Chapter 322 - Inherited By Men
"A breach?"
"Yes, I wanted you to handle it." Sienna calmly said. "It was from the inside the company. I noticed that they aren't doing anything that could damage the company. However, they are doing this for a reason. Find out what it is that they want." She leaned against her leather chair and gave him a cool smile. "You can do whatever you want. Do whatever it is necessary to make them confess. And… keep this a secret." Before Grant came in, she already made sure that he didn't have anything that could harm her. Not a voice recorder or any kind of transmitter.
She also asked her secretary to do a sweep in their office and make sure that there is no bug near her.
To her satisfaction, Grant nodded. "I will give you a satisfying answer." He knew that this was a test. She could see it in his eyes. It was just like when Sienna and Grant where kids. To keep Grant occupied, Sienna would give her brother tests, puzzles and anything that would stop him from disturbing her.
She nodded. "I heard you wanted to develop a new security software?"
"Yes."
"Are you working on it, alone?"
"Yes."
"Then make sure to keep it a secret. Do you need anything from me?" she asked. Money, influence, and power. She has it all. She could easily give it to him.
"No."
"Of course." She already expected his answer. Well… that was the only answer that a male lead was capable of. After all, they were always independent, smart and someone that would do everything on their own.
"I—? Do you have the time for coffee?" he asked as he continued standing in front of her. She was very familiar with these question as he would ask him the same thing over and over again, after they met. Be it in the office or in school.
However, she never said yes to him. She was always too busy, too preoccupied to sit with him with a coffee in hand, talking about the weather. But that was in the past. So, this time, she smiled and said… "Yes. There was a coffee shop…"
"Outside of the office." He smiled like a small child. "They make your favorite."
Poor child, she mused.
"Alright." She accompanied him to the ground floor. Seeing the two of them surprised a few people. After all, everyone knew that Miss Sienna Rouse never really spent some time with her brother.
She acted cooly, trying her best not to show that she was no longer the person that her brother admired in the past. To her surprise, Grant never really said anything on their way to the cafe. Even when they made an order, he still maintained his silence.
In the end, the two of them sat on the table… saying nothing.
It was awkward.
She sat opposite him and stared at the promising young man. Grant has always been observant. She needed to make sure that he won't notice anything amiss.
"I am planning to create my own company."
She stilled. Was this the reason why the original Sienna would give way and let him handle the company? "A software company?"
He nodded, determination apparent in his eyes. She could feel the confidence hum from him. Calmly, she took a sip of her coffee. She could use two ways to approach the situation. First, she could leave the company and let him handle it. This was the base on the original plot line.
Second, she could let him do whatever he wanted and support him then… sign a contract with his company.
"Young people own the future." She nodded, surprising him.
"You would let me create a company?"
"Did you want me to stop you?"
"No. It's just that… I talked to father and he didn't want me to create another company that might rival Rouse technology."
"Father is already old. He failed to understand that in the future, the younger ones would surely rule the world."
"You talk as if you are already in your fifties." He gave an awkward smile and took a sip of his own coffee. "I don't plan to compete against Rouse Tech. I just wanted to stand on my own."
"I understand. I am not going to stop you."
"Really?" His eyes lit up. "Are you— "
"And no. I am not angry. I understand what you wanted to do and you have my full support. In fact, I would want you to finish the software that you are working so I can buy it and you can use the money for your company."
"You— "
"Oh, I know." Of course, she knew that he wouldn't asked his family for money. That would be against his principle. So, he would finish his software, sell it and use the money for his company. "How about your friends, are you planning to hire them to?"
"Yes."
"But?"
"But… Scarlette seemed to think this was the wrong decision."
"Ah. What are you going to do about it?"
"Nothing."
"Of course." Scarlette might not know the real circumstances that led him to become the CEO of Rouse Tech. Meaning, she just thought that Grant would become the CEO because it was his birth right. That might be the reason why she is against Grant starting a company. "I know you are no longer a child. But… I would advise you to stay away from people who never supported you."
"Thank you."
Well, it was still awkward.
Their relationship might be salvageable but it would surely take a lot of time. After an awkward conversation, Grant bid her goodbye and she went to talk to her father about Grant's plans.
"I want you to leave the company." Sienna's father's words echoed inside his study.
"Excuse me?"
"Grant already graduated college. He wanted his own company and I believe it is time for him to take over Rouse Tech." Her father always had a stern look that used to made the old Sienna tremble. But she was not that Sienna.
"So… after working for the company… for years… "
"Sienna… you are smarter than this." Her father interrupted her…… "The company… can only be inherited by men."