The Contract

The announcement

ANNUAL BALL

"Ahem if I could have everyone's attention." Geoff tapped into the microphone.

"I know you all are having a good time right? Now I must say thank you all for coming tonight but I must address this statement" Liam had sweat beads forming on his forehead. He didn't want to move though. It would only draw attention to himself.

Geoff pauses then starts again. "This agency means the world to me and I could not have done this without my family, all of you, and especially the Maliks." Everyone erupts in applause and turns to the family standing together. They're dressed accordingly. Both men wearing black and white and the two ladies of the family, Trisha and Doniya, dressed in gold. Zayn loves matching with his family it's very "Kardashianesque" as he says.

"I want to take this minute to congratulate-" before he can even finish his statement Liam already knows what's coming next. With a mental eye roll he begins to get annoyed. "Let's see how long he can keep talking about him" he thinks.

"Zayn for his amazing collaboration with Louis Vuitton!" Again the audience bursts into a fit of cheers, whistles, and claps for the young man. Zayn just goes full red and thanks everyone.

As Geoffs speech continues Liam finds himself getting more nervous. Usually his father will just come out and say what he needs then leaves, but this has dragged on for a few minutes now. "Ahem" Liam coughs not because he was trying to get his father to go on but he's starting to get a lump in his throat.

His father gets brought out of his rant and looks back at him and turns back with a grin. "Right well all that being said I have decided that it's time to turn over my reign as CEO."

The audience falls more silent than it was before. Liams eyes go wide but not enough to make a scene. His heart stops, and if you couldn't see the sweat droplets before you sure could now" he looks into the audience and to his pleasure everyone looks just like how he feels right now. He then sets eyes on the person he despised the most who looked like he was about to burst into tears any moment. "Why does he care so much?" He thought but eventually tuned back into his fathers shocking announcement.

"I know everyone I'm sorry, but this has been well thought out, and the torch will be passed to my son Liam." He gestures his hand that's accessorized by his wedding ring and a Rolex watch to Liam who is standing slightly behind him accompanied by his mother Karen.

Liam goes pale.

His whole world stopped. He had so many questions in his mind but just pulled his lips in a tight smile and waved to the audience as if he knew the whole time. He's pretty sure his father wanted him to present it that way though. His father was very big on media appearances and publicity.

"Congratulations boy. Make me proud!" His father says more to him but it's caught by the mic on the podium.

"Thank you father." He shakes his hand and gets pulled into a hug.

The audience is a little shocked, but is still clapping for Liam.

Liam waves to the audience after his short embrace from his parents. He spots Zayn's family clapping for him. The only one not moving is Zayn. If Liam made out his face he looked rather scared and almost teary eyed. He began to be confused as to why he looked like that but then it dawned on him.

He was now Zayn's boss.

After his fathers speech liam made his rounds to go greet and talk to all the guests. He knew one day he would take over just not so soon. He's only 25 for gods sake. What if he screws up everything his father worked for? He shakes his head from the thought and continues to shake hands and make small business talk.