Chapter 73-part B

"What does Agatha have to do with this! Don't you dare bring her into this", James held himself back, fearing he might grab his father by the neck for his atrocious behavior if he is not careful.

"No...no, I won't. I'm saying we will have to let her go if I have to take the hit. And remember, during this tough patch, who will hire an old woman when there is an option of young?", his father quickly reformed his words, fearing for his denial.

"Are you threatening me? Touch her and see what happens", James said as he stepped within the personal space of his father challenging him with his words.

Some might scoff at his behavior towards his father. But then, his father deserves nothing better after that incident when he was an 11-year-old kid.

"No... no... I'm not. I'm stating the consequences if you won't help me", James' father said, raising his hands in front of his body as if he is soothing him.

James should have known his father would take this underhanded route. If only he had money, he wouldn't have heard this nonsense from his father. Though he is young, he has ideas, a vision for this company. But to do that, he must step into that throne. Grab that power that his father is wielding.

"I will take Agatha with me", he tried once again to set his plan back on track.

"And go where? You have never lived outside of these fort boys. You don't know what it takes to live outside. You have to struggle for food, a place to live. During these recessionary times, who will give you a job- a guy with no experience? Are you willing to take that risk!" His father said puffing his chest as if living in the real world is a foreign thing.

For a second, James forgot about his plan and thought about what his father was saying. Would he have done it? If he was alone, he wouldn't have batted an eyelash at that challenge. However, he has Agatha to think about. Can he do that to her? If asked, she will happily sacrifice her luxuries. But James is not made of that cloth. However, this is all baseless. He is not here to say goodbye to his inheritance but to make his father say goodbye.

"You got your way father. However, I have a condition. I want you to sign an agreement", James said, folding his arms.

"A written agreement? What for? Don't you trust me? Your own father?" His father asked with a frown between his brows.

"No. The one thing you ever taught me is to never trust you", James said now calm as he saw his father getting trapped.

"James-"
"Forget it. I'm not here to hash the past. Obviously, I'm here to correct a wrong that I don't have any hand in"

"You have a hand boy. Your clothes, your studies...all that came from this money. So, you are as much part of this as me", his father said, not ready to carry all the blame. He has used the money, so what? His son also benefited from it. But no, he has to turn this on him.

"Only you, father. Only you who will tally the things given to their child. What else can I expect from you?", James said with a curled lip.

"Enough! We are in the office. I'm still the boss here. Don't forget that", his father raised his voice as a vein throbbed on his forehead.

"Of course. Even if I try to, the media won't let us", James said as he grabbed the remote control of the television.

James switched on the TV where a news reporter stood before the company's headquarters. The reporter was saying, "our sources say that Aon Airline's company CEO is currently inside. What decision will he make regarding this crisis? Is Aon Airlines really going to crash? How did this happen? Let's see the statistics of the company in the past few months."

The reporter droned on as James pressed the mute button.

"Now do you understand the urgency of the situation?" James said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets

James's father shakily put his right hand inside his breast pocket and took out a handkerchief. He then wiped the sweat that was forming near his temples with his trembling hands.

"What… what are we going to do James? The company is already in losses. If word goes out then we will hit rock bottom. How are you going to save this?", his father asked in a shaky voice

"Bravo father. Bravo. You change 'we' to 'you' so easily. That's what I expected from you", James said, clapping his hands and clicking his tongue.

"Cut to the chase boy. The media is at the front door", red-faced, his father said angrily.

"Brittany!"James shouted the name of his newly appointed secretary. A near 30-year-old woman drifted into the silent office amidst the music of her heels clicking.
"Unlike you, I thought of this predicament. You will sign this if you want me to take the blame", James extended the papers Brittany put in his hand in front of his father and pushed them with his finger on the edge of it.

His father grabbed them and flipped the papers in quick succession, his face becoming redder with each page turn. He finally snarled, "this is outrageous!!! You want me to sign my entire property, my everything to you?"

"Yes"

"I won't agree to this", his father tried to crumple the papers but James was quick enough to grab them.

"Then be my guest and walk out of that door right into the clutches of media", James said sweeping his hand and pointing it at the door

"James..."
"You too well know that you are writing your debts to me. What else is left?" James said pointing his finger at him

"My position as CEO", his father said, clutching the arms of his chair.

"You have lost that right when you gambled the money. Now sign them", James said as he laid down the papers and gave the pen to his father.

His father's hand shivered as he signed with misty eyes. This was supposed to be his. If only he had another way to get out of this mess.

"You came prepared with this, didn't you? All that rage, it was to rile me up. Well, I gave it to you. Now what will you do with this?", his father asked as he held the papers.
"What I will do with it is my decision", James said tight-lipped.

"How are you going to save this company, James?" His father was eager to know the secret that made his son so confident to take on this crumbling mess.

"Devin Hughes", James said the name over his shoulder, on his way out.