Chapter 9
Breaking the next day, James had already prepared breakfast for the family and he was also dressed up with a file in his hand as he went downstairs, pretending to go for another job hunting.
Grandma Aurora, on seeing him, stepping down, shot him a cold, dead gaze, "Where's he going again today?" She frowned and everyone who hadn't noticed James' presence turned to look at him.
"Hehe, probably going out to disgrace himself again." Amelia and Caleb said in unison, laughing mockingly.
"And is that not the same clothes he put on yesterday? Why is he putting them on again today?" William chided in, clearly annoyed and honestly sick of James' presence in the house.
James heard their taunting words but it was all meaningless to him at that point. Because his coming back to the house was going to be a huge shock to everyone.
"Good morning, everyone," he said with a wide smile, "I'm going out, and the breakfast is already prepared. I'll be back in no time." He announced not minding their angry gazes at him.
Everyone's faces tightened, and their jaws flinched. How dare he tell them where he was going? Who cares?!
Grandma Aurora opened her mouth to speak, but Caleb beat her to it. He leaned forward, sneering, his voice sharp and dripping with disdain. "Just get out already. Do you really think anyone here cares where you're going?" Aurora gave a curt nod, the corners of her lips twitching upward in grim satisfaction.
That was exactly what she was also going to do—blast him!
"Mind how you talk to me, Caleb." James pierced his angry eyes into Caleb's, his grip tightening around the file he held. "I'm older than you should learn how to respect me!"
Everyone snapped their heads at him in surprise. This was the first time he was displaying such courage. Caleb stood up and approached him with a smirk, "And if I disrespect you, what will you do?"
James glared at him and their angry gazes met. His own has more dark something inside. He was older than Olivia, not to talk more of Caleb, yet he kept showing him nothing but disrespect.
After a long silence, James broke it and immediately walked out of the house, "Don't worry, you will respect me soon." His voice was firm and assuring.
Caleb chuckled, his words funny to his ears. He watched him leave and said, "He's such a coward. Can't even face me like a man."
****
Meanwhile, within the walls of the prominent company, a man and a lady were engaged in a more personal conversation.
"What do you just say, Stella? He agreed to come?" Thomas repeated after the lady standing in his front finished talking. His face was sparkling with excitement.
The lady nodded in confirmation to her words, bowing her head, "Yes, sir," she said, also happy. "I put a call to him last night in a more strategic way and he agreed to come." Stella lied, praising herself when she actually didn't do anything.
"Thank you and if he definitely comes, then you will get promoted." Stella smiled only and about to leave, Thomas signaled to her to wait so they could both go out together.
Pressing the remote to the door of the office, the door swung open and revealed a man who was about to knock on it. It was James.
Thomas was over the moon as he saw him. Stella was also excited. Her promotion was now sure. "Right there he is, sir," she pointed.
The moment Thomas spotted James, a wide smile plastered on his face.
"My son...." Thomas whispered, his voice trembling as he pulled James into a tight embrace, not letting him go. "I promise not to let you slip away from my side ever again. Never!" His cry deepened in emotions and James remained silent, his cheek resting against Thomas' shoulder and his eyes closing briefly.
It was as if a missing part of his body had been found. The warm embrace filled the void he had longed for for the years past.
The emotions deepened in the air as Thomas continued with his regrettable and promising words. Stella, who stood there, was also moved in.
Slowly, Thomas pulled back, his face filled with streaming tears, looking James in the eyes. James shook his sideways and wiped his father's teary eyes.
"I'm back, Dad." He uttered with a calm yet emotional demeanor and Thomas nodded. They hugged each other again and pulled back before Thomas excitedly grabbed his hand and took him inside the room.
"Please, sit down," he gestured toward a seat and shifted his gaze to Stella, who only stood and watched, "the heir is back; please, get him something to eat and drink."
She nodded, indicating, "Okay, sir," and walked away then Thomas sat down opposite James, his gaze not getting off his.
"This is your office, please, feel comfortable and relax. She's gone to get something for you, but before then, I have something to give to you." he reached out to the drawer and brought out something, passing it over to James, who wore a confused expression but accepted it.
"This is my first way of saying I'm sorry for everything I made you go through." He clarified his reason for giving him the card.
James was busy flipping it, still birthed in confusion. Thomas continued, "That's a black card known as the platinum card with limitless spending. It contains over $900,000 million so don't worry about spending too much."
He was about to say another thing, but James, who had earlier gasped at the amount mentioned, in
interrupted him impatiently, "Wait, Dad. Is all the money in it for just me?" His forehead broke in sweat and his lips trembled.