~Chase~
My father’s twenty-bedroom mansion stood a hundred yards away from the beach. He got no neighbors for miles. Now that I think about it, it’s ironic how I liked my solace and peace in the cabin. No doubt I got that from him.
He sat behind his desk when we walked into his office, a glass of golden brown liquid in one hand, eyes laser-focused on the document in his other.
“Obrigado, Costa,” he murmured, setting both items he held on the desk. [Thank you]
Costa nodded and closed the door as he exited the office
“You wanted to see me?” I asked detachedly. An unsettling feeling stirred in my belly when I met his eyes. It’s like looking at my reflection. Growing up, people said that I got my looks from my mother. But I already knew our connection the first time I saw this man. Even a blind man would see our resemblance. From those cool blue eyes, angular jaws, and even our stance. Some people in the business even said I even had his guts and wits.
Mom said they crossed paths one spontaneous summer here in Rio. It was a summer fling. He made her happy, and her eyes still sparkled when she retold their story. It was love at first sight, is what she said, but they never reconnected. She didn’t regret any of it, no matter how reckless she had been, because she got me out of it.
It wasn’t my father’s fault he didn’t know about my existence. Mom said she wanted to tell him she got pregnant, but when she came here, he was already about to marry. His wife is out of the picture now, divorced with no child, but they never re-linked their love. We had our time, and it’s over. Let’s leave the past behind.’ That’s what Mom said when I asked if she planned on being with him again. ‘You are the only reason I came to him, and I loved her more for that while hating myself.
My mistakes haunted me like a boogeyman in my sleep.
“Have a seat.” If he had something to say about my busted face, he kept it to himself and pretended nothing was out of the ordinary.
I sank down on the leather chair across from him and raised an ankle over a knee. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jobnib.com. Visit Jobnib.com to read the complete chapters for free. Good thing I already took pain pills back in the cabin, or else I would be uncomfortable just doing the mundane task of sitting down. He produced a folder from his drawer and handed it over, I scanned the content of the documents with wide eyes.
“What is this?” I asked, my nails digging through the paper.
“You’ve proven yourself worthy of Montiero Holdings,” he said coolly.
It wasn’t only Montiero Holdings. He also named countless properties to me. A mansion in France, a farm in Texas, and vacation houses around Asia which I didn’t need. The cabin and my mom’s beach house were more than enough for me.
“I don’t need this,” I said, dropping the document on his desk. “I’m only working for the company because it was our deal.”
A deal I entered out of need.
“You are my son, Chase,” he said solemnly, swiveling his chair and facing the open balcony. “Everything I own will be yours one day. You are ready, and I’m proud of the man you’re turning into.”
My brows furrowed.
He chuckled. “You don’t think I don’t know about you and Sofia Collins. I was just like you when I met your mother.”
I groaned. Not that story again.
“She’s Derek Collins’ sister.” Confiding in him about my dilemma never crossed my mind. But I had to correct his thoughts somehow. Sofia and I are over. We were over before we even started. That’s the reality I’ve ignored, which led us to this situation. I made myself believe I could make things work, that somehow, I could find a loophole before Derek learned about us.
“Friends have arguments, and they can work through their differences, son. Talk to Derek. Tell him the truth.
He’ll understand.”
“I doubt he will,” I grumbled, sinking back into my chair. This is his way of talking now.” I pointed to my face.
Derek will never forgive me for what I did. He hated me then, and he loathed me now. His promise of putting me six feet under will probably come true if I don’t heed his words of staying away from Sofia.
He leaned back in his seat, set his elbows on the armrest of his chair, and pinned me with a studying gaze. “You and Derek have much more in common than you think,” he murmured. “You are both stubborn, too proud to stand down and talk things over.”
“Have you heard none of what I said? Just look at my damn face!” I growled, irritated.
“He is mad, Chase, but he needs to know the truth. He had the right to know the sacrifices you made for Letty.”
I huffed and clenched my fist. “Is this why you asked to see me? To lecture me about my friendship with Derek and how I am fucking things up with Sofia?”
Unphased by my outburst, he stood with his glass, took a sip, and stared at the ocean view from his balcony. “No. That’s not all. I want to ask for your permission.”
“Permission?” I huffed, slumping back in my seat.
“To court your mother.”
“What?!” I thought I had misheard him.
He turned, a solemn look on his face. Diego Montiero is known for his assertive and domineering personality in and out of the office. He doesn’t know how much pressure it was to follow in his footsteps as the CEO of Montiero Holdings. He set the bar so high I don’t think I’d ever live up to his name.
He chuckled shakily, coming to his table for a refill. “I’m old, and I want to retire. Your mother and I didn’t get to have our time back then. I hope to have it now if you’ll allow me.”
Stunned, it took me ten seconds to process his statement. “I don’t get to decide for her,” I said. Although I know that mom still feels something for him, I have no right to meddle with their feelings. It’s their decision. It’s their choice.
No one has the right to decide on someone else’s feelings.
As though he was reading my thoughts, he smiled at me meaningfully.
‘Is this his reason for asking me about mom?” Cunning old man.
“I have to warn you. We might be of blood, but if you hurt her, I will bury you alive.”
He chuckled. His laugh line deepened. “I expect no less from a Montiero.”