The Unlikely Love

10

ADAM

Yes, I thought hard about everything. I saw it as a win. Valeria was going to get what she wanted as well as mine.

I don’t want to see it as me using her sister’s sickness as an advantage, but this was the best opportunity I had to get my mother out of my back for a while, at least, till I returned to Turkey.

You did not anticipate that I would remain here permanently, after all. Or did you?

Do you know how tough it was to keep a good image in this country?? Since your mother owns one of the largest hotels in the nation, you are well-known from the moment you were born.

That wasn’t how it felt in Turkey; I could do whatever and whomever I wanted without finding myself on the news.

My club days are still vivid here. I remember leaving one of the clubs at five in the morning to see this disgusting headline on the news at eight: “One of America’s finest bachelors, seeking a wife at the club.”

What the hell was that??

Being popular was extremely frustrating and tiring. It was also difficult to handle. If not through the news, everyone knew where I was through the repulsive place known as social media. It was tough, trust me.

Since I turned 25, I have been on “America’s Bachelor’s List” every year, to the point where my mother could no longer take it. She then began to propose marriage to me, which is something I have never considered and will never consider in a million years.

On the other hand, I had the best idea after meeting Valeria: to enter into a one-year contract marriage. I mean, it was the best plan I could think of.

I could get myself off the news and social media, and I could get my mother off my back for the time being.

Then, a year later, I go back to Turkey, and I will probably return to this place whenever I have to.

Perfect. Just perfect.

Now, the plan could not come into play unless Valeria agrees to do this, so, fingers crossed.

I grabbed my car keys and left the office, I was going to have a meeting with my mother concerning the state of the hotel, before things got out of hand.

***

“I did not think I would see you today; I had assumed that we would not see each other for another two months or so.” My mum said as she planted kisses on my cheeks. I found her back by the bar, with Pedro refilling her glass.

“Mom, it is eleven a.m.” I said.

“So?” She said, flashing a smile before taking a sip.

“It is too early for this.” I said, gently taking the glass from her grasp.

“And we need to talk; it is urgent.”

She sighed, “Oh, Adam, you are interrupting my fun.” She said, making her way to the sitting room and sinking into one of the chairs. I took a seat as well.

“Trust me, this is very important.”

“Don’t tell me it is about the hotel.”

“Well, it is.”

She groaned, “I know you haven’t inherited this hotel yet, but it already feels like you have. You don’t have to seek permission from me to do certain things, son. You can do whatever you want. I trust your judgment.”

“Well, I appreciate that you do, but that isn’t what I want to talk about.”

I paused.

“Mum, something is going on with the financial status of the hotel, and you know.”

She cleared her throat, sat up, and then gave me a guilty look.

I scoffed, “What happened??”

I genuinely wanted to know what transpired. I wanted to know everything because it was very serious.

“Nothing happened, son. Everything is going to be resolved.”

“Mum, the hotel suffered. What exactly occurred?? Please tell me.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to find out so soon.”

“Please tell me what happened. Were you scammed?? Were you threatened?? Talk to me, please.”

She sighed.

“Mum??”

“It was your father.”

Those words sent shivers down my spine. I balled my fingers into a fist and gritted my teeth.

“Excuse me?”

“I…I didn’t want to give him; I sincerely didn’t want to, but I had to.”

“You had to what?? You aren’t making any sense.” I tried so hard to keep myself calm.

“The year you traveled, your father came to ask me for some money. He said it was very important and that he needed it to settle some things. He promised to reimburse me as soon as possible.”

“And?”

“He didn’t.”

I asked, chuckling aridly, “How did you let that happen?” Why did you give him the money?”

“He was desperate; he…was also scared. I was the only one who could help him.” She stammered

“Oh my f*****g God!” Out of rage, I yelled and got to my feet.

“Even after all these years, even after all he did to you, you still love him. You clearly didn’t think this through. Did you think about why he came to see you only after he discovered that I wasn’t in the country?? Huh? Did you think of that??”

I clasped my fingers, held them close to my lips, then dropped them.

“I have been there for you; I have always been there. Then I walked away for how long, and you let your guard down for someone who never considered you to be anything more than a cash cow.”

With a furious gesture, she pointed a finger at me and said, “You take that back, young man.”

I scoffed, “You know I’m right. Dad used you again. He saw the perfect opportunity and used it. He wasn’t desperate, mum. He wasn’t scared. He was broke, and he found the perfect way to get a lot of money from you. He knows that deep down, you still have a soft spot for him.”

“I don’t have a soft spot for him; I hate him now more than ever.” She spat.

“That is what you tell yourself, but that isn’t the truth. The amount of money you gave him says enough. You risked everything for someone who will never care about you, including your hotel.”

And she slapped me hard. I placed my palm on my burning cheek and looked at her, highly disappointed.

“I am your mother, Adam. There are certain ways you talk to me.” She warned.

“You know I am right. Now, I am back, I am definitely going to ensure that I fix the colossal damage you caused. And if I see him anywhere close to you, trust me when I say that I’m going to kill him. You have my word.” I said; and stormed out seething.

I couldn’t believe it. I thought something horrible had occurred. I couldn’t believe that my father caused this. I couldn’t believe my mother fell for his tricks again.

Was that what love was all about? Being foolish?? Being foolish all the damn time?

If so, miss me with that bullshit.