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The mom-a-ger

8 AM sharp.

Eccentric CEO and billionaire, Conrad Knight arrives in his office at eight in the morning without fail. Sharp. Not a minute late and not a minute early. If there’s anything that his secretary should know about him----it’s the fact that the thirty-two-year-old is a sucker for being on time.

Andrew Sterling works as Conrad’s secretary for five years now and he had grown accustomed to the whims of his boss even his tantrums. Today marks a big day for PharmaKnight Incorporated. Not only are they going global, but they also have multi-million dollar investments due for signing the very same day.

PharmaKnight is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the country. It’s the brainchild of the brilliant entrepreneur, the offspring of a world-renowned business tycoon who made technological advancement made affordable and accessible to average people. The new company bearing the same famous last name “Knight” made the same breakthrough in the pharmaceutical world.

Conrad, is an only child, among his many endeavors in life, his topmost priority was to make a name for himself. He pursued his calling as a Biochemist and a pharmacologist. After graduating with the highest honors from Harvard, with the help of their available resources and access to generational wealth, he established his own company and never stopped amusing the public with his management skills, humility, and brilliance. He’s also a devout Catholic, an aspect that sets him apart from his fellow young entrepreneurs. His good looks are just a bonus.

Conrad Knight had graced the cover of every business magazine since he was a child. His father made sure that he is with him in every photo shoot, establishing the young Knight’s presence in the media. His wit and charm are irresistible and the number of women after the young billionaire was insane. But Conrad, at his age, hasn’t dated anyone and made any dates known publicly. A lot of women have stepped forward with claims of having short affairs with him but these allegations remain as allegations up until this day. His publicist, teaming up with his mother was ready to brush everything under the rug, away from everyone’s eyes and scrutiny.

“Andrew, give me something to rev up my day.” Conrad nods at his assistant without making eye contact. “I need something strong.”

Andrew stands up in attention. “Good morning sir, your schedule is already on your desk. Yes sir.”

A tall blonde woman, in her sixties, followed Conrad to his office, not paying attention to Andrew. She’s Anastasia Knight. His mother, who is also like his shadow. Conrad might be old enough to marry and settle down but his mother is always lurking around, making dating next too impossible for the man. For Anastasia, no one is worthy to be her daughter-in-law. A lot have tried to put their foot on the door but the uptight mother with a slick bun was there to make sure that she can kick that foot out in no time.

She had her chin high in the air. “ Make sure that no boisterous paparazzi will be present at the after-party tonight, also make sure that we have copies of the photos and any photo for release should pass our PR team. The last time was a horrible experience, Andrew.”

Andrew lowered his head. “Yes, Miss Anastasia.”

“Good. You know how we hate the noise and the last photo that they took made me look three years older and don’t make me start on the visible fine lines. Ugh.” Anastasia smirked and noticed his unbuttoned shirt. Her brows creased. “Please, fix your shirt. That’s a bit…disturbing and unethical. You should come to our church, you clearly lack guidance.”

The man followed her gaze and immediately buttoned his shirt with embarrassment. “S-sorry, Miss…”

Seeing this, the woman walked to the waiting office. The moment the heavy doors were locked, she gently propped her black Hermes bag on the soft lounge chair in the corner of the sleek, black, and white-themed office of her son.

Conrad was already on his desk, busy poring with the day’s schedule. Without his eyes leaving the piece of paper with printed activities for the day he sighs. “Mother, I don’t see why you had to be here when you can go with your friends in Cabo. And then lie low on recruiting people to our church. This is a free country."

" I was just telling your secretary he needed some change of heart. Cabo, and what? So you can stray away again?”

“In case you miss it, I am thirty-two. If I stray, I am capable of returning. I am running my own company now. You are running Dad’s. I just don’t understand why you had to be here now and then.”

“Let me get this straight, Conrad Knight Jr. Are you complaining?”

“No. No. That is not my point, Mom. What I am trying to say is that I have proven myself. PharmaKnight earns bigger now than what your company and Dad’s company earn combined.”

Anastasia laughs sarcastically, after she’s had her fill of hysterics, she wipes the sides of her eyes with her silken handkerchief. Conrad observes his mother from his desk. He loves his mother, after all, she’s all he’s got now. After his father’s passing-----Anastasia had no one else but her son.

“That’s a good one, Conrad.” She adjusted her posture and re-pleated her skirt. “For a moment, you sounded like your father, arrogant and so full of himself. Those are just numbers, honey.”

Conrad shrugs. “What can I say? I am my father’s son. What was that adage? Hmm…the apple does not fall far from the tree.”

“Indeed. And look what his arrogance brought him. No amount of money was able to save him from his instant death.” There was pain and something else in her voice. Conrad’s father died in a car wreck which instantly cost him his life.

He was twenty-four years old at that time and his father was prepping him to be his successor. Conrad on the other hand had been very vocal that he had no desire in taking over the family business. Aside from the fact that it wasn’t his passion and interest, he was sold on the idea that once he could show the world and prove to his mother that he is more than just an heir in the making----he is more than capable of making decisions on his own.

“By the way, we have to be at church at five.”

“The after-party starts at six, Mom.” He calmly replied.

“Son, you are the boss.”

Conrad chuckled. “ Am I? That’s news. Everyone thinks you are the boss here.”

“Don’t act too smart with me. They’d wait for you. God won’t.” Anastasia said firmly.

More than guidance, Anastasia Knight loves to control his son. For her, children must obey their parents regardless of their age or social and financial status. Conrad is her child and she is the driving force behind his success. He is bound to bend to her, not the other way around.

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