“Look at your reluctance. Who just sent you a message?” Mark asked.
“It’s nothing. Sabby wants me to follow along as she visits a few daycare centers. You know, boring stuff.” I didn’t mention Mom to Mark because I would get upset if they fought again.
“What about the kid from the Lane family? Where is he?” asked Mark suddenly.
“He is busy with work so I didn’t ask him to come along with me.” I remembered what Christopher said before he left. He asked me to tell no one about him leaving, not even my own family.
I didn’t really understand the reason but I would never turn down Christopher’s request. He has a special identity. He must be tasked on some special mission again. It’s best if I didn’t expose his whereabouts.
“When Julia was young, she was very capable in doing business and had great achievements even in a male-dominated environment. After getting support from Gordon, everyone came to suck up to her. Today’s Lane Corporation is the result of Julia’s superb management. If you are half the woman Julia was, I wouldn’t be so worried about Goldstein Corporation.” Mark sighed.
“Dad, do you mean you want me to take over Goldstein Corporation? I’m not fit to lead a company,” I said as I shook my head. I had never thought about the matter and I didn’t dare to do so, either.
“You are my daughter. Who else am I going to hand the business to? I’m just worried you are too kind and will get tricked easily,” Mark said.
“You are being ridiculous. What about Lucas? He may not be healthy but he is very smart. He is way more capable than I.” I instantly regretted my words after I said them. There was some conflict between Lucas and Mark which I knew little about. As such, there was no way Mark would hand over the company to Lucas.
Even if Dad really handed the company to Lucas, I don’t think he would dare to accept it.
As expected, Mark frowned in displeasure at my words. He said solemnly, “Yvonne, we have to keep the power in our own hands instead of giving it away to outsiders. You want everyone to get along, but not everyone wants the same thing as you. They will take everything from you and leave you with nothing. Do you understand?”
It was not like I had no experience regarding these things. The Tanner family had their own circle of associates in Avenport, too. Dad is right, but Lucas and I have been close since young, and I don’t think Lucas is that kind of person.
“I think Lucas is a good person. We have known each other for a long time. He won’t do anything malicious to me.” I trusted Lucas.
“Shut up!” Mark suddenly slammed on the table and yelled, “Don’t say those words ever again! Christopher and Lucas have always eyed the shares in my hands. They just haven’t shown you that facet of theirs. You weren’t in the Goldstein family then, so there was no conflict of interest between you and Lucas. But now, you have to be on guard. Do you understand?”
I widened my eyes in bewilderment as I was surprised by his anger. This was the first time he lost his temper with me.
I heard that there was previously a lot of infighting within the Goldstein family and that Dad had gotten his position from his uncles. He used to have a lot of cousins, but now only Lucas and a few others were left. The internal struggle for power must have been quite bad. It’s understandable that Dad didn’t trust anyone around him.
“I understand what you mean, Dad. I will be more careful from now on.” I might never be like Dad because I always firmly believed that some people valued family, friends, and love over their own self-interest.
Mark sighed. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you, but this is for your own good. The ones who stab you in the back are always the people you trusted the most. So, never trust anyone easily.”
