Death
1409 Words
"Honey, why didn't you say you were coming here?" Hiding his panic, Robert went to his wife.
"Where's the child?" asked Ms. Cerein in exasperation.
"Who are you referring to?" Robert pretended not to know.
"I heard that you have hired the boy and placed him in a high position in the company. Are you sure about this decision?"
"How do you know?"
"I know from him." Ms. Cerein pointed at Mr. Jheo.
Mr. Robert then looked at Mr. Jheo, who was downcast with his hands touching in front of his trousers. "Why did you tell him?" Mr. Robert clenched his fist while biting his teeth very hard.
"So, where is the boy?"
"What are you going to do to him? He is innocent. I'm the guilty one."
"If you're guilty, why did you do the ridiculous thing of giving the golden position to his? Didn't you promise to give it to our son someday? Honey, believe me! I can give you his offspring. Be patient!" Ms. Cerein leaned her body on Mr. Robert's chest.
"That's not it, darling. I don't distrust you, but I need someone to take over the position as soon as possible, so there's no way I'm going to wait for our child, whom I don't know when. You're not even pregnant yet."
Mr. Robert's words were like a thorn in Ms. Cerein's heart. She then walked, with quick steps, out of the room.
"Honey, where are you going?"
"I can't accept all this." Ms. Cerein continued to walk with an irritated and angry face.
The eyes of several employees were fixed on Ms. Cerein. Not because of her angry and bitchy demeanor but because of her sudden arrival.
It was an open secret in the company that Mr. Robert had a child from an affair or an accidental incident in his youth. And it was also common knowledge that Daniel was the son of that affair.
"Why are you whispering when I'm walking in front of you? Do you want me to get fired?" Ms. Cerein's steps stopped. I snapped at the two employees who were whispering while looking at her. "You bastards! Employees are useless." Ms. Cerein continued walking.
Ms. Cerein walked into Daniel's room without permission. "Oh, so it's you who's the illegitimate child?"
Ms. Cerein's voice startled Daniel, who was organizing his work journal for the next few days. Hearing the word "illegitimate child," Daniel could already guess that the angry woman in front of him was Mr. Robert's wife.
Daniel got up from his seat and walked over to Ms. Cerein.
"I know you hate me in every way. If you're not happy to see me here, I'll leave after I pay my debt to this company." Daniel tried to be calm, even though his heart ached and his mind was on his mother.
"Debt? Since when do you owe this company money? What an ignorant child!"
"Cerein? Stop it!" Robert's patience seemed to have run out. He walked over and forced his wife to leave. "Let's discuss this at home! Don't make a scene in this company!"
"Let go of me! How dare you do this to me? Don't expect me to serve you tonight!" Ms. Cerein screamed hysterically while trying to rebel.
As soon as Ms. Cerein left, Mr. Robert walked over to Daniel. "I'm sorry, Daniel. It's all my fault again. You, who know nothing, have to bear the brunt of everything I do."
"I understand, Mr. Robert. I promise that once my debt is paid off, I will leave this company."
"What debt?"
"The salary I asked for in the beginning..."
"You don't have to return it. I will still pay you every month. Aren't I your father? Don't be so formal! By the way, have you told Lina about me?" Robert sat on the sofa chair while stroking a cigarette.
"But about the money..."
"Let's not talk about money!"
"Okay." Daniel couldn't argue anymore. "I haven't told Mum about this yet."
"Why?"
"Because Mum..., Mum is in the hospital battling a stroke she's had for years. And now Mom's condition..., Mr. Robert? What's wrong with you?" Before he could finish speaking, Daniel saw Mr. Robert in pain with his hand on his chest. "How is this? Help!"
Not long after, Mr. Robert was unconscious. Daniel and some people in the company took Mr. Robert to the nearest hospital. Arriving at the hospital, Mr. Robert was rushed to the ICU. Daniel, accompanied by Mr. Jheo, waited until the doctor left the room.
After waiting for about thirty minutes, they heard the door of the room open.
"Sorry, we've all tried our best. We can't save Mr. Robert," said the doctor as he took off his glasses and walked away.
"What, Doc?"
It was like a thunderbolt in the middle of the day. That's the perfect phrase to describe Daniel's current mood.
The shadow of his mother's death that could happen at any time, now Daniel has to accept the fact that Mr. Robert, his father, left him forever.
One day after Mr. Robert's death, Ms. Cerein came to see him.
"This is all because of you! If only you hadn't worked at that company, my husband wouldn't have died."
Daniel could only remain silent with his head bowed. Not a word came out of his mouth. Ms. Cerein also blamed Daniel for causing the breakdown of her household.
***
That day, Daniel didn't go to the office because he wanted to focus on accompanying his mother. After undergoing surgery, Daniel needed to accompany Ms. Lina more internally as she was still recovering.
Daniel fed her milk with a spoon little by little. Daniel's eyes often glazed over seeing Ms. Lina's condition with her thinning body and balding hair.
Seeing Ms. Lina's condition like that, Daniel did not dare say anything about Mr. Robert.
"Your mobile phone is ringing," Ms. Lina said in a weak voice.
Daniel took the mobile phone from his trouser pocket. "Mr Jheo?" Daniel got up and moved away from his mother.
"Hello, Mr. Jheo. I can't come to the office today because..."
"Mr. Daniel, can we meet right now? I have something important to tell you." Mr. Jheo didn't give Daniel a chance to finish speaking. From the tone of his voice, he seemed to be panicking. "I'll be waiting at the restaurant near the office." Mr. Jheo switched off the phone.
Unable to refuse, Daniel went to meet Mr. Jheo at once.
Arriving at the location, Mr. Jheo was already sitting in a straight position and busy with several sheets of paper in a stopmap in front of him. Daniel sat directly opposite Mr. Jheo.
"Mr. Daniel, I have something important to show you." Mr. Jheo showed Daniel the sheets of paper. "Mr. Robert has passed on the ownership of the company to you."
"What?" Daniel's eyes widened in disbelief. He then read through some of the documents. "No way."
Daniel looked at Mr. Jheo's equally incredulous face.
"You must sign the beneficiary letter, Mr. Daniel."
Daniel was still silent. Occasionally, he pinched his hand to realize that he was not dreaming.
"So I'm now the owner of this big company? That means I can show Clara and her family who I really am. Clara, wait for me; I'll be back."
***
A week later, Daniel returned to Clara's house. A brand-new car, a white shirt wrapped in a black suit, and shoes were the things that accompanied Daniel at that time.
Clara, who was having a party at home, was surprised by Daniel's very different appearance. The music that was playing very loudly suddenly stopped. All eyes were on the arrival of Daniel, who was very charismatic and cool.
"Mum...?" Clara shouted.
"What's wrong, darling? Ooppss, no way!" Mrs. Clara's eyes widened at Daniel's arrival.
Daniel walked, while taking off his sunglasses, into Clara's house. Yes, he deliberately wanted to show who he really was.
"Who is he? Isn't he the maid who served us that time?" Said one of Mrs. Clara's friends.
"Yes, but why did he change so drastically? Who is he really?" said another friend of Mrs. Clara's.
Daniel walked over to Clara and handed her a suitcase. The man, who was now a billionaire, opened the suitcase and showed a large amount of money.
"Is this enough to pay for your hurtful mouth that time?" Daniel said, witnessed by all the party guests at that time.
- Writer
