Caleb_D : goodmorning
Caleb laid down on his sofa, waiting for Wish's reply. Last night she went to sleep earlier than he had expected. He had found her whatsapp by the help of his secretary. Too bad she didnt use any other social medias. Even her whatsapp had no profile picture. This girl really was something else. He felt like knowing more about her everyday.
Wish97 : morning.
wish97 : do you have something to talk with me?
He chuckled after seeing her reply. What did he expect from someone else's fiancée?
Caleb_D : Well...just to ask if you will come to that party next week?
wish97 : Dont know at the moment.
Wish97 : will inform you later.
Caleb squinted at her message. Why was she typing so formally? or does she think of him as business acquaintance?
Caleb_D : Oh sure then.
Well if she wasnt going to keep the conversation, he should stop right? Now they will be meeting only at the party next week. Also, only if she will be coming. He was in his thoughts when the door to his room opened.
" Young master, father is calling you at the hall." it was his butler.
Caleb sighed putting his phone away. " And why?"
" I have no idea, young master." the butler bowed and left him.
It was still pretty early in the morning and his father already wanted to talk. He actually hated talking to his father. It was always lectures and business talks that he didnt understand and father would become angry, resulting in both of them not talking the whole day.
Caleb lazily walked out of his huge room, yawning big. The hall was one floor above. When he reached there, he pushed the huge door while his father stood by the desk, looking through some files.
" What is it dad?" he stood near the door not walking ahead.
" You are still going to that band's room?" his father said not looking up from the files.
Caleb was taken aback hearing his dad. He had been going to the band secretly so how did he find out? As expected of his butlers.
" Yeah, once."
His father looked up and put the files down. " The company is losing its shares and i only have me to manage this!"
Caleb sighed, rubbing his forehead. There it goes....
" I have already chosen you to be the heir of this company and you know nothing about its ongoings!" he raised his voice. " Didnt i say that band of yours is only temporary while this company will stay with you till the end."
" Only if i decide to keep it though...." he whispered lowly.
His father was quick to hear it. " Its not a matter to decide...YOU are going to keep the company and prosper it. Dont you know it is my biggest dream to see you take over the company and be successful??!"
Caleb was tired of his lectures that he was used to listening every single day. " I was just telling dad!! Can we stop this now??" he sighed heavily.
His father nodded silently but didnt take his eyes off him. After a few minutes, he spoke again, " Are you talking with William Brent again?"
" What??" Caleb made an annoyed face, " NO!"
Of course, his dad would want him to talk with Brent since he is the top heir at the moment.
" Hasnt it been more than 2years now?" his father looked disappointed, " You can just forget about the past and start thinking about the future. This is for your sake as well."
Caleb clenched his fist, " You didnt go through what i did so its obviously easy for you guys to say that!"
" Thats not what i meant-"
" Its easier for other people since they wont go through the trauma and pain." his fist was turning white due to too much pressure, " So, you cant say that i should forget about the past."
And with that he opened the door, slamming it loudly. He ignored his father's calling and stormed to his room.
" Dont worry." he whispered to himself once he was back to his room, " I wont ever forget what Brent did to you, Julie."
—-
" So this is Brent family's mansion..." Wish thought to herself, climbing out of the car. The mansion was twice as big as her father's. It also looked more ancient looking by the designs. Well, Brent family had the wealth for decades now from what she had heard.
A butler recieved her and escorted inside the house. The hallway looked grand with portraits of various people on the walls. Probably the descendants of the Brent family.
" So royal..." she whispered in awe.
Finally they reached the huge dining hall. Brent was standing inside waiting for her and smiled wide after seeing her, " Glad that you decided accept my invite."
" Only because Mr.brent wanted to meet me." she forced a smile.
Brent chuckled with her straight forward answer and pulled out a chair, gesturing her to sit. Wish nodded and took a sit waiting for Mr.Brent to arrive.
Suddenly, Brents phone vibrated and he checked it quickly.
Secretary : Chris visited his dads office in the morning and later left going back to his home. In the evening he went to a bar and met with Lucas.
Brents eyes lit up after seeing the familiar name. So, they really were close indeed.
Brent : keep your eye on the two.
He looked up to see Wish was observing him. He put his phone down immediately and coughed lightly. Just at the moment, Mr.brent entered the hall. Both of them stood up to greet him.
"Oh my, the daughter-in-law is way beautiful than i had expected." Mr.brent said cheerfully.
Wish shyly looked at him, "Thankyou....Mr.brent."
" Mr.brent?" he scrunched his brows, " call me father from now on."
Wish and Brent looked at each other shocked. " Of-of course...father." she replied which made Mr.brent laugh lightly.
They continued having small talks while having the exquisite dinner.
Wish noticed how Mr.brent wasnt like any other businessmen out there. He was pretty humble and down to earth. Took things lightly and turned conversation into fun. Mr.brent was completely different from his son, that was for sure.
They finished their dinner and Mr.brent requested Wish to have a small talk while having tour around their house. She couldnt reject him and both of them were now walking along the corridor.
" So, hope you and William are getting along pretty well." he asked with a kind smile on his face.
" Umm...." wish couldnt think of right words, " Guess we are?"
" So youre not?"
Wish snapped her head to Mr.brent, terror in her eyes. " Thats not..."
Mr.brent laughed, " Its okay. I mean it has just been 4 or 5 days right?"
She nodded slowly. They really just met few days ago and it felt like a month already.
" I feel bad for arranging your marriage without proper introduction. It all just happened so quick, i had no choice but to accept."
The huge windows now had the view of their garden outside. It looked like a park with the big fountain in the middle.
" I had no intention to marry off William now." he continued, " Mr.lennon advised me to hurry up the process since investors were swarming in the market."
Wish turned to him, with a little confusion, " Why are the investors swarming now? like is there anything special going on?"
He shook his head, " Nobody knows the reason but these investors were real deal. They werent fake people. Thats why your marriage has increased our company's share."
" Nobody knows....?" she whispered to herself. It felt kinda off even. Wish had graduated from the business major so she was atleast familiar with these things.
They decided to change the topic and reached the part where there were portraits of their family.
" He is my grandfather." Mr.brent chuckled seeing Wish's surprised look. This mansion really was from decades.
In a more recent years photos, they saw another family portrait.
It was Mr.brent, a woman and....little William?? They looked strangely similar. Only his jawline had become sharper and his shoulders broader.
" This is William?" she asked still observing the photo.
" Yes, it is." he also looked up, " And that is of course me and....she is...Williams mother."
Come to think of it, she hadnt seen his mother ever since they met and even here.
" I know youre thinking where is Mrs.brent." he read her facial expression.
Wish turned to him, asking the question with her looks because it would be rude to ask directly.
" Well, William's mother died when he was only 6 years old."
Wish internally gasped. How did she not know this? Even the articles online never mentioned anything about Mrs.brent.
" She commited a suicide."
" Why??" Wish blurted unintentionally which made her quickly cover her mouth.
Mr.brent who was looking at the portrait faced away and started walking ahead, " It is a family matter which you will know slowly once you have officially become a part of us."
She stared at the portrait again for sometime and quickly fastened her steps to reach Mr.brent.
A secret family matter?
.