Chairman Holland got dressed up and sat down on the dining table to have breakfast that was placed in front of him. He took a spoon of the sauce in his plate and spat it out with the speed of light. A deep frown etched on his forehead as he turned to yell at Anita who was busy overseeing the other dishes in the kitchen few meters away from the table.
“What is this trash? Did you lose your sense of taste? Why have you been cooking rubbish in this house for some time?” he shouted as he slammed his hand on the table at the mention of each words.
Anita was taken aback and enveloped with fear at his fuming site that she didn’t know if she should apologize first or rush over to change his sauce. She wiped her hand continuously on her apron in fear as Chairman rained heap of insults on her while she just stood there with nothing to say.
Joseph who overheard the commotion from his room came outside to check what was happening to have his father who is fuming mad in the house. He approached the scene and saw him shouting on Anita who just stood there with her head hung down.
“Why are you scaring the poor woman? What is happening?” Joseph said with his two hands in his pockets as he scrolled to the scene and his father flipped the food tray to their surprise “You should get out of my house if you will keep serving me trash” he slammed and walked off in anger.
Joseph scanned the mess on the floor and looked up to see Anita’s apron and body stained with the soup splash before shaking his head and muttered “You seems to really have lost your touch, you were so great at cooking back then” and left for his room.
His father called him and told him to get ready for the meeting they discussed earlier. They drove to Holland Chemicals, a subsidiary of the Holland Group and were welcomed by the waiting executives. They started the meeting which lasted for some hours and Joseph was finally elected the President of Holland Chemicals.
Amber who was checking through the Holland Group online board suddenly saw the announcement and rushed to inform Tom in his office. She knew Tom wasn’t informed because an invitation to him as an executive would have definitely passed through her desk. She wondered why he wasn’t sent an invite and why they appointed a new president without any reason to in the first place but who was she to talk?.
Tom informed her that they would be visiting the house in the evening and she agreed before dropping the tablet in front of him to check out the latest update.
He took it up to see some photos on the screen and his expression changed as he scrolled through
“What is this?” he asked with a confused expression and Amber quickly explained to him, “Mr. Joseph Holland has been announced as the new president for Holland Chemicals”
“When did this happen?” he asked adjusting his falling glasses and she replied immediately “It was uploaded few minutes ago”.
“I understand, you can go” he told her and she picked up the tablet before leaving for her desk.
Tom loosened his tie in frustration as he wondered about the exact reason why the Chairman and Joseph took such a decision and step without informing him as a son and executive. He was still trying to figure out their plan when the call from his father’s secretary came through.
“Mr. Tom, the Chairman said to come out for family dinner to the sent address at the set time. He strongly warned that you should not think about missing out” she relayed her message and disconnected the line.
He was furious but there was no one to vent his anger to so he just took it out on his poor phone that he clutched so hard in his hand, it was so tight that it could shatter if it were to be a frail or fragile object.
He finished up at the office and canceled the plan with Amber before heading out for the dinner. He met his mother already there with Joseph and the Chairman, he just greeted everyone and took his seat.
Their foods were served and the sounds of cutleries clashing soon fill the air as everyone was busy with their plates in silent until the Chairman cleared his throat.
“I am sure you are already aware that Joseph is now the CEO of Holland Chemicals and that is the sole reason why we are here” Chairman Holland announced with a mouthful of meat
“Congratulations Joseph” Anita said with a smile and Joseph only nodded
“Congratulations but you didn’t invite me to the meeting, I wonder what was the reason” Tom stated and Joseph chuckled
“It’s not like you are the one to lead the meeting, you are already as busy as it is so why should I bother you?” Joseph countered
Tom smiled and raised his head to look at Joseph before blurting out a “I am also an executive, were you afraid that I won’t vote for you” which made the smile disappear from Joseph’s face.
Joseph wiped the corners of his lips with the napkin before clasping his hands together on the table. “I didn’t know that you were this dense for someone who is controlling so many staffs. Your vote cannot do anything to the position because it is originally mine and there is nothing you can do to stop it” he spat out and Tom smirked
“I never intended to snatch it from you, I only asked a question as an executive but I guess you are still as insecure as ever” Tom clapped back and Joseph raised his eyebrows in anger before Tom added “I am already a CEO of the biggest subsidiary and your position cannot be a threat to me so you can relax and enjoy your new office, I will send flowers over tomorrow” which made Joseph fumed but Chairman Holland was quick to intervene.
“What are you both doing? Did I call a dinner for this? You should shut up and eat!” the Chairman hollered and they resumed the food.
Joseph held a piece of meat on his fork high in the air and stared at Anita who was busy with her own food before telling her “I hope you can eat this and regain your taste, this is what we call food and not the trash you spend all day making”.
The statement made Tom so furious that he didn’t know when he threw the wine in his cup on Joseph’s face. “You are very stupid” he shouted and Joseph stood up with his vision blinded by the red liquid as he struggled to see.
“You think you are a threat to me? Never! I am only starting from here, watch me claim my rightful place as soon as possible” Joseph yelled and Anita stood up to stop the brawl between them only for him to throw a cup of water at her but Tom was fast enough to cover her.
She opened her mouth in shock at the sudden action of Joseph. She was surprised that he could even think of that but he was not sorry for his action a bit. Tom’s shirt was dripping water as he looked at his mother’s face and tried to calm her down.
“I think you should head home” he whispered to her and led her out of the room to his car.
He drove her home and she tried persuading him in the car not to take the incident to heart but he was not ready to have her motivational speech that night. He swerved to the corner of the road and parked the car before hitting the wheel in frustration with a loud yell.
“Why in the world are you doing this to me? When did you become such a laughing stock? Why are you sticking to a hell called house?” he growled and Anita held his hands gently before whispering “Because of you Tom” and that only infuriated him the more.
“Why are you staying because of me? You are not even registered in the family, you are not married legally so why are you staying to witness these insults and ridiculing because of me? I hate to see you appear pitiful like this! And I hate myself more for not being able to do anything. Do you even know what your friends say at your back? They are only hanging out with you because it is to their benefits. They believe you are not on the same level with them and only laugh with you when you are there, that is so painful!” he started firmly and she wiped the tears on her face.
She smiled painfully as she replied “Do you think I don’t know about that? I am just an unwanted woman who has no position but I am willing to do more than that if it means that you will be successful. You sacrificed yourself, your youth and every other dreams just to prove yourself worthy so I will not ruin this process just because I don’t want to be humiliated. I will bear all humiliations and ridiculing till you succeed in that seat and I will see to it” and that only made Tom cry.
He held unto her with his teary face and mumbled a “Why would you do that? You have your own life and pride too” but she held his hand tighter and told her “Because I am your mother, I am all you have”. That broke him into pieces and he sobbed like a baby in her hand.
She pulled him into her embrace as they both cried and comforted themselves, no one can understand them except for themselves after all.