Chapter 56: Prized possession
Words.
Numbers.
Symbols.
Nothing made sense as his thoughts kept reverting to the woman who had been warming up his bed, but making him take cold showers at night.
"You look like shit." A mocking comment echoed in the room as a man strode into his office as if he fucking owned the place.
Technically, he did.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" He asked, looking up from the files that piled up on his desk, awaiting his signature.
After taking over the company, Maximus Morton had rarely visited the office, except for major shareholders’ meetings. Since his father had retired and relinquished all his obligations to him, he had refrained from meddling in his affairs.
Therefore, it was alarming to see his father make an unexpected and unannounced trip to his office.
"Can’t I visit my son at his work?" Maximus asked, his eyes roaming around the room with a look of nostalgia. "I like what you’ve done to the place, Oliver." His father commented, his tone laced with pride and approval.
From the look his father gave him, he knew that his father was not only referring to the aesthetic of the room, but the overall status of the company.
Since taking over the operation, the company had risen by ten percent in market share. The marginal productivity growth had increased exponentially.
"I’m glad, but you haven’t answered my question." As much as he liked to entertain his father, his time was valuable.
But his eyes reverted to the untouched documents on his desk, guilty of derelicting his duty, because he could not focus for even a single minute on his work.
"I heard about the situation in the company and the cartel. Do you need any help?" His father didn’t mince words, going directly to the point.
Of course, his father heard about it. Even though his father was not involved in the daily operation of the company, he suspected that he still had people working under him, keeping him informed of what was happening.
"No need, Dad. I can handle it. You don’t have to worry." He assured his father. "Just enjoy your time with Mom. I heard that Mom had booked a cruise trip for the two of you."
As much as he appreciated his father’s interest, he didn’t want to drag his father’s retirement into this mess.
"Yeah! A cruise. Your mother has been preparing for that for weeks." His father was supposed to sound excited, but his tone was nothing but dull and uninterested.
Nonetheless, he knew that his father would go on this trip whether he liked it or not because his father would not want to disappoint his mother.
To other people’s eyes, his father might seem cruel, cold, and even look like the devil himself. But in truth, deep inside, he was a loving husband and a doting father.
Unfortunately, just like him, his father was bound to his obligation to the family and the Morton legacy. A responsibility that required many sacrifices.
"I’m sure you and Mom will have a great time. You both deserve the break." It was due. It was time for his parents to enjoy their remaining years together. "At any rate, I don’t think you came here just to talk about that."
His father gave him a weak smile before turning his head left and right. "Of course not. But I do have one more thing I need to discuss with you."
"Okay, what is it?" He leaned in his chair and gazed at his father, both curious and intrigued. There was something about his father’s expression that he couldn’t read.
"Fine." Maximus sighed heavily. "It’s about your wife, Sophia."
The mere mention of his wife’s name had his ears flapping like an elephant’s. His father truly knew how to capture his attention easily.
"What about her?" Alarming bells rang inside his head, knowing that his father had always been against his marriage to Sophia.
In his father’s opinion, Sophia was not a suitable wife for the Morton heir. But he truly didn’t care about what his father thought of his marriage.
Although his mother had initiated this marriage, he would not have married Sophia if he hadn’t been really interested in her.
In truth, he knew he had liked her from the first moment he had laid eyes on her. It might not be love at first sight, but Sophia truly caught his attention, enough to make him obsessed with her.
No one could have forced him to marry her if he didn’t want to.
"I think I was wrong about her." The great Maximus said, making him do a double-take, as he turned to stare at his father.
Then, a knock came to his door before he could say anything. Just in time, his assistant peeked inside and announced that his wife was outside.
"I asked your assistant to get her. I need to speak to you both." Maximus said as he signaled for his assistant to usher his wife inside.
Just like him, Sophia had a look of stunned surprise and confusion as she joined him in his room. But another emotion registered in her eyes as he stared into them.
Fear.
Still, his wife walked into the room with confidence, as if nothing could faze her.
After his father offered her a chair, he continued, thanking his wife for accommodating his request. It was weird since his father was not known for his subtlety and patience.
"I know what I said before. But Sophia changed my mind." This time, his father looked at his wife with acceptance, as if she had just won his trust.
Now, he was totally intrigued.
What did his wife do to earn his father’s vote of confidence?
"What?" At this point, his wife looked between him and his father, clearly clueless about what was going on. "What now?"
"So, I decided to give her my wedding gift." His father pulled a folded document out of his side pocket and handed it to Sophia. "A small token to welcome you to the family."
For a brief moment, his wife stared at the bunch of papers as if she were afraid it would bite her. Then, she hesitantly took it. "What is this, Maximus?"
Instead of answering, his father gestured for his wife to read it. With no choice, Sophia perused the document. After going through the first page, his wife’s eyes widened as if she could not believe what she saw in those papers.
"Is this some kind of a joke?" She asked, appearing genuinely shocked. But all he could do was watch his father’s interaction with his wife.
"You’re now Oliver’s wife. A part of the Morton family. So, I think it’s time that I officially welcome you to the Morton Group." His father said. His tone was not lacking sincerity as he looked at his wife.
It turned out that his father had transferred five percent of his shares to the Morton Group in his daughter-in-law’s name.
At that moment, he owned the majority of the shares, thirty percent. His parents had ten percent, each of his siblings had five percent, and his son had another five percent. A total of fifty-five percent, making their family the major shareholders of the company.
"Wait! Are you sick?" He questioned his father, who was talking nonsense. "Are you delirious or something?" He quickly stood up and walked to his father, checking his temperature for a fever.
His father would not simply hand over his prized possession to just anybody, especially not to his wife.
"No, I’m not sick. I’m just saying that I approved of this marriage. I have no more objection to Sophia as your wife." He further clarified, as if that would easily clear the misunderstanding.
Still, it didn’t make sense since his father would not simply change his mind unless he had a real, deep reason.
"We will even give our last five percent shares to you, Sophia." He pointed to his wife with a wide smile on his lips, as if he was suddenly excited about his next deal. "If you two would produce us another grandchild."
Now, he had his eyes rolling out of their sockets because he could not believe what he was hearing.
Did he suddenly step into another alternate universe where his father was not this cruel Mafia Don, who all he could think about was what was best for the Morton name and legacy?
"Are you sure about this, Dad?" He asked, wondering if his father had bumped his head or something.
It was hundreds of millions worth of stocks that his father was giving up to a person whom he had labeled a gold digger earlier.
"Excuse me! Have you gone mad, Maximus?" Out of the blue, an enraged voice echoed in the room, forcing them all to turn toward the door.
Standing in the opening was his ex-wife, followed by his secretary, who looked like she was ready to faint.
"Hazel, what are you doing here? This is a family matter." He quickly said, after dismissing his secretary, who was not entirely at fault since Hazel barged into the room unannounced.
"What the hell!" She furiously continued, ignoring his warning. "I was married to you for a year and even gave you a child, but you never gave me any shares." She protested as she marched further into the room with raging eyes.
"Now, this nobody from nowhere gets to have five percent of your share." Hazel turned to his father before glaring at his wife.
If a look could kill, his ex-wife would have murdered his father and his current wife, as she sent daggers in their direction.
"Who I gave my wealth to is none of your business, Hazel? Besides, we had already given you what you deserved. You were properly compensated for your contribution to the Morton family." His father replied coldly, as if he had just dealt with an already concluded business deal.
"Well, I don’t think I can take this." Finally, Sophia said amidst the chaos. "I don’t think I want to be part of this circus." She dropped the file back on his desk and turned.
"I’m going back to work." Leaving his office without turning back.
