Liam's POV
After wrapping up my meeting at the hotel, I steered my car towards the building that bore my name and legacy Collins Enterprises. As I parked in the reserved spot marked "CEO," I couldn't help but let my thoughts wander back to the weight of expectations that had always hung over me, like a shadow I could never quite escape.
I walked towards the elevator, the polished marble floors reflecting the image of a man who, despite his success, felt the burden of a legacy that was never truly his choice. As the elevator doors closed, my mind drifted to my parents.
James Ben Collins and Lily Erica Collins—high school sweethearts who built an empire, one business deal at a time. They had me in their twenties, and from then on, their ambitions took precedence. My mother, with her fierce passion for fashion, built her brand from the ground up. My father, ever the business titan, expanded his ventures, ensuring Collins Enterprises was synonymous with success. In their pursuit, they inadvertently sidelined their only son.
That's where Mellisa stepped in, my nanny since I was a toddler. She raised me when my parents were too busy conquering the world. Even now, she's the closest thing to family I have, overseeing my mansion and still caring for me in ways my parents never could. When I graduated high school, my father handed me a part of the company as if it were a rite of passage. Balancing that with my studies was no easy feat, but by twenty-one, I had a master's in business and was running my own divisions within the company.
Now, at twenty-five, I've expanded our reach globally, creating a life that others might envy. I built my dream mansion, brought Mellisa to live there, and worked tirelessly to ensure Collins Enterprises remained at the forefront of industry. Yet, despite all that, my parents have only one question on their minds when will I settle down and start a family?
That, I scoffed inwardly, is never going to happen.
The elevator dinged softly as I reached the 60th floor, my sanctuary. The view from my office was breathtaking, the city sprawled beneath me like a map of possibilities. But even as I admired it, my mind wandered to a girl from high school—a memory I couldn't shake no matter how hard I tried.
Shaking my head to clear the thought, I sat down at my desk, diving into the day's work. The city's skyline was a distraction, but not enough to deter me from the mountain of tasks ahead.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. "Come in," I called out, not bothering to look up from the document I was reviewing.
"Good afternoon, sir," Alexis's familiar voice greeted me as she stepped into the room. Alexis Michael, my secretary, had been with me for five years. In her late twenties, she was married with a two-year-old son and was more like a sister to me than just an employee. She had an uncanny ability to read my moods, often better than I could myself.
"Your next meeting is set to start in twenty minutes. I also have your schedule for tomorrow if you want to go over it now," she said, handing me the document.
I nodded and took the schedule from her, glancing through it. My eyes caught on a note—interviews for my new assistant were scheduled for tomorrow. I groaned, placing the schedule back on the desk.
Alexis, of course, found my frustration amusing and laughed behind her hand. I shot her a glare, but she didn't seem fazed.
"I think someone forgot their own interview for an assistant is tomorrow," she teased.
I sighed, rubbing my temples as a headache began to form. "Why didn't you remind me earlier, Alexis? Now I have to deal with it tomorrow on top of everything else."
She smiled sympathetically but offered no reprieve. "Can you help me with the interviews tomorrow? I'll buy you a whole basket of your favorite chocolates," I offered, attempting to bribe her.
"Not going to happen," she replied with a smirk. "I can only assist in bringing the candidates to your office. Besides, I have my own work to finish by tomorrow night. It's your job, not mine."
With that, she exited, leaving me to groan inwardly at the thought of the looming interviews. They were a necessary evil, I knew, but that didn't make them any less tedious. I continued working, trying to push the thought to the back of my mind as the evening quickly approached.
By late afternoon, I needed a break. Alexis brought me a cup of coffee, and I took a moment to enjoy the sunset from my office, the city bathed in a golden hue. The door to my office opened without a knock a sign that only two people in my life would dare to do so: my best friend Alex, or my father.
Turning around, I was met with my father's familiar green eyes. He walked in, his demeanor as commanding as ever. "Well, what a surprise. My father visits his one and only son at the office," I remarked, my tone carefully neutral as I gestured for him to sit in one of the chairs opposite my desk. I placed my coffee cup down, bracing myself for the inevitable conversation about marriage or business, both topics he never tired of.
Settling into the chair, my father leaned back slightly. "Can't a father visit his son without it being a surprise?" he asked, his tone light but with an underlying seriousness.
I shrugged, waiting for him to continue.
"I came to discuss some matters with you," he began, and I steeled myself for another lecture about settling down. But what he said next caught me off guard.
"Son, I'm tired of this business. I know it might be hard to believe, but after chasing success for so many years, I've realized I've missed out on the things that really matter. Your mother feels the same. We've missed so much, especially with you, and for that, I'm truly sorry. We both are."
His words were a shock, but what followed was even more surprising. "I have a request. I want you to take over the entire Collins company."
I stared at him, struggling to process what he had just said. "If you give the business to me, what about Mother's company? What will happen to that?" I asked, still trying to wrap my mind around his sudden change of heart.
"I was thinking," he began, choosing his words carefully, "that when you get married, I'll hand over my company to you, and your mother's company will be handed over to your wife."
The room fell silent as I tried to absorb this new reality. My father, the man who had always seemed invincible, was ready to step back and let go. It was a lot to take in.
Sensing my shock, he continued, "I know this is a lot to take in, but we're prepared to continue running the companies until you're ready. That's why we've been pressuring you to get married. We want to lessen our burden and start living the life we've missed out on. But we'll wait until you're ready."
He stood up, preparing to leave, but I stopped him. "Father, when that day comes, I'll be the first to let you know. I appreciate that you're giving me time to think about marriage. As for the apologies…what's done is done. But I'd appreciate it if you and Mother started trying now, to make up for lost time."
He looked at me, his usually stoic face softened by emotion. Without a word, he pulled me into a hug, something he hadn't done in years. It was a fatherly embrace, warm and reassuring, and I found myself returning it. When we pulled away, I saw tears in his eyes another first. My father, the man who had always been so strong, was showing vulnerability. It was a side of him I'd never seen before, and it stirred something within me.
He left after bidding me goodbye, leaving me to contemplate the future. What would it be like to take over the entire company? What kind of future awaited me if I followed my parents' wishes? And why, after all these years, did I still find myself thinking about that girl from high school?
That night, after finishing my work, I returned to my mansion. Dinner was a quiet affair, and I found myself going to bed with a mind full of thoughts about the future.
The next morning came too soon. My alarm blared across the room, pulling me from a restless sleep. I silenced it quickly and went about my routine brushing my teeth, a workout session in the gym, and a quick shower. By the time I sat down for breakfast, Mellisa was already bustling around, making sure everything was in order.
"Anything planned for today, dear?" she asked as she poured me a fresh cup of coffee.
"Interviews for a new assistant," I replied, my tone betraying my lack of enthusiasm.
She chuckled. "Good luck with that. You'll need it."
I smiled and bid her goodbye, heading to the office. Despite my apprehension, there was a strange feeling in my chest, a sense that today was going to be different, that something important was about to happen.
By the time I arrived at the office, I was prepared for the day ahead. Alexis greeted me with a knowing look as I passed her desk.
"Everything's ready for the interviews," she informed me. "Good luck, sir. You might need it. There are some interesting candidates today."
She left the room with a smirk, leaving me puzzled by her words. I shook it off and straightened up, ready