Second Chance Rival - Page 1
Prologue
—Tristian—
“You can’t be serious.” I abruptly stood.
“Quite the contrary, Tristian,” my grandfather argued, leaning back in his office chair.
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in all my life.”
“Then I’m urging you to reconsider.”
“The only thing I’ll be reconsidering is who will inherit my empire.”
Unable to hold back any longer, I spewed, “Let me remind you that I helped you build this empire over the last fifteen years. Before I came on board, Hawkins Industries was one company that I turned into several, making all of them go public within six months. In the last year alone, between our gross profits and our stock valuations we’ve grossed over a hundred and fifty billion dollars. I deserve to be the CEO of Hawkins Industries because I’ve worked my ass off for it.” Looking him deep in the eyes, I spoke with determination, “Do you understand me?”
“It’s not personal, Tristian. It’s business. I’m just looking out for the future of our legacy.”
“Not personal my ass! It couldn’t get any more personal than what you’re asking of me.”
He shook his head in disappointment. “You really need to learn how to control that temper of yours, grandson.”
I took a deep breath and cracked my neck, feeling the throbbing strain from my pulsating jugular vein. This man knew how to push every one of my buttons and did it without hesitation. It didn’t matter how much I’d proved myself to him over the years, nothing was ever good enough. Now he was pushing me to the brink of insanity, and I was just supposed to sit back and obey like a fucking lap dog.
In my world, I was the alpha.
Except when it came to him.
“I raised you,” he reminded me like he did time and time again.
It was his go-to card, hanging it over my head for as long as I could remember. Of course, I appreciated everything he’d ever done for me, but the resentment of his persistent demands also grew as the years continued. His expectations of me were getting fucking ridiculous. However, this one took the prize.
I couldn’t believe he thought I’d just bend to his will. As if he was simply asking me to take a meeting with a client and not alter the course of my entire future in such a drastic manner, with a woman I hadn’t seen since I was seventeen-years-old.
The audacity of this man knew no bounds.
He was relentless in his pursuit, determined to make whatever he thought was right happen, no matter what or who it affected. The sad part was that we were one in the same. I was exactly like him; he made sure of it. I wasn’t just cutthroat—I was diabolical in the way I destroyed my opponent. There was no rhyme or reason to my tactics. It was insanity, and I owned it.
Making them beg for mercy was what I excelled at. They didn’t call me a ruthless businessman for nothing. I’d earned that title, and I was fucking proud of it. I gave up everything for Hawkins Industries, and I’d be damned if he didn’t leave it to me, I’d fight him tooth and nail if I had to.
With his latest demand, it was becoming blatantly obvious it’d come down to that. However, for the first time in my life, I had no idea what the outcome would be, and I hated that more than anything. I wasn’t used to not being in control, and for a man who thrived on authority, it was wreaking havoc in my life.
“I’ve always known what you’re capable of,” he coaxed, pulling me away from my thoughts.
“You don’t have to inform me of what you’ve accomplished in my companies with my money, Tristian. I’m well aware.”
“Then why are you doing this to me?”
“Here’s where we disagree, my dear grandson. You think I’m doing this to you when in reality, I’m doing this for you.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “How do you figure?”
“For one, you’re pushing forty in three years, and you still act like a pubescent playboy.”
“What I do with my personal life is none of your business.”
“It’s my business when you want me to leave you a hundred and fifty billion dollars in enterprises.”
“Which has absolutely nothing to do with how I carry on in my personal life.”
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