Family Meeting

Family Meeting
Dad's return meant a lot to Florence and she couldn't hide her excitement any longer, hopping on his body every now and then, may she was only trying to make me feel jealous and the effect was driven home, I sure felt jealous. The thoughts in mg head had me wreaked out even as the house got filled with visitors that evening, people of high classes and partners of my dad. My mom, on her part, stayed indoors all day for some reasons best known to her. Playing the good son, I had to wait through all the meeting with the visitors, my dad would occasionally refer to me as "the new head" which sometimes got me confused. I also realized how Florence was present too, she had no intentions of running business but why would she stay glued during these visits?
"You are looking pale kiddo" Florence whispered into my ears as finally assembled at the dinning.
"Don't worry about me. I will be fine."
"You don't look like you since dad's arrival. Is there something you want to discuss with your big sis?" She inquired, causing eyes to fall on as with the almost audible whispers.
"Have you two lost your manners?" Dad yelled, his tone causing Florence to sit up properly while I only starred at the junk of meat before me, my appetite hard to come by. Seated round the dining table were my family members, including my mom who had joined us sluggishly. I looked up to peep into her eyes, my mom was drained, something was definitely eating her up and she had to better speak up. If it was dad's matter on her mind, I was ready to help. While Florence and dad ate in peaceful silence, smiling at intervals, my mom stayed on a single bite, looking so weighed down. I couldn't even take a bite and it seems no one noticed.
"Can I use the rest room?" I took a generation permission and my dad nodded with his mouth full. I was out of their sight as fast as I could and found my way back to my chambers. I needed some time alone. What happened to all my strength, the energy I had before this moment? Why was I still intimidated by his presence? Was I not man enough? Questions raced freely through my head as I sat on my bed, looking at an empty universe. I needed some sort of reassurance, I needed to stand tall and refuse to be outrun by either mg step sister or her father, my dad. When it seems nothing would help, I opted for a light alcohol. With the stock of wine brands I had in my suite, I did a search for one with a high level of alcoholic content, found some and busied my mouth. I may have had a little too much than I should. Maybe I got drunk or probably wasn't still feeling too sane.
I could hear some voices in my buzzed head as I lay down with another bottle by my side, the stereo blazed music to calm my soul.
"Why are you worried over nothing?" a voice in my head asked. It was so real that I had to look around the room, although not much could be seen in my current state.
"You're the CEO. You have your money now. You don't need them" another voice said.
"Steve, you've got your team willing to stand by you" said another voice, this one was filled with hope.
"But what if you're only getting the loyalty because you are still the CEO?" A tiny voice asked, making me wonder what could go wrong.
"Will they all stick by you when it all gets dark again?" The same tiny voice asked again, breaking my hopes and increasing the tears already building in my eyes.
"You are only as important as what you offer. You think your dick and new found power can save you? You are far from reality" said another harsh voice. I found myself crying like a scolded child, listening to my own voices. It broke my heart to understand the possibilities that may befall me, if I didn't stand for myself. I was still fighting with the voices in my head, begging them to stay quiet but there was no result. I couldn't tell how I found myself in my living room.
"He had a lot to drink sir" I heard a voice say now, this must have been an external voice. I tried to snap out of my illusions only to see that I was already too gone.
"Steve.... What has come over you?" My dad was asking. When I realized what has happened, I tried to compose myself, sitting up on the floor I have been laying for only God knows how long.
"Dad? Mom?" Standing before me where my parents, Florence and her guards. I was both embarrassed and angry, why would they invade my privacy with those thugs? And on the other hand, how did I end up here?.
"What are you doing to yourself?" My mom finally spoke.
"Nothing. I'm fine" I said. My dad only gave me that fatherly odd look while Florence stood still, holding his hand.
"Your sister came to alert us that you were laying unconscious and crying at same time. Not only that, your lips were moving like you were altering inaudible words. What has happened to you?" She asked, reducing her height to fa squat level, checking my body temperature with the back of her palm.
"I'm fine mom. " I told her.
"How long has he been experiencing this?" My dad asked Florence.
"He has been acting strange since I returned. I don't know what's wrong " she said.
"Tomorrow, we will call a doctor to check you. If anything goes wrong, you will have ti bear the consequences" my dad said and left the living room as Florence followed and then her guards.
"Son, what's wrong?" My mom asked now that were alone, helping me sit on the sofa.
"I had a lot on my mind and has maybe too much of the liquor" I told her.
"Now your father thinks you are unwell and he may consider you unfit for that position you are occupyíng." She said.
"I know. But I will make amends."
"What really is bothering you?"
"Mom, I don't understand family anymore. I feel like we are a hiding something from each other. I feel one day everything will come to light and all we are labouring for, hoping to sustain will crash down." I let my fears out to my mom.
"I feel same way son. I lost my home already. I feel like a bait here, I feel used." My mom said.
"I noticed it the moment you crossed that door mom. What's going on?"
"Son, don't worry about me. I will be fine. Your step sister is only making things difficult for you, but eventually you will win" she assured. She gave me that motherly hug again and got me a light meal to make me relax, a mother was truly a blessing.
The morning that followed, I felt better and knew I had to face whatever came my way. Without a chance to check my phone, I joined the family after breakfast for the first family meeting in a while. Everyone was seated before my arrival. It was meant to be family meeting but what I saw unexpected. Mrs Lawson and her daughter where present amongst others. Florence had her three guards standing by her too. My mom sat alone at one corner while the lawyers and accounts serving my dad sat also in silence.
"You are late" my dad said as I joined them.
"I'm sorry for my attitude. I had other things to attend to ." I said, getting a place near my mom.
"I think we are good to go now. We all know the new policies and operation of the company....." My dad began and my mind drift started again, making me lose concentration on whatever he had to say.
".....as a result, we will have a review of some things, stating now." He ended .
"Since things have turn out this way, who would handle the company?" Mrs Lawson asked and senses came back. What was going on? Evelyn's eyes stayed on me with a blank look on her face.
"For the time being, Steve has to step down and allow someone else run the company until he is fit medically." My dad announced and I almost cried but remembering my mom's words, I stayed calm.
"That's a welcome development" another chief said.
"From now on, Steve, my son will stay off all business operations and be attended to by our doctors while Florence takes charge. " he said.
Everyone clapped as he ended and Florence gave her appreciation, thanking everyone that was present. My mom was also blank. I didn't know how to react but I had my plans playing out in my head, I knew Evelyn had passed a message to others and a sample of the text dropped on my phone.
"Our boss Steve has been replaced. It is time to show solidarity" her message read.
"Do you have any thing to say, Steve? " my dad asked, and all eyes faced my direction.
"This company was built by you sir, I have no problem with that. I'm off its operations. It was a blessed brief moment serving as a tool until you made the right choice. I'm grateful for the chance to experience the position of a CEO first through you, but with all due respect, let Florence keep the company. I'm done." I ended, living everyone in shock.
"Really? Don't you have any appeal?" Maryann asked.
"No ma'am. By the way, congratulations dear sister, enjoy your regime. " my last statement earned the applause of my mom and Evelyn. They weren't expecting that but I had my plans. My dad's company was outdated and only ran on old technology. It was time to work on something new, but until then, we had shells to break.