The next morning, the Martinez family were in the dining room having breakfast before Michael spoke up.
" Why don't we have a family discussion right now? Seeing that we are all settled. . . "
" It is bad manners to talk while eating, " Charlotte snapped.
" Bad manners? We should be considering, not being grateful to the person who made you what you are today as bad manners. . . "
" Darling, " Charlotte said, dropping her cutleries and wiped her mouth with a towel.
" Have I said something wrong? Or are you being mischievous? " Michael asked.
" I spoke with Roger this morning before we came down for breakfast. He has agreed to marry Alice Ferguson. But he has to spend some quality time with her in order to know her better. "
" Is that true Roger my boy? " Michael asked.
" Yes, it is true, " Roger snapped. " You have always got what you wanted, you will always get what you want. "
" I am so happy that my boy has began to use his brain. Of course you are going to spend quality time with her. I will phone her father____ "
" I am not getting married to her father, I'm getting married to Alice, so why call her father? Does he also wants something from me, the way you want something from his daughter? "
" No not at all Roger. Your dad had proposed you and Alice getting married to Alice father and he didn't decline____ "
" Is this what Alice wants for herself? " he asked interrupting Charlotte.
" Of course, " Michael snapped. " Actually, there's a lot to gain from you. You are a billionaire and adding your money to my money can make you, one of the richest men in the world and adding hers to yours will make you richer. Infact one of the ten richest in the world. Who wouldn't want to be the wife of such a rich, influential, powerful and famous person in the world? "
" That means our marriage is just business. She doesn't love me then? "
" No, she loves you a lot, " Charlotte snapped.
" Mum? Do you know Alice a lot? No, so keep quiet and let dad explain. Dad does this Alice girl love me? Does she know about this? Does she want to get married to me? "
" I don't see why she wouldn't love you. You are such a handsome young man and you are a one good man and son. And definitely, you will be a good husband. "
" I will like to excuse myself, I am through with eating. Thanks for the food, " Roger said and stood. " One last thing dad, unfreeze my bank, put me back in the company and undo everything you did, thanks. "
" I will son, you have nothing to worry about, " Michael said smiling.
Roger left to his room.
" I am so happy our son has agreed to marry Alice. At least he has proven to not be like his stupid brother. I can't wait for Raphael to come back to us and beg for mercy. That day, I will push him away and tell him, he was a worthless son and I don't need him because I have a son who is just like me. "
Charlotte said nothing. She sat there staring at him and wiping her mouth. SON OF A BITCH! She screamed in her mind. MY SON CAN NEVER BE LIKE YOU!
" Excuse me, " she said.
" Do as you please darling. I am so happy today, so so happy. Very happy, " he said laughing hardly.
Later in the evening.
" Good evening dad, " Roger said and walked past his dad.
" Why did you take out such amount of money from your bank? " Michael asked, there was a frown in his face. " Why? "
" It was only five hundred million dollars. . . "
" Only? Can you hear yourself? That's a whooping sum of money____ "
" Not out of fifty five billion dollars dad. "
" It seems you do not understand what you have done. Now tell me, what is the money for. "
" I don't think that should be your business. It's my money, it's my life. I can use the money for whatever I want. But if you want to really know what I intend to do with the money, I will tell you, " Roger paused and sighed. " I want to impress Alice. I want to buy expensive things for her. Concisely, I want to spoil her with money. "
" This is your plan of impression? Well you have failed. Cos, Alice doesn't need all this. All she needs is your show of love and affection and concern and do not make her know, you are faking it. I will let this slide. Tonight, the heat should be turned on. Ask her out. Formally. Tell her business, be accurate and afterwards, become romantic and maybe after three dates, ask her to be your fiancee. I'm more than certain, she wouldn't decline. The wedding will take place as soon as possible. Three weeks later or earlier. . . "
" What's the rush for? It's not like her dad is dieing any soon dad. "
" At least, you will get the chance to impress Mr Ferguson and he will surely remember you in his will. "
" Getting married to Alice? What if she decides to divorce me? Or I decide to divorce her? "
" As long as we have gotten what we want, who cares? " Michael snarled.
" Okay Dad, " Roger said managing a smile on his lips, though it seemed hard, he was lucky enough to have done it. He left his dad's presence.
* * *
" Hello Alice, " Roger said calmly.
" You are the son of Michael Martinez, right? "
" Yes. I'm wondering how you figured that out, " Roger said disturbed.
" Well, my dad and your dad are business partners and my dad has left the project he has with your dad to me. And he told me, I will be doing business with you not your father. "
" Wow! That sounds terrible. . . I'm sorry but I don't really know what to say to that. Let me take you out tonight, so we can talk business together. What do you think? "
" That will be awesome. Declining will make me look bad, so, I accept. "
" I will come to your house by six thirty. That fine with you? "
" Yeah, " Alice said. " Em. . . I have got something on the desk. Lemme handle it and get ready. Bye. "
" Bye, " Roger said in a low pitched voice. He realized before he said his ' bye ', she had already hung up. Interesting!
If she didn't have time to talk on the phone with him, there will certainly be no way that she would have time for me if we got married, Roger thought.