James sat in the sitting room drinking coffee and looking at the newspaper indifferently. He turned to the stairs for a few moments and then said calmly as he noticed Mark coming down the stairs: "How is work at the company, Mark?"
Mark stopped going down and said, feeling his father's tone concealing something: "It's fine. Why did you ask, dad?"
James didn't answer him, but remained silent as he waited for Mark to come down the stairs. The latter said as he descended the stairs and approached where his father was sitting: "Is there something wrong, dad?"
James said as he motioned for him to sit: "You are my eldest son, Mark, and you should be my right arm at work, right?"
Mark sat on the seat that his father pointed to, and remained silent. James said sharply: "Answer me, isn't that the case, Mark? Or would you rather be just a mouse sneaking out of the company every day at ten and sometimes at nine in the morning?"
Mark's eyes widened and he said while swallowing: "how did you find out, who told you ?"
James said sarcastically: "Do you think that I am a fool? that I don't know what is going on in my company. I monitor everything in it, while my eldest son, who should be a role model for the employees, sneaks out every day like rat."
Mark said, balling his fist: "Please, dad, there is no need for such talk."
James starting to get angry: "Could you explain this behavior to me, then?"
Mark put his fingers through his hair in frustration and said: "You knew from the beginning that I didn't like this work and that I didn't want to do it."
His father said irritably: "And you wanted me to let you work for another competing company. No, You are my son and you have the obligation to be with your father and help him."
Mark said hoping that his father would understand: "But I have dreams, father and if I worked in your company, I would never be able to achieve them."
His father yelled and said: "Enough, Mark, this discussion is over. Be careful not to leave the company again, otherwise I will have other actions with you."
Mark exhaled in resignation and said: "Do you want anything else, dad?"
His father said briefly: "No."
Mark got up from his chair and hurried to go out. The important thing was to calm his nerves a little and he found himself in front of the main door, so he hurriedly opened it and...
( where are you going?)
That soft, whispering voice echoed behind him.
He turned to Angel, who said those words, and looked at her for a few moments trying to suppress his frustration.
Meanwhile, Angel thought that his silence meant that he didn't hear her well. So she repeated her phrase again and said in a louder voice: "Where are you going, Mark?"
Mark pursed his lips angrily and then said as he turned away from her: "To hell."
It wasn't the right time for Angel to talk to him while he was in this state of anger. While Angel looked at him for a painful moment and then said bitterly: "What is the matter with all of you? Everyone hates that I talk to them. If only I hadn't come here. I wish I hadn't."
Mark hurriedly turned to her and quickly said: "What do you mean by everyone, Angel?" Is anyone bothering you?
She turned her face away to hide the tears that started filling in her eyes, and then said in pain: "What does it matter? You are just like him. You hate talking to me."
Mark walked back to where Angel was sitting and a smile appeared on his lips as he said: "I didn't mean to talk to you in this way. My nerves were a little tense. But you didn't tell me who the other person was it that was bothering you."
She looked at him hesitantly, and then said in a low voice almost not heard: "Liam."
He asked with interest: "What did he do?"
" I asked him about something that concerned him, but he asked me not to interfere in his affairs and to mind my own business."
Mark furrowed his eyebrows and said as he descended to her level: "asked him? What did you ask him about?"
Angel frowned and said: "I had insomnia last night and I saw him coming home at a late hour so I asked him why he was late for so long, because uncle was worried about him."
Mark said with a faint smile: "Angel, don't let this bother you. this is how Liam's is. he doesn't like anyone to interfere in his affairs, even my father himself and his behaviour is normal, as he is late for home every day."
Angel remained silent without commenting on his words. He said as he looked at her comfortingly: "I think I owe you an apology for what I did a little while ago. I am sorry. I also apologize on behalf of Liam. But don't be upset. I don't like seeing my cute cousin frowning like this."
She turned to him and smiled with all her might at him. He said, smiling as he patted her hand and stood up: "Now that I have seen you smiling, excuse me, I will be visiting one of my friends."
He said it and waved his palm to her, but Angel was not looking at him at that moment but rather at her hand, which Mark patted and she felt a cold shiver running through her body as she remembered his touch on her and she found her heart beating strongly and eagerly.