Billie Bob Jones
"What the hell was that?" Ma squealed as she stood in the foyer.
"Please don't start Ma," I sighed. The last thing I needed was her interrogating me when I barely understood the situation myself.
"Benedito came over earlier with Clyde to drop off something for you. I was so curious, obviously I did not open it because I respect your privacy but I really want to see," she clapped as she followed me up the stairs.
"You could have looked I wouldn't have minded. It's not like him and I know each other anyway," I shrugged as we entered my room.
A large square box laid on my bed with a white bow. My brain rebooted as I just stared at it in shock. I had no idea what Benedito might have gotten for me but from the box alone I could tell it was expensive. Ma stood silently next to me as I lifted the lid surprised by its texture.
It had a feeling of leather without it being made out of leather. I knew it sounded simple but it was mind blowing to me they could get cardboard to feel this way.
Inside was a black suit, with a silky white button up shirt, formal black shoes with diamonds running just above the entire sole of the shoe. A smaller black box was in there as well. The box once again looked expensive and on the lid it wrote 'Rolex'. I was not really sure what that was but when I opened the box a gold watch encrusted with diamonds met my eyes.
Both Ma and I gasped. Everything in this box could probably buy me a new car! And the watch itself looked like it could buy me a house!
"Bobby, this is crazy," Ma gaped as her and I looked at each other with large eyes.
"I know," I nodded as I quickly closed the box and placed it back on the bed.
"Why would he get you all of these things?"
"I don't know Ma."
"Do you think it's your size?"
What was going on with all the questions today? I picked up the silk shirt and on the tag it said 'Armani', the suit as well and the shoes were 'Louis Vuitton', at least the shoes I knew of due to their distinctive red bottom soles.
I had never owned anything close to these. I normally just bought from whatever local store that was there, a thrift store and whatever my sponsors gave me. I did not have a stylish bone in my body and this was all too much for me.
"Ma do you think you could give me a moment?"
"Of course, I'm sure you want to fit everything," she beamed, kissed my cheek then left me alone to my thoughts.
I sat down on my bed as I became dizzy. Nothing made sense to me today. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a gold envelope and groaned, what else had he gotten me! I opened it with shaky fingers and found a letter inside.
'Forgive me for our first interaction when we met. As an apology I have gotten these for you. I hope you like them.
Benedito Goncalo Cruz Pereira'
I smacked my lips together as I put the letter back in the box. Maybe it explained his strange behaviour to me today. He was overly friendly to me the entire day and maybe it was because he felt guilty for how he reacted the first time we met.
As business partners now I was sure he felt the need to make sure we were on good terms to make things easier, especially for Clyde this meant so much for him. If things did not go well simply because Benedito and I did not get along he would be crushed.
The clothes and the watch were a bit much for me, but I appreciated the gesture. I never wore suits for any occasion and I was not going to start now simply because he wanted me too. Wearing the watch alone felt foreign for me especially with how it looked.
I would stick out like a sore thumb if I wore such a thing around town. People like me did not care about materialistic things or flashy objects. We cared about family values, our business and our way of life. Diamond encrusted anything would make you the talk of the town if you were a man.
This just proved my point that he and I were painfully different. I wondered how dinner would go if I went alone with my parents. He never said I could not bring a plus one.
I quickly rushed down the stairs and headed for the kitchen where I found Ma and Delilah giggling as they cleaned up the kitchen after their baking fest.
"Delilah would you like to join us for dinner tonight?" I asked as I leaned against the door frame of the kitchen.
Her happy smile instantly faded as she looked at me with a blank stare, "At his house?" I quickly nodded. "Are you crazy? The man barely acknowledges my existence at the café. It will only be more awkward at his house!"
"He's turned a new leaf, Delilah please. I can't be there alone."
"Clyde and I will be there," Ma frowned as she gave me a small glare.
"I know Ma but I need someone my age you know. So whilst y'all are busy I can have someone to talk to," I pleaded.
"You're crazy," Delilah sighed then massaged the bridge of her nose with the tips of her index finger and thumb. "Fine, but you're going to have to wash the dishes for a week."
"Deal," I smiled.
"Well we should probably get ready. He lives thirty minutes from here and we have three hours left before dinner," Ma clapped as she took off her apron.
I rushed back upstairs, took a quick shower and got ready. Instead of the suit I wore black jeans, my boots and just to show some civilisation I wore the white silk shirt he had gotten me to not look like a jerk. The watch just looked weird on me so I left that behind.
It would be the first time he would see me without my sunglasses which made me feel slightly odd. I wore my sunglasses everywhere but I knew for such a formal dinner it would not be suitable.
Delilah like the model she was let her hair down, wore a black dress with spaghetti straps on her shoulders and ruffles from her waist to her mid-thigh with black sandaled heels. She wore lip-gloss and with no makeup because she did not need it.
"You look beautiful," I smiled and kissed her cheek making her blush.
"Thank you, you too. The silk really suits you," she giggled making me roll my eyes.
The shirt was tight around my waist revealing my muscled torso and my toned back. I was surprised he had gotten my size right, I worked out a lot and that made shopping always a strange experience for me. It was either something was too tight on my arms, my chest or just too big that it was unflattering. The shirt however fit perfectly.
"I guess it's my new look now," I laughed. Clyde came to pick us up and soon we were on our way to Benedito's house. Although the word 'house' did not describe what we saw.
As we approached the private estate, large black French wrought iron gate stood in front us with gold accents. The gate alone was intimidating and the men guarding it only added to it. They were dressed in black combat uniform with bullet proof vests and guns in their hands as they patrolled the area.
When one of the guards saw our car, four instantly surrounded the car as he approached Clyde's side of the car. Clyde rolled down the window and gave the guard a friendly smile. He was met with a blank stare.
"What is your purpose here?" The man asked. Okay, not friendly at all.
"We're here to see Mister Pereira," Clyde responded.
"Your name?"
"Clyde Taylor."
The man nodded, took out his phone and called someone, "Chefe, há um homem aqui chamado Clyde Taylor. Devo conceder acesso a ele? Tudo bem. Obrigado." (Boss, there's a man here by the name of Clyde Taylor. Shall I grant him access? Okay. Thank you.)
A long drive way that stretched on for miles with oak trees on either side created a whimsical and calm atmosphere.
The house came into view after a five minute drive and it was definitely not what I had expected. A large white antebellum mansion came into view. In front of it a large fountain covered in gold reflected the sunlight almost blinding my eyes.
The house had a black gable roof that created a symmetrical façade; especially with the ten regularly spaced windows on the second and third floor. White Greek-columns and pillars surrounded the entire house. Decorative friezes ran up the walls which added a beautiful texture to the overall house. The second and third floor had balconies with covered patios.
We all fell silent as Clyde parked the car in front of the house. This was not what I was expecting from the already unpredictable man.