26 // Father And Son
1131 Words
“Dude, are you sure that she came all this way just to threaten you?” He asked.
Something about Javier Mendoza’s story did not make sense; he was calling to tell him how his ex suddenly rocked up unannounced and that she was threatening him with his children.
“What do you mean? I just told you that she threatened to have my children killed!” Javier snapped into the phone.
Aaron rolled his eyes. “Come on, I'm sure she is just bluffing. I mean, from what I've heard, the children mean the world to Sienna. Are you sure that's the only reason you are worried, or is there something else?”
There was silence on the other end before Javier spoke again. “I am just heartbroken, I guess. I've been away from Sienna and my kids for years. I know it was my decision to walk away, but it does not make me feel any better, Sienna doesn't even want to see me near them, I don't even have a picture of my son and my daughter.”
Javier was hardly ever this emotional, he was really affected by his ex wife’s unexpected arrival. Aaron did not even know how to comfort him, Javier was like twice his senior, Aaron had never been in a serous relationship and he had no kids, so he could not relate.
Aaron heard a door closing and he looked over his shoulder to see his father walking over to the fireplace. “Listen, I should get going, my father just walked in. Man, you need to speak to Sienna and tell her how you feel, but if you want to know what I think, I think that you are still in love with her and you miss her, and a part of you is missing what you never had, a family. I'm sure if you tried to speak to Sienna, she would understand where you are coming from.”
Javier chuckled, bitterness laced in his laughter. “Oh, Junior! You have no idea, she understands perfectly well, she's the only person who has ever understood. Let me leave you to your old man, we'll talk again soon.”
“Sure thing, Loverboy.”
Javier hang up without another word, and that's where Aaron Junior realised how much the situation had affected him, he hated seeing the vulnerable side of Javier Mendoza, he liked him better when he was scheming.
He sighed softly and shoved his phone in his pocket before turning around with a wide smile on his face. “Dad, you're finally awake!” He said cheerfully, walking over to where the old man was sitting on the couch.
He looked exhausted like he knew his time was near, his face was almost as grey as his hair.
“I'm tired of sleeping all day, I feel like the meds I'm taking are only making me worse,” Aaron Snr mumbled.
Junior rolled his eyes. “Come on, dad. You know that's not true, the doctor did say that your medication would have side effects,” he lied bluntly.
The doctor did say that the medicine would have side effects but he never said anything about the switched meds. The medication that was originally prescribed for him would have gotten him back on his feet a long time ago, but the medicine that Javier Mendoza switched with made him tired and sleepy all day long; it drained all his energy, and he could not do anything at all.
“How Is everything at work, are you coping?”
Aaron almost felt offended. “Dad, I've been in charge of the company for the last 6 months.”
“Yes, you have,” His father agreed hesitantly. “But you have also sunk our ship within the first few weeks of working there.”
That was a fact. In fact, his father had only put Junior in charge because he had nobody else and did not trust anyone else at the company.
Aaron gave a brittle smile. "Yeah dad, I messed up, but things are looking up again.”
He could tell that his father was not satisfied with that answer.
“Call Jorge and tell him to come see me.”
Aaron's mood darkened at the mention of Jorge Billings. He just could never be enough, no matter how hard he worked, he could never compare to his father's lawyer.
He snickered, bitterness clawing at his heart. "You haven't heard?" He asked even though he already had the answer to that because nobody knew. "Jorge Billings is dead, he was murdered in his home in Cape Town."
The shocked and pained expression on his father's face was satisfactory
"W-what?" He stuttered, shaking his head.
Aaron gave him an apologetic look. "I didn't want you to find out like this, it hasn't been made public yet because his sister is still investigating."
The old man's face grew deathly pale, and he looked like he was going to collapse. "I think I should go and lie down."
"Of course, father!" Aaron stood up and helped his father to his bedroom, and tucked him into bed.
He was about to walk away when his father spoke again, and Aaron shut his eyes tightly. "Everything I've ever done, I did it for you, you know."
He felt his heart burn with the same ferocity as it did every time this conversation came up, and he turned around with a sinister smile. "You always say that, father. But do you really? Do you really believe that everything you do, you do it for me?" He asked in a brittle voice.
"You may not see it now, but you will understand in the future."
"I'm not in the mood for this talk."
"You don't have to say anything, just listen to me."
"If you really want to talk, dad, then let's talk about my mother."
“Junior, why do you insist on finding that woman? You keep bringing her up. I have told you countless times that your mother left you when you were just a baby. What makes you think she wants you now?”
“It does not matter whether she wants me not! Don't I at least have the right to know who my mother is or know why she left me?”
Aaron Senior shook his head. “Please stop insisting, son. I'm doing this for your own good. If you keep digging, you will end up hurting yourself. Please, just drop it.”
“I've been asking you the same thing for years, dad, you can't even find it in your heart to just tell me the truth even on your deathbed. You'd rather take her identity to your grave.”
“I'm just doing what any parent would do for their child.”
Aaron sucked his teeth and walked out of the room without another word. He went to his study and made a call. "Ms Billings, I'll do it."
- Writer
