In the Pinkerton residence, Vine was seated on a couch, sipping on a mixture of very strong drinks. His eyes were bloodshot red, and he was not wearing a shirt. A maid stood nearby, ready to receive and follow orders from Vine, and she looked scared. Vine was not particularly tough on the maids, but he hardly ever spoke to them, unless if it was to give them orders. All the same they feared him. A lot.
Gareth walked in and gave a slight bow.
"Young master Vine, I'm here to remind you of tonight's event. Your friend Musa is throwing a birthday party. Do you plan to attend this event, young master?"
Vine swirled his glass a few times before gulping down its entire contents. He frowned and swallowed hard, widened his eyes and then appeared to be in deep thought.
At that same moment, his grandmother walked in.
Since Vine knew that his grandmother was surely going to give him a lecture of some sort, he immediately stood up with the intention of leaving the room.
"Sit down, Vine!" the old lady firmly spoke.
Vine shrugged his shoulders and reluctantly sat down.
"What are you telling him, Gareth? Which other event does he have to attend today?" the old lady asked.
"Nothing! There's no event today," Vine was quick to speak, before Gareth could say anything.
"I just heard Gareth talking about an event," lady Pinkerton said sternly.
"He was just updating me. I have not yet made up my mind. I may choose not to attend!" his tone was mocking.
Mrs Pinkerton sat on the couch and hit the floor with her cane. She hated it when her grandson spoke in such a manner to her.
"You clearly cannot respect me, Vine. I am your grandmother. I gave birth to your dad, and you know that."
"I'm sorry," Vine mumbled.
"Is this what you want for your life? Do you really want to spend your entire life chasing after parties and all those functions that you always attend?" she asked in a low voice which was laced with great pain.
Vine did not respond. He just rolled his eyes.
"Gareth, what event is there tonight?" lady Pinkerton asked.
"I said there is no event!" Vine cut in before Gareth could say anything.
"I'm talking to Gareth. Will you let him talk?" the old lady hit the floor several times with her cane.
Vine turned to look at the maid who was still standing in her position, holding a tray of the strong drinks.
"And you! Do you need to stand there! Get out!" he shouted angrily, and the poor girl trotted off.
"Close the door behind you!" Vine screamed, and the door was firmly shut.
"Tell me, Gareth," the lady would not let the matter rest.
Not sure what to do, Gareth cleared his throat and looked from Vine to Mrs Pinkerton.
"Well just tell her! Yes, I have a function to attend tonight! Musa has a birthday bash, and I will be there! Is there anything else you need to know, grandma?" Vine asked in a mocking tone.
The old lady felt a pierce in her heart. Although she knew that she had a hand in Vine turning out the way he had, she greatly regretted it. She wished, if only she had been firmer with him. But it was too late for her, and she was only hoping for Vine to get a young lady who, hopefully, would help tame him. Mrs Pinkerton was not sure if it was going to work, but that was her last bet. She believed that once Vine had a wife, and a child as soon as could be, the responsibilities of being a husband and a father would assist him to become a better human being.
"Well I am going to attend that party! Gareth, prepare the car!" Vine screamed out.
"Wait, Gareth, my grandson and I are not yet don't here," Vine's grandmother said.
"Grandma, you cannot control me. I am twenty-five years old! I am an adult…"
"An adult who behaves like a child, Vine! For crying out loud, my grandson, you behave like a ten-year-old boy! Grow up!!"
"I am grown up already!" his voice cracked in rage.
"You behave like a child! All you do is drink and spend all your time in hotels. I have told you countless times, Vine, that you need to acquaint yourself with the family businesses. Your grandfather and I will soon be gone, and you are the only Pinkerton heir! Which part of what I am saying do you not understand, Vine?" the old woman was shaking due to great fury.
"I don't need to know much. I already know enough about those businesses. I will hire people to run the business." the young man said.
Mrs Pinkerton shook her head in pain.
"What got into you, my dear? Your father had great interest…."
"Don't you dare, grandma! Don't you dare compare me to him! I will not be compared to a man who was not man enough to own up to his mistakes! He is no better than me in any way, please!"
"Vine, calm down…."
"Not when you compare me with that man whom you call my father. I will not have anything to do with him at all, grandmother!" Vine stopped.
He failed to go on, because the image of himself and the waitress from Two-Sons Hotel flashed in his mind. Vine had even forgotten the girl's name.
It was the first time in his life to have a one-night stand, and he hated himself for it. He did not want to do anything that his father had ever done, for he despised his father. According to what he was told by his grandparents, his father met a girl at a bar, spent the night with her and then never saw her again.
The lady, after realizing that she was pregnant, came to the Pinkerton mansion and told them her story. Unfortunately by then, Vine's father was newly married to the love of his heart. The lady, Vine's mother, with no intention of breaking the marriage, gave birth and left the Pinkertons, never to be seen again. Stuck with a newborn, the new wife could not handle it, thus she filed for a divorce. It did not take long after she left, and Vines father, the only son of the Pinkertons, died.
Lady Pinkerton and her husband raised the boy like their own child. They hardly ever spoke about Vine's mother, for no-one seemed to know much about her. Vine, although he had tried his best to find his mother, had failed to locate her. The woman was either long dead or had really done a good job of hiding herself. Vine hated his father. Somehow he felt that his father was to blame for getting his mother pregnant and dumping her.
"I will not be like that man!" Vine screamed angrily.
The image of him and the waitress in the hotel flashed even brighter in his head. He violently shook his head and announced loudly,
"I am going to attend Musa's party tonight! You will not stop me, grandma! And you will not compare me to that son of yours!"
"That son of mine is your father, Vine!" Mrs Pinkerton raised her voice.
"So what!" Vine shouted back. "My mother left because of him! He should have chosen my mother. If he loved me enough, he should have chosen my mother instead of that wife of his, who later on divorced him anyway!"
"Enough, Vine!"
"Why, grandma? Why can't I talk about it? Because it is the truth! My mother was pregnant, and for my sake, he should have supported her, if he loved me enough!"
"Vine please…"
"I won't listen to anything anymore! Gareth, prepare the car. You are driving me to that function tonight! And prepare for me to travel for a holiday, minimum one week!"
"Noted young master Vine. What shall be your holiday destination?" Gareth bowed slightly.
"Pick a good spot, Gareth! Pick a place as far away from here as possible!"
With that, Vine marched out, slamming the door behind him. Gareth meant to follow closely but Mrs Pinkerton stopped him.
"Which holiday resort will you pick?" she asked sternly.
"Umm, I had not given it much thought, but…"
"Let me know before you make the reservations."
"Yes lady Pinkerton." Gareth gave a slight bow.
"Does he have a girlfriend yet?" she asked in a whisper.
Gareth shook his head.
"Talk to me, Gareth! Any girlfriend?" her voice was raised.
"Umm, I don't know of any girlfriend, lady Pinkerton. The ladies, of course, always throw themselves at the young master, but he seems to be content with his alcohol." Gareth answered truthfully.
"Does he ever talk about girls with you?" the lady asked.
"Not really….he did show some interest in that one waitress though. I believe he slept in the same room with her, but I have no details of that night. He has not spoken about her since that day, and I have not asked." Gareth was facing the floor.
Mrs Pinkerton immediately remembered the waitress. Oh yes, that beautiful waitress. How on earth could she have forgotten about her?
"He liked that waitress, did he not?" she asked eagerly.
"He did not say much about her." Gareth answered.
"I am asking you. You know Vine very well, so I am asking from your own perception, did he like that girl? He doesn't need to tell you everything, does he? Can't you make some things out by yourself?" the lady was getting irritated.
Gareth cleared his throat and said, "The young master seemed to care for the young waitress."
Mrs Pinkerton smiled sweetly to herself before she asked Gareth to leave the room.