8. The task

"Aaron and I stared at him in shock.

"Dad I don't get what you are saying" Aaron replied, his expression which was of confusion and shock mirroring mine. "I just don't understand so help me understand."

"Son I've always considered to to be the brains of this family, but I really hope I didn't give you too much credit. What do you mean you don't understand? Did I speak in Mandarin?"

"No but...i... you said..."

"I know what I said bit since you seem to be having such a hard time comprehending, let me break it down for you. As you already know, I am retiring and following that development I intend to leave the company to one of you...depending on how you perform."

Obviously, I couldn't say anything on my part, I was too stunned to speak. I mean, the fact that he kept saying "the both of us" was what left me even more speechless. I knew that he loved me and I knew that he cared about me, but Aaron was his real son, his blood related son. i was just the appendage kid, the one he got as a result of marrying my mom.

Now don't get ne wrong, I wasn't expecting him to kick me to the curb the moment he got a chance but I didn't think he would even consider me for a role in the company either talk more about taking it over.

Besides, I had worked in the corporate sector for years and I had heard how old-fashioned the men in the corporate world could be, and considering the fact that I was a lady, a female, I thought that my chances were already limited. Clearly I was wrong.

The whole situation was coming as a bit of a surprise to me and I felt like my ears must have deceived me, so I decided to ask again just to clarify.

"Even me? You mean I stand a chance to inherit the company as well?"

He turned to me and stared. "Yes, even you, Jasmine. Please don't tell me there is a virus that is eating out the brains of my children." He cried in frustration

"But dad, you can't be serious." Aaron objected.

"It's not about a virus, it's just I never thought I'd have to share my inheritance with...with her." He looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite fathom and while I had been expecting disdainor anger, the expression on his face was neither and that made it even harder to read.

"And just what exactly do you mean 'her'?" His father demanded. "She is as much my daughter as you are."

"...only on paper," Aaron replied and he appeared even more desperate to prove that point.

"She is a registered member of this family and after living together for over a decade, I am dissappointed that this is even a topic for discussion. "

Silence fell over the study as Aaron seethed internally, his nostrils flaring up with rage.

I on the other hand kept biting the inside of my cheeks to refrain from saying anything.

On a regular day, o would have taken this as the perfect opportunity to gloat but this situation seemed serious so I decided to swallow my tongue.

When nobody else spoke, Aaron's dad...My dad continued. And yes I called him my dad. He had taken me as his daughter and there was no need to distrust him any more

"Anyway, my mind is already made up. The good thing is that you both have equal chances, and depending on how you use those chances, this company that you..." He paused for a second glancing at Aaron. "...that you feel so entitled to might end up going to her anyway. So, I suggest you put on your big boy pants and start working hard, because I know for a fact that she is just as much capable, maybe even more capable than you. So, you have got...you have got yourself some competition."

"