Chapter 51: Chapter 51

TOBY.

"I was surprised you asked to see me, last time you asked to see me alone like this, I ended up married," I said conversationally to my father but as usual, he was not going to say a word till he was ready. "Some would think you remembered what today was."

"I remember it's your birthday son, your mother is hosting a small dinner party for you," he said, "she won't let me forget it," he added quietly to himself but I heard it. I was supposed to be a grown man and not care about things like this but truly It hurt that my own Father did not care enough to remember the day I was born. I should be used to it by now, all the man cared about was his business.

"Typically, A happy birthday, son would not have been so bad to hear," I said. I shrugged but I couldn't shake the hurt off.

"Why didn't you tell me about these security breaches?" He asked after putting aside the documents he had been looking at and taking his glasses off.

"Security breaches? You must mean the attempts on my life, right? Well, the news got back to you in good time, didn't it? I just assumed the incompetent people you added to my security team would report back to you. You know these security breaches only started happening after we joined the team." I said dryly.

"You don't have to be sarcastic, Toby. You could have called this to my attention before now. Why should I be reading about such a delicate situation in the monthly reviews?"

"What do you care if I live or die?"

"You are my only son, the heir to the Daniel Conglomerate, of course, I care." He said, I roll my eyes because he just outlined the fact that the only thing he cares about is his business and not me.

"So what exactly is the point of this meeting?" I asked, getting impatient like I always did after spending time in his presence.

"I wanted to discuss your security issues like we are doing now." He said strictly. "Who do you think might be behind it? I can't put it past you to go making enemies."

"I have no enemies to the best of my knowledge. Look these questions should be directed toward the police and all the security on our payroll and not me."

"You don't have to be rude, it was just a simple question."

"Can I leave now?"

"Don't go anywhere without security, for now, notify them of all prior movements before time. No solo rides or drives."

"I'll try," I said with a nod.

"Don't try, just do as I say. It shouldn't be that hard." He said losing his cool for a moment. I just ignored him and stopd up to leave.

"You're doing a great job with the company." He said when my hand made contact with the door knob.

"Thanks, Dad," I answered in a flat tone, I refused to let his compliments fool me. I was off to find more interesting ways to spend my birthday.

"You're leaving?" My mother asked me when she could see I was leaving.

"Yes mum," I answered with exasperation sipping into my voice.

"Why don't you stay for breakfast?"

"It's way past breakfast time."

"Come have brunch then, I'll have the chef make something special for you."

"I don't know mum..?"

"I get it, you have more important things to do on your birthday than spend time with the woman who gave you life." She said and that had me following her to the dining room. She knew just the buttons to press to have me do her bidding.

"Please don't go overboard with my birthday dinner tonight," I begged my mother as I ate brunch while she filled me in on the plans for my birthday tonight.

"It's just a small dinner party." He said.

"That's what you always say and then we end up with a huge crowd with people I barely know or people I don't even talk to anymore."

"I asked you to invite your friends but you wouldn't." She defended." You used to love my plans for your birthday, I always threw the most elaborate celebration. The older children get, the less they appreciate birthday plans or is it just their dear old parents' birthday plans."

"I appreciate all the plans you have to make my birthday special, at least one parent cares."

"But, you have better, more exciting and elaborate plans right?"

"I don't know about exciting but what plans could be more elaborate than the ones my mother has made?" I jested.

"Shut it." She said, with an indulgent smile on her face as I howled in laughter. She gave me a light pat on my back and piled more food on my plate.

"If I keep eating like this I'll lose my six packs. At this rate, there won't be enough space for dinner."

"Dinner is far away so don't even think of using that as an excuse to miss your birthday celebration and besides it's your birthday, you deserve to indulge."

"Hey, I wasn't even thinking in that direction. I will be at my elaborate and exciting birthday dinner."

"I promise you, you'll be surprised how small and simple I kept things this year. Hope it doesn't ruin my reputation, we don't want people thinking we are broke now."

"Trust me, mom, nobody is going to think you're broke because you didn't throw a rave for your son's birthday," I said, with mock seriousness. She gave me a playful slap and then peck which I rubbed off in mock disgust.

"Don't forget to bring the sack of potatoes of a wife, she has to be here for appearance's sake."

"Okay," I replied feeling uneasy, it's not like this was the first time my mum was insulting Ruby. She insults her all the time but this time felt different for me and I didn't know why.

"I wish you didn't have to go into an arranged marriage as we did." She sighed, "I talked to your father and everything but does he ever listen to me."

"It's fine mum, I'm fine." I encouraged her because she looked so sad.

"Happy Birthday again son, I love you." She said quietly.

"Thank you mum, I love you too." I pulled my phone out of my pocket to avoid the already emotionally charged moment. I scrolled through a ton of birthday messages then I spot Yasmin's message. Shit, we had planned for this afternoon.

"If you don't show up, I'll just keep my big news to myself," her last message read. What big news has she been yapping about for so long?

"I have to go now, mum," I said, getting up and giving my mum a peck.