The two men made their way to the dining area slowly, unnoticed by the rest of the family. Grandpa broke the silence, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Look at them," he grumbled, "there they sit, my two good-for-nothing grandsons. Have you no manners?"
The boys froze, shocked that they hadn't noticed Grandpa's presence.
They quickly dropped their cutlery, their faces flushing with embarrassment, and stood up in unison, clearly apologetic.
"Sit, sit, eat first. I'll deal with you later," Grandpa muttered as he sat down, waving them off.
Dad and Grandpa took their places at opposite ends of the ten-seat rectangular dining table. On Dad's side, Jacqueline and Monica sat beside him, while on Grandpa's side, the boys took their spots, with Emily sitting next to Jerry.
The atmosphere was peaceful, for the most part, except for the subtle drama unfolding between Jerry and Emily. As they sat together, they both tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy, stealing glances and exchanging fleeting touches when no one was looking. Emily tried to play it cool, focusing on her food, but couldn't help sneaking peeks at Jerry. Every time their eyes met, a shy smile tugged at her lips, and she had to suppress her excitement, feeling a rush of warmth in her chest.
Jerry, equally smitten, struggled to keep a straight face, but his eyes betrayed him. He couldn't help but gaze at Emily with adoration, his eyes lingering on her face for a moment longer than intended before quickly darting away, hoping to avoid drawing attention.
As they ate, they found subtle excuses to touch, brushing hands together when reaching for the salt or passing dishes.
"To hell with love," Mark muttered, having noticed the quiet exchange between them. The others at the table were oblivious, unsure of what Mark had meant or why he'd said it.
Despite the tension, Emily and Jerry couldn't help but smile, their expressions betraying the guilty pleasure of their stolen moments.
Grandpa was the first to finish his plate, not because he ate quickly, but because his serving had been modest. He had an urgent meeting to attend.
"What a nice meal, Monica, thank you," Grandpa said as he stood, pushing his chair back. "John, think about it," he added, turning to Dad. Then, he addressed the boys, his tone casual but firm. "Care to walk with me?"
The boys walked with Grandpa out of the mansion and towards where his car was parked. They stood by the vehicle, engaging in a brief chat.
"I think all the men in my house are useless, except, of course, for me," Grandpa said with a chuckle. "Before your mom died, she asked me to elect your little sister as the next CEO, and I agreed. You know why?" he asked, looking at the boys. They nodded, signaling they didn't know.
"She's younger, inexperienced, and yet... so brilliant, so curious, so resilient, so brave, and so open to learning, qualities neither of you have," he continued, pausing to look at Mark. "Yes, she may not be as brilliant as you, and certainly not as experienced, but she has a heart of patience, one ready to listen, to understand, and to process the feelings of others. She has the heart of a leader."
Grandpa paused again before turning to Jerry. "And you, my lovely grandson, so brilliant, so grounded, and yet... so childish. At times, I think Jacqueline should've been the older one," he said, with a wry smile. "Anyway," he added, opening his car door, "I'm not telling you this to praise her or put you down. I hope you understand."
With that, he climbed into the car.
The boys stood for a moment, processing his words. They both knew deep down that neither of them could make a good CEO. They might outshine her in some areas, but she had a well-rounded set of qualities that simply needed refining. Qualities they lacked.
The boys headed back to the dining area, only to find Emily and Monica clearing the table. Their food had been kept warm, but Mark chose not to continue eating, and Jerry, ever the follower, quietly mirrored his decision.
*******
Mark entered his room, a cozy yet dimly lit sanctuary. Despite it being daytime, only faint streaks of light managed to escape through the tightly shut blinds, casting long shadows across the walls. Jerry followed closely behind, his footsteps hesitant. Mark immediately sensed something was off. Jerry always trailed him like this when he needed to unburden his thoughts.
Mark moved to the centrally placed desk, where three desktop computers sat amid neatly arranged books and stationery. The chair, a plush, cushioned office chair, invited him to sink into it. Without a word, he switched on the computers and began typing in the terminal, his fingers dancing over the keyboard in quick, rhythmic clicks.
Jerry, on the other hand, shuffled over to the bed a few meters away, facing Mark. He perched on the edge, fidgeting with his fingers as if trying to gather courage. The silence stretched, broken only by the soft hum of the computers and the clicking of keys.
Mark finally looked up, narrowing his eyes slightly as he leaned back. "What is it this time?"
Jerry hesitated before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I need to talk to you."
Mark's gaze sharpened. "Is it about Emily?"
Jerry's head snapped up, his eyes wide with surprise.
Mark smirked faintly. "Don't look so shocked. It's obvious. You think no one's noticed the way you two act around each other? There's something there. Mutual understanding, unspoken tension."
Jerry shifted nervously, then finally admitted, "We've been... seeing each other."
Mark's expression darkened. "Seeing each other? You mean—"
Jerry cut him off, his voice cracking. "We've slept together."
Mark's brows shot up, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "You're kidding, right? Please tell me you used protection."
Jerry faltered, looking away. "Not always…"
Mark slammed his palm on the desk, the sudden sound echoing through the room. "Are you insane? Do you even realize what you've done? What if she gets pregnant?"
Jerry's voice wavered as he fought back tears. "That's why I need to fix this. I want to propose to her. I love her, Mark."
Mark leaned back in his chair, letting out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Love? You're just twenty two. She's what, twenty-four? Marriage isn't some fairy tale, Jerry. It's a commitment, a responsibility. You don't even have your life figured out yet! How do you plan to support a wife owing to the fact that you are not even financially independent yet?"
Jerry looked up, desperation in his eyes. "Mom and Dad got married young. Dad was only twenty, and Mom was seventeen. They made it work. Why can't we?"
Mark pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling heavily. "That was different. Times have changed. Look, I'll always have your back, but you need to think this through. Make sure this isn't just infatuation. Be sure it's real."
Jerry's voice softened. "It is real. I've never felt this way before."
Mark's stern expression softened, but his tone remained firm. "Then prove it, not just to her but to yourself. Be ready for what comes next because love isn't enough. Life demands more."
There was a ring, it was Mark's phone. Looking at the caller id, " Ruhi."
What does she want, he thought. It was so unlikely for her to call him.
" Hello." He answered. He listened silently as the girl on the other side talked.
" Ok send me your address I'll be right there." He replied. Standing up from his chair. " Think about it." He said addressing Jerry. Then he made his exit.