Royce Miller's POV
"I beg to disagree, dad! Why it's gonna be me? You know already that business is not in my vocabulary ever since!", I blurted out and thumped my forehead with my hand.
I just arrived from a hang-out with my friends. I was a little bit drunk and my best friend Vince drove me home, leaving my car at the bar. But after hearing my dad's words, it seems all my senses were awakened.
There was a silence. But after a while, I heard mom speak in a calm voice. She was also sitting there on the sofa bed beside my father.
"Royce son, it's only for the meantime. Your brother is still in the hospital"
My mom started to get emotional.
"But mom, I can't do that", I gruffed.
"How could someone like me take a big responsibility?" I'm asking it mentally. It's very hard on my part.
I did not even finish my college degree due to negligence in my studies. I was even caught by my professors cheating during examinations, not only once but many times, the reason why I was transferred to my Aunt's place in Canada.
So why the hell, do my parents want me to take my brother's position as the CEO of META? How would I do that? Oh no! they must be out of their minds!
META stands for Miller Entertainment and Talent Agency. It was owned by my late grandfather Thomas Miller and passed on to my father Henry since he is the only son among the three siblings.
My grandfather was the former chairman of the board while dad was the CEO. But when my grandfather died, my father took the position as the chairman. When Reid turned 23, he appointed him as the CEO and entrusted META to him while he is also busy running our real estate company.
META is the biggest talent agency in Los Angeles and its continuing growth is truly amazing. Within five years of Reid's leading the company, it gained remarkable prestige and became the leading talent agency in the city. Thus, this great success and achievement made him renowned to everybody in the business industry.
Reid and I are identical twins. If I'm going to dress like him, everybody will surely get confused identifying our names because we are exactly the same in height, complexion, and bodybuilding. But there's one thing that differs in our appearance and that's the color and style of our hair. I have this undercut style of blonde hair while Reid has a slicked back style of dark brown hair. As to traits and personality, we are totally different.
Reid has a very refined personality. He is intelligent and graduated with flying colors. He is responsible, trustworthy and a serious type of person. In fact, he did not experience having a girlfriend or even flings during his college days because he was too serious about his studies.
But one month ago, I heard he's been dating a woman named 'Andrea', but I did not know anything about her. He was supposed to introduce her to my parents but it did not happen because of the accident.
Me, on the other hand, was his total opposite. Although I cannot say I have a very low IQ but because I was always neglecting my studies, that's why I always received failing grades. And even if I was transferred to my Aunt's place, still my behavior did not change. I always escaped from classes and hang out with my friends. I even went to bars and nightclubs with them for some drinks and relaxation. I had a few casual flings and usually end up having sex with them. But apart from that, no more. I am just a womanizer who doesn't want serious commitments. After I'm done with a woman, that's all, and no string attached.
After one year of staying in Canada, I decided to go back to LA because I don't want my Aunt to be worried about me. But I did not go to school anymore instead, enjoying my time with my friends here and there.
Sometimes I heard my parents saying, how they wished I would be like Reid so that I could at least be of great help to the family's business. I was a little hurt when I heard it but I pretended that I was not affected at all. But now that Reid is in the hospital, I feel so guilty thinking that I can't do anything to please my parents.
I heard my dad clearing his throat. And this time he is more serious.
"Royce, please listen. This is only the favor I am asking from you. Please take your brother's position in the meantime. I really can't entrust META to anybody else. Reid had done so much for it and I don't want his efforts would turn in vain", my father said in a calm and emphatic voice.
"But dad! I am not Reid. I cannot be like him!", I insisted and put my hands under my head as I leaned my back on the couch.
"Royce son, you need to understand that you will be doing this for the meantime. Your brother is still lying in the hospital and we don't know yet when he will regain his consciousness", my mom's voice quavered. It's obvious she is trying to hold back her tears. I meet my mom's gaze and suddenly, I got pity for her. It must be so tough on her part to know that his loving son is in a state of comatose.
I think it's a normal feeling for the parents if they would see their son half dead. It's also hurting for me, because even if Reid and I are not that close but I cannot deny the fact that he is my older twin brother, and seeing his condition makes me sad. He is my only sibling and even though I have a different personality but I care for him. And if something bad happens to him, God must forgive me, because I swear to hunt down the person who is responsible for his situation.
Reid met an accident two weeks ago and according to the report, the main reason was losing his car's brake. Although he was immediately rushed to the hospital, but there was a blood clot in his brain due to head injury that caused him to be in coma.
But I had a little doubt about the cause of the accident. I feel like there's something wrong. And I need to find the truth no matter what. I met my parents' gaze and I am carried away by the emotion that is reflected on it.
However, I really can't take my brother's position, I don't have knowledge of running a business. I did not finish any degree and besides I cannot work under pressure.
"Dad, mom I'm really sorry, but I really can't do it. You know me. I am not--- ", I paused for a while and crossed my arms.
"Why don't you let Charles take the position dad? He is more capable than I am", I said trying to explain my side.
Charles is my step-cousin and the son of Uncle Sam. My grandparents adopted Uncle Sam when he was still ten years old because he was already an orphan at that time when both his parents died in a plane crash. He married Aunt Elizabeth, a restaurant waitress, and had with them, Charles and Margaret. Uncle Sam is the Vice Chairman of META, while Charles works as the Chief Operating Officer.
So I am thinking that if there is someone who is more capable of taking the CEO position, it is no other than Charles.
Suddenly, I heard a loud sigh escaped from my father's mouth, as he was looking at me intently.
"I'll give you time to think about it Royce. Maybe we can talk next time. You are drunk, so you need to take a rest", dad uttered seriously.
My father stood up and tapped my shoulder. Mom followed him all the way to their bedroom, leaving me a pitiful look as if she was begging me to consider my father's request. I shook my head because I am really confused on what to do. I heaved a deep sigh as I headed my way to my room.
I was about to turn the doorknob when suddenly I had this feeling of wanting to get inside first to my brother's room which is just right next to mine. Sadness is creeping inside thinking that it's been empty since the accident happened. I made a few steps in the corridor going to his room and turned the doorknob. As soon as I get inside, a big picture frame caught my sight that was placed above the drawer. It was a picture of me and him, wearing the same shirts and pants, taken a year ago when we celebrated our 27th birthday. I went closer to take a look at it.
We are really identical. Two young men with blue sparkling eyes, aquiline noses, and chiseled jawlines. Same faces but with different personalities. I softly rubbed the frame with my hand while trying to reminisce the times when we were still young. Reid, has been a good brother to me. He tried to understand my flaws and even defended me against my father, whenever I had trouble in school. Even though we have different points of view but he's always been considerate to me. And now, this brother of mine is lying in the hospital and I don't know when will he wake up.
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist as a few droplets of tears are coming out of my eyes. Then, I spotted his broken cellphone placed beside the frame. The screen was completely damaged because of the accident. I tried to turn it on but to no avail.
I am thinking of bringing it to the repair shop, hoping that it can be fixed. I just want to find out something from it that could be of any relevance to my brother's accident. After putting the cellphone inside my pocket, I went out and headed to my room.
