CHAPTER THREE
2509 Words
The drive back from Eldoria was unusually quiet.
Greg sat in the back seat with his head resting against the leather headrest, his eyes fixed on
the passing scenery.
He wasn’t thinking about the new Jason complex anymore.
He wasn’t thinking about board meetings, investors, construction schedules, or the billions his
father expected the project to generate.
All he could see were vegetables.
Small wooden stalls.
Children carrying baskets.
Women counting the few notes in their hands before deciding what they could afford to take
home.
And the little boy named Daniel.
Sometimes.
That single word kept replaying in Greg’s head.
Do you go to school?
Sometimes.
Greg closed his eyes.
He had spent his entire life surrounded by abundance.
There had never been a sometimes when it came to his education.
Or food.
Or clothes.
Or a roof over his head.
If he wanted something, someone simply made sure he had it.
He opened his eyes again.
The city blurred past the window.
His father had called Eldoria an opportunity.
Greg wasn’t sure what he called it anymore.
“Sir?”
His driver’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Greg looked up.
“We’re approaching the office.”
Greg glanced through the window.
The towering glass structure of Jason Holdings appeared in the distance.
Normally, seeing it gave him a strange sense of satisfaction.
Today, it only made his chest feel heavier.
“Keep driving.”
The driver looked at him through the mirror.
“Sir?”
“I said keep driving.”
“Yes, sir.”
The car continued past the headquarters.
Greg loosened his tie.
He suddenly had no interest in seeing another polished conference room or listening to another
person discuss profit margins.
He reached for his phone.
There were already several missed calls and messages waiting for him.
His secretary had probably been trying to find him.He dialed her number.
She answered almost immediately.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Jason.”
“Emma.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Cancel everything on my schedule today.”
There was a pause.
“Everything?”
“Everything.”
“But you have the three o’clock meeting with the construction consultants, the four-thirty
meeting with the legal team, and...”
“Reschedule them.”
Another pause.
“Sir, are you feeling okay?”
Greg leaned his head back.
“I just need the day off.”
“Of course, sir.”
“And Emma?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t put anything else on my schedule today.”
“I understand.”
He ended the call.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at his phone.
Then he dropped it beside him.
He wanted sleep.
He wanted silence.
More than anything, he wanted his mind to stop replaying the morning.
“Take me home.”
The Jason residence was not simply a mansion.
It was a statement.
Hidden behind towering iron gates and a long private driveway, the estate occupied an
enormous stretch of perfectly landscaped grounds.
Tall palm trees lined the entrance.
Water fountains rose from the center of manicured gardens, their streams sparkling beneath the
afternoon sun.
The mansion itself was massive.
Three imposing floors of cream coloured stone and floor-to-ceiling glass, surrounded by elegant
balconies and wide terraces.
The entrance doors were taller than most people.
Inside, everything spoke of old money and newer wealth.
A grand chandelier hung from the double-height ceiling of the foyer.
Polished marble floors stretched in every direction.
Paintings worth fortunes decorated the walls.
There were sculptures imported from Europe, antique furniture carefully positioned in quiet
corners, and enormous windows overlooking the gardens and swimming pool.
The house had several lounges, a private library, a home theater, a gym, a wine cellar, guest
suites, offices and more bedrooms than the family could possibly need.
There were staff members everywhere, though they moved so quietly that one could easily
forget they were there.
This was the Jason home.
A place built not merely for comfort, but for generations of wealth.
The moment Greg stepped through the front door, however, he didn’t see any of it.
He barely acknowledged the staff greeting him.
“Welcome home, sir.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Greg.”
He simply nodded.
Then a familiar voice floated from the adjoining sitting room.
“Greg?”
He stopped.
His mother appeared in the doorway.
Mrs. Maria Jason was elegant in the effortless way that only came with years of confidence. She
wore a simple but expensive-looking dress, her hair neatly styled, and a warm smile
immediately appeared on her face when she saw her son.
“There you are.”
Greg’s expression softened.
“Hi, Mum.”
Maria walked straight toward him.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming home.”
“I decided not to stay at the office.”
She studied his face.
Then she frowned.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Greg.”
He smiled faintly.
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve been saying you’re fine since you were sixteen, and every single time you say it, you’re
lying.”
Greg chuckled.
His mother reached up and gently touched his cheek.
“You look tired.”
“I am.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No.”
Her eyes widened.
“Greg Jason!”
He laughed.
“Mum...”
“Don’t ‘Mum’ me. How long have you been working without eating?”
“I had coffee.”
“Coffee is not food.”
“I know.”
“Obviously you don’t.”
She grabbed his arm.
“Come.”
“Mum, I’m not hungry.”
“That wasn’t a question.”
Greg allowed himself to be pulled toward the dining area.
“Honestly, Mum, I’m fine.”
“And I’m honestly not listening.”
He smiled.
This was what he loved about his mother.
No matter how much money surrounded them, no matter how powerful the Jason name
became, Maria never treated him like an heir.
To her, he was still the boy who used to sneak into the kitchen at midnight looking for cake.
He was still her son.
Her baby.
Even though he was now a grown man who could sign billion-dollar contracts.
They reached the dining room.
Maria immediately instructed one of the staff members to bring something for him.
“Something light,” she said.
“And fresh juice.”
Greg sat down.
His mother sat opposite him.
Then she looked at him carefully.
“Now tell me.”
Greg sighed.
“Dad has a new project.”
Maria’s expression changed slightly.
“What project?”
“Eldoria market.”
She waited.
“Your father wants to demolish the market.”
Maria stared at him.
“The entire market?”
Greg nodded.
“He wants to build another Jason business complex there.”
Maria’s lips parted slightly.
“Those people have been there for years.”
“I know.”
“And the women?”
“They’re supposed to be relocated.”
“Supposed to?”
Greg looked down.
“I don’t know where.”
Maria studied him.
“You don’t like it.”
It wasn’t a question.
Greg leaned back.
“I don’t know what I like anymore.”
His mother reached across the table and took his hand.
“You’ve always had a good heart.”
Greg gave a small laugh.
“Dad would disagree.”
“Your father thinks having a good heart makes a businessman weak.”
“And you?”
Maria squeezed his hand.
“I think having a good heart is the only thing that will stop you from becoming someone you
don’t recognize.”
Greg looked at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Maria smiled gently.“Your father built the empire.”
She stroked his fingers.
“But you don’t have to become your father to inherit it.”
Something about those words settled heavily inside him.
Greg looked away.
“I just need to sleep.”
“Of course.”
She stood and kissed his forehead.
“Go upstairs.”
“Mum, I’m not five.”
“I know.”
She kissed his forehead again.
“But you’ll always be my son.”
Greg smiled.
“Love you.”
“Love you more.”
He stood and hugged her.
Maria wrapped her arms around him tightly.
For those few seconds, the weight of the Jason name disappeared.
There was no empire.
No market.
No demolition.
No expectations.
Just a mother holding her son.When they finally separated, Maria touched his cheek once more.
“Get some rest.”
“I will.”
“And Greg?”
He turned.
“Don’t let your father’s ambition make you forget your humanity.”
Greg didn’t answer.
He simply gave her a small smile and walked upstairs.
His bedroom occupied almost the entire eastern wing of the second floor.
It was larger than most apartments.
A king-sized bed sat in the center beneath a high upholstered headboard.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the gardens, giving him a breathtaking view of the estate.
A private sitting area occupied one corner.
A large television was mounted opposite the bed.
His walk-in closet was practically a boutique, filled with tailored suits, designer shoes, watches
and neatly arranged shirts.
Beyond it was his private bathroom, complete with a marble bathtub, rainfall shower and
polished stone counters.
Everything was perfect.
Everything was expensive.
Everything was comfortable.
And Greg wanted none of it.
He removed his jacket and threw it over a chair.
Then his shoes.
His watch followed.
He loosened his shirt and collapsed onto the bed.
His eyes closed.
For the first time that day, he felt like he could breathe.
His phone rang.
Greg groaned.
He ignored it.
The ringing stopped.
Five seconds later, it started again.
He reached blindly for the phone.
Victoria.
Greg stared at her name.
He knew exactly what was coming.
He answered.
“Hello.”
“Greg!”
He pulled the phone away from his ear.
“What?”
“Don’t ‘what’ me!”
He closed his eyes.
“Victoria, I’m tired.”
“Tired?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been calling you all day!”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“I saw the calls.”
“And you couldn’t call me back?”
Greg rubbed his forehead.
“Victoria, I had a busy morning.”
“A busy morning?”
“Yes.”
“You promised you’d call me!”
“I forgot.”
Silence.
The kind that usually came before trouble.
Then...
“You forgot?”
Greg sighed.
“Victoria...”
“No, Greg. You forgot.”
“I said I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t explain why you’ve been ignoring me!”
“I wasn’t ignoring you.”
“You didn’t answer one message!”
“I was at work.”
“You always have an excuse!”
Greg sat up.
“Can we not do this right now?”
“No, we can’t!”
“Victoria.”
“You promised me you’d call.”
“I know!”
His voice rose.
“So stop shouting at me!”
“I wouldn’t be shouting if you actually communicated with me!”
“I said I was sorry!”
“And you think that’s enough?”
Greg stared at the ceiling.
His patience was disappearing.
He had spent the entire morning dealing with his father.
Then he had gone to Eldoria.
He had seen things he couldn’t stop thinking about.
He had cancelled his entire day because he couldn’t bring himself to return to the office.
He had finally come home hoping for peace.
And now this.
“Victoria, I don’t have the energy for this.”
“So you don’t have energy for me?”
“That isn’t what I said.”
“That’s exactly what you said!”
“No, it isn’t.”
“You’ve been acting differently lately.
”Greg frowned.
“Differently how?”
“You don’t call me. You don’t reply to my messages. You disappear for hours.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Busy with what?”
Greg hesitated.
“Work.”
“Work?”
“Yes.”
“Everything is always work with you.”
Greg’s jaw tightened.
“Because I have responsibilities, Victoria.”
“And I’m not one of them?”
“That is not what I said.”
“But that’s how you make me feel!”
Greg stood from the bed.
“I’m not having this argument.”
“You’re running away again.”
“I’m ending the conversation.”
“Greg...”
“Goodnight, Victoria.”
“Don’t you dare hang...”
Click.
The silence that followed was immediate.
Greg stared at the phone in his hand.
For a second, he wondered if he should call her back.
He didn’t.
He tossed the phone onto the bedside table.
Then he climbed back into bed.
He pulled the covers over himself and stared at the ceiling.
The argument with Victoria wasn’t even the thing bothering him most.
It was Eldoria.
The women.
The children.
His father’s voice.
Start thinking like a man who owns an empire.
Greg closed his eyes.
Maybe he had spent his whole life preparing to inherit an empire without ever asking himself
what that empire had cost other people.
His breathing slowly became deeper.
The exhaustion finally won.
Within minutes, Greg Jason was asleep.
The front door of the Jason residence opened a little after eight in the evening.
Maria, who had been waiting in the living room, looked up from the book in her hands the
moment she heard the familiar sound of the door.
“Holler?”
“I’m home.”
His deep voice carried through the hallway.
Maria smiled.
She rose from the sofa and walked toward him just as Mr. Holler stepped into the living room,
loosening the knot of his tie with one hand. His expression was as stern as ever, his shoulders
carrying the weight of a long day.
“You’re late,” Maria said gently.
“I had meetings.”
“You always have meetings.”
“And you always have complaints.”
Maria laughed softly.
“Welcome home.”
She reached for his jacket, but Holler held it back.
“I can do that myself, Maria.”
“I know.”
“Then why do you keep doing it?”
“Because I’m your wife.”
He stared at her for a moment before finally allowing her to take the jacket.
“Dinner is ready,” she said.
Holler glanced at her.
“You waited?”
“Of course.”
“I told you not to wait for me when I’m late.”
“And I told you I don’t mind.”
He shook his head.
“You spoil me.”
Maria smiled.
“Someone has to.”
Holler gave her a look.
“Don’t start.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“That smile says enough.”
Maria simply laughed and led him toward the dining room.
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