Make her a bigger person

"Sorry Kate... but I didn't bring her here to work for you".

We both turned around to see who had spoken. It was obviously Grandpa and after hearing what he said, the smile that was all over my face suddenly disappeared.

"Listen to me sir, I know you might have other plans for her but what I offer is out of this world. You can't get this kind of offer anywhere else. I know you want what's best for her so I don't see any reason why you should be trying to stop her from getting this opportunity besides, from what I have seen, it is obvious that you really care about her".

"You will not tell me what to do Kate".

Grandpa said with all authority.

"I only brought her here because I wanted to confirm something. Not because I wanted you to tell me what to do. Do not overstep your boundaries".

"My apologies I guess I over spoke".

Kate said

Grandpa O'Brien nodded his head showing that he had heard what she had to say and had forgiven her.

"We should be on our way now".

He said and began walking away. Since he was already leaving, I stood up, bowed politely towards Mrs Kate began walking away.

The drive home was very quiet. I knew I didn't have any right to ask him about anything so I decided to stay quiet and let it slide. It was more than enough to have been able to show my worth to someone so exceptional. I concluded deep within me that that would be more than enough for me.

When we got home, It was already pretty late. So without wasting any time, I bowed and began walking away.

"You seem unpleased with what happened back there. Do you actually think that I would take you there so you could work with her"?

He asked this while looking like he was a bit disappointed that I was expecting anything more than what had happened.

He then shook his head and began walking towards a chair in the living room.

It was pretty obvious that he did not want me to leave yet so I came back and stayed in front of him.

"You should probably sit".

He said and seeing that he had permitted me to sit down, I sat.

"I told you, I do not want to have anything from you if it is less than what I can get from Melissa. She is already the daughter of someone you can never be. But with what I saw today, you can be way more than she could ever be".

He stood up and so did I. Leading me to a painting in the living room he stood in front of it and I was behind him as he said

"This painting is more than a hundred and fifty years old. It was given to me by my father. This was the first painting he got after making a breakthrough in his first business. This painting has been with us from the very beginning of the O'Briens corporation. For every business and every investment we had gone into, we went into it with this painting. With all the hard times and all the process and all the progress and even some failures, this painting was always with us".

The painting did not look like anything extraordinary nor did it look like something I would want to buy. But after hearing him speak and the way he puts it, it made me look at the painting in a totally different light. It made me see how significant something not so pretty could be and it made the painting that was not all so beautiful, look much more beautiful than it had looked five minutes ago.

Grandpa O'Brien then looked at me and I at him. He said

"This painting is insignificant to others until they hear what exactly it is that it has been through and the success that it has recorded".

It might have felt like nothing If I didn't understand what the painting meant.

"Listen to me Nadia, I don't want you to be like the other paintings in this house. I want you to be like this painting. A painting that was not known as the painting that was painted by a great painter, but one which was painted by a painter who nobody knew yet, is the only painting in this house that has the most significant meaning. I want you to stand on your own and be the greatest of them all. You are the granddaughter-in-law of this family, you cannot be anything less than this painting".

I knew this was a lot of pressure but it was the kind of pressure I would not mind having. I've always wanted to be someone great, someone amazing I've always wanted to do something wonderful with my life but opportunities never came and this was an opportunity I was not ready to let go of. It might sound like I was misusing this relationship I got with Jason, it might even sound like I am going ahead of myself by using an opportunity that is not rightfully mine. But right now, I really don't mind.

"I promise Grandpa, I will do everything in my power and try in every way to be just like this painting forever significant for more than one hundred and fifty years".

Grandpa O'Brien nodded his head, obviously satisfied with what he had heard.

"Good... good, I do not want that mindset to ever change You have to and must become a woman worthy enough to be by Jason's side".

I nodded and he began walking away.

"You should get some sleep now, you did well today".

When I got to the room, I noticed that Jason was nowhere to be found. I had thought that I would come and meet him sleeping but he wasn't even on the bed at all. I decided to sit and wait for him to come back but it was taking quite a while and I was a bit tired so I decided to sleep.

"I see you are here".

Grandpa O'Brien said as he walked into his study and met Jason sitting down and waiting for him

"Good evening Grandpa".

"I know you are not here to exchange pleasantries, so why exactly are you here"?

Grandpa asked and without wasting any time, Jason spoke.

"Where did you take her"?

"To make her a bigger person".

Grandpa replied.