The Merger Mogul Read Online Free PDF Page A

up
or offering a greeting in return.
    “What can I do
for you?” he asked without emotion.
    “Thank you for
seeing me. I know I don’t deserve the time of day from you, but I had to see
you again to make peace with you.” He paused.  “I have colon cancer and
the doctors don’t have much hope so I’m putting my house in order, so to
speak.”
    Daniel’s heart
seemed to stop and then started to race again.  He told himself that he
didn’t really care if his father was dying, except as another human being, and
he really didn’t want to make any “peace”.  He just wanted to get on with
his life and forget about the past.
    “I’m sorry to
hear about your cancer.  Is that why you’re here? You need money for some
medical treatment?”
    “No, Danny
Boy.  I’ve had treatment and the cancer is in remission now but I don’t
know how long it will last.  As I said, I just wanted to ask your
forgiveness for abandoning you.  I couldn’t get work, couldn’t provide for
you and it was destroying me and tearing your mother and I apart so I figured
that leaving was the best thing. I know that it was a cop-out but I was young
and irresponsible back then. I know things must have been hard for you after I
left and I’m sorry for all you suffered.”
    “You know
nothing about how things were for me,” replied Daniel angrily. “But you can
leave this world in peace.” He gestured around his posh office. “As you can
see, things turned out just fine. As for forgiveness, that would mean that you
hurt me in some way and that’s not the case so you don’t need my forgiveness.”
    Daniel stood up
and walked to the door, holding it open. “Sorry that you wasted your time
dropping by but it really wasn’t necessary. In fact, your leaving was probably
a blessing in disguise because it made me determined to succeed and, as you can
see, I have. So you can go to your grave knowing that you did something right.”
    His father got
slowly to his feet, looked at him sadly and walked to the door.
    “Success is
more than possessions and position.  You’ll find that out. I love you,
Danny Boy” he whispered as he passed him and left the office.
    Daniel closed
the door firmly and stood absolutely still. He’d forgotten that his father used
to call him Danny Boy. Clamping down on emotions that he had ruthlessly shoved
to the bottom of his heart over the years, he once again came to that place
where he felt nothing. It was easier that way.
    He walked back
to his desk and held his head in his hands.  It was now throbbing and there
was a ringing in his ears.  He pressed the intercom and said: “Margaret, reschedule my 10.30 appointment, call Angela and cancel our
date for tonight and then bring me two pain killers.”

Chapter
6
     
     
    Margaret
knocked at the door and walked in carrying a glass of water and two tablets.
    “This is
becoming a habit, Daniel,” she said handing him the pain killers. “Would you
like me to set up an appointment for you with Dr. Evans? I’m getting concerned
with all these headaches you’re having. Besides it’s been two years since your
last annual,” she added drily.
    “With the
amount of crap that I’ve been dealing with, it’s no wonder I’ve got constant
headaches,” snapped Daniel.
    “You wouldn’t
be including your father in that, would you?”
    “Of course I’m
including him! Where does he get off walking back into my life after 25 years
and asking me for forgiveness?”
    “So did you
forgive him?” asked Margaret.
    “I told him
there was nothing to forgive, because his leaving made me more determined to
succeed and I have.”
    Margaret raised
one eyebrow skeptically.
    “Well that
means you owe him for your success then. Daniel, he flew from Virginia to see
you and he’s not even that strong. The least you can do is spend some time with
him.  Meet your stepmother. You’ll probably regret it if you don’t.”
    “Regrets are a
waste of time and energy!  I don’t