Desperate Times

Liam

I made my way out of the house and headed straight for the office. Moments ago, Anna had called to inform me of an unexpected visitor back at the office, and how my presence was requested. However, Amelie had managed to distract me.

It wasn't my intention to lead her on and leave her hanging, conditions just demanded that I leave home that very moment.

The distance from the mansion to the office was less than quarter an hour drive. And in no distant time I was where my attention was needed.

"What's the problem Anna?" I asked upon arrival. Everything seemed normal, and so far there was nothing odd that has caught my attention.

"Your brother's here, he's waiting in your office." Anna answered. I stared at her intently trying to find out if she was joking or not. But Anna remained unwavered even under my gaze, now I was certain she was being serious.

At that moment, different emotions clouded my senses, and in the next moment I was storming towards my office like an enraged bull.

"Hello Liam." Casmir greeted the moment I flung my office door open. Despite seeing the expression on my face, he seemed pretty relaxed. Probably because he knew there was no way I would soil my reputation in public by acting out of line.

"I realise this must be a shock to you, I wanted to call you but decided a surprise would be much better." He said.

I recoiled in rage at the sound of his carefree attitude. The mere sight of him was enough to make me boil over in rage, and just hearing him speak so casually to me made that my anger grow even further. I wanted to rush over and punch him teeth out, but etiquette and morals restrained me.

"What are you doing here Casmir?" I asked after swallowing the rage that had clogged my throat.

"You know exactly what you did, and you know exactly why I am here." Casmir responded. "What did you think, that you would move Woods headquarters from Italy to England and expect us to remain calm about it?"

"What I do with my company is none of your business."

"Except that it's no longer your company! Wood belongs to the family, and that will change after twelve months pass by. Until then, you don't get to make decisions like this on your own!" Casmir educated.

I already knew all that, but I couldn't care less about their decisions on the matter. Up until our fathers will was read, the company has been running with me as the CEO, and I've spearheaded all its major decisions. Why would I need the opinion of amateurs to do what I want now?

"If your reason for coming here is to make me reverse what has already been done, then I'm sorry to disappoint you. Woods Industries will remain in London until I decide otherwise." I made clear.

"Then it's good that I came with my lawyers." Came a cheeky response.

I felt a wave of anger drift past me, but I controlled myself. Never in my life did I imagine I would come to hate my younger brother the way I did right now. Casmir was a good boy until our father's will was realised. Ever since he found out that he had a chance at taking over the family business for himself, he had become a different person altogether.

"You can come with whoever you like, it still won't change a thing." I replied. "I'll advise you get back to your family and spend more time with them instead of running around trying to ruin another man's life."

He chuckled mildly at my words, what appeared amusing to him, I was yet to discover.

"You wouldn't know anything about family even if it hits you in the face. I'm not the person with two failed marriages."

"Mr Hardwood!" Anna's voice contained me. Just now I was about to lose myself and do something I would later regret. But thanks to Anna, I was able to restrain myself. I clenched my fists in anger, and distracted the anger in my heart with the pain of my fingers digging into my palm. Then coldly I said to Casmir, "Get out!"

He obeyed rather quickly, but not without leaving a final message. "I guess we'll meet again in court."

That man, he had a lot of nerves talking like that while in enemy territory. But despite the disrespect and all, there were no lies in his words, and that made them more painful than ever.

"Have the company lawyers prepare themselves. If Casmir is being serious, then we shouldn't waste any time getting ourselves ready." I ordered, and Anna took note in the portfolio clung to her chest.

I was exhausted at this point, and my rage hadn't subsided one bit. Who would've thought that Casmir of all people would get me this anxious. With a wave of my hand, I dismissed Anna and went to settle on my desk. Today was Saturday, and I normally don't work on weekends. However, if I don't distract myself with something quickly, then I might implode with anger.

It was awfully obvious that Casmir wanted all the smoke, and I was willing to give it to him. However, in the long run I was still destined to lose. He had something that I didn't have, and that was a successor. Things weren't exactly going well with me and Amelie, and my latest divorced wife was a no no. It was hard to admit, but the only woman I was compatible with was Amelie, despite the pile of differences between us.

With how things were progressing, it was unlikely that she would ever get remarried to me. It wasn't my fault or anything, if anyone had to work on themselves it was definitely Amelie. There was no time to waste, and having an illegitimate baby was not part of the demands.

My father was strict with his instructions, the mother of child must be lawfully wedded and accepted into the family.

This was initially my last resort, but now I was running out of time and out of options. In order to cut Amelie's choices short, I was going to get her pregnant. With my child growing inside of her, she had no other options than to get married to me. There was no time again to try and rekindle the light of our past relationship.

I knew love was important for a good family and all, but for now love was going to wait. We would work on that aspect after she has given birth to a child. Call me cruel or whatever, desperate times call for desperate measures. And with Casmir constantly breathing down on my neck, this was the quickest way to solve the problem.