"John, it's Tom. I've got some great news for you," Tom's voice crackled over the line, but John didn't reveal the details just yet. The excitement in his tone hinted at something significant, leaving John eager and curious to know what Tom could be having?
"Hey Tom, what's up? You sound pretty excited," John replied, a smile spreading across his face. He imagined it might be a promising investment opportunity or some good news about the store.
"Well, it's something that might surprise you," Tom said, a hint of hesitation now evident in his voice.
John's curiosity piqued. "Surprise me? You know I don't like surprises much, Tom. Just spill it."
Tom took a deep breath. "I've been contacted by someone from your past. Your uncle, Rohit Francisco. Actually, he was somehow connected to me by my friend from Golden City. He is desperate and claims he's been looking for you for a long time."
John's smile faded instantly. His face hardened as memories of mistreatment flooded back. His uncle and the family had made his life miserable after his parents' untimely demise.
"That is a total lie to hear from him. What do they really want?" John asked angrily, his voice rising. He began pacing the small space behind the counter, his movements agitated. Grace glanced up from attending to a customer, her eyes filled with concern as she observed John's obvious distress.
Tom tried to maintain a calming tone. "Look, John, I don't have all the details. Rohit said it's important. They need to talk to you about something from the past."
John's anger bubbled over. "Important? The only thing important to them was making my life a living hell. Why now? Why after all this time?" His voice was loud enough to attract a few curious glances from customers, who quickly looked away.
Grace approached cautiously, trying to offer some support. "Everything okay, John?" she asked softly, still keeping an eye on the customers flowing in and out.
John took a deep breath and rubbed his temples. "Tom, what do they really want? Why should I even listen to them?" His voice was filled with frustration and hurt.
Tom's tone was empathetic. "I understand how you feel, John. But maybe it's worth hearing them out. At least you'll know what they want. Should I give them your contact info so Rohit can call you directly?"
John hesitated. The last thing he wanted was to reopen old wounds, but curiosity got the better of him. "Fine, give him my number. But Tom, this better be good."
Tom sounded relieved. "Thanks, John. I'm sure they'll explain everything. By the way, how's the store doing?"
John forced a smile, trying to shake off the irritation. "The store's doing great, Tom. Grace has been amazing, and business is picking up. We're actually pretty busy today."
"That's fantastic to hear. I'm glad things are going well. Rohit should call you soon. Thanks for giving this a chance," Tom said.
"Yeah, let's hope it's worth it," John replied, ending the call. He pocketed his phone, trying to refocus on the store.
Grace, having heard snippets of the conversation, gave him a concerned look. "Everything okay?"
John sighed. "Family drama. My uncle suddenly wants to get in touch after all these years."
Grace raised an eyebrow. "Sounds complicated. If you need to talk, I'm here. What happens to your family if I don't mind?"
"It's a long story, I bet as time goes by you will come to know everything about my family background," John muttered to Grace in a low voice and smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Grace. I appreciate it."
As the day progressed, the store buzzed with activity. Customers browsed the shelves, examining the various automotive spare parts. Grace managed the counter efficiently, her demeanor professional yet friendly. Every so often, she glanced at John, ensuring he was alright.
A well-dressed man in his mid-forties approached the counter, eyeing John in his suit. "Nice suit, young man. You look like you're ready for a board meeting."
John chuckled. "Thanks. Figured I'd dress up for the grand opening."
The man smiled. "It's good to see someone taking pride in their business. I'll take these spark plugs, please."
Grace rang up the sale while John bagged the items. "That'll be $45," she said, handing over the receipt.
As the customer left, Grace turned to John. "He's right, you know. You do look sharp."
John blushed slightly. "Thanks, Grace. Just trying to make a good impression."
The day continued with a steady stream of customers. John marveled at how the store had transformed under Grace's management. Her meticulous attention to detail was evident in the well-organized shelves and the prompt service they provided.
Around two O'clock, a young couple entered, looking a bit lost. Grace greeted them warmly. "Hello! How can we help you today?"
The young man hesitated. "We're looking for some parts for a classic car. It's a bit of a project."
John stepped in, his interest piqued. "What kind of classic car?"
"A 1967 Ford Mustang," the young woman replied, her eyes lighting up.
John smiled. "Nice choice. We've got a section for classic car parts. Follow me."
As he led them to the appropriate aisle, John felt a sense of satisfaction. This was what he loved—helping people find exactly what they needed. That being a grand Store Opening, he was actually trying to supervise and make sure Grace was fit to manage the store alone from the following day.
Returning to the counter, John glanced at his phone, which buzzed with a notification. A message from his bank indicated an influx of sales deposits. His account balance was steadily increasing, bringing a smile to his face. He was finally seeing the fruits of his labor.
Grace noticed his good mood. "Good news?"
John nodded. "Yeah, the store's doing well. The account balance keeps growing."
Grace beamed. "That's great to hear. Hard work is paying off."
They continued assisting customers, exchanging light-hearted banter and jokes. At one point, a man in a bright yellow shirt and a straw hat walked in, looking for a rare part for his motorcycle.
"Ah, you must be John," the man said, extending a hand. "I've heard good things about this place."
John shook his hand. "Thanks. What can we help you with today?"
The man explained his needs, and John and Grace worked together to find the part. After some searching, they located it, much to the man's delight.
As the day wore on, Grace couldn't help but admire how John handled everything with ease and charm. Despite the looming conversation with his uncle, he remained professional and attentive to the customers.
By late afternoon, the store had seen a steady flow of business. John finally had a moment to catch his breath. He leaned against the counter, watching Grace finish up with a customer. He really knew his business was going to expand following the customer sequence.
Grace walked over, wiping her hands on a cloth. "Busy day, huh?"
John nodded. "Yeah, but it's good. The store is doing great."
Grace smiled. "You know, this suit really suits you. No pun intended."
John laughed. "Thanks, Grace. I feel like a different person in it."
Just then, his phone rang. He checked the caller ID and saw it was a number he didn't recognize. He knew it had to be Rohit.
"Here we go," he muttered, answering the call. "Hello?"
"John, it's Rohit," came the voice on the other end. The tone was cautious, almost pleading.
John's jaw tightened. "What do you want, Rohit?"
Rohit sighed. "I know you don't want to hear from me, but this is important. We need to talk about your parents' agreement with another royal family."
John's heart sank. "What agreement?"
"The marriage arrangement. Your parents promised you to another family on the day you were born," Rohit explained.
John felt a mix of anger and confusion. "Why didn't anyone tell me this before?"
"It wasn't the right time. We didn't want to burden you," Rohit said softly.
John's mind raced. "Why now?"
"Because the family is insisting on fulfilling the agreement. They believe it's what your parents would have wanted when they were still alive," Rohit replied.
John felt overwhelmed. "I need time to process this. Kindly, just give me personal space to heal from your family neglect. I don't even think I would say anything by then."
"Take all the time you need. Just know that we're here to help the promise that was placed by your biological parents to go through," Rohit said.
John hung up, feeling dazed. He looked at Grace, who had been listening from a distance. "What's wrong?" she asked.
John took a deep breath. "Apparently, my parents arranged for me to marry someone from another family. They want to fulfill the agreement now."
Grace's eyes widened. "That's... unexpected."
Tell me about it," John muttered.
They continued to serve customers, but John's mind was elsewhere. However, he couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. What did his uncle really want? And how would this new revelation affect his life?