The Billionaire's Model

Alexander's POV

"So that'll be all for today's meeting. Are there any questions?" Alexander asks while looking at the much older men around him, all here for the board meeting.

"When will you take a wife?" He was taken aback by the question thrown at him from the other end of the room. A wife? What does a wife have to do with the idea he just pitched to the board of directors? He voiced his confusion. 

"I'm sorry, there must be a mix-up somewhere. I must have heard wrong, Mr. Rogers; did you ask about a wife?"

"Yes, Mr. Corelli, every single one of us here has a lot of investments in this company, which is worth millions of dollars, and that is due to the trust and respect we have for your grandfather sitting here." Started the man who posed the initial question. "You are said to take over from him soon; however, you're not only quite young but also unmarried, so pardon us if we are skeptical about your responsibility." He took a break from his speech to take a sip of his coffee. "We all know the most responsible men are those who are married," he finished.

He looked around in confusion and could see the majority of the men nodding their heads as though in agreement with the man. Including his...grandfather?

After taking a few seconds to regain his composure, as he wasn't expecting this, he finally spoke.

"I know that my age and now apparently my bachelorhood are something of concern, but I assure you all that neither of those factors will affect my professionalism or my ability to serve and deliver my best," he stated, "and when I do eventually take over from my grandfather, I will ensure that all of your assets are well protected and taken care of." He declared.

Although the men sitting didn't look that convinced, no other comment was made on the topic or any other. The meeting ended shortly after, with all the men taking their leave. Leaving only Alexander and his grandfather in the board room. 

Alexander went to sit by his grandfather, wondering what just happened and his grandfather's view on it.

"That was weird, right, pops?" He asked his grandfather. The man didn't provide an answer and just tilted his head slightly while staring at his grandson. "Right?" He questioned again when he didn't receive the response that he wanted.

"Well, son," his grandfather started after staring at him some more. "Not really; I've been thinking of it for a while, and I do think you need to take a wife soon."

"But pops_" He started to protest but was interrupted by his grandfather.

"Do you think Mr. Rogers is the only member of the board who doubts your responsibility? Nearly all the men who were here toay do, and the reason why they haven't pulled out yet is because of me. What do you think will happen when you eventually take over and do so without a wife?"

"Pops, you know I'm competent, with or without a wife. I've always been, so I don't know why this is suddenly an issue. Plus, what's all this talk about taking over? I still have a while before it's my turn to head; you have more leading in you. So that gives me enough time to get a wife if it's really that important."

"That's where you're wrong, son; I don't have any more leading to do." Alexander was confused by his father's tone and demeanor. "I didn't want to tell you this, but you've left me with no other option."

"What are you saying, pops? You're scaring me" Alexander told his grandfather. There was a long moment of silence before he finally said

"Last month, I was diagnosed with cancer and given just four months to live by the doctors." The moment those words left his grandfather's mouth, Alexander could see his whole world crashing down. He could not believe what he was hearing.

"But..but..what...I... you?" He tried to form a coherent sentence, but he couldn't find the words.

"I know, son, I know. I did not want to burden you with this information, but my time is near, and you needed to know." 

"Pops, how could you keep this away from me? We need to find a solution to this and not talk about me taking a wife!" He exclaimed outraged that his grandfather could not only keep something of this magnitude away from him but is now bringing up a topic as trivial as marriage.

"You don't get it, son; there is no solution; there is no saving me," he said, standing up. "You think this marriage is about the company alone; it's about me as well. My son, who was your father, died before I could witness my child get married. Thankfully, he left me with a gift as beautiful as you, but I'll be damned if I die without witnessing my only grandchild get married as well," he proclaimed with passion.

"but pops_"

"There are no buts; either you get married within the next two months or you forfeit your rights to the company," he declared and walked out of the room.

Alexander stood in the middle of the room, confused and wondering how the trajectory of his life changed so quickly in such a short time.