novelraw Chapter 115: That Would Make Me Your Grandmother
Chapter 115: That Would Make Me Your Grandmother
Chapter 115: That Would Make Me Your Grandmother
"I said who are you and how did you get past the doorman?" Brandon demanded again.
The man standing in front of the door wordlessly moved away, revealing the woman who stood behind him. She was a petite, middle aged woman who stared calmly at him as if curious about him.
"You may leave now Jonathan." The woman instructed the man who turned and left.
Brandon watched as the man turned away and left, then he turned to see the woman quietly examining him. "Aren’t you going to invite me in?" She asked. "At my age, i don’t have the fortitude to stand for too long and thanks to your refusal I have been standing for a while."
Brandon shifted uncomfortably at the woman’s soft scolding. He did not want to let the strange old woman in, but she looked like a harmless little lady, what harm could she possibly cause?
He eventually made a decision and stood aside to let her in. As she passed by him in doorway, she radiated an air of quiet authority. She was beautiful and her presence commanded attention. Her silver hair was styled in a classic updo, and she wore a tailored suit that spoke of wealth and understated elegance. There was a regal quality about her, a bearing that suggested she was accustomed to being obeyed and expected it.
Brandon, felt a strange sense of unease settle over him.
"You must be curious about who I am." she repeated, her voice firm yet gentle.
He could only nod mutely, still trying to process the fact that this imposing woman had somehow forced her way in and she was standing in the middle of his very messy living room.
"My name is Lily Van Doren," she said, her gaze unwavering while Brandon looked like he had been turned to stone. "I believe that we have a great deal to discuss, don’t you think?"
The name struck a chord deep within Brandon. He felt a sudden jolt of recognition, a dawning realization that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Van Doren?" he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "As in... Levi Van Doren? Are you his mother?"
Lily’s lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Yes," she confirmed. "That would make me your grandmother, Brandon."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken implications. Brandon stared at her, his mind reeling. Grandmother. The concept felt foreign, surreal. He had grown up without a grandmother and now, standing before him was a woman who claimed to be his grandmother, a link to a past he never knew existed.
"I don’t have a grandmother." His expression hardened. "I don’t know what you want but you can’t find it here, I would like you to leave right now."
Lily’s expression turned serious. "I want to give you what is rightfully yours," she said, her voice firm. "You have been denied your birthright for far too long, Brandon. And I intend to rectify that."
Brandon stared at her and shook his head. "My birthright?" he repeated, his voice laced with irritation. "Are you trying to get ahead of the bad press? Is that why you are here?"
"Why don’t you sit down," she said, gesturing towards the sofa.
Brandon remained standing, Lily sighed and took a seat opposite him, her gaze fixed on his face.
"I know that all of this must be a shock," she began, her voice softening slightly. "You have every right to be upset. But I assure you, I am being entirely serious and I have no ulterior motives."
She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Your father, Levi, never acknowledged you. For reasons that are... complicated. But that does not diminish your connection to this family. You are a Van Doren, Brandon. And you deserve the recognition and the opportunities that come with that name."
Brandon remained silent, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He could not quite grasp what she was saying. It all felt too surreal, like a scene from a movie.
"What exactly are you proposing?" he finally asked, his voice skeptical as he sat down.
Lily leaned forward, her eyes meeting his. "I am proposing to give you your rightful place within the Van Doren group of companies," she said, her voice clear and decisive. "I intend to appoint you as interim CEO."
The words hit Brandon like a thunderbolt. CEO? Of Van Doren Group of companies? The idea was so preposterous, so far removed from anything he had ever imagined, that he almost laughed.
"You’re... you’re joking, right?" he stammered, his voice laced with disbelief. "What will happen to Levi?"
Lily’s expression remained serious. "I assure you, Brandon, I am not joking," she said firmly. "I have carefully considered this decision, and I believe that you are the right person for the job."
Brandon stared at her, his mind reeling. He couldn’t understand why she would do this. Why would she suddenly appear after all these years and offer him such a position? It didn’t make any sense.
"But... why me?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion. "I have no experience running a corporation like Van Doren. I’m not qualified."
He had never aspired to be in charge of such a huge and influential organization like Van Doren. The thought of the amount of power he would wield lit up his eyes. He could get anything he wanted, Lyse would not be able to say no to him.
"You have the Van Doren blood in you," Lily said, her voice firm. "That is more important than any experience. You have the potential, the drive, and the intelligence to succeed. I see it in you."
Brandon remained skeptical. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye.
"I still don’t understand," he said, his voice laced with doubt. "Why now? Why after all these years?"
Lily sighed, her expression softening slightly. "The circumstances have changed," she said quietly.
"Levi... he is not in a position to lead the company right now. He is... I think that he might have lost sight of how important holding unto the company is. And in his absence, the company needs strong leadership. I believe you can provide that."
Brandon’s mind raced. He knew that Lyse was apparently ill, he wondered if Levi had something to do with her illness. Could that mean that he actually had a chance to become someone so important.
"What is wrong with Levi?" he asked, his voice curious.
Lily hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "That is not something I can discuss right now," she said, her voice firm. "But I assure you, this is the best course of action for everyone involved."
She reached out and held his hand and Brandon wished that he could pull out his hands out of her much smaller ones, but he remained still.
She said, her voice earnestly, "Brandon, it is important that you seize this opportunity. So much depends on you."
Brandon remained silent, his mind still struggling to process everything he had just heard. The idea of becoming CEO of Van Doren group was both daunting and exhilarating. It was an opportunity he never could have imagined, a chance to step into the life he had always known he was destined for.
However, he could not shake the feeling that there was something more going on, some underlying motive that Lily was not revealing to him. It made him a little suspicious but the allure of being CEO of such a prestigious company overshadowed the worry.
"I... I need time to think about this," he said finally, his voice cautious.
Lily nodded understandingly. "Of course," she said. "I understand that this is a lot to take in. But I urge you to consider my offer carefully, Brandon. This is your chance to claim your birthright, to take your place in the world. And I believe that you are ready for it."
She stood up, her regal bearing returning. "I will be in touch soon," she said, her voice firm. "I trust you will make the right decision as a Van Doren."
With that, she turned and walked towards the door, leaving Brandon sitting on the sofa, his mind reeling from the unexpected turns his life had been taking recently. He stared at the closed door, the image of his grandmother, this powerful, enigmatic woman, burned into his mind.
He could not shake the feeling that he had just stepped into a game much larger than himself, a game where the stakes were far higher than he could have ever imagined. The offer was tempting, a chance to finally have a place, a purpose which was not dictated to him by his mother, but a deep-seated instinct warned him to proceed with caution. This was no ordinary opportunity; who knew what it was that had Lily Van Doren Spooked and eager to get a CEO immediately.