Bruce arrives at a restaurant beside a hotel,He glanced at the surroundings before spotting P.J. waving from a table,he walks up to him.
BRUCE: P.J!, Look how buff you've gotten, I almost didn't recognize you ( he said wth a grin)
P J : Ah well what can I say?,I love to stay in shape, you however... you're still a bit on the chubby side
BRUCE: Ahh,well you know what they say, Chubby not hungry heh
P J: what? ( He said confused)
BRUCE: (chuckles) nevermind.
P J: heh you and your weird humor, but it's great to see you man!, how long has it been?
BRUCE: oof,I think over 14yrs now, you know I thought you'd stay abroad after finishing your studies,how long have you been in D.C?
P J: Just a month,But I don't plan on staying herr,I just came for some business
BRUCE: oh alright
P.J: Yeah, how's your Dad been?
BRUCE: oh,..your Dad didn't tell you?
P. J: Tell me what?
BRUCE: My Dad Passed away some years ago
P. J: oh ny God..Bruce I'm Terribly sorry for that
BRUCE: Thanks,so tell me, are you married?
P. J: (scoffs) come on, you know I don't like commitments
"Neither who I" said a voice from behind
P J: oh Bruce,this is my friend and business partner, Jake.
JAKE: Nice to meet you man (he said giving Bruce a handshake)
P J: Jake, this is my old friend, Bruce, we both grew up here
JAKE: Nice, sorry for squeezing into yiur conversation there,you don't mind right?
BRUCE: pff, Ofcourse not,we were just catching up
JAKE: great!, (He grabs a seat and sits with them) but while we do that..
'Jake signals a waiter and whispered something to him,the waiter leaves with a smile'
P J: Don't be alarmed, he's always like this (he said rolling his eyes)
BRUCE: (chuckles) Well I think it's actually very nice of him
JAKE: (confused) nice of me?, What do you mean?
P J: (laughs) oh,sweet innocent Bruce, no the food or whatever he ordered isn't for us
BRUCE: oh,but then who?..
JAKE: oh come on,dont tell me you didn't notice those hot damsels by the corner (points behind Bruce)
'Bruce turned around to see some pretty looking girls sitted on by a table as the sipped some juice'
BRUCE: ohh I see now
P J: moving on man...So Bruce, What about you?,married?
BRUCE: Yup, with two kids.
P J: Wow, that's nice,your wife is she from our school?
BRUCE: No, nkt from our school,but she is quite popular around here, it's Eva Lane
JAKE: ( nearly spills out his water)
P J: No way, Eva Lane the Architect?
BRUCE: Yes
JAKE: You...dude, you're telling me (pauses to take a good look at Bruce) You're Eva Lane's husband?
BRUCE: Yes, I just said so
P J: wow
JAKE: mannn, you gotta tell me how you managed to get such a hottie!
BRUCE: Hey,show some respect man, that's my wife you're talking about
P J: yeah dude what's wrong with you
JAKE: okay I apologize geez, hold on fellas, If you'd excuse me
'Jake gets up and walks oved to talk to the ladies from the other table'
P J: I know he's a goof, but trust me,when it comes to business, he's the most tactful person I know
BRUCE: well I'll take your word on that
P J: And you?, What are you into right now?
BRUCE: Well that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about
P J: okay.
BRUCE: Okay so you know after my Dad died,I took over the mechanic shop,but over the
P J : (Snickers) wait, hold on, so... you're telling me, you're just a mechanic?,pfft guess I already know who the boss is in that marriage
BRUCE: Oh come on, why would you even say that?, On the contrary that's not how things are
P J: Sooo,Eva doesn't shove her success in yiur face?
BRUCE: No..not at all
P J: Suree, Ofcourse she doesn't, you've forgotten I can tell when you're lying
BRUCE: heh, everything's fine really
The two friends talk some more and Brice asks for P J's support on promoting and Patronizing his shop
After some time Brice realized he was half an hour late to pick up the girls, P J generously offers him and ride and drives off after dropping him at the school. Bruce walked into the school,he passed through empty hallways because most of the students already went home,he asks a Janitor on his Daughter's whereabouts and he's told they were in the Headmaster's office...with his wife.
"Daddy!" The girls yell after their father walked into the H.M's office.
H.M: Mr Lane, welcome, we've been expecting you for a while, It was never like you to be late in picking the girls up
BRUCE: Yes sorry I was at the outskirts of town out for a little... reunion
H.M: Oh well I guess that's why we couldn't reach you, that's act..
EVA: (cuts in) A reunion?(Eva asked glaring)
LAYLA: Dad could we go home now, I'm really tired
BRUCE: (smiles) In a minute sweetie
H.M: Well I wouldn't want to waste any more of your time, I'm sure your wife will discuss our meeting with you
EVA: (gets up) Thank you so much for your time
BRUCE: Yes, thank you
They all walk out of the H.M's office heading to th school's exit,the girls race to their mother's car joyfully.
EVA: (turns to Bruce) Next time you decide to go to one of those so called reunions,give ne a call first so I could at least pick up my kids. (She scowls)
BRUCE: I know I just..
EVA: Oh you talk too much!,just get in the car!
'Eva yelled turning heads,Bruce averts his eyes from the crowd and rushes into the car embarrassed while Eva struts nonchalantly behind him,she gets in the car and they drive off. Amongst the crowd was a young lady and guy watching the family as they left.
LADY: Well she's rude
GUY: Hmph, she has a free loader for a husband, who'd blame her?
LADY: But what do you mean?
GUY: I meann, you know who she is right?, That's EVA LANE,the most successful female architect in D.C, she's an inspiration too all her peers,but she's married to a nobody, he's living off her money
LADY: hmm
'Short while later,the Lanes get home'.
EVA: Go on girls,go take a shower and don't forget your homework comes right after
NORA: What about Lunch?
EVA: Well your Dad will do that before you come down,okay sweetie?
NORA: okay.
LAYLA: Where are you going?
EVA: Mommy is going back to work
LAYLA: But you just got here, you never stay with us
EVA: Well that's because I'm busy making sure you don't starve
BRUCE: Eva Please..Layla yiu shouldn't speak to your mother that Way,you know what to do
LAYLA: ...sorry mom(she said grumpily), let's go Nora
Layla yelled grabbing her sister by the hand snd they both run upstairs, Eva sneers furiously at Bruce
EVA: So I see you've been turning my kids against me
BRUCE: Ofcourse not Eva,why would you even think that, you know how Layla is
EVA: what reunion did you attend today?
BRUCE: Just a little meet up with friends
EVA: You don't have any friends so far away so what are yiu talking about?
BRUCE: Do I always have to explain myself to you!?
EVA: You better watch your tone with me idiot,I couldn't care less where you go,But I just hope for your own sake you aren't screwing some hussie
BRUCE: oh please ( he groaned )
EVA: Oh and never again in your miserable life say that I'm neglecting my children, the roof over their heads?...I provided it!,the shoes on their feet?..I bought them!,so maybe next time think twice before making such absurd statement!, Now out of my way!
'Eva yelled shouldering past Bruce as she stomped her way back to work,Bruce with a sad sigh slams himself into the couch as a tear escaped his eye, unaware Layla watched everything from the staircase handrail.
THREE DAYS LATER
Bruce gets a call at noon from P.J asking to meet up but rather in a private place to talk buisness, and Bruce happily invites him to his home
P J: Lovely home you have here Bruce
BRUCE: Thank yiu so much
P J: Sorry if I'm imposing, I just needed somewhere private because of those damn reporters
BRUCE: Reporters?
P J: yeah..oh sorry, I thought you would have heard, the company I'm actually doing buisness with just had a huge scandal and ofcourse you know how the press can be
BRUCE: I wouldn't know but yeah I can Imagine,and what's worse is You can't loose your cool with them
P J: Ha!, you really can't,otherwise you'll be on the headlines the next day
BRUCE: (chuckles) And then they exaggerate it all
P J: yeah, ahem!,anyways, I actually came to talk about your workshop
BRUCE: okay, what about it?
P J: It's a pretty big place, pretty broad and it stands out well,even though it's a bid old. Since the mechanic line isn't moving so well,why not try a new line of business?
BRUCE: No, I'm sorry but that's not an option for me, that building is all I have left from my dad
P J: But it's still gonna be the same building, it's just gonna get...a little reconstructing
BRUCE: ....
P J: Man look, it's in your own interest, you told me the other day that the business was dead and..
BRUCE: I didn't say it was dead, I said it was dying
P J: (laughs) what's the difference?, look, If you're willing to agree to my suggestion, I'm willing to invest and sponsor whatever you choose to do
'P.J reaches to his Jacket and hands over his business card to Bruce'
P J: Buddy, you can't keep living off your wife's money,it's time you stand on your feets
BRUCE: No,let's be clear now, I'm not living off her money, the business got slow yes,but I still have enough money in my account to show for the past 10yrs, it's just that, Eva us more... successful
P J: Alright man,I'll take your word on that,but still.. try another means of livelihood,and this offer is at a limited time cause I'll fly back abroad soon,so it's best we sort things out now
BRUCE: Okay, I'll sleep on it though and then..
Their conversation is interrupted by some loud chattering,followed by the sound of a car pulling up the driveway, The tow friends looked through the window and saw a board of journalists swarming round Eva's car as she steps outside, Camera light flickering everywhere
P J: Crap!,these people really don't know when to stop, I can't believe they followed me here
BRUCE: They must've seen your car
P J: Don't worry, I'll handle them
Both men rush outside and are almost immediately surrounded by cameras and journalist.
EVA: (Furious) What is this Bruce,what Criminal have you brought to my house!? (she yelled)
P J: Watch what you say,I am no criminal.
BRUCE: Relax Eva, let's talk inside
EVA: Haven't I told you I don't want Random people in my house?
P J: Calm down Eva, You're making a scene here
EVA: Who are you to tell me what I should and shouldn't do?, get out of my house!, now!
P J: No need to be rude I mean.
EVA:Bruce is your friend deaf or what?,Do you want me to kick him out!?
BRUCE: Um, Listen I'm so sorry P. J., maybe we'll talk later,I wouldn't want
P. J. : Don't bother, I was leaving anyways... Unbelievable! (he said as he stormed off going through the crowd in silence,the. into his car before driving off,while Eva and Bruce go inside
EVA: Could you explain yourself?
BRUCE: What exactly should I explain?,you completely overreacted out there, what's wrong with you!?
EVA: What's wrong is that I came all the way from a hectic day at work to relax, just to run into some reporters going on about a scandal I know nothing about!
BRUCE: Then you could have just asked me but nooooo,You just lashed out!, You're really starting to get on my nerves with your attitude
EVA: And you're getting on my nerves with your lack of respect for my home and Image!
BRUCE: (Scoffs)...Till this day I still can't believe how money has changed you so much...The rich and successful Eva Lane huh, you waste no time to remind me that It's your house and I'm just.. Inferior to you
EVA: (rolls her eyes)
BRUCE: .....I want a divorce
'Eva's brow raise in surprise'.
Next: Episode 3~Mixed Feelings
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