No Strings Attached

Chapter one

The electronic door hummed from the porch, followed by the sound of thick footsteps of loafers, thudding the marble floor. It was Reynaldo. Mr Davies had invited him over for dinner, but he had arrived earlier than expected.

“Rey, is that you?” His mum’s voice echoed from the top floor.

“Hey, Mum!” Reynaldo responded, tilted his head to meet his mum’s figure tracing his tracing his eyes.

“Come on in, son.” She smiled.

She was heading down, towards the large brown dining table. He joined her, following suit. They were seated on the table when the cook started serving. Dinner was served by her neatly for a table of four. Sabrina had come down the stairs for dinner as well.

“Good Evening, fam.” She said.

“Good evening, Sabrina, how are you doing today? Her mum asked.

“I’m good, mum. Hmm… dinner looks so yummy!” Sabrina exclaimed, breathing in and savouring the air into her nostril.

“How have you been, bro?” she asked, looking at Reynaldo, whose eyes were stabbing into the meal presented in front of him. Although, Rey and Sabrina were siblings, two years apart, they never spoke often. For the better part of Rey’s thirty-one years and Sabrina’s twenty-nine years, they spent most of their time apart from High-school to college days, attending different schools.

“I’m good, Sis.” Rey responded, but settling to dig into his appetizer. They all ate silently and slowly till to their fill.

Sabrina was the first to leave the dining table. She had gotten a call concerning the shipment of a package she had ordered yesterday.

“...Okay, I’d be on way! Yes... yes.” She said to that voice over the phone, pushing her seat backwards, signalling to her parents with one finger.

Mrs Davies was the next to leave.

“I have to go take a warm bath.” She said, smiling. Being in the comfort and company of her Jacuzzi, was that one thing Mrs Davies looked forward to at the end of each day. It was becoming a habit and her family knew better. She left, calling the cook to clear away the dishes.

Soon enough, Rey, who had been on his phone, realised it was just him and Dad left on the table. Dad was staring at him intensely and he knew there had to be more to it, so he dropped the phone into the pocket of his blue jeans and waited.

He knew there was something boiling up the mind of Mr Davies, because he’d never invite him for dinner except there was a Reason to do so. The silence was broken when Mr Davies called out to his son, alas.

“Reynaldo, son.” He called.

“Yes, Mr Davies.” Rey responded.

“How’ve you been, son?”

“I have been well, Mr Da...”

“I’d prefer Dad, if you don’t mind.” Mr Davies interrupted.

“Okay, Daaaad.” He answered in that “just suit yourself!” manner.

Mr Davies sighed and continued.

“You know, I invited you over for a reason, of which I’m very much certain you do not care to know but I will say it anyway.

I’m turning sixty soon. I’m growing old and so are you. Time waits for no one, son. I’m growing old, too old to manage business projects and I need to rest. I have walked my life into this fortune you find yourself, gratifying toward you. You and I understand what I’m saying, right now.

I need to hand over the company to able hands. Hands that would be able to handle the value I have placed in time and hard work. I know you have been doing pretty good, son, but there’s more to life than just making money. You need a partner through the ups and downs of life, you know.” Mr Davies paused, digging his fist into his beards, then continued, watching Reynoldo’s stern expression.

“Reynaldo, you’re my first son. You are my successor and heir. And to be honest I can see you did a good job working yourself into a better man, I’d commend you for that.

But I want just one thing from you before my sixtieth birthday in a few months.” He paused again for impact, to watch Reynaldo’s movement.

Rey knew where is was leading to, and he absolutely hated it when his father brought up the topic of marriage. It made him distant from his father. It angered him, cooked, boiling and killed his patience. The feeling of anger whelming up in this stomach, was something he despised wholeheartedly, for it made him do stupid things, like another being was in control of his body and his soul just stared back at its actions.

“I want you to get married.” He paused.

“You can only take over the company and its asset if you find yourself an eligible bride before then.” He finished as his words died into the air.

“What?” Rey’s voice thundered.

Rey’s transformed into something in between rage and calm, his eyes held the firm gaze of his father, unblinkingly. He clenching his jaw and gnashed his teeth.

“Is this some kind of black mail? And why do you think you can decide that for my life? What makes you think, Mr Davies, that you can tell me what terms I should live on!” His voice grew louder, as he towered above his father.

“And right now, I think you should mind the manner of your speech, Reynaldo Davies!” Mr Davies’s voice grew annoyed and his eyes grew cold.

“Oh please drop that childish longing in the past! I know you loved Vanessa but that should not mean you’d be dying, a bachelor. I need a generation that can carry on my legacy!” he continued.

“Did you just call childish?” Rey asked with his eyes, a little squinted.

“What else is it called when you can’t simply move on from a relationship that ended seven years ago?” Mr Davies asked Reynaldo.

His words were like acid, burning into the lane of his pain. Mrs Davies, who had been listening to their Father-son conversation, was getting teary-eyed but still refused to come between them.

“Father, there’s is virtually no need bugging me like this. Besides, I’m not even thirty-five yet. Your threats won’t change my mind about how I feel about women--of course with mum as an exception, as far as you’ve got some bills in your hands, they’d be at the mercy of my bed. And that is exactly what Vanessa did. So, you won’t determine or teach how to live my life, Mr Davies!” Rey retorted.

“If that is what you want, then, so be it.” He paused searchingly.

“But be ready to watch your sister become the next successor.” Mr Davies concluded.