The Son-in-law's Wealth System

Chapter 6

"I trust that you already received the funds?"

I look at Harold Johanson first before I nod my head. I can't help but feel a little uneasy now that I'm sitting in of him.

"Yes. I received them." I replied.

My own words feels hollow although I am only speaking the truth. I have a million dollars sitting in my account. But what does that really mean? What did he expecting from me?

Mr. Harold’s gaze on me never wavers. His eyes are piercing into me with a sharpness that feels like it is cutting through to the core of who I was.

"Good." He said with a nod. His voice sounds neutral as if he is examining an object rather than a person. "I assume you understand that I am giving it to you not as a gift."

I swallow hard and nods my head again. The weight of his words is sinking in.

"I understand." I said carefully. "But why?"

Mr. Harold nods his head as if he is already expecting that question.

"You are going to use that money to build something. You will prove to everyone that you’re capable of handling power and money. You’re going to prove to yourself that you are worthy of this legacy."

I can feel stomach twists as I let his words sink in. The million dollars in my account feels like a heavy anchor around my neck now. My hands clenches involuntarily and it betrays the nerves I am trying to hide so desperately.

"Build something? Like... Like what?" I asked again. "I don’t know the first thing about running a company or starting a business. I don't even know how to keep my own life together."

I just the life I'm living last night. When I returned to my house, it was already half-empty because Jannica packed her things ahead of time. She only left the things she considered old or cheap. After I felt an exhilirating rush from the system I have and the money in my account, I was once again left with the truth that the current me is still penniless and jobless.

Harold doesn't flinch at my words. If anything, his lips curls up into a faint and humorless smile.

"That is exactly the reason why I am giving you this chance, Chandler. Because you don’t know anything yet."

"What?"

"I’ve been watching you for some time now. I received relevant reports of your performances in your companies. You've always been almost there but never quite able to break through the wall."

"That..."

"I can see that you have a potential. But potential alone is nothing. In this line of job, results are truly matters."

I try to breathe but the room feels small and stuffy all of a sudden. I feel like it is closing in on me. Mr. Harold's eyes are focusing on me. He's evaluating me as if he is already considering whether I am really worth the investment. Or the risk.

"And what happens if I fail?"

I flinch in my chair when I hear my own question. Those words slips out before I can stop them. My question suddenly burns in my chest.

"If you fail, then you will be left with nothing. But..." Harold drawls his words which makes my heart to beat faster than before. "I am not expecting you to fail. I am not some fool handing out money that easily."

"I... know."

"This is a test, Chandler. And I believe you are capable of passing it. You have the blood for this, whether you want to admit it or not."

The mention of blood hit me harder than it should have. It is not just the blood name that tied me to this man. It is my very existence, my heritage, the legacy I had been born into but never asked for.

But am I really prepared to embrace it? Am I ready to take on the challenge he is laying before me?

My mind suddenly hurts as I try to organize the thoughts that are flooding my brain.

"But why me?" I asked once again. "Is this because our blood relation?"

"No." He replied.

"Oh."

I already expected that answer. But I just had the urge to ask it again just to be clear.

"Mr. Johanson, I haven’t done anything to earn this. I’m not… I’m not the person you think I am. Our connection will not magically change me in just one night. And why are you trusting someone like me with..." I move my hand vaguely and not sure of how to explain the massive confusion in my head. "Why not someone else? Someone more capable?"

Mr. Harold’s eyes narrows at me. And for a moment, I thought I had crossed some invisible line. Although we are not close, Mr. Harold and I tacitly chose to be civil with each other. I knew from the start that we were not like the other father-and-son pairs.

But instead of anger, I see something else in Mr. Harold's gaze. I think it is something more dangerous but I cannot quite place it.

"Because..." He started. "Chandler, you are the person I think you are. You have raw, unrefined potential that has yet to be realized. The others may not see it but I can. And I’m willing to give you the right resources to make something good for yourself. Whether you succeed or fail will be entirely up to you."

I feel like his words are a verdict that leaves no room for debate.

I sit back in my chair with my hands now resting on my knees and try to contain the turmoil inside me. He is giving me a chance but it is also a trap. Or at least, it feels like one. It may sound so bad, but Mr. Harold is not doing this out of the goodness of his heart. I can feel that he wants something from me.

And if I fail... I don't want to think about what will happen.

"What kind of results are you looking for?" I asked cautiously.

I know this is a critical moment. If I cannot understand what he want from me, then how can I possibly meet his expectations?

I can see that Mr. Harold's smile returns. But it feels colder this time.

"I want something tangible from you."

"Huh?"

"I want something that shows me that you’re capable of running things. I want you to grow the money I gave into something that has weight. Build a business, buy assets, make strategic moves. But I’m not going to tell you how to do it. You have to figure this out on your own. Create an empire, Chandler. That’s what I expect."

I blink my eyes in shock. An empire? He might as well ask me to build a skyscraper with my bare hands.

"An empire..." I repeated.

The word taste foreign on my tongue. I can feel the walls of the office pressing in around me. The pressure of his expectations is suffocating.

"And if I don’t—"

"Then you will have nothing to claim." Harold interrupted me. "And no future. If you can’t make something of this, then you will have nothing left but your failure."

The finality in his voice makes my pulse quickens. I am walking on a tightrope and the fall will be steep if I lose my balance.

"How long do I have?" I asked.

I need some kind of time frame to make sense of this overwhelming situation.

"Until you can make something worthwhile. You will know when it’s time. And I’ll be watching you."

When I did not speak, Mr. Harold continues.

"But be careful. There are other people out there who will try to take advantage of you. They will see you as an easy target. But if you prove yourself to me and make visible progress, I will make sure that you are untouchable until you can stand on your feet."

The way he said those makes my skin crawl. I have no idea what kind of enemies he has in mind. But I don't doubt for a second that they will be dangerous. People like Harold Johanson doesn't just have enemies. He created them as he climbed to the top.

"But what will happen after I prove myself?"

I lean forward and let my elbows rest on my knees. I focus my gaze on Mr. Harold while trying to steady my breathing. I can see Mr. Harold's gaze softens for a moment.

"Then you will have everything you can ever want. Money, power, the resources to shape the world according to your vision. You will be unstoppable."

'Unstoppable.'

The word reverberates in my mind. But the idea and the promise it brings to me feels too much. It seems too far out of reach, like something I can never fully grasp in my hands.

But I cannot back down now. Not after everything that happened to me. I promised myself to be better and I will not try to break it today. I take a deep breath and look at Mr. Harold in the eye to find something in him that I can trust.

“I will do it.” I said. The words coming out stronger than I expected. "I will prove myself. I will not fail this."

Johanson’s lips curls into a satisfied smile. It is something that barely mask his approval.

"Good. Then we will see what are you truly made of, Chandler. Good luck."