Frank’s ass was in my face. I only realized it when it touched my face. He looked back at me apologetically, and I ignored it. None of that mattered when I was the topic of conversation in the room. I had the uneasy feeling of something going awfully wrong. Things had never gone my way after my ex’s arrest.
“This is not only about you or her, son. Think about the family and the future. You may never feel this way about another girl again. Do it before it’s too late,” Mr. Sinclair insisted.
Do what? My pessimistic side saw it as my murder plot. My logical side, on the other, knew it had to do with an early wedding or pregnancy.
“What is wrong with you and mother?” Nathan reacted. He had the same rude tone with his father that he used with his servants. Was he not afraid of being kicked out of the inheritance? “We are not prepared for this. I barely know her. Have you even cared to ask why I got engaged to her? No! My parents are so occupied in their lives that they hardly care what I want. Sometimes, it feels like you only want an heir to replace me. You have accepted my death, haven’t you?”
I was so glad to be hiding behind the couch to hear that. Nathan wanted someone to hear his reason for being with me. Who would be more interested in learning that than me?
“No. You’re my only child. I would fight death itself if that’s what it takes to keep you here with us,” came Mr. Sinclair’s impassioned response. I believed his fatherly concern. My relationship with my father wasn’t as warm. He cared and provided for me, but he was a strict man with rigid values and beliefs. Nathan was blessed with wealth and loving parents who coddled and cosetted him tremendously. An abundance of blessings can lead to ingratitude.
“Then why do you keep interfering in my life? Why does everything need to go according to plan? I’ll have a child when I feel like it. Try to be happy about the engagement. You and Mom kept coercing me to pick a woman for marriage. Now that I have done that, you keep pressurizing me for more. There is no end to your expectations and demands?” Nathan sounded less irked than when his breakfast was not up to his standard. I wouldn’t call him completely void of respect or regard for his parents. My fiancé wasn’t as bad as Frank portrayed him to be. I might sound like a teenage girl obsessed with toxic bad-boy fiction for saying this, but I had plans to change him. Unlike naïve young girls, I didn’t expect grand changes too soon. Maybe I’ll make him treat the employees better or react less when things don’t go his way. It would take me years to achieve that, but it’s not like I had a better choice waiting outside my door.
“Let’s forget about this for now. I don’t want my dear son to feel pressured. We rarely see each other,” said Mr. Sinclair. There was silence from Nathan’s side. Though I couldn’t peek from behind the couch to see his expression, I knew he must be glaring at his father with sadistically cold eyes. “Come on, son. Have a seat. Why don’t you tell me how you fell for Miss Walter? She is a stunning beauty from the outside. Since I know you are not so basic to only go after looks, I would love to hear about her inner qualities. From what I have observed by conversing with her, she is a brilliant listener and very obedient.”
I blushed at Mr. Sinclair’s opinion of me. Who doesn’t like compliments? A critical voice inside me was already expecting something negative from Nathan. He never had anything good to say about anyone or anything.
Again, Nathan responded with silence. I was becoming impatient enough to risk peeking a bit until I heard the dragging sound of a chair being pushed. Either Nathan had listened to his father, or Mr. Sinclair had offered him a place to sit.
“Fine. I’ll sit. At last, you have the time to listen to your family. I wouldn’t want to miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Nathan taunted.
“I hear the sarcasm in your voice loud and clear. This time, I am here to make up for lost time and be present with my family. I won't attend to any business matters for a few days. You have my full attention, son,” Mr. Sinclair replied calmly. I heard the squeaking sound of him settling in his office chair.
“I can’t express how ecstatic I am to hear that,” Nathan’s sarcastic tone kept getting meaner. “Business would run fine without your attention, but can you say the same thing about everything else?”
“What do you mean?” Mr. Sinclair asked.
Oh no. Nathan was referring to his father’s affair. I had told him not to mention it to him without proof.
“I am talking about your other friends. Especially the woman you were vacationing with some time ago. Would she be okay with your absence?” Nathan gave it straight to his father.
I covered my mouth in astonishment. Nathan had a serious problem with listening. Maybe it wasn’t a bad thing. I wanted to know what Mr. Sinclair had to say about that.
Someone pounded his fists on the table. “Are you accusing me of an affair?”
“Possibly. Why didn’t you tell us you were there? There is nothing to hide if you’re not sleeping with her,” Nathan spoke angrily.
“That woman is a business partner. If you had ever worked a day in your life, you would know what it takes to make connections to survive in the business world,” Mr. Sinclair said at the top of his voice. I was glad he had the guts to stand up to his wickedly moody son. Mary Sinclair was nothing but a doormat for her son.
“Oh, my God!” Frank said out loud. His voice was loud enough to catch their attention.
“Who is there?” Mr. Sinclair called immediately.
Oh no! That stupid man had got us busted for what? I would say whip his ass after getting an earful from both my fiancé and future father-in-law.