Bibliophile - a person who collects or has a great love of books.
* * * *
Nicholas loves to read. It is his passion, his source of air, his world. He'd lose himself among the pages of an alternate reality. It is his daily routine, so getting a job...
Nicholas exhaled a deep breath as if giving himself a burst of confidence. Allah, help me. "I know you only forced the marriage with the intent of communicating to me about one of your wishes. I'm willing to do whatever you want as long as you leave Dina and her family out of this entire ordeal," he said, meeting his father's gaze with his own storm. "I converted for my own personal reasons. It had nothing to do with them."
"Is that so?" he asked, a coy smile playing on his lips. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, with an offer like that, I'm not sure I know how to refuse. Very well, take over one of our departments, and I'll contact the family to retract the proposal."
You damn bastard, you knew exactly why I'd make that offer.
Nicholas bit back his own smile. "I wasn't finished."
His father's grin fell, a frown poisoning his cracked lips as bewilderment fell across his face. "What?"
"I will run a department of my choice with my own leadership," stated Nicholas, tilting his head at his father. "You realize what that means, don't you?"
He cleared his throat, straightening. "I believe so."
"It's a shame that I can't believe you," remarked Nicholas dryly as he reached into his backpack. "I've drafted a contract for you to sign. Within the document, I have stated both our responsibilities, your relationship to me, and the consequences of either of us breaking the contract. I had Elijah and his lawyer friends look through it just in case you wanted to bring your lawyers in on this as well."
He handed his father the document, which he quickly skimmed through, eyes widening at the fine prints and Nicholas's meticulous planning. Scott had to agree that his son saw through his father's tricks like he was gazing into a mirror.
"And if I choose not to agree?" he dared himself to ask through the tightening in his throat.
A spark glinted in Nicholas's blue eyes, the cold chills directed at his father. "Then I get lawyers involved to look into some of your questionable business negotiations," he said, plopping himself back down on his seat. "Don't think for a minute that I haven't done my research on you or been paying attention to our family business."
He narrowed his eyes. "What game are you playing here, son?"
"The game that you started, Father."
Scott was stuck in an ultimatum. Either he agreed to his son's terms and get the heir he always wanted or he surrendered his assets due to a media scandal. He knew his business dealings were not always proper, but he had hoped that involving his well-educated son would erase those sins.
His son was more aware than he anticipated, and he would play all cards necessary to win.
"You have yourself a deal."
Nicholas smiled like the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. "I knew you'd see it my way."
----
I bedazzled my writing laptop, and my mom made fun of it T-T
I JUST WANTED A HUG.
Anyway, isn't Nick such a smart guy, taking on his CEO father with only his wits and friends? What a legend.
I've criticized politics way too much today. 5.6 billion dollars for a wall, people. There are people not getting paychecks over A STUPID WALL.
IF THE MONGOLS INVADED CHINA EVEN WITH THEIR GREAT WALL, HOW IS OURS GONNA BE ANY BETTER?
That was dry humor, I'm sorry. Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow!
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