His To Protect

Jasmine Grant couldn’t believe her dad was going to train her to take over the company! Being the CEO of Brown-link Tech is a hell of a job. From when she was a kid, she had had to watch her dad go through the onerous task of making financial decisions, knowing that the future of the company depends on such commitment.

Once she had toyed with the idea of being the principal after her dad’s retirement and she had shuddered at the thought. Now it’s happening so fast, that she can’t catch her breath.

“Dad, but… I’m not ready, I just completed my MBA, I need time Dad, I’ve got to catch on to so many things……’’

“Come on Jas, stop messing around. This is the family’s future and we’ve all got to take it seriously. The earlier you take over as CEO the better for everyone. You have until tomorrow to get prepared. Wake up and take responsibility, play time’s over girl” Avram Grant said, shifting his eyeglasses up the ridge of his nose, his signature act that had made him the cynosure of all eyes in the media world.

Jasmine paused. She knew exactly what to say.

“Okay Dad, but I don’t even know jack about tech, I am a complete dolt when it comes to programming, an absolute blockhead.” She opined, enthusiastically.

“Cut the crap, Jas. Steve Jobs did not know whatsoever in programming when he started Apple; and he made it into a formidable Fortune 100 company, the most formidable in the world. Wake up lass, and smell the coffee” he said and moved towards the coffee machine for a cup of coffee.

“But Dad, I am just a little over Twenty, I am still not ready for such a big commitment, I

Mean think about it, I barely know how to take good care of myself, let alone some giant organization.

Let’s be logical here, it’s outlandish”

Avram Grant stopped on his track. With a swift movement of his left hand, he upended his wrist to check his gold Rolex wrist watch, he had less than half an hour before his Personal Assistants lay siege on his door.

This girl, his little rose had grown into a recalcitrant lady, she sure is her mother’s daughter, for she has the same fire in her temperament just as Sarah did in her lifetime. He stared for a while, heaved a sigh in readiness, and smiled sweetly. It has always worked in tough situations. He had never yelled at his beloved daughter, and he was not going to do so now.

“Babe, you know my favorite quote?” He asked.

“If you think small Folks do not make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito in your room,” she said, her palms outstretched. The old man chuckled mirthfully, his sides quaking carelessly as he did.

“Come on that was hilarious. It is the one by John Maxwell ‘As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to face your fears’. Jasmine, life doesn’t give choices, it plays whatever music it wishes and forces us to dance. My point is, Jas I know you are freaking out right now, but the fact is; nobody will make your decisions for you. Like it or hate it, except if you want all your mother’s toil and sweat wasted, you’ve got to take your place as CEO sooner or later in the company. Think about it as preserving and protecting an important family Heirloom, the one you are most emotionally attached to”

“Boss the Chopper is ready; we should be flying in a few minutes” A voice came from the intercom phone.

“Alright then, I’ve got to go. So, you’d know, the board already approves of you”

Jasmine knew her father had a strong resolve; he was adept at making even the most stubborn person do his bidding. She took a walk, her heart pounding like it had never done. She moved slowly now, considering her father’s idea.

Sometimes she thought him selfish, he never thought about others when he made his less altruistic and silly decisions out of his crazy ideas. In need of a song to clear her head, she grabbed her mobile phone.

“Alicia” she called, “play Summertime Sadness by Lana del Rey” and soon enough the music reverberated from the surround speakers in the house.

But she soon found out, the song, instead of clearing her head, made her head cloudy and she played Royals by Lorde. Soon she was nodding her head singing along, “Let me be your ruler…. You can call me Queen Bee…. Oh, baby I rule, I rule, I rule, let me leave that fantasy”.

Jasmine knew her father was right in many ways (though she seldom gave him that satisfaction) he had bought her this house, together with a fleet of six cars and he seldom did things without a rationale, he would do things only because it needed to be done or to get something done.

Many people wished to be her; A billionaire’s daughter, heir to her family’s company. Truth be told, her father had been there for her, fending for her since she was 7 after she had lost her mum, working hard while doubling as her dad and Mum. She decided to take his offer, she would allow herself to be trained to take over when he retires, and he would do him proud.