Page 1 of Mr. Hotshot CEO

Chapter 1

Julian

It’s five o’clock ona Thursday, but I’m far from finished work. I rarely leave my office at Fong Investments before seven.

I pull up another report on my computer and stand up to stretch before I start reading. My shoulders are tight, and I can feel the beginnings of a headache.

Unfortunately, just as I sit back down, I hear yelling outside my office door.

“He’s my son! I don’t care what you say. I can see my son whenever I like. I know he’s in there. Don’t try to tell me he’s gone home. He never leaves the office this early.”

That’s my mother.

“I’m an old woman. Eighty-nine. Could drop dead any moment. Show me respect.”

And that’s my grandmother. Po Po.

Oh, dear God. Both my mother and my grandmother have shown up at my office.

I feel bad for my assistant. Of course, part of Priya’s job is dealing with crap so I don’t have to, but it isn’t her responsibility to deal with my family.

I swing open the door and see my mother, my grandmother, and a frazzled Priya.

Plus Vince, my brother, who is smirking behind them.

Shit. This is bad.

“I’m sorry, Julian,” Priya says, wringing her hands. “I tried—”

“It’s fine,” I say. “You can go home now.”

“What do you want me to tell this guy?” She gestures to a man in overalls, standing behind Vince.

“Who on earth is that?”

“He says he’s here to change the locks on your office door.”

“What the hell? I don’t want the locks changed. Find out who called him and get him out of here.”

“I save you trouble. Locksmith was my idea.” Po Po lifts her head proudly. She’s less than five feet tall and missing a couple of teeth...and she’s a force to be reckoned with, especially when she has the support of my mother.

“Good call, Ma,” my mother says. “Change the lock and don’t give him the key.”

Vince slaps me on the back before sauntering into my office.

“What’s going on?” I shout. “What are you all doing here?”

My brother sits down in my chair, hands behind his head and feet up on the desk. “I’m just here for the entertainment.” He’s still smirking. That bastard.

“Wait a few minutes,” Po Po says to the locksmith. “I have little talk with grandson, then you get to work.”

The rest of my family parades into the room. Po Po sits down on the couch, and Mom and I remain standing. I shut the door, leaving Priya and the locksmith outside.

“Nowwill you tell me what’s going on?” I ask.

“Look at the vein throbbing in his temple,” Mom says to Po Po. “Not good. He’s stressed. Gets angry too easily.” Mom turns back to me and takes my hands in hers. “Julian, you work too hard.”

“Of course I work hard,” I say. “I have a company to run. You, of all people, should appreciate how difficult that is. You know what it was like for Dad.”