I Quit
I glanced between Emerson and Eric, at them both. Emerson looked at his son, and then back at me. I could see the struggle in his eyes, the battle inside him.
When I asked Emerson to marry me that night, after he proposed to me, I never expected it to reach this far, to be standing at this crossroads. To destroy Emerson’s relationship with his son, his only child.
I know Emerson didn’t grow up with any siblings, and Eric is the only family he has left in this world. Eric knows this too, and that’s why he’s using it as a weapon, trying to force his father’s hand.
Eric and Emerson are not very close, But They’ve always had a good relationship, at least as much as one could expect given everything they’d been through.
When Eric was younger, he used to be his father’s shadow, always by his side. The two were like peas in a pod, Eric looked up to his father. But after Emerson’s marriage fell apart and he caught his wife with another man, it created a rift between him and his son.
Eric had loved his mother deeply, and the divorce hit him harder than anyone knew. He didn’t cope well with it, or the custody battle that followed, leaving him in his father’s care when all he wanted was to be with his mother.
Over time, they eventually rebuilt a relationship, even if it wasn’t as close as before, but it was a good relationship. But now, standing here, watching them before me, I fear that nothing will be left of their relationship.
I don’t know what’s going to happen next. But I know one thing, neither of them will be able to come from this moment.
“Eric, I’m not choosing anyone over anyone,” Emerson said firmly. “Today’s decision was made by the board, it had nothing to with me……
But Eric interrupted him accusingly, “And you are the CEO. You are on top of that board, and you must have had a say in what they decided. If you wanted me to continue being the head of the department, I would still be. But you didn’t, did you? Who called the board meeting if it wasn’t you? Who arranged for the agendas, ensuring she would take my position in this company?”
“Eric, You are my son, and you will always be my son. Every decision I make, I make
you. But you….” Emerson’s voice faltered slightly,
for
..you made the decision to keep me away from my mother, and you still talk about
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1 Quit
her like that in front of me?”
Eric’s jaw clenched. “I’m not going to discuss that with you right now.
“So, what do you want to talk about? Because what I want is for her to get out of this company.”
“I’m telling you, if you don’t make a decision, I will make one for you. And I will never step foot in this company again, or in your home where you kicked me out. Are you going to kick me out of the company too? Do you want people, the media, to know you kicked your son out of his own company? Is that going to be your next move now?” Eric’s tone was full of sarcasm and challenge. “Because you don’t want to hurt her feelings? You don’t want to destroy whatever it is that’s going on between you and Mina? And she means more to you than I do.”
“Eric,” Emerson tried again, but Eric wasn’t having it.
“No,” Eric snapped, “Stop calling my name. Choose. It’s either she’s staying in this company, or I’m staying in this company. And if you choose to let her keep the position, to let her keep working here, I’m walking out, forever.”
I could feel the tension to a max in the room. As Eric threw a cold glance my way, I started walking quickly toward Emerson, my heart racing. But Eric chuckled a low, sarcastic sound.
“Oh, so you’ve decided to get closer now, haven’t you? To make sure you have his attention. To make sure he chooses you over his own blood.” His voice dripped with disdain. “You want to destroy this family. You want to destroy my relationship with my father for your own selfish gain.”
“Eric, please shut the hell up!” My voice shook as I turned towards him. “You’re the one who destroyed my family. You destroyed my relationship with my sister and with my mother. And now they hate me! Now, for some reason, I don’t understand, they think I’m the enemy. But that’s not what I want to happen between you and Emerson. I know he’s your father, and he loves you, and the last thing I want is to destroy or separate your family.” -a
Eric’s laughter cut through the air again. “Really? Disgusting. Save the gold–digger speech.”
“Don’t call me that, Eric,” I said then turned back toward Emerson, desperation rising inside me. “Emerson, please don’t do it. Please don’t make the decision to kick Eric out of the company or from his position.”
Emerson’s eyes widened, and he stared at Eric, both of them caught off guard by
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what I had said. Neither of them expected me to plead for Eric. Neither of them knew the storm inside me, how I felt about Emerson. Neither did I at that moment, but I knew I cared about Emerson. Deeply.
“What do you mean?” Emerson asked, his voice full of confusion.
“What are you talking about?” Eric’s voice echoed.
1 swallowed the lump in my throat, “I will quit. I am quitting from my position, from my job in the company.”
Both men fell silent for a moment, stunned,
to m
“So,” I continued, my voice stronger now, having said that, Eric, you don’t need to leave. You don’t need to quit, because….” I looked at Eric. “I am going the company. I am no longer an employee here.”
“Mina, no!” Emerson pleaded, his voice breaking. “Mina, you have worked tirelessly for this company. You’ve signed more contracts than anyone. You’ve helped build this company. You can’t quit on me.”
I shook my head, tears burning in the back of my eyes. “I’m not quitting on you, Emerson. I’m saving your relationship with your son. As much as I hate Eric right now, this decision would hurt you. It would hurt your relationship. And I’m not ready to let you lose your relationship with the only family you have.”
I took a deep breath and pushed forward, despite how I felt at the moment. “I am good at what I do, just like you said. I’m sure I will get a job somewhere else.”
“Please,” Eric scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm, but Emerson shot him a sharp glare that silenced him.
“I was…” Emerson started, but I interrupted him.
“No, don’t say it. Don’t finish that sentence. I said shaking my head at him.
I did not know what he was going to say next. Whether he was going to choose Eric or choose me, but him keeping his decision to himself was better for all of us.
“I’ll quit. I’m quitting,” I repeated, my decision made. “You can’t force me to work here. I’m quitting. I’m getting my stuff from the office, and I’m leaving.” I turned toward the door, “So, Eric, whatever problem you have with your father, it’s over…… you won. I get it.”
I started to leave, but Emerson grabbed my hand, desperate. “No, wait. We have to talk.”
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He turned his attention back to Eric, his voice cold. “Eric, I’m giving you the whole week to celebrate your wedding with your wife, go on your honeymoon. I’ll see you at work next week.”
“And I’m hoping, when I come back, she won’t be here. I don’t want to see her face. in this company again….” Eric continued, not able to let the discussion doe down so easily.
“Just go on your honeymoon. You have your position. And when you get back, we should have a family dinner…. with your wife and Mina at the house.”
Eric’s eyes flashed with anger. “Oh, now you want me in your space?” His voice was sharp,
“You’re getting on my last nerve. Eric,” Emerson warned, his tone low and dangerous, “don’t push me.”
Eric clenched his fists, but instead of continuing the fight, he turned to leave. He couldn’t resist, though, having the last word. He paused, looking back at me, a bitter smile playing on his lips.
“I don’t know want to see you in this company when I get back,” he muttered, his voice laced with resentment.
I smiled brightly at him, holding his gaze as he walked away.
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