Chapter 5 - The hidden card

"No", a sharp voice interrupted them.

Everyone looked at Lisa with confusion on their faces.

" Do you think you are omnipotent? Didn't you hear that the doctor told you to rest?" Lisa glared at her father.

Mr. Akter smiled helplessly. "I know that I need to rest. But if I don't join the office now then probably we wouldn't have any place to rest."

"Someone else can take your place", Lisa insisted. " There is no way you are going to office in this condition.

Liton also agreed with Lisa. "Dad let me go. Although I am sick now but doctor said I am stabilised. He will also prescribe medicines. I think I can handle office."

Mr. Hasan interrupted, "I don't think this is a good idea. At this moment the shareholders need reassurance that the company can function without you. You should find a suitable candidate."

Mr. Akter frowned. "But there is no one else."

"There is", Lisa said, "Are you forgetting that you have a daughter too?"

Everyone became speechless.

Mr. Akter said, "But you neither have the experience nor educational background to join office. " He could not agree with Lisa.

"Old man are you looking down on me? Did you forget that I studied business for 3 long years? Did you hit your head when you fainted?" Lisa said angrily, fake anger of course.

Among the family members only Lisa could talk to her father this way.

Miraz frowned. He couldn't help interrupting, "This is not a game Lisa. This time is really crucial. The future of the company depends on this. You can not treat it like one of those challenges that you have to win".

" Even if our company is bankrupted no one will blame you. You can rest assured we will not add to your burden. " Lisa blurted out.

She was still disgusted with Miraz. He was one of the reasons they were in this situation. Now he had the audacity to interfere in their family matter.

Miraz turned pale after listening to Lisa. She knew! She must have heard them. How much did she hear?

Mr. Hasan turned to Lisa, "Is that how you see us? Miraz was merely worried about you. We would never think you are our burden. Where did you hear such nonsense? "

Lisa immediately started to regret. Damn she lost her temper again. It was all Miraz's fault. She resisted the urge to bash him up.

"Uncle, today I had gone to your office and the staff were talking among themselves. I overheard them" Lisa bit her lip.

"Really? Can you identify them? Uncle will punish them for bullying you," Mr. Hasan said softly.

Miraz saw his father's indulgence and anger started to rise within him. He never used this tone whenever he talked to him. Anyone who was unfamiliar with them would think she was his own daughter.

"I don't remember uncle," of course Lisa would not implicate an innocent employee. "Besides they are not wrong. So you don't have to punish them."

Miraz sighed of relief. That explains why she left the office without informing him. It seems she really didn't hear their conversation.

Lisa turned to her parents, "Mom, dad I have thought this through. I will attend office on your behalf. As for experience, you guys can teach me everything and give me guidelines. "

Lisa then hugged her father's arm coquettishly.

Mrs. Akter sighed helplessly. Whenever Lisa wanted something she clearly knew everyone would oppose. She would use this move. As long as she acts cute and asks for something from her father and brother, they always give in. She used this fatal move to make them agree to let her drop out from business school and study architecture.

Sure enough, Mr. Akter rubbed her head and said, "Liton what do you think? Whatever Lisa said makes sense. Besides she already has the foundation. With our guidelines she should be able to handle the company."

"Of course it will make sense." Liton said inwardly., "As long as she acted cute in front of you, even if she says the sun moves round the earth you will agree with her."

He looked at Lisa. She was looking at him eagerly, ready to jump at him to hug his arm if he disagrees.

Liton sighed. He was no better then his father. He also had zero resistance when it came to his sister. "I don't object. Lisa can join from Monday. I will make necessary preparations. "

Miraz watched the drama unfolding and sneered. Sure enough! The family is facing a crisis and she is still acting spoilt. Does she think managing a company is a child's play? He would see how well she could manage the company.

*

It was getting late. The duo left the hospital.

Mrs. Akter then called Lisa to have a conversation.

Lisa followed her mother.

Mrs. Akter took a deep breath and started speaking, "Dear, today we are facing a crisis no one could have forseen. The news of your brother caught us off guard.

I am really proud that during this time you decided to step in and share their burden."

Lisa remained silent. She knew her mother didn't finish speaking.

"You probably don't know that our family wasn't well established when I married your father. We had a small company in our hometown. But your father was an ambitious person. So he decided to expand their company.

We worked hard day and night. I will not go into details. Sometimes your father would take a break and I would handle work on his behalf.

We couldn't even pay enough attention to your brother. He basically grew up himself. It was our fortune that he grew up to be a man we all could be proud of."

Lisa hugged her mother tightly. She couldn't stop her tears from falling.

Mrs. Akter continued to speak,

"when you were born, it seemed like it was the happiest day of our life. I had never seen your father so happy. He promised himself that day that he would give you everything in this world. He would never let you suffer.

However, I disagreed. A child can never learn to walk if he fears falling. If we don't let you face any hardship you can never become independent. Nor can you learn your true potential.

Nothing lasts forever. As a parents it is our duty to make sure to train our children to face the world."

Lisa looked at her mother guiltily. She knew that her mother wanted to make her independent. She would often urge her to work hard .

But Lisa resisted her and always ran to her father whenever she had any unfair request.

"I understand now mom. Don't worry. I will work hard to save our company", Lisa said with determination.

" There is no need to work too hard," Lisa's mother waved her hand.

"Mom?" Lisa was confused.

"Do you think that we have only this one company? My mother always said thar a woman should have some hidden wealth.

The money that your father gathered all these years. I have long opened another company. It is located in another city. Although the company is not that influential, it has good reputation. With proper time and investment, it can become another LiCorp.

If anything goes south, we can just sell the company and move there.

It is easier to board another ship than trying to salvage a sinking ship."

(Mr. Akter named his company after the 1st two letter of his children, 'Li')

"Really? " Lisa looked at her mother with eyes full of worship. Her mother is that capable! No wonder father always listens to her!

The existence of this company changes everything. At least they didn't have to go bankrupt if anything goes South.

"Really. That company solely belongs to me and to you after my death. Don't tell your father. Lest he steals it from me." Mrs. Akter joked.

How can Mr. Akter not know anything about this company? He must have found out but pretended to know nothing to respect his wife's decision. Mrs. Akter suspected that he was secretly helping her company to flourish without any mishap.

Lisa laughed. Her mood improved greatly. She was blessed to have such capable family.

**

The mother and daughter laughed heartily and started to hope of new future.

No one knew if everything would go as they wanted.

Lisa thought to herself that even if she had to sacrifice herself, she would do everything she could to take her family to the position that once belonged to them.

Little did she know that she would literally do ANYTHING to take back their position.