The CEO's Struggles

It's yet another day at Parker's palatial Mansion in Lake Mississippi.

"Reuben, where the heck are you? Do you realize we must get to work now? You'd be late already. I need you to run a quick errand for me." Scott Parker kept calling his son but he never responded.

"I know you're in there

This isn't the time to play mind games with me, Reuben. I need you out here this minute. I wouldn't want to miss out on my appointment for today." Scott yelled and slammed the door in annoyance. Sadly, no one responded. Scott was pained. It felt as though he was talking to himself.

Not convinced that his son wasn't home, Scott glanced through a tiny hole in the door to satisfy his curiosity. Behold, he found Reuben's room empty.

His bedspread was neat and untouched, which suggests that Reuben might have passed the night outside the previous day.

"Why is the room still sparkling clean? Not even the bedspread was used last night.

Where could he possibly be? It's Monday, for crying out loud. Isn't he aware of work day?" Scott was infuriated.

He stopped worrying about Rueben and decided to take a walk to the living room for a glass of water when he saw something that completely stunned him. He wasn't sure if it was the reality.

At first glance, he thought it was a mere hallucination until he got closer and realized it was the reality.

He developed a Cold feet, was dumbfounded, and flabbergasted. He didn't know how to react to the confusion right in front of him.

Quietly, he sat on the couch as he was beginning to lose balance.

"What's my offense? I've tried my best to make him a better person like his brother after his mother's demise, but what did I get in return? Disgrace, disrespect, and blunders from my heir apparent. Isn't this too much for me?" Scott shook his head in pity and bemoaned.

After lamenting, he stood up from the couch and motioned to the bar to grab a bottle of gin.

"This has to stop now. I can't fold my arms and watch him ruin his life," he vowed and emptied the bottle of Gin on Reuben and Nicki that was sleeping next to him on the ground.

She only wore her panties and a bra, while Rueben was shirtless, displaying his abs. Without being told, Scott could tell they passed out after making out the previous night.

"Dad, why did you have to do this?"

Reuben angrily slapped his father.

Scott didn't hold back either as he retaliated and punched Rueben in the face, resulting in a black eye.

Reuben was on the verge of fighting his father when Nicki held him back.

"What is wrong with you? Do you really wanna fight your Dad? I know you naughty you can get, but to fight your father? That's insane! I'm not gonna stay here and watch you do that," Nicki scolded him. Rueben might be doing it for her, but she wasn't a fan of his heroism.

"Why did you stop me? Whose side are you on? You are the reason I'm doing this. You should team up with me, let's beat the hell out of this man," Rueben shouted.

"The side of truth. Stop acting like a dummy under my watch. You don't have to prove anything to me," Nicki added and asked Rueben to apologize to his father.

"Apologize for what exactly? I didn't do anything wrong. I was only trying to protect you. What my Dad did was unfair. He should apologize to us instead," Rueben protested.

"Unfair you say? I'll tell you what's unfair. You brought home your girlfriend to make out in my living room, and you expect me to be elated? I'm sorry to disappoint you, son, but I'll condole this act of yours. It's a total disrespect to me. What is wrong with you? Damn! Today's Monday. Do I have to remind you that? And here you are sleeping next to Nicki with empty bottles of liquor scattered on the ground. Can't you just emulate your brother who is doing well for himself? You a bad influence on society and I'm not ashamed to admit it." Scott scolded Rueben and asked him to send Nicki away from the house.

"Nicki stays. You have no right to send her away. She goes nowhere," Rueben flamed up and stood in front of Nicki to defend her.

"What has come over you, son? Do you realize what you're doing? Defending your girlfriend against your father?"

"I know exactly what I'm doing, Dad.

She's my guest, and I decide if she stays or leaves." Rueben affirmed.

"I knew it would result in this. How I wish your mom were alive to see the beast you've grown to become. So pathetic. I should have known I was making the biggest mistake when I built my empire around you.

If I could turn back the hands of time, I would have preferred not to have you as my son. You're such a disgrace to this..."

"Oh, please. Spare me the sermon.

Take my mom out of your mouth." he fired back.

Leaning forward, Scott narrowed his gaze at Rueben and muttered succinctly. "I got my eyes on you. You won't find this funny next time. Be warned. If I don't find you at the company, you'll regret having me as a Dad. This is not an empty threat." he threatened Rueben and left for the office.

After his departure, Rueben was still calm and didn't find it necessary to go dress up for the office. He attempted another cuddle when Nicki landed a slap on his face.

"Ouch! Why did you do that? I just wanna cuddle. You shouldn't have done that.," he screamed and caressed his cheek.

"You're so unbelievable. After what happened, you still wanna cuddle?

You heard what your father said, didn't you?" She scolded him, but none of her words got to him. He just wanna cuddle and nothing more.

"Ignore my Dad. He's just an old man.

Who cares what he says? I only care about you, and that's what matters. Why are you acting up? You should be grateful I defended you." attempted to get closer when she pushed him to the ground.

"Get out of my sight, you fool. You should be ashamed of yourself.

You know what? I'm done with this relationship. I can't do this with you anymore. I'm out of here," She flared and wore back her dress before leaving the house.

"She'll come back to me.

Nicki can't do without me,"

He muttered succinctly and sat on the couch. He did not attempt to go find Nicki.

************

After a 15-minute drive, Scott finally arrived at his multi-billion Dollar company in the heart of, Lake Mississippi.

The front-line Gold Mine is a modern and sleek gigantic edification made with glass and sophisticated steel.

"Welcome boss. I hope your night was productive?" Joshua, Scott's office assistant, approached him and offered to retrieve the briefcase in his possession, but he refused and motioned to his office with a sad face. His attitude didn't stun Joshua. He already knew the type of person he was dealing with.

Minutes later, he summoned Joshua to his office. Pointing to a brown envelope and a briefcase on the desk.

"Inside that envelope is a check for $5 million. Go to the bank and cash it out. You can use this briefcase to bring the money. Don't waste any time. Rueben isn't available at the moment, that's why I chose you for this assignment. I want no stories. Now leave immediately. My chauffeur would take you there."

"Okay, Sir. I promise to be back soon." Joshua grabbed the envelope and briefcase and vacated the office with immediate effect. In a short while, the chauffeur drove him to Universal Bank, which was a few miles away from Frontline Gold Mine.

Joshua held the briefcase in his right hand and motioned majestically to the manager's office to cash the check. Despite just joining the bank a few months ago, Scott has already been considered the bank's favorite customer due to the large amount he usually deposits.

Approaching the manager's door entrance, Joshua noticed the check was missing from the Pocket. He quickly went back to the car, hoping to find the check.

"So quick?" The chauffeur asked.

He wasn't expecting to see Joshua return so quickly.

"I misplaced the check. Do you by chance see it?" Joshua asked in a panic.

"Not so sure. But..." The chauffeur halted after spotting a piece of paper behind the passenger's seat.

"Isn't that the check you were searching for?" He pointed to the white piece of paper.

"Yes! That's it. Thank goodness.

Mr. Scott would behead me for misplacing the check," Josh sighed and hurriedly grabbed the check.

With a move too fast, he rushed back inside the bank to cash the $5 million.

On the verge of stepping inside the Manager's office, a middle woman

brushed Joshua's shoulder and tossed the briefcase to the ground. Joshua didn't see that coming as he sparked outrageously at her. "Are you blind? Didn't you see my coming?"

"Pardon my manners. I wasn't looking." She pleaded and opted to raise the briefcase when Joshua declined. "Hey, don't touch that. You have no permission to do that,"

"Thank you, sir." She walked away while still apologizing. Joshua picked up the briefcase and walked to the manager's office angrily.

"Hey, Mr. Joshua. Welcome to Universal Bank. Alvin already notified me of your arrival. Please be seated," Mr. Conan O'Brien welcomed Joshua and noticed the sad look on his face.

"What's wrong? You don't seem happy. Did anyone offend you?" He asked in keen interest.

"It was... Nevermind! It's already sorted out. I just came to cash this check." Joshua dipped his hands into his pocket but couldn't find the envelope anymore as fear sent some shivers down his spine.

"What are you searching for? Mr. Conan asked.

"The envelope containing the $ 5 million check. It's not there anymore. How on earth did I misplace it? Gosh! Scott will kill me." Joshua cried and went completely nut. He searched every part of his body but still couldn't find the check.