He knocked on the door of his grandfather's study after putting Lucille to bed. Putting her to bed took a long time for she asked him to read the book twice! He was not complaining though. He loves every single moment that he could build a memory with her.

It's like filling up his bank memories. He has no way of knowing which memories would fade in the future but he wanted plenty of them to keep him going.

He heard the muffled sound of his grandfather's voice from behind the thick oak door, giving him permission to enter his study.

"Take a seat, Noah."

He poured two glasses of brandy and handed him a glass.

"Grandpapa, you know I shouldn't drink alcohol."

"Yeah, you shouldn't. But then don't be a pussy."

He shook his head and followed his grandfather to the black leather sofa of his study. He took the seat across from him.

"Is your alcohol problem still that bad?" He asked when he saw him just swirling the alcohol in his glass without drinking it.

"Hmm."

He kept his eyes on the golden liquid sloshing in the crystal glass. He may look fascinated with how the color of the alcohol splash on the glass, however, he was simply avoiding the old geezer's eyes.

"Do you still see that quack doctor?" he asked with a sneer. He gulped down another glass of his drink.

"Yes. He's not a quack doctor, grandpapa."

"Whatever you say, Noah," he said waving his hand in front of his face. Disregarding the topic of his alcohol problem.

Noah swallowed a bitter smile. He put down the glass of brandy on the table and clasped his hands over his lap.

"Do you really have to bring Lucille to the countryside?"

His voice was low and steady but his eyes were wary of his grandfather. He might be in his thirties but in their family, his grandfather's words were the law. He no longer goes to the company but everybody knows that it is still his grandfather that mostly runs the family empire.

His father being a CEO of the company was merely the shadow of his grandfather. Now, him being the next candidate for the CEO position - he would be just a shadow of his father. All the men of the family would forever be under the thumb of his grandfather.

This sly old geezer has deep lines on his forehead, a body covered with wrinkly skin, and a head full of white hair, but his brain is crystal clear. Must be one of the reasons why he couldn't understand why his head got messed up with alcohol.

"Your father should see your beautiful daughter. Lucille is a Tiefenbacher, however, related she is with that wench that you used to call your wife."

"Let's not talk about Nicole." He said in a voice clear with his intention of not wanting to talk about his ex-wife.

"Oh, her name is Nicole?" his grandfather sneered with malice.

In spite of the situation, he laughed. Seeing his mighty grandfather act snippy toward his ex-wife is just too funny for him.

"Yes, grandpapa. Her name is Nicole."

"I heard she was leading the team of researchers where data went missing."

'Here we go.' His grandfather's voice and his blue eyes that he and his daughter inherited became cold in a snap. He knew why his grandfather called him in his study.

"Yes. She is the team leader. The research was halted while everyone - including my ex-wife is under investigation."

"Yes. Specifically her. If there is someone that has a history of being unfaithful, that was that girl." he clicked his tongue. "I never like that woman for you."

"I have Lucille. That was more than breakeven, grandpapa." his voice started to get frosty. This old geezer won't let any opportunity to talk shit about his ex-wife. He knew Nicole wasn't perfect, but she was still the mother of her daughter and deserved to be respected for that fact.

Sensing the sour mood of his grandson, he stopped his attack on that woman. He was the first one who celebrated when they separated a few years back. If not because of his great-granddaughter that woman won't be able to return to her homeland. He would throw her in jail. However, Noah was adamant in his decision to make sure Lucille will grow up with a mother.

He can't blame him. He grew up without one. His Japanese mother left him with his father at such a young age, he doesn't have a memory of a mother's love.

"I assumed that you are on top of those investigations." He cleared his throat to change the topic for Noah's eyebrows started to knit into one straight line.

"Yes."

With that one word, an awkward silence ensued in the room.

"And the rest of the research?"

"The research was compartmentalized. It is practically impossible for them to steal it as a whole, thus they only get some stolen data that can be easily replicated or can be just another data. However, we do acknowledge the fact that someone wanted those research, but we don't know why. Our new interns would do the research on those stolen data from scratch in the new laboratory."

"That's good."

"Can we not take Lucille to the countryside?"

"No."

He sighed. This old geezer is truly a pain in the ass.

"Your succession with your father's position may take place early next year during the first meeting of the board. You would be busier since I've heard you have been acquiring businesses of your own."

Noah scoffed lightly. There is nothing he could hide from this sly old geezer. He sighed and said, "I can handle it. My other business was just a hobby that I do with my friends."

"Hobby?" he threw his head in laughter. "I find it funny how kids nowadays do business as a hobby."

When Noah gave him a questioning gaze, he said, "Oh, an old friend's granddaughter built a corporation as a hobby. I just remembered it and still find it hilarious!"