Chapter 23 Give her the world
Startled, Delanie turned around, stunned by the sight of a sun conure parrot perched on a tree branch inside a spacious cage. The parrot was larger than average, and Roger's gaze softened as he looked at it.
"Milo, it's time to go indoors," he said as he moved to lift the cage, but the parrot retreated from the tree branch. "No, I love Karen, only Karen. Treat her special. Give her the world."
Delanie observed, realizing that Roger had developed a special bond with the parrot, sharing his feelings with it, especially since he named it after his favorite late puppy.
The vibrantly colored medium-sized parrot was a beauty to behold, and the fact that he was mimicking those words indicated that Roger had repeatedly said them to him.
Everything about this mansion had changed. Traces of family were erased, replaced by an absent Karen. Fear gripped Delanie's heart, and she tried to warn him. "What if she falls in love with someone else? You have to let go, Roger."
"No," the parrot beat him to the response. "No one can take her."
She regretted uttering those words because Roger's expression changed drastically as he turned to face her.
There was no trace of him in there, and his voice was a blend of painful emotions she couldn't fathom. "She is my wife. Nobody dares touch her, or I'll kill them."
The iciness of his tone, coupled with the darkness in his eyes, caused Delanie to shiver, but she decided to try to calm him a little and began to sing. However, this time, it did nothing to soothe Roger.
His anger could not be appeased. “Enough, Lani. This is not the time for that. Find me when you hear anything about Kitten.” With that, he walked away, carrying the parrot and its cage with him.
Delanie was left alone in the garden, but there was still a lot to explore, giving her the needed time to take pictures. For the time being, Roger found solace in the company of his new friend, Milo.
To him, Milo wasn’t just a pet but a friend who would support his emotions without trying to discourage him like his family did.
Every time he woke up, Milo would begin saying the very things he wanted to hear, just as it was said to him. “I love Karen.”
As soon as Roger reached the living room and gently placed Milo on the luxury rug he had set in the corner for the cage, he began to feed him an apple.
Delanie didn’t stay for long before leaving, but one thing was certain. Roger would never be able to get over Karen. Not even Milo’s learned words and presence would be able to counter that.
Another hollow month passed, and the emptiness set in, so Roger made a call to his father. “Dad, I’m ready for the responsibilities.”
Everything was prepared for Karen’s return, but he had no idea how long it would take. The orchids were blossoming with the summer, but his heart remained cold.
“You want your identity announced?” Giovanni asked with concern. If Roger announces his identity and is unable to win Karen back with it, then his chances of finding true love would be equally ruined.
However, for Roger, it was the only way to keep himself occupied. The mansion was prepared for Karen’s return, leaving him with no other tasks to attend to. The maintenance team was also efficient, so all that was left was to bring his wife home.
Milo would be well cared for in his absence, and he felt compelled to visit his parents’ house to gather any information about Karen.
“I love my wife, dad. There’s no need to keep up this charade. It’s either her or no one else,” Roger declared firmly, leaving Giovanni with no room for argument.
“Alright, meet me at the office tomorrow to finalize the necessary paperwork, and in three days, we will announce it at a press conference.”
As his birthday approached in a month, an occasion he typically avoided celebrating, Roger found himself wishing for the gift of his wife’s return.
The following day, two imposing men strode through the corridors of a spacecraft company, exuding an intimidating presence that could make even demons cower.
Upon reaching an office designated for Roger, his father took out a laptop and began to explain the details.
“Your programming is still in progress. All information about the departments is available here for you to choose a new President or retain the current one before we make the announcement. After that, we can meet with the rest of the managers for introductions.”
Roger's concern was not with those at the top but rather with those at the bottom. While a few at the top had their shortcomings, those could be addressed.
"We will keep the president, but there are some officers and managers who need to be let go," Roger stated.
Giovanni nodded in agreement, acknowledging that Roger had a better understanding of the company's human resources due to his undercover work.
After meeting with the board and executives, who expressed concern and apprehension, the necessary paperwork was signed, transferring all responsibilities from Giovanni to Roger.
This was the culmination of his hard work, and Giovanni had always yearned to be relieved of this burden. While the Dawson Group would experience a slight setback, it would still remain second to the RD Group.
They proceeded to visit three other companies under the Dawson's before sunset. The following day, they continued with the remaining companies, following the same procedures. As they were leaving, Roger's attention was caught by a dress on display.
"Dad, can you give me a moment?" he requested.
His eyes were fixed on the dress as they conversed. It was not surprising to see the dress being advertised, as it was one of the malls owned by the company.
However, some individuals had a talent for dampening others' spirits, and Roger found himself in an unpleasant encounter with someone he hoped not to meet again.
"Roger, I've told you to stop stalking me."