Chapter 12: Chapter 12

~Third person’s POV~

Jayson stepped out of the car holding his suit jacket in his right arm before he made his way to the entrance of his house. As he walked into the foyer, he received a call and he brought out his phone to answer it.

“Yes, father.”

“Come over, we need to talk.” And the line went dead.

Jayson clenched his fist and heaved a long sigh. He planned on retiring to his bed because of how stressful work was but that did not seem possible. His maids quickly ran over to him to collect his jacket and briefcase before he continued his way over to the staircase to take a shower.

Moments later, he made his way over to the garage and entered into one of his cars before he drove out of the compound. He arrived at his parents’ place after some minutes and made his way into the house. He met his parents already seated at the dining table and he walked over to join them. He took his seat beside his mother and the maids came over to dish out his meal.

“You didn’t tell me I was going to join you for dinner, I already ate.” He lied with a straight face as he stared at his father.

Helena shifted uncomfortably in her seat and turned to him. “It’s your favorite food, son. Why don’t you try it?”

Jayson turned to his mother and sighed before he turned to his father again. “Since when did we start having family dinner? Just go straight to the point father.”

Richard dropped his cutlery and turned to his son. “Would it be so bad if I wanted to have dinner with my family?”

Jayson scoffed and shook his head, “Come on father, we both know that’s not true so be quick. I have to rush off.”

“Jayson…” Helena called his name and tried to reach for his hand but he drew away. She drew back and sighed.

“Very well then…” Richard started to say. “You did a good job at the proposal; the media is already talking about it and they are already convinced…”

“I still don’t get why the media has to be convinced…” Jayson cut in. “I thought it was supposed to be a contract marriage.”

“Everyone has to see so it would be more believable. Listen Jayson, this marriage would be very beneficial for us. The Bolaji family is desperate right now and it would be very nice to partner with them so we could be in charge of their company. It’s a win-win.”

Jayson scoffed and shook his head. Of course, his father was simply after his own gain. He never cared about what he felt about anything and only dictated to him what he felt like.

“I thought we were partnering with them? Are they aware that you plan on taking over their company?”

Richard grinned, “Partnering with them? Well… that was our agreement but their company is already standing on a thin rope, what’s there to partner with?”

Jayson sighed, “I thought you were only helping because he was your friend?”

Richard smiled, “You see Jayson, life is not that simple. We cannot always put our friendship first, sometimes we have to consider other things.”

“So, he is not aware then?”

Richard only smiled and Jayson understood what it meant. His father had no limit to his greed.

“I really don’t care about whatever stupid plan you are already cooking. I just want this to be done with. How long would the marriage contract last for?”

Richard picked back his cutlery and slowly started cutting his meat into tiny pieces. “Well, I am thinking two years…”

Jayson dropped his cutlery abruptly as he heard that. “Two f**king what?!” He yelled.

“I said I am thinking, I haven’t decided yet.” Richard said curtly.

Jayson licked his lower lips and sighed as he tried to keep calm. “You have to rethink that. There is no way I am going to be stuck in an unwanted marriage for straight two years.”

Richard sighed, “Two years is not really a long time Jayson, it would be over before you even know it.”

“Father…” Jayson said between his teeth. “I cannot accept that, the farthest I can go with is six months.”

Richard scoffed, “What do you think marriage is? Something you can jump into and jump out as you like?”

“I don’t care but there’s no way I am going to be stuck with a stranger for two years father.”

Richard sighed and dropped the cutlery. “Let’s not do this Jayson.”

“I am not doing it.” Jayson said with finality.

Richard turned to Helena who sighed as she was tired with the whole situation as well. She slowly turned to Jayson.

“Six months would be too soon honey, why don’t you um… why don’t you go with a year?” She suggested.

Richard gave her a surprised expression. “Helena…”

Jayson turned to his mom and sighed. “Fine, I can cope with that.”

Richard sighed and placed his hand on his forehead. “Fine then, we would go with a year and nothing less. I don’t have the energy to fight with you.”

Jayson shrugged. “Me neither.”

Helena smiled and reached for Jayson’s hand before stroking it gently. Jayson turned to her and sighed.

“How are things going at the company?” Richard asked he took a bit from his meat.

“I’m handling them well.” Jayson replied flatly before he took up the glass of wine on the table. He heaved a sigh before he took a sip from it.

“Now that you are both engaged, you have to take her over to the company to put her through with a few things. You should spend more time with her than with your numerous conquests.”

Jayson scoffed, “And look who’s talking.” Jayson said before he looked at his father.

Richard gulped and clenched his fist but didn’t say anything.

“If that is all, I will like to take my leave.” Jayson stood up and then he turned to his mom. “Bye mom.” He kissed her cheek before he walked out.

Richard heaved a long sigh and continued eating.

“Give him a break Richard, you don’t expect him to accept the whole thing like that, it won’t be easy for him.” Helena said.

“He’s no kid. He needs to learn to settle down. He has been playing around too much and though it doesn’t show because of his competency but people are still talking about it.” Richard said as he ate his food.

“Who cares what people say? It’s his life so let him live it.”

“I don’t care if he sleeps around Helena, I just don’t want anything that would jeopardize my reputation.”

Helena scoffed, “Reputation? He got that habit from you Richard, so don’t act like you are the saint here.”

Richard stopped eating and looked up. “I may have made a few mistakes in the past but that has changed.”

“Really? Has it?” Helena shook her head before she stood up to her feet. “I have lost my appetite.” She walked out leaving him alone on the table.

He sighed and simply continued eating swallowing every bite heavily.

********

Jayson droves back in the heavy rain which started few minutes ago. The movement on the road was very slow due to traffic caused by the rain and the cars kept halting from time to time. He heaved a sigh and rested his head against the car seat as he stared at the cars which were all halted in front of him.

“F**ked up shit.” He cursed.

Just then, his phone started to ring and he reached for it. After glancing at the caller, he sighed and answered.

“Hey man.” He said to the caller in a dull voice.

“Yo man, what’s up with you, you good?” A hoarse voice asked from the other end of the call.

Jayson sighed, “Yea, I’m alright. What’s good?”

“Well, um… you mind if I come over to your place? It’s boring to stay at my place and my parents are fighting at theirs.”

“They’re fighting again?” He asked.

“They never skip a day, can I come over? I called because I didn’t know if you would be at work.”

“You can come over; I am on my way home.”

“Oh, alright. See you later then.”

“Yea.” Jayson said before he hung up. He placed the phone back and when he saw that road clearing up, he started driving.

Few minutes to the drive, as he looked through the tinted glass of his car, he saw a familiar figure standing at the roadside waiting to cross over to the other side. He slowed down his car and looked closer. She looked very familiar and he couldn’t help but look more closely to confirm who it was and he finally recognized her. Was that not the girl who insulted him last time because he didn’t apologize for splashing water on her?

“No wait… Why does she look like my fake fiancée?” He shook his head as he blinked repeatedly. No, she didn’t just look like her, she was exactly like her. What was she doing standing on the street? “My fake fiancée was the girl from last time? I knew she looked familiar.” He said under his breath before he slowly halted his car and moved it away from the road.

XOXO