THE DEAL WITH AUDREY

Chapter two

The Thorne's family just finished having an exquisite dinner. However, the dinner didn't go quite well as the head of the family Peter Thorne, a businessman and owner of a large oil conglomerate, made an unexpected and important announcement to his family regarding his sons, hierarchy and business management. Peter Thorne just celebrated his eightieth birthday a few days ago and he was tired of not being able to have a grandchild. Hence, he made a worrisome announcement at the dinner table which had his beautiful sixty five year old wife Laura Thorne on seat with his two children Alex(Alexander) and Oscar.

"Is Dad joking?"Oscar the younger of the two sons asked, facing his step mother, Laura not expecting that kind of declaration. But Peter Thorne simply stood up after wiping his mouth with a tissue. He tried to stand properly and Laura stood up trying to support him but he immediately stopped her.

"I am not that old!" He uttered. He called on one of the stewards to bring his cup of tea to his room and he walked towards his room.

Peter Thorne had just declared that whosoever gets married and bears a child first will become the chairman of the Thorne's conglomerate and inherit sixty five percent of his properties. He made this announcement after discussing effortlessly with his sons to start making plans for their marital life and they have refused to take him seriously especially Alexander, his older son.

Following the announcement, Alexander hasn't said anything at the table. However, he has stopped his meal. What his father just said made him tense. Alexander is someone that has not put marriage in his plan even in three years to come. He is Thirty years old and feels he still has a lot to fix up in his life(excluding money). He broke up last week with his ex-girlfriend Lauretta. They had been dating for seven months and that was his most long lasting relationship. Alexander being an handsome, eloquent, rich and smart man has ladies pleading for his attention and not the other way around. However, he mostly had issues with his relationship as he has an egoistic and demanding personality. He cannot take 'No' from anyone and likes his words being adhered to always. He also has absurd "s****l fantasies".

"Oscar here still has a better chance than you Alex. He has a girlfriend already" Laura said, trying to make her son realise how he needs to "fasten his belt". Laura also noticed he has not said anything since the announcement

"Of course. The girl he beats every time" Alexander said, adjusting his bow tie and sipping his tea trying very much to compose himself. One of the things he tries to avoid is showing his defeated or disturbed face to his brother.

"Watch your tongue Alex" Oscar responded in his usual calm Tone. Oscar Thorne can be an example of a sheep in wolf's clothing. He is cute, soft spoken and looks very calm however he can be very violent (especially towards women). He is polite and generous too hence the "toxic side of him" is hardly visible.

"What will you do if I don't. Hit me?!" Alex asked

Oscar scoffed. "You are just a jealous man because you have no woman. No woman to listen to you and calm your nerves"

Alex was about to speak when Laura cut in

"Oh..Will you two stop it?! Are you not tired of getting on each other's nerves from age ten and twelve?!"

"Tell that to him mother" Oscar replied sipping his Tea afterwards

Alex stood up slightly furious. "I don't have time for this" he picked his phone and car keys then faced his mother."Tell Dad, thank you for this announcement. So much for "-Come have dinner with me guys. I want to thank you for my birthday celebration-". He rolled his eyes and walked away from the table

"Alex...." Laura called

"Bye Mom," Alex said, still walking along.

Laura sighed. "Oscar. Stop saying harsh words to your brother" she said, holding his hands. "Both of you can be temperamental, you know that. I don't want things escalating."

"I apologise mother" Oscar said

"It's okay," Laura replied, trying to smile. Oscar is Laura's step son. A lady, Rita who is an actress twenty eight years ago had a baby for Peter Thorne which turned out to be Oscar. Peter Thorne being a notable personality and already in an official marriage, did not want any scandals, he just started his second company then, but he was already making headlines in the dailies, hence he made it a top secret and did not want it to leak out, and rather "fortunately' for him, Rita also did not want her being a mother to disturb her acting career. Peter Thorne told her to hand over his child to him after two months and she did not hesitate to do so. However, every month he sends a massive allowance to her. Laura at first was furious when she found out her husband was having extra marital affairs and to the extent of having a child. But later, she came to accept the fact that the child Oscar has come to stay after many pleas from her husband. Besides, she knew she couldn't go against him for too long.

Alexander, their first child was two years old when Oscar was brought into their home and since then Laura raised Oscar like her own Son and no one else knows Oscar is a child born outside wedlock except Peter Thorne's brother and Laura's nuclear family. Peter Thorne did not allow Rita to get much access to her child and obviously he does not want too much proximity between Oscar and his mother. But at a point in time, five years after Rita gave birth to her son, she started to realize how far she had been away from her son and she craves motherhood, she would come to Peter Thorne's residence to see her child, which many of those times, she was not granted access, an order by Peter Thorne, but later on, he became lenient when Rita threatened to expose him to the public about their child especially since he knows Rita herself, is a public figure. They both arrived at a decision that Rita would come to visit her son only once in every month(either at school or the house).

When Oscar grew up, especially in his early twenties, he starts to visit his mother without Peter's knowledge and even when he later found out, he knows he could do nothing about it as Oscar is already an adult. However, Oscar is more familiar with Laura than his biological mother Rita.

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Few minutes after Alex left the dining table in anger, Oscar stood up

"I must go now mother"

"Sleepover. Will you? Been so long you spent a night here, you and your brother, we know you have your own luxurious apartments but home is home. Sometimes, don't make yourself forget the caramel and relaxing smell of this beautiful mansion"

Oscar smiled : " I have to go meet Freya. She is expecting me. I am sorry "

"How is she feeling now?" Laura asked with quite a sad face

"She is okay", Oscar answered uncomfortably and with a sense of guilt. He had been physically violent on her five days ago and she sustained bruises on her face and arm

Just then, Peter Thorne's voice was heard as he returned to the sitting room to relax with one of his favorite books

"The next time you lay your hands on that girl again, Oscar, I will send you to jail" He said as he grumped, finally sitting down on the cushion.

Oscar looked down and didn't say anything

"Have you no shame? You do not know how to vent your anger anymore but on such a beautiful and fragile lady like Freya. That girl looks like if you hold on to her too much, her ribs may break. Why do you keep doing that to her? Huh?!" Peter said dropping the book in his hands and pointing his fingers towards Oscar's direction at the dining table

"Oscar, stop abusing Freya. It's enough." Laura also added.

",I apologize father. Mother, I apologize" he said, giving a bow. With this he took his car keys and walked away with quite a furious expression.

"Look at him. Apologizing and always repeating it. You must have gotten that from your maternal grandfather, cos I don't beat my wife!" He yelled after him so he could hear

"Honey!" Laura cautioned him while Peter just hissed.

Laura sighed heavily as she stood up and ordered the maids to go arrange her room. Peter Thorne's house is a magnificent one with the latest and expensive design structures, (interior and exterior). It is a duplex with six rooms, and beautifully furnished. There are two cooks, two maids,(working inside the house) , two security personnels, and two gardeners at the exterior of the mansion.

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Oscar got into his car and ready to start it

"Dinner took so long?"Freya asked silently. She had been in the car all along and Oscar didn't let her accompany him inside because he does not want to be the topic of discussion due to the wounds she sustained on her body. Freya was dressed in a flowing gown and she had some shades on with a Plaster on one side of her cheek

"Dad dropped a bomb," Oscar said, trying to put on his seat belts. "Fasten your seat belt please. I don't need to tell you that. Do I?"

Freya dragged the seat belt towards her waist as she shook her head

"Aren't you going to tell me about what he said?" She asked

"When we get home"Oscar answered starting the car and reversing

"Oscar..."

"Don't push it. Freya. When we get home please"

"Oh..not that. I just wanted to remind you about the apples I want to get at the mall. Don't forget to pull over at the next junction" Freya said, her voice quite shaky as she fumbled with her fingers. She really did not want to provoke him. She did not have the strength or energy to argue, yell or even to cry

Oscar sighed and did not say anything. He drove on.