My anxiety

Aron POV

"You still have dare to face me." As soon as I entered the conference hall, Dad approached me with a hateful glance. All the businesspeople in the hall looked at us with interest. They are all well aware of my disputes with my dad.

"Dad, how are you?" I smiled and hugged him to show other people that everything was fine between us.

"Aaron, leave me. I am suffocating in your embrace." He tried to break free from my embrace, irritation evident in his voice.

"I missed you, Dad." I forced a smile, still tried to act like everything was fine between us because I didn't want businesspeople to take advantage of our family issues.

"Aaron, stop your drama; who are you trying to fool? They're all aware that I have nothing to do with you. Except for my business rival, you are nothing to me." He jerked my arms and angrily freed himself from my embrace.

My jaw dropped at his cold behavior.

I always tried to earn his love and trust, but he consistently undermined my hopes and insulted me in public.

"I don't understand why you shamelessly attend this conference every year, even though you have never outperformed my company in any way." Once more, he made fun of me in front of other businessmen.

He indeed won the best businessman of the year award every year, but just because of the fear of losing to him, I could not stop myself from representing my company.

"Dad, I am learning to grow slowly, and one day, I am sure I will win this award." I didn't have any competition with my father, but I'm not sure why he perceives me as a rival.

" I have no problem kneeling you in front of me if that's how you like to be defeated by me every time." With a devilish smile, he walked off to meet other businesspeople.

Each word from my father was like a dagger, cutting through my already fragile confidence. Why did he have to make everything a competition?

"Mr. Finge, are you all right?" Selena heard my dad's bitter words and looked at me with concern.

"I am all right." I nodded, trying to hide my pain from her.

"I apologize, Mr. Finge, but I had no clue that this business conference was a private matter for you. Seeing your casual behavior for this conference, I also didn't put so much effort into this presentation; if I had known earlier, I would have put all my hard work into this presentation." She apologized for not treating this business gathering with the utmost seriousness.

"It's okay, Selena. I reviewed your work, and your presentation has fully satisfied me." I assured her that she didn't have to lose her confidence in her presentation.

"However, Mr. Finge, your father intends to bring you into disgrace during this business meeting." She cast a worried glance at me.

I usually go to this conference by myself, but this year I decided to bring Selena since I didn't want to feel alone. Someone had to stand by me. I wished Sara could be here with me, supporting me not only emotionally but also mentally.

"It's ok, Selena; don't worry about my dad's threats. We must give our best presentation, and the judges will decide." I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

For me, this conference was not just a professional endeavor but also an annual struggle for supremacy with my father. I didn't understand why my father always used this business meeting as an opportunity to make me look bad.

"I must go to the restroom, Mr. Finge; I can no longer bear this anxiety." As the meeting got underway and businessmen began to present their companies' annual success, Selena stood up from her seat.

"Selena, please come back soon. We were the fifth group to introduce our business." I needed her help to deliver the presentation effectively, as I had only briefly reviewed it.

"All right, Mr. Finge." She walked out of the conference room and approached the restroom. I walked outside to look for her after waiting for her for fifteen minutes without her showing up. My dad had already completed his presentation and, as usual, received praise for his company's yearly achievements. I was confident that he would also secure the prize this year.

"Selena, did you sleep in the washroom?" As I saw her emerge from the restroom, I felt a sense of relief.

"I am sorry, Mr. Finge. Anxiety caused my stomach to upset." After expressing her regret, she trailed me backstage.

We were waiting backstage for our name announcement because we were the next corporate report to be presented. The conference hall attendees were unable to see what was going on backstage. I attempted to relax myself before giving the presentation by taking deep breaths.

"Mr. Finge, please take this pen drive; I need to use the restroom again." She clenched her stomach tightly.

"You can not leave right now, Selena. Our name will be announced anytime on the stage." I asked her to control her pee.

"Sorry, Mr. Finge, I can't control my pee. It will be awkward for us if I don't use the restroom." After giving me the pen drive, she hurried to the restroom.

Selena left backstage, and our name was announced to deliver the presentation. Since I felt very nervous today, I walked on the stage with slow steps. Every year, I was responsible for making the presentation on my own, but this year, due to my work neglect, I asked Selena to do it instead, and now I was nervous about how confidently I could deliver the presentation.

This wasn't just another presentation. It was my chance to prove myself, to show that I could stand on my own, despite my father's constant belittling. I was not apprehensive about my father ridiculing me; however, I was disappointed in myself for neglecting my assignments.

I made a confident attempt to start the conference, but as I inserted the pen drive, my fingers trembled. Before starting the presentation, I took a glance at the individuals seated in front of me. My father was waiting impatiently for me to mess up so he could make fun of me again.

I made an effort to welcome everyone and start the presentation, but I couldn't seem to get the words out of my mouth. I wasn't sure I could accomplish this today. Even with the air conditioner on, sweat was pouring down my forehead. I thought about shutting down the laptop without delivering the presentation, but that's when I saw Sara come onto the stage.

"Sara, what are you doing here?" I stared at her in bewilderment, but I wasn't sure how I managed to speak again after seeing her join me on stage.