Nathaniel Clarke was Kate's son from her previous marriage. After dad married her, he adopted Nathaniel or Nate as he was usually called, who took up our surname soon after.

He shared an unparalleled bond with dad, something I could only dream about. Dad would do anything that he would ask him to and it wasn't like Nate misused this privilege, instead he tried his best to impress dad.

When I started living with the Hudsons, he wasn't very comfortable around me. Most of conversations used to be limited to our mutual interest, our younger sister, Jennifer.

She had once told me that Nate was distant because I reminded him that I was dad's real kid and he wasn't. He feared that dad would prefer me over him, if we ever set our eyes on the same thing.

Little did he know that when dad left me to dote on another child four years older to me, the thought of not being good enough had crossed my minds several times as well.

In the first few years, we were locked in a vicious competition, trying to outperform each other, engaging in verbal tussles and trying to project a negative image of the other before dad while improving our own.

This settled down after Nate went off to college but when we both decided that we wanted the CEO position of Hudson Enterprises after dad retired, our childhood fears began to surface once again.

Considering how similar our goals were, maybe if we could sit down and talk someday, we could end up having a decent conversation but for that one of us would have to extend the first hand towards friendship, daring to face the probable rejection from the other and neither one of us was ready to do that.

Today, I walked out of the elevator, greeted Matthew, followed by dad and then turned towards Nate.

I extended a reluctant hand towards him, "Nate."

"Vanessa," He gave me a perfunctory smile, shaking hands with me and then turned towards dad, saying, "We should go in now.".

Dad nodded and they went inside the room while I quietly followed.

Within the next five minutes Matthew, Adrian, Dad, Nate, me, our finance manager, Maya and two stakeholders of the Greys & Co. were seated around the conference table.

Nate got up and addressed the meeting," Good morning, everyone. Today, I will be speaking on behalf of Hudson enterprises. As we know, Mr. Matthew Greys and my father, Mr. William Hudson have been friends for a long time. By lending a hand to support us, he has proven the saying that a friend in need is a true one indeed.

I would like to bring to your notice that our company share values have gradually dropped and we are no longer reaching the targeted profit. Greys & Co. has very graciously offered us a hefty investment in return for stakes in future profits."

Stakes?

We were selling shares to Greys & Co.?

The last few months our profit margin had narrowed slightly but otherwise my department was doing fine.

How did it get so bad?

Nate took a pause and continued, "To have a better understanding about the share division, I would like to call upon Maya."

Maya stood up with a polite smile and said," The former statistics show that the division of power was as follows:

55% - William Hudson

20% - Nate Hudson

20% - Vanessa Hudson

5% - Others

After the share transfer, the new division of power will be:

51% - William Hudson

30% - Adrian Greys

08% - Nate Hudson

07% - Vanessa Hudson

04% - Others

It is to be kept in mind that the division is temporary and when Mr. William Hudson decides who the next CEO is, his shares would be passed on to that person and the new CEO's previous shares would be transferred to the other competitor for the position of the CEO.

One percent may not be a big number but it was a clear indication of superiority. Why should Nate get a bigger share?

And there was going to be such a big change in the profit distribution?

I had checked in with dad every week this past year yet he never mentioned this to me. Was it that he didn't trust me or that after what happened three years ago, he just developed a habit of keeping secrets from me?

I clenched my jaw when my eyes travelled to Nate who had a sly smile on his face, revelling in the pride of being the one dad confided in.

Heat rose up to my cheeks but I took in a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself down and then questioned Maya, "The share division, on what basis has it been done?"

"Greys & Co. has been given the shares on the basis of the investments that they have made."

Did I look like an amateur? Of course I knew that.

"Let me rephrase my question. I am asking about the basis for the division of shares between Nate and me."

It's a temporary division.", Dad cut me short.

"I am aware of that. I just want to inquire" I persisted.

My dad whispered to me, " Can we talk about it later."

I looked at him hopelessly and gave an exasperated sigh, "Fine."

The meeting resumed but there was not much left for me to do when everything had been pre-decided.

No wonder Adrian couldn't believe I wasn't aware of the content of this meeting.

When the meeting finally ended, dad turned to me. I tried my best to hold back any emotion that threatened to surface and with all I had in my, I spoke icily, " You wanted to talk."

"Once we get of here."

"Fine then, The Capital Grille. Two p.m. My treat," I said and then left the room when it began emptying.

I had been wronged yet again but this time, if dad wouldn't take my stand, I was going to do it myself.