Chapter 2
1107 Words
As Henry Parker saw his son walk into the opulent lobby of The Hotel Bel-Air, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment wash over him.
He couldn't imagine that this was his only son and heir who had consistently failed to meet his expectations.
As Brian entered the restaurant, he spotted his father, Henry Parker already seated at a discreet table by the window sipping a glass of fine scotch.
Brian's eyes locked onto his father's and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension and unspoken emotions.
"Father" Brian drawled, his voice laced with a hint of insolence.
"Brian" Henry replied, his tone firm and controlled.
"You asked me to meet with you up here"
"Yes, I did. Have a seat"
"I have somewhere to go soon dad, hope this won't take long?" Brian asked as he sat down.
"Where else would that be if not to a strip club or an outdoor rave party? I see you're still enjoying the finer things in life"
Brian shrugged, a lazy smile spreading across his face "Why not? Life's short and I'm only young once"
Henry's expression turned stern "That's precisely the problem, Brian, you're not taking responsibility for your life. You are not taking your inheritance seriously!"
Brian snorted "My inheritance? You mean the family business? I'm not interested in becoming a corporate drone, Father. I have my own passions, my own interests"
Henry's eyes narrowed "Passions? Interests? You call your reckless spending partying 'passions'? You are a disappointment, Brian. A disappointment to me, to your mother and the entire family!"
Brian's smile faltered and for a moment, Henry saw a glimmer of hurt in his son's eyes but it was quickly replaced by a mask of indifference.
"Whatever, Father" Brian said waving his hand dismissively. "What's the point of this meeting? I'm sure you didn't call me here just to lecture me"
Henry's face turned cold "No, I did not. I asked you to come so I can introduce you to someone. Someone you've already heard about from me whom I very much believe would be good for you"
Brian raised an eyebrow feigning surprise and said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone "I really can't recall any such person. Kindly refresh my memory sir"
Henry gestured to a table close to the entrance of the restaurant where a stunning young woman sat poised and confident.
"That is Katrina Jones, the daughter of one of our business associates. She's intelligent, beautiful and comes from a good family. I believe she will make an excellent match for you, Brian"
Brian's eyes widened as he took in Katrina's beauty.
For a moment, Henry saw a flicker of interest in his son's eyes but it was quickly extinguished replaced by a look of rebellion.
"No way, Father" Brian said, his voice firm "I'm not interested in some arranged marriage. I'll choose my own partner, thank you very much"
Henry's face turned red with anger "You'll do as I say Brian. You will marry Katrina or face the consequences. I'll freeze your accounts and your credit cards. You'll be cut off from the family fortune. You'll be left with nothing"
Brian's eyes flashed with defiance "You can't do that, Father"
"Oh really? And why can't I?"
"You can't because mom has already given me permission to seek out a partner for myself"
Henry's eyes narrowed in suspicion "Do you think telling lies against your dear mother will help you?"
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Brian shrugged, his voice becoming a monotone "To keep mother happy, I sacrificed my own happiness by promising her I'll get married soon but only on the condition that I should be allowed to choose my partner myself. Mom dreams of having her own grandkids and by giving me her permission, her dream can be achieved sooner. If truth be told, even with her permission, I'm still not ready for such a big commitment. It's only mother that understands me but you; you've never made an effort to understand me"
Brian's words made Henry agitated "What more can a son expect from a father?" He lashed out "What will you say that I haven't done for you, Brian? You say that I have never made any effort to understand you but what about you? What effort have you made to understand me?"
Henry's phone rang as he was still talking, he paused and checked the caller's name. It was his private butler, Butler James.
Calls from home meant an emergency.
"Yes, James" Henry tensed "What is the matter?"
"I'm so sorry to bother you, sir but I called to inform you that Madam Ella has had a fainting spell" The butler said
"WHAT!!? How is she doing now?"
"I had the chaffeur take her to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. I have also informed Dr. Wilson. He is waiting to receive her sir"
"Very well! I shall be on my way there" Henry said and hung up the phone.
"Dad, what's going on?" Brian felt a sense of trepidation, worried that the call had something to do with his mother.
Henry didn't reply immediately. He dialed a number and gave rapid instructions for all his meetings and appointments scheduled for the day to be either postponed or cancelled.
After that, Henry faced his son and in an angry tone said "You've finally done it, haven't you? Your wayward lifestyle has finally landed your mother in the hospital. Just pray nothing happens to my wife"
Henry stood up and left without looking back.
Brian felt a rush of adrenaline through his veins.
He didn't bother to ask which hospital his mother was taken to because he knew she would be taken to see their family doctor, Dr. Wilson at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
He stood up, walked to his car and drove straight to the hospital.
He recalled how pale she looked just before he left to meet his Father.
He had wanted to call the family doctor to see to her but she refused.
He chided himself for not insisting.
What would he do without her? If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself.
Even though he came from a line of catholic devotees, he had never been a fan of any particular religion but for the first time in his life, he prayed.
He prayed to all the saints for his mother to be okay.
He remembered the half hearted promise he had made to her and prayed that as long as she was okay, he would surely follow through with the promise.
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