Karl Gordon Is Back

Chapter 4: The Life He Left Behind.

Karl exhaled, he had expected his old man to end the call as soon as he heard his voice.

For a moment he was silent, unable to speak.

“What is this? A breathing competition?” Grandpa Maxwell scoffed. “Speak boy, I don't have all day.”

Karl chuckled, he had no idea how much he missed his old man until now. “I’m doing fine thanks for asking.”

Maxwell tuts, “If you were, you wouldn't be calling me, no?”

Karl sighed. “I lost.”

“Lost what?”

“Our bet.” Karl admitted. “You were right.”

Maxwell exhaled on the other end, he didn't need to rub it in. He could tell his boy had gone through some serious eye opening.

“I'll have one of my drivers pick you up.”

“No.” Karl said, “I'll meet you at the office.”

Maxwell sighs, “Very well. I'm expecting you.”

~~~~

The drive from the company down to the Maxwell Empire was all he needed to get his shit together.

Karl stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of Gordon Holdings, hands clasped behind his back as he looked out at the city below. He had been here countless times before, yet it felt unfamiliar now, as though he were stepping into a place he had abandoned rather than one he belonged to.

The door behind him opened.

“You kept me waiting,” Maxwell said calmly.

Karl straightened. “I know. I’m sorry.”

A pause followed, long enough to feel intentional.

“You look like you've been run over by a truck.” Maxwell replied. “Sit.”

Karl turned and did as he was told.

Maxwell Gordan sat behind his desk, grey hair neatly groomed with a pair of yellow shades on. It's been years since he left but Maxwell was still as weird as ever, the only man Karl knew to wear shades indoors.

Maxwell studied his grandson carefully.

“You look thinner,” he observed. “And tired.”

Karl nodded once. “I deserved it.”

That answer made Maxwell lift his brows slightly. “Did you come here to punish yourself, or to speak?”

Karl inhaled slowly before lifting his gaze.

“You were right,” he said plainly. “About Melody. About everything.”

Maxwell leaned back as a sigh escaped his lips. “And you discovered how?”

“It's a long story,” he muttered, “I want back in.”

Maxwell burst into a hearty laughter, "That's not possible.” He grabs his cigar and lights it. “You left. Signed over your inheritance and now you walk back in here, six years later to claim it?”

Karl exhaled, he didn't expect this to go smoothly. Maxwell had warned him back then and knowing his old man, he was a hard nut to crack.

“If that's what you're here for, sorry to disappoint you boy. I have someone else to replace you already.”

Of course he did. He supposed heor vanished overnight and the board were sure to be on his neck, judging by the industry they were in, an heir needed to be decided to secure their future.

“And he's a good kid. Knows the ins and outs of the business. Your foster brother if you may. I had to adopt him.”

Maxwell turned to face Karl, eyes narrowed in displeasure, “That was the mess you had me in when you left for some bimbo!”

Karl clenched his jaw. “I'm ready to do whatever it takes.”

Maxwell’s gaze sharpened.

“You gave it up of your own free will,” he reminded him. “I warned you. More than once.”

“I know.”

“And yet here you are begging for what could have been yours rightfully!” Maxwell slammed his hand on the table. “It was all yours back then! Everything and you left.”

Karl bowed his head,”You're passing your voice.” He met his grandfather's gaze, “Isn't this the age your blood pressure gets unstable.”

Maxwell went quiet, eyes narrowed on Karl before bursting into laughter.

“Rascal.” he takes a smoke, “I thought you lost your backbone when I saw you.”

“I did.” Karl muttered, “I'm here because I'm done being a coward.” He meets Maxwell’s eyes. “I want in.”

Maxwell went silent again. He had questions to ask about Melody but decided against it. The last thing he wanted was for Karl to think he can talk his way back into the family business, especially when it's six months to the next board meeting and the new CEO would be elected.

The odds weren't in Karl's favour at all. Not his words could convince the board on who to vote for.

“I can't help you boy. In six months, the board will have a meeting and they already know who they would be voting for.” Maxwell said and got on his feet. He glances at his wristwatch.

“I have a meeting to get to.”

Karl got out of his seat and went on his knees. Maxwell stops dead in his tracks.

“Grandpa. Please.” Karl begged, “I let you down. I let my emotions get in the way and I messed things up. Give me a chance to prove myself.”

Maxwell exhaled deeply, “It's not as easy as you make it sound boy. I told you, Jayden took your place and that boy had more grit than the man in front of me! Do you expect me to kick him out of that position? You haven't proven anything to me except your words boy.”

Reed walks into the office and stops dead in his tracks on seeing Karl on his knees.

“Mr Karl.” He called, clearly in shock.

Karl didn't respond, he was here to fight for his future. They can exchange pleasantries later.

“What is it, Reed?” Maxwell asked.

“Miss Ruchie Emold has turned down our meeting again.”

Maxwell cursed under his breath, “Why is it taking so long to secure a meeting with that woman?!”

“Mr Jayden has tried his best to discuss it with but she has turned him away. What do we do, sir?”

Maxwell exhaled, “Her partnership is very crucial for our next aircraft. If we don't secure that contract, we can kiss the rest of our plans goodbye.”

“Ill talk to her.”

The room went dead silent.

Maxwell turned to face Karl and so did Reed.

“I’ll talk to her and secure that contract.”

Maxwell chuckled, “Are you insane boy? She wouldn't even speak to me and you think you can get her to sign a contract?”

Karl met his grandfather's gaze, “How I intend to do that is my business. In return, you make me a contender for the CEO seat.”

Maxwell opened his mouth but words seemed to fail him. He leaned back on his walking stick, observing the boy in front of him. He could tell he was very serious.

“Fine.” Maxwell said, “But we do this on my own terms. I will not be presenting another candidate who is not ready to the board.”

Karl nodded.

“The contract has to be signed in three weeks.”

Reed glances at Maxwell, “Sir, securing a meeting with her could take almost six months.”

“If he is serious about coming back, then he will have to agree to my terms.” Maxwell turns to face Karl.

“Wining that contract will grant you access to the Gordon Holdings, not the place of contender. You have a lot to do before you are ready.”

Karl gets on his feet, “It’s either that or nothing, Maxwell.”

Maxwell exhaled, this boy sure knows how to push him.

“I'll do whatever it takes to win the board over. Leave that to me. Do we have a deal or do I start digging my own grave?”

Maxwell exhaled, whatever happened to Karl must have been serious.

“Sign the contract first. Then we can talk.”

Maxwell hands him a brown envelope and Karl takes it. “If you fail, don't bother showing your face to me again.”

Karl glances through the contract, his gaze fixed on the entirety of the contract.

“You'll be seeing my face more often.” He meets Maxwell’s eyes, “Till you're sick and tired of it.”

Maxwell chuckled, “I've lost faith in you boy. It would be a bloody miracle if this goes through.”

Karl lifted his gaze. “I won’t embarrass the family again.”

Maxwell cleared his throat and walked out of the office. “We’ll see about that.”