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His father barely reacted. He just ate his eggs and swallowed. “It’s your choice,” he said. “However, you know that if you are not married by the time you are thirty, then I will recruit someone else.”
Joseph was irritated by the ultimatum. He was their only child and therefore, he should inherit the company.
“Who else would you pick?” Joseph asked. “You would give the company to a stranger?”
“There are options.”
“This is not right. I have worked in this company for fifteen years.” Joseph had started working for his father when he was fourteen years old. He started by being an errand boy and then graduated to doing small administrative duties such as filing.He worked at Boutros Oil during his studies at the university. He knew the company very well and he felt that he deserved to inherit it.
“I don’t question your work ethic. However, you need to settle down. Having a different woman every other week is detrimental to our reputation.”
“I have always been discreet about my personal life.” Joseph was quite particular about the women he invited into his personal life. He never wanted to have scandals or anything from his personal life affect his work life.
“You should have a family of your own by now,” said his father.
“You and mother both wanted me to settle down and I have agreed. Surely I should be able to pick my own wife,” said Joseph.
“Can you not change your mind on this?”
“No.”
His father was silent for a moment. “Your mother will not agree to this easily,” he said.
“I am aware.” Joseph could see his father starting to change his mind.
“I will need to sit down with Olivia. I need to see what kind of a woman she is.”
Joseph nodded. “Naturally,” he said. Now he just needed to convince Olivia to sit down with his father. Knowing her, she would put up a fight and say that she was not going to marry him.
Joseph really needed this to work. He needed to get married soon in order to gain full control of Boutros Oil Ltd. As much as he did not want to admit it to himself, he was also starting to care for Olivia. Seeing her crying had changed something within him. He was not happy seeing her cry. He especially loathed the fact that she was crying because of his mother. He was not going to allow any member of his family to upset her like that ever again.
“Have you talked to Sheikh Solomon about this?” his father asked.
Joseph nodded. “I have,” Joseph said.
“What did he say about this?”
“He was shocked as well but since I was not going to change my mind, he just accepted it.”
“He has not mentioned anything to me.”
“I wanted to tell you myself, after he had told you about Olivia being his daughter.” Joseph was going to tell them after they had gotten over the news of Olivia being Sheikh Solomon’s daughter. However, things had not worked out that way.
“I have to go to work.” Joseph wiped his mouth with a napkin. His father nodded.
“Tell Olivia that I want to meet with her on Sunday for lunch.”
“So soon?” He was not sure that she was going to agree.
“Why waste time?” his father asked.
“No reason.” Joseph rose from his chair. “I will take my leave now,” he said. He buttoned up his suit jacket and then he headed out.
