The Incredible Anderson Denfield: path to power

09

The plump maid carefully set the first bottle on the table and uncapped it.

The old man glanced at the bottle for a moment before taking it from the maid’s hand. He gave it a brief shake, then placed it on the table in front of him.

The drugs seemed a bit too excessive for consumption to Anderson but he chose to keep quiet.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, son,” Mr. Denfield said quietly, “but these are just part of my life. One must adapt, just as one adapts to running a company"

Anderson smiled back, waiting for him to finish.

The maid poured the water into the glass and passed it to Mr. Denfield, who took it without a word. Anderson watched, trying to hide his concern.

“Dad…” Anderson began. " I'm sure Eduardo filled you in on the reason why I'm here. I came for the approval. I’ve got investors waiting, and this project can’t move forward without your word.”

" Hmm, " Mr. Denfield paused for a moment. “You don’t think I know that, son?” he murmured, pouring the pill into his hand and popping it into his mouth, washing it down with a sip of water.

Anderson nodded,

"Let’s talk about it then," the old man said, setting down his water glass. “Tell me about these projects of yours.”

Anderson took a deep breath, “The investors are on board for the expansion and acquisition,”

Anderson sat well.

“They’ve signed the preliminary agreements, and all we need now is your final approval.”

The old man waved off the maids with a curt nod, then folded his hands over his lap. “

“The market is prime for this move,” Anderson began. " I’ve conducted extensive research on the potential regions for expansion, and the data shows steady growth trends. By acquiring these companies, we’re not just increasing our market share but solidifying our foothold in areas where competitors are still struggling to establish themselves.”

The man picked his glasses“And what about the risks? Expansion isn’t just about seizing opportunities; it’s about managing vulnerabilities."

"we’ve partnered with local stakeholders to ensure we’re not entering blind. This approach mitigates risks while positioning us to adapt to unforeseen challenges.”

His father nodded slowly, tapping a finger on the armrest.

" What are the stats on this?"

Anderson suppressed a sigh. He had anticipated this, the careful planning his father applied to every decision.

“The market conditions are favorable, and the projections show consistent growth. I’ve accounted for the risks.”

Mr. Denfield’s brow furrowed“You’ve accounted for the risks?”

“Tell me, son, what’s your contingency plan if this expansion doesn’t go as expected?”

“Dad, we'll diversify further. If one market shows signs of instability, we pivot to other sectors where we’ve established footholds. ”

His father nodded slowly. “Not bad. You remind me of my younger self. ”

The old man's phone beeped and he picked it to check it.

Anderson smirked. “I’ve heard that one before.”

“Good,” Mr. Denfield said, leaning back with a rare smile. “Then maybe you’re finally listening.”

For a moment, the room fell silent, save for the faint ticking of a clock on the wall.

The old man leaned back, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, and studied Anderson with an intense gaze.

The plump maid walked in quietly, trying not to disturb anything.

“You’ve thought this through,” his father said finally. “I’ll give you that. But tell me this, Anderson—why are you so invested in this project? You could’ve passed it off to any of the regional directors, but you chose to spearhead it yourself.” the old man said as the maid briefly cleared the table.

Anderson hesitated, caught off guard by the personal question. He considered deflecting, but his father’s piercing gaze made it clear that wasn’t an option.

“I needed something to focus on,” Anderson smiled. “Something meaningful to pour my energy into while I’m back in town."

“So,” he said, picking up the glass of juice. “what’s the real reason you’re here, Anderson? Because I doubt it’s just business.”

Anderson swallowed, unsure of where his father was heading with this. “What do you mean?”

Anderson smiled. He knew the old man was trying to get into his head.

“I thought you’d appreciate a visit,” he said lightly, dodging the question. “It’s been a while since I stayed here.”

The old man’s lips curved into a wry smile. “True, but I know you better than that. Something’s bothering you.”

Anderson opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. For a moment , he wondered if he should tell his dad all about it. The divorce? About Ashley?

Instead, he forced a smile.

“I’m fine, Dad. Really.”

For a moment, his father didn’t reply, his expression unreadable. Then he took a sip of water and set the glass down. “You’ve always been a terrible liar, Anderson.”

Anderson chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Guess I didn’t inherit your poker face.”

“Maybe not. But you did inherit my stubbornness,” his father said and they both laughed.

" Maybe, you're right"

Just then, his phone beeped twice

One was a message from Eduardo.

The other was a call from his grandma.

Anderson got out of his seat and smiled.

" I'll be taking my leave now, thanks for your time."

" Where to? " the old man asked

" I have a scheduled meeting with Eduardo at one of my companies."

" Well then," the old man chuckled." Okay"

Anderson nodded, not understanding the reason for his smile and turned to leave.

" Anderson!!! " A voice suddenly screamed from behind.

Anderson froze on his feet, unable to turn.

He knew that voice too well.

It was his Grandma.

He was not prepared to see her and had been avoiding her calls all through the day before.

He wondered how she knew he was here.

He looked at his father and saw the old man laughing quietly.

Anderson cussed under his breath.

" Dad!!!" Anderson almost screamed. " Why did you tell her I'm here?!"

The old man kept laughing " Don't ask me that. Find out yourself" he smiled.

" My beautiful baby, come to mama" the old woman said approaching Anderson with all smiles.