'm not letting sentiment get in the way of my decision"
He saw the fight visibly run out of his father
"I'm proud of you Khaleed, I'm more than happy I'm leaving my legacy to you.
Now go get Sophia and your sister, there's something we need to tell you"
"Alright dad"
They were in the living room, watching the program "Dad wants you in the study"
As soon as he said it, Sophia's mood changed
He and Cassie shared a look.
Sophia went to sit on the arm of his father's chair and he hugged her to him with an arm
Khaleed and Cassie took seats in front of them.
"I've been diagnosed with lung cancer " he paused to see their reaction
"We know dad," Cassie said quietly
"I overheard you and mom talking about it and I told Khaleed"
They both looked surprised but Cassie shrugged
"Why you didn't tell us earlier," Khaleed asked
"Talk to him,
He doesn't want Chemotherapy"
"What! so you're just going to give up?" Cassie exclaimed
"There's no point kids
The doctors said I have a 50-50 chance with the treatment and I have a year if I don't
I'd rather not go through the pain
We talked about this Sophie"
"So you choose not to try at all?
When there's a possibility you could get treated" Khaleed said exasperated, why did the old man have to be so thick-headed
"Please daddy, do it for us
I can't bear the thought of losing you without a fight" Cassie was crying now
"Listen to the kids honey" Sophie pleaded, distressed
"Alright then, I'll do it"
They all sagged in relief, Sophie hugged him "Thank you so much"