‘I don’t want you anywhere near Jim. I don’t care what you do from now onwards and I don’t care where you go but stay away from him. And your rights have been revoked. You won’t be able to enjoy the same rights as him.’
He sniveled and rubbed his tears, taking his phone out. He dialed a number and it didn’t take long before the man on the other end answered.
“Hello!”
“I need you to do something for me.” He said desperately. “I need some information on someone.”
“Anything for you, sir! Just tell me the name of the person.”
“My son!” He said abruptly. “Ben Henandez, currently working in…”
Before he could finish his sentence, his phone was snatched away from him. When he raised his head, he found Elena staring down at him with so much anger. Her fists were clenched and her chest was rising and falling rapidly. She looked like she’d just escaped a predator.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” She snapped, shaking her head. “Did I just hear you say you wanna find out about that boy? After everything that he made us pass through years ago. What the hell, Jerome.”
“Give me my phone, Elena!” He snarled, holding out his hand. “I have something very important…”
“Important?” She chuckled bitterly, raising an eyebrow. “Since when did that boy become important to you?”
“He’s my son!” He screamed, rising from the couch angrily.
A look of great bitterness swept across Elena’s face. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Your son?” Her voice was loud. “Have you forgotten what he did six years ago? Have you forgotten that he almost destroyed Jim’s happiness? Have you forgotten how he chose to run away with your son’s fiancé six years ago? And let me remind you that you disowned him. You had cut all ties with him so what’s this drama all about?”
Jerome took a harsh breath, trying to fight his pain. But it sheeted right through him like knife on butter.
“What has changed, huh?” She added, clenching her teeth.
“My fatherly instincts kicked in.” He said under his breath. “Seeing Ben again after so many years made me realize a lot of things. No matter what Ben had done, I shouldn’t have talked to him the way I did. I shouldn’t have said those hurtful words to him.
Six years.” He sobbed. “I don’t know what happened to him the last six years, the pain he’s been through, where he went or how he was doing.”
“And I am supposed to care about that?” Her muscles grew tense and her face got red. “I am warning you, Jerome, don’t make the same mistake again. You already left your family for that whore years ago and you caused me so much pain. Don’t forget how that turned out the last time. We’re happy and we don’t need any more drama.”
“You’re happy.” He chuckled bitterly, rubbing his tears off. “But I have not been at peace the last couple of days. I need to set things right with my son and that’s the only way I will ever be at peace.”
With those words, he stormed out of there and went upstairs.
“Jerome, come back here!” Elena screamed, veins bulging in her neck. “Get the fuck back here. I am still talking to you.”
But he was gone. In anger, she took her favorite vase from the table and threw it on the floor. It broke into pieces but she didn’t give a hoot. Her head was spinning and threatening to explode. She breathed so fast that she thought she was gonna pass out.
“No!” She let out a growl of annoyance. “I won’t let this happen.”
What was going on?
***
“Mr. Martinez.” David said excitedly, rising from the chair when he saw him coming towards him.
Gustavo was with his son and they both looked amazing in black suits.
“Mr. Paola.”
Both men shook each other’s hands, smiling although deep inside, Gustavo wasn’t as happy as he showed. He so much wanted to punch the young man but he knew that he had to act professional.
“I hope we didn’t keep you waiting for long.” Gustavo apologized. “We got caught up in traffic.”
“Not at all.”
David led the two men to his table where his mother and husband were seated, smiling at the two men. They sat comfortably and David asked if they wanted anything to drink anything but neither of them was there for that.
“Anyways, I am not gonna waste your time here.” Gustavo started. “You’re a very famous businessman, especially your mother. Your companies are known far and wide and your reputation supersedes you. I am just a little curious as to why you’re interested in my chocolate company.”
David chuckled, clearing his throat.
“Well, I am not gonna lie to you, Mr. Martinez, you’re a big fish.” He joked, making Gustavo laugh sheepishly. “Your company is a very big and it would be an honor to be part of its greatness. But if you had asked me this question two days ago, I would have told you that I had no interest in doing any business with your company. It never even crossed my mind.”
He wore a beautiful smile as the image of the gorgeous boy played in his head. His heart started beating fast and he felt so overpowered but what he didn’t understand or he could explain.
“But like someone said, we all need chocolate in our lives, as sweet as the love between parents and their children.” He looked at Gustavo and the man smiled sheepishly. “Children love chocolate and I can testify to that. I have a five-year-old son at home who simply loves chocolate and just the idea of being part of this company excited me for his sake.”
Gustavo and Carlos glanced at each other. It was obvious what was in their minds but they didn’t wanna show it.
“I know he would be thrilled and he would wanna be part of that. Preparing for our children’s future begins now and who knows…” He shrugged. “…he might one day grow up to be a great chocolatier.”
‘Oh God!’ Gustavo thought, trying his best not to look bothered. ‘What’s going on here? David has a son, a five-year-old child which means that while Ben lost his precious child, these two had one. This news would devastate Ben if he found out and having this child at our company would be a slap to his face. No matter what, I have to protect Ben at all costs. He shouldn’t find out about this. And even if he will, it shouldn’t be now.’
Gustavo cleared his throat.
“That’s very good, I am glad that you’re thinking about your child.”
“Yeah!” David nodded. “Even if it isn’t about that, I am curious. I wanna know how to make chocolate myself. What better way than to learn from the best, right?”
“Yeah!” Gustavo chuckled nervously. “I understand.” He cleared his throat and wore a stern face. “I am gonna be frank with you, Mr. Paola, you’re an amazing businessman and I would love to work with you. But you see, I cannot accept your business proposal for personal reasons.”
There was a sudden gush of adrenaline when Jim heard the news, feeling him with so much energy. His heart began racing and he became so excited. He glanced at his mother-in-law who had a grin on her face. Both of them knew that they had won already.
“What?” David gasped, losing the smile on his face. “But… I thought…”
“What?” Claudia gasped in astonishment. “But Mr. Martinez, I thought we understood each other. This is very important for my son. He just explained that to you and…”