John hung up the phone, feeling annoyed. His conversation with his wife had been yet another reminder that he needed to take care of the children while she was busy with her own career. He knew she was right, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He had bigger priorities, like making sure the company was running smoothly and raking in as much profit as possible.
Just then, his assistant buzzed through on the intercom again. "Mr. Thompson, your sons are here to see you. They say it's important."
John sighed, feeling a twinge of guilt. He hadn't seen his sons in weeks, and he knew they deserved better from him. But he couldn't spare the time for a heart-to-heart with them. He quickly told his assistant to send them in.
As his sons entered the office, John was struck by how much they had grown. His oldest son, Michael, was now in middle school, and his youngest, David, was in elementary school. They looked so much like their mother, with her dark hair and blue eyes.
"Hi, Dad," Michael said, sounding hesitant. "We wanted to talk to you about something."
"Sure, son," John said, trying to sound interested. "What's on your mind?"
Michael hesitated, glancing at his younger brother. "Well, Mom called and said you're supposed to take care of us for the weekend," he said. "She's busy with work and can't come home."
John felt a flicker of annoyance. He didn't want to be bothered with taking care of the children, but he knew he had no choice. He was their father, after all.
"Fine," he said gruffly. "I'll make arrangements for someone to take care of you. But you need to understand that your mother and I are both very busy with our careers. We don't have time for this kind of thing."
His sons looked at him with a mix of understanding and resignation. They were used to being neglected by their parents, and they didn't expect anything more from John.
"Okay, Dad," Michael said, sounding resigned. "We'll just stay out of your way."
John nodded, already turning to his personal secretary. "I need you to arrange for a guest house for my sons to stay in for the weekend," he said. "Make sure it's somewhere nice and quiet. I don't want them getting into any trouble."
His secretary nodded, making a note on her pad. "Of course, Mr. Thompson," she said. "I'll take care of it right away."
John nodded, satisfied. He had done his duty as a father, and now he could focus on more important matters. He dismissed his sons from his mind and turned back to his work.