A LOVE TO REMEMBER

Chapter One: Happy Times

Dinner is always lovely, The aroma of Mom's famous pot roast fills the room as we all gather around the dining table. Dad sits at the head, Mom to his right, and my younger brother, Timmy and I sit across each other.

“Pass the mashed potatoes, please,” Timmy asks, reaching out eagerly.

I hand them over, smiling. “Don’t hog all the gravy this time, Tim.”

Mom chuckles, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Now, now, there’s plenty for everyone. How was school today, Tim?”

Timmy launches into a detailed description of his science project, something about volcanoes and baking soda. I half-listen, my thoughts drifting back to the records I’d been organizing earlier. It feels good knowing all those late-night sessions have paid off.

Dad catches my eye and raises his glass in a silent toast. He always does that when he’s proud of us, and today is no different. I raise my glass of orange juice in response, grinning.

“Great job, kids,” he says, breaking the toast’s silence.

“Thanks, Dad. It was a tough one,” I reply, feeling the warmth of his approval and the sense of accomplishment swelling within me.

As we continue eating, the conversation flows from Timmy’s project to Mom’s new recipe, and then to Dad’s day at work.

“So, Tessa,” Dad says after a while, turning to me with a thoughtful expression. “I finalize an interesting project idea today. I think you might find this one intriguing.”

I perk up. Dad rarely talks about his work at the dining table unless a good story is involved. “Oh? What’s the scoop?”

He leans back, his eyes twinkling. “Well, the client is Mr. Thompson, my old friend, and former associate, he has been working on a project that could revolutionize sustainable energy. He’s got some wild ideas, but they’re grounded in solid science. He’s looking for a fresh perspective, and I thought you might want to hear more about it.”

My interest is piqued. “Really? What kind of ideas are we talking about?”

Dad smiles, clearly pleased by my enthusiasm. “Let’s just say it involves harnessing wind and solar energy in ways that haven’t been done before. I’ll set up a meeting with him if you’re interested.”

I nod eagerly. “Absolutely! I’d love to learn more.”

Mom and Timmy exchange amused glances, and Mom pats my hand. “Looks like we have another scientist in the family.”

We all laugh the sound blending with the comforting clatter of dishes and the lingering aroma of pot roast. It’s just another night at the dining table, but moments like these make our family dinners special.

***

I was in the office preparing documents for the day’s meetings when the receptionist called to let me know we had a guest.

“Tessa, Mr. Thompson is here to see your father,” she said.

“Thanks, I’ll be right down,” I replied, gathering my notes. Dad had been working on a sustainable energy project involving wind and solar energy, and today we were meeting with Joe Thompson, who was representing his father.

As I walked into the lobby, I immediately noticed Joe. He was tall and handsome, with a confident presence that seemed to fill the room. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his sharp suit only added to his imposing figure. When he turned and saw me, his eyes lit up with a warm smile.

“Mr. Thompson, welcome,” I said, extending my hand. “I’m Tessa Lawrence.”

“Please, call me Joe,” he replied, shaking my hand firmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tessa. I’ve heard a lot about your father’s work.”

“Likewise,” I said, feeling a slight blush creep up my cheeks. “Let’s head to the conference room. My father is waiting for us.”

As we walked to the conference room, Joe and I made small talk about the project. He was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about sustainable energy, which I found both impressive and attractive.

We entered the conference room where Dad was already seated, going through some papers. He looked up and smiled as we walked in.

“Joe, good to see you,” Dad said, standing up to shake his hand. “And I see you’ve already met my daughter, Tessa.”

“Yes, she’s been very welcoming,” Joe said, glancing at me with a smile.

“Great. Tessa, why don’t you join us for the meeting? Your insights could be valuable,” Dad suggested.

“Of course,” I said, taking a seat beside Dad while Joe sat across from us.

The meeting was intense but productive. Joe presented his father’s vision for harnessing wind and solar energy in innovative ways. I contributed some ideas of my own, and Joe seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say, which made me feel more confident and engaged.

After the meeting, as we were gathering our things, Joe turned to me. “Tessa, I enjoyed hearing your thoughts today. You have a great perspective on sustainable energy.”

“Thank you, Joe. I appreciate that,” I replied, feeling a warm flush of pride.

“I’d love to discuss this more over coffee sometime if you’re interested,” he said, his tone hopeful.

“That sounds great,” I said, smiling. “Here, let me give you my number.”

We exchanged numbers, and I felt a flutter of excitement. Joe was not only attractive but also smart and passionate about something I cared deeply about. I had a feeling this was the beginning of something interesting.

“Looking forward to it,” Joe said, pocketing his phone. “I’ll call you soon.”

***

I’m filing reports in the administration department, the steady hum of the office creating a familiar backdrop to my thoughts. Working at my father's company has always seemed like the natural thing to do. After all, I grew up hearing about the business around the dinner table, absorbing the highs and lows of Jason Lawrence’s entrepreneurial journey. Today has been eventful until I hear whispers from the break room.

“Did you hear the latest circulating gist about Mr. Lawrence?” Susan's voice is hushed, but in the quiet of the office, her words carry.

“No way,” Mark responds, his tone incredulous. “His wealth is from drug money? That's crazy.”

My heart skips a beat. I peek around the corner, careful to stay out of sight but close enough to catch every word.

“I heard it from a reliable source,” Kevin adds. “It explains how he rose so quickly.”

I stand frozen, gripping a stack of reports. How could they say such things about Dad? My father has always been my hero, the embodiment of integrity and hard work. The thought of him being involved in something as sinister as the mafia is unthinkable. I want to march in there and defend him, but I know that confronting them wouldn't stop the rumors. Instead, I finished my task, determined to find out the truth and clear his name.

***

After work, I drive home, my mind racing with questions. When I arrive, Dad is in his study, surrounded by papers as usual. He looks up and smiles when he sees me.

“Hey, Tessa. How was your day?” he asks, his eyes warm and welcoming.

“It was... fine,” I replied, hesitating. “Dad, can I ask you something?”

“Of course. What’s on your mind?” He puts down his pen and gives me his full attention.

I take a deep breath. “Some people at work were talking about you today. They said... they said you're involved with the mafia and that your wealth comes from drug money. It’s ridiculous, right?”

Dad’s expression darkens for a moment before he sighs. “Tessa, people will always gossip. Especially when they see someone successful. But you know me better than anyone. Do you believe those rumors?”

“Of course not!” I say quickly. “But why would they say such things?”

He leans back in his chair, looking thoughtful. “Sometimes, when people can’t explain someone’s success, they come up with their own stories. It’s easier to believe in scandal than hard work and dedication.”

“But it’s not fair,” I protest, my voice trembling. “You’ve worked so hard to build this company.”

“I know, sweetheart. And I appreciate your concern. But we can’t control what others say. All we can do is continue to work with integrity and prove them wrong through our actions.”

I nod, though a part of me still feels uneasy. I trust Dad completely, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to the story. Over the next few days, I keep my ears open, trying to catch any more whispers or hints about the rumors. It isn’t long before I hear more details.

“Apparently, Mr. Lawrence has connections with some shady characters,” Susan says one afternoon. “You know that new project we landed? Some say it was through a ‘special arrangement.’”

“That’s ridiculous,” Mark replies, though he sounds less certain than before. “But if it’s true, we could all be in serious trouble.”

Their words gnaw at me. I need to know more. That evening, I decided to do some investigating of my own. I start by looking through old company records, trying to find any anomalies or irregularities. Everything seems in order, just as I expected. But then I found something odd—an unlisted address tied to several large transactions.

The next day, I drove to the address, leading me to a seemingly abandoned brothel on the outskirts of town. As I stepped inside, I was met with the remnants of a former life - stripper poles, disco lights, empty wine bottles, and half-smoked cigars scattered around an old bar. It looked like a once-thriving party spot, now left to decay.

My curiosity led me to a half-opened door with a sliver of light escaping from it. I approached cautiously, and as I pushed the door open, it creaked, revealing what appeared to be the manager's office. The room was filled with documents bearing “THE LAURIX TECHNOLOGIES” my father's company's name. I began to sift through them, but my focus was shattered by the sudden bang of another door closing elsewhere in the warehouse.

I quickly snapped photos of the documents before making a hasty retreat for the exit. As I ran, I could hear footsteps closing in behind me. My heart raced, and I couldn't help but think I had made a grave mistake by snooping around alone. The footsteps grew louder, and I could feel my heart pounding in my throat...