As the sun's warm rays touched his skin, Jared navigated his car through the bustling streets of the city.
Driving through the sea of vehicles, he made a left turn towards his destination.
Central Medical Hospital.
Once he stepped out, he walked straight inside. The brisk air from the air conditioning greeted him immediately as he entered the hospital. Amid the flurry of people coming and going, he proceeded directly to the location where he was supposed to meet someone, holding a woven basket filled with fresh fruits.
As he approached, he could overhear a heated conversation among several individuals.
"Dad, how could you do this? Why didn't you tell us?"
"Dad, is there something wrong? How could you not inform us about this beforehand? This is a serious issue, and we have the right to be informed!"
"Dad, how could you sell the business that was meant to be passed down to us? Isn't it unfair that you never shared any information about the business?"
"You should have consulted us. I already made a promise to my father-in-law that they would be allowed to purchase a share of the business, and now it's all fallen apart!"
"Dad, what about me? Don't I get anything? I'm the youngest here."
The tones of disapproval quickly reached the old man's ears, as well as Jared's.
It seemed the oblivious children had finally caught on to the situation, but Jared was unfazed. He knocked twice, causing everyone inside to fall silent.
The door swung open to reveal a middle-aged man wearing a frown.
"Who are you?"
Jared flashed a smile and glanced at the old man, who was also watching him closely.
"Mr. Nordy had an appointment today, and I've come as promised. Mr. Alejandré is expecting me."
The old man's expression brightened as soon as he heard this. There was only one person who had scheduled an appointment, and that was the owner of his business. The old man kindly motioned for him to come inside.
"Dad, did you have an appointment with Mr. Glenn's people? So, the ownership has already been finalized?"
The elderly man let out a sigh, and Jared approached the individual seated on the bed. His hair was a mix of grey and white, and his eyes appeared weary. The decline in his vitality was evident, a clear sign of his advanced age.
"You must be Jared" his voice had a clear hint of heavy tone but was polite. Jared stood beside him and bowed to respect.
"My name is Jared Hale, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lenor Alejandré"
The elderly man kept nodding with a grin across his face. The five kids observing from the side couldn't contain their curiosity and asked, "Who is he?"
Their father appeared delighted to see the young man and quickly demonstrated favoritism towards someone they had never encountered before.
"This man..." Lenor smiled at his children. "...is the person I entrusted my business to"
Their sharp intakes of breath echoed in the space as their eyes widened. They stared at Jared, who appeared to be around the same age as their children, with a look of confusion.
'what? He is the new owner, but he is young'
"Pleasure to meet you" he utters in short words of response.
"Alright then. Why doesn't everyone head out for today? As you can see, there's some business I need to discuss with this young man. We can address that issue at another time," Lenor stated in a commanding tone. The siblings felt the urge to intervene, but with their father's stern and icy gaze, they had no choice but to leave. They shot Jared glances filled with a mix of curiosity and animosity before exiting the room.
"Forgive my children. They are all grown up but still don't understand things like children" said the man while rubbing his forehead.
Jared shook his head in response. "I'm perfectly fine. Worrying about little details will only give me stress. What kind of life will I have if I'm constantly focused on little things? I came here for you."
Lenor let out a quiet laugh and leaned back comfortably against the soft, fluffy pillows. With just the two of them alone in the quiet hospital room, the tension that arose when his children came to voice their complaints gradually vanished.
"I'm curious about your thoughts. You're young and seem to have great potential. With your entire future ahead of you, I hope you can share your approach to business."
With that question posed, Jared reflected on it as well.
"I have a similar yet distinct question. Why have you entrusted me with the business that was meant for your children? You dedicated everything to building the dream you wanted, and yet you're handing it off to someone like me—a stranger. I may be young, but how can you deem me promising? Appearances can be misleading, Mr. Alejandré. Not everything is evident based solely on looks." Jared's previously gentle smile and polite demeanor quickly shifted to a firm and icy stare.
Numerous questions are swirling in his mind, and the only one who can provide the answers is the elderly man before him.
The silence enveloped the room, creating a still atmosphere. Their unwavering glances met, and moments ticked by with neither party willing to break the quiet.
However, the stillness was abruptly shattered by Lenor's laughter, echoing through the hushed space.
"My, my. What a fascinating young man."
"To respond to your question, if you believe I trust you enough to hand over my business, you're mistaken. I trust no one. In the world of business, everyone is a competitor. So when a stranger suddenly appeared, seeking to take control of my enterprise, I was intrigued. I don't trust you, young man, which is why I employed someone to investigate your background, and guess what..."
Jared felt a sudden jolt in his heartbeat, anxious about the words that Lenor might say next, but he kept that to himself. He remained seated, holding his gaze steady on the elderly man, anticipating his words.
'd-did I get discovered? Did he start to suspect someone like me? If he employed someone to investigate me, then he must realize that I'm insignificant and possess nothing of value. What if he uncovers the truth? What should I do?'
He masked his anxiety with a smile and encouraged him to talk. "I'm curious about what you know about me."
The old man's lips tugged upwards at the corners. "Nothing."
Jared halted and knitted his brows.
'Nothing? What do you mean by nothing?'
"Aside from knowing that you came from the same place I did, there's nothing else to be observed."
Jared's suspicion deepened, and his curiosity became hard to contain. As an ordinary individual, it shouldn't have been easy for anyone to investigate him, right? Yet, after hearing Lenor's response, he found himself even more intrigued by his own life.
'did the system perhaps...'
"Quite mysterious, indeed, but I won't delve into your enigmatic past any further. I want to get to know you. I want to know what kind of person you are. I care for my business as deeply as I care for my family, yet things seldom unfold as I plan. My intention was to pass my business down to my children, but unfortunately, none of them are fit for it. I'm concerned about what might happen to my business if it ends up in their hands. You saw it, didn't you? Reckless and overly ambitious. They take so much for granted, and I can't bear the thought of someone like them managing the business I've tirelessly built."
Before meeting Lenor, Jared asked Nordy about him. One thing he discovered was that Lenor was a man of strong principles and integrity. He led a life dedicated to doing good, which is why his business thrived over the years. However, there was another aspect to him that was concealed behind his kind exterior. Lenor is an exceptional businessman, but despite forming alliances with various people, he never fully placed his trust in them.
With a prosperous business and rivals trying to undermine him, why has no one succeeded? why? Isn't it better to just drive them down six feet below the ground or using any means for them to fall down rather than trying to negotiate when words fall short?
Indeed. One of the aspects that had been concealed throughout all these years. Lenor shows compassion to those who are kind to him, but when faced with individuals who don't think and resort to violence, Lenor uses his iron fists to bring them down to the ground.
A soft touch for compassion and a keen edge for confrontation.
When circumstances do not unfold as desired, wouldn't it be easier to simply bring everything to a close?
One wrong move and everything will close to an end.
And that was him, the true Lenor Alejandré.