Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Being a boss is hard sometimes but I still find it better than when my parents, especially my mom, calls me asking when I was going to get married or worse give her a grandchild…. I'm just twenty-four years old and have a long way to go.

My name is Michael and I am the first of three children. My younger sister is just nineteen but her birthday is also approaching. My family owned several chains of restaurants and were still planning on opening another one and my dad wanted me to supervise it personally.

"Dad, we can hire contractors to oversee it." I argued, still trying to convince him to let me stay back.

"I'm stepping down soon and I need you to know the ropes well." He continued still as calm as he was when we started the conversation.

"I went to a business school, dad,I know how things are done." I told him.

"It's either that or I don't step down for another year." He threatened, seeing that I'd win the argument.

He was the one who started the business but I was sure as it stood now,I knew better than him and I wasn't bragging because all he wants now is to spend time with his wife...well who is also my mom.so I had to take care of it.

"Fine dad,but just so you know,this is blackmail." I said.

Chuckling lightly,he answered.."I know, son,and your mom wanted me to tell you that if by your next birthday she doesn't see your girlfriend,she is going to set you up with her friend's daughter." He finished,and my eyes widened in shock.

"She can't do that, we're in the twenty-first century and that doesn't work anymore." I said, hoping I was right.

"Maybe you should tell her yourself,and bye I have to get going." He said.

"Bye Dad…. finally!" I breathe in relief.

Don't get me wrong,I love my family a lot but sometimes my mom just makes me want to run away and my Dad agrees with her all the time.

If I ever find love,I want something like theirs that even after having all their children, they are still in love with each other and they never fail to make me jealous of their relationship. All the girls I've met either wanted the money or had probably seen my picture on the internet and they want that too.

I love being rich,but I hate the paparazzi that came with it.there was no longer privacy except when I was home of course but anything outside our home was open to the public. Though I had my own house,I still like staying with my parents because I get to see my sisters very well.

"Dad, I have an idea." I said,as soon as he picked up his phone.

"And it couldn't wait? Just so you know,you just ruined a moment." He said.

"Eww dad,I don't want to hear it but I was thinking that instead of building any restaurant in any rich area again,why don't we give the locals a chance to have our food too." I suggested,and there was silence on the other side.

"That's a great idea son, I am proud of you." He said.

"Thanks Dad." I replied.

"That's my baby boy..did your Dad deliver my message?" My mom asked underneath

"Mom you can't call me baby boy and still want a grandchild." I groaned.

"It can happen, can't it?" She asked my Dad who answered yes.

"I'm sure you'd figure it out." She concluded just as my secretary came inside to give me some files and tell me I have visitors.

"Bye mom, bye Dad I have to go now." I informed them.

"Don't forget what we…." My mom started but I didn't let her finish.

"Sorry for the wait,you can tell them to come in." I said to the secretary.

"Yes sir." She said before turning back.

Growing up,my parents taught us to be nice and treat everyone as equal because we might need their help tomorrow and that was the reason my staff and I got along well.

"Good day Mr Martin." The visitor was actually the real estate agent who was looking for the perfect area where the restaurant would be.

"Mr Fredrick." I replied with a polite bow,since he is older than I am.

"About the place,I think I found the perfect spot for your new project." He said.

"Yea, about that, I'm thinking of changing location to somewhere where other people with little income can afford our food." I told him.

"A good idea, but I still think the place I just visited is a great idea." He argued.

"That's okay,we could also get the place too.it might prove useful in the future." I told him,and he smiled in relief.

"Yes sir,just let me know the location for the new place." He said.

"I will. You can excuse yourself now." I told him before going back to the files my secretary Lilian dropped just before he came in.

He muttered a little okay before leaving which I didn't respond to. I thought of the perfect area that we could use, I even searched online for ideas and after a lot of thinking,I settled for the place closer to the bus stop where the buses pack but not too close and my reason was simple,since a lot of people pass here everyday they'd be tempted to at least have a taste when they're hungry and all and I think it'd work.

I promised my youngest sister that I'd pick her up from school myself and it was almost time so I decided to pack up and make sure everything was in order before I leave.

"I'm leaving for the day, forward any urgent...I mean very urgent calls to my personal line." I told my secretary but I hoped there was none.

I got to my sister's school just in time to see her walking out with her friends whom I was familiar with.

"Michael!" She exclaimed excitedly as she came to hug me.

"Baby girl,hope school was fine and no one disturbed you?" I asked her, bringing her in for a hug.

"It was fine...you came." She said.

"Of course,I promised you didn't I?" I asked her.

I enjoyed my work but it wasn't as important as making my sisters happy.

"I thought you'd be busy." She murmured.

"I'm sure you're hungry,why don't we get something to eat." I said to her and her friends as well and they all nodded excitedly before getting into my Audi A5 model.

"Let's eat at your restaurant." One of the girls in the back seat said and they all agreed.

"Of course." I said and drove off.

As I drove,I listened to my sister talk about how school went and their upcoming camp activities. I paid attention to her but I also couldn't help but think about the restaurant that I wanted to set up again.

It was going to be stressful because we have only accepted the best chefs all over so the search would start again.

"Are you listening?" I heard my sister ask and I knew I was lost in the world of my own.

"Sorry Daisy,I was thinking. What did you say?" I asked but instead of answering,she asked her own question.

"Are you okay? Is something wrong?" She was starting to look worried.

"Of course not, I was just thinking of how I'd start looking for chefs for the new restaurant we're opening." I explained and she relaxed.

"Another one? Can I help? Please…" she begged and there was no way I could say no to the puppy face she was giving me right now.

"Sure." I said and she squealed happily.

We we're back at the restaurant but this time,I wasn't there as the boss,but as a customer and I didn't expect them to treat me specifically but since they knew who I was,they were by my side in a flash ready to take our order.

Once we were done eating,the girls wanted ice-cream which we got before I finally dropped her friends in their respective homes. Daisy was already sleeping when we got to the house and I didn't want to wake her,so I carried her carefully using my leg to close the door.

It'd been such a long day but I'd do it over and over again but right now I needed to rest.