Chapter 7

James looked at his son for some time without saying anything. He hoped Paul would say something, but he didn't.

"How's your new job going?" he finally asked.

"Pretty good," Paul replied casually.

"That's not what I heard," James said as he adjusted his sitting position.

"I see," Paul said nodding his head. "So, you follow me around now?"

"Wouldn't that be fun?" James said, widening his mouth at a fake attempt to smile.

Paul didn't reply.

"Oh, and what I didn't tell you, or I guess we didn't have any time to talk, was that I went to the same school with Jenner, your boss, and we're still good friends."

James looked at his son intently to see what type of reaction his revelation will produce. Paul, who was swirling the drink in the cup with his right hand, stopped abruptly when he heard what his father said and only continued a few seconds later as though it was of no concern to him.

"Do you see what I'm saying?" James continued when he got no response from Paul, "I could make things really hard for you if I wanted, but why would I? You're my son! Besides, you naturally can't escape me. Have people told you how much we look alike?"

"Sounds like you're begging for me to come back, but you're not doing it the right way; not that doing it the right way would bring me anywhere near your company," Paul said.

"No, I'm not begging. You also seem to forget that it's your company, you're a shareholder here or would you like to forfeit your shares?"

Paul did not reply to his father.

"I didn't think so," James said. "So, if you don't like me or the way I do things, wouldn't it be wise to get involved to make things work better?"

"Still begging Dad, it's not going to happen," Paul said.

They stared at each other for some time but said nothing. Paul then looked around him to see how far away people were to know how well he would have to lower his voice for what he wanted to say.

"Here's an interesting question," Paul said as he moved forward in his seat, "how much of that white powder have you been taking since we last talked about it?"

He got no reply from his dad.

"Here's another one, one we never talked about, why do you put it in a bottle? An ulcer pill bottle at that!"

Paul kept himself from laughing hysterically at that point, he didn't want the attention it would draw.

"You should try stand-up comedy; people would laugh at how dry your jokes are and at the fact that you laugh at your said dry jokes!" James said.

"It's something I've considered," Paul said as he shrugged.

"Right!" James said.

"And why haven't you made Pete COO of the company?"

"You know why," James said as he nodded in the direction where Kate and Pete were.

It was then Paul realized, since his dad showed up, that the reason he was sitting alone with his dad was because Pete went off with a girl.

"Oh, you saw that," Paul said.

"Only difference is that she doesn't work for the company, I don't need such a person running my company even if he is my son."

"You've not heard stories about the fact that I might be gay? You want such a person running your company?" Paul said smiling.

"Are you gay?" James asked.

"Would it matter?" Paul asked.

"It wouldn't," James said. "People are whatever they want these days, and I couldn't care less."

They sat without talking for some time. Paul paid attention to the events around them and seemed to move his body rhythmically in tune to the music that was playing. James sat like an immovable rock.

"Your mom wants all four of us to have dinner next week," James said.

"Mary is not my mom," Paul replied almost immediately.

"She brought you up," James said.

"It doesn't change the fact that my mom died when I was young. Your wife also made that perfectly clear."

"Holding a grudge after all these years?" James asked.

"Nah, just stating facts," Paul said.

"Will you be there or not," James said.

"Where," Pete said, doing all he could to hide his laborious breathing.

Both James and Paul looked at Pete at the same time, they seemed surprised he was there.

"How was she?" James asked Pete.

Pete shot Paul a suspicious look but said nothing.

"He didn't have to tell me anything," James said. "I saw you go in with her."

Pete sat down beside Paul and as if he wasn't concerned about the fact that his father knew about what he had done some moments before.

"So where are we going?" he asked.

"Dad says Doris would like to have us for dinner," Paul said before his dad could reply. "What do you think about that, Pete?"

"Whatever," Pete said. "Free food, I'm in."

"Never change," Paul said.

"And you?" James asked Paul.

"I don't really know," Paul said as he shrugged. "When is it?"

"Sunday," James said as he waited for Paul's reply.

"We'll see," Paul said.

James looked as though he wanted to protest about something, but he thought against it.

"That's it boys, I'll leave you both to it. Enjoy the party."

Paul and Pete watched their father leave until he was out of sight. Pete gave a big sigh as though he had done something stressful.

"What did you guys talk about?" Pete asked.

Paul simply shrugged and Pete knew trying to elicit a response from him would be a waste of time.

"How did the price discussion for my painting go with Kate?" Paul asked.

"Great," Pete said with a big smile, "I would love to have that type of discussion with her again."

"Good for you," Paul said. "It's time for me to leave."

"So soon?" Pete asked.

"Are you going to miss me?" Paul said as he stood up.

"You wish," Pete replied.

"Didn't think so. Anyway, I have a cat to feed."