Chapter 8-Visiting My Parents
1045 Words
It was a quiet weekend morning when Gray Muller, CEO of NovaTech, decided to pay an unannounced visit to his parents—Mr. and Mrs. Muller. The thought of surprising them made him smile as he prepared early for the journey.
Dressed neatly and feeling nostalgic, Gray got into one of his classic cars, the engine humming with timeless elegance. The drive took around thirty minutes; his parents lived a considerable distance from his modern mansion. As he pulled up in front of their modest home, memories of his childhood began to stir.
He stepped out of the car and paused, unsure if they were home. It was his intention to take them by surprise.
Gray walked up to the front door and knocked gently. No response. He knocked again, this time with a bit more force. Still nothing. Just as he pulled out his phone to call his mother, he heard the faint shuffle of footsteps approaching from inside.
He knocked once more.
"I'm coming! Please, who is it?" a familiar voice called out—it was his mother.
A grin spread across Gray’s face. Her tone, as always, was filled with warmth and just a hint of dramatic flair. He knew that voice well. Gray’s parents were aging, and they had been pestering him about marriage for years, longing to see grandchildren before their time passed.
He heard the clinks of locks being turned, then the slow creak of the door. In a flash, Gray slipped out of sight and hid just around the corner of the porch.
Mrs. Muller opened the door, looking around curiously. All she saw was the classic car in the driveway.
Then—"Mother!" Gray shouted as he jumped from his hiding place.
Mrs. Muller gasped in surprise, clutching her chest before breaking into a joyful smile. "Gray boy! You didn’t tell us you were coming!"
Gray sighed, though he hugged her lovingly. “Mother, how many times do I have to say it? Please, drop the ‘boy’ part. I’m a grown man.”
She chuckled and patted his back. “Old habits, son. You’ve been my Gray boy since you could crawl.”
“Yes, but now I have hundreds of employees. What if I walked into a meeting and you called me that in front of them? I’d never hear the end of it,” he said, half-joking, half-serious.
Mrs. Muller smiled and nodded. “Alright, I’ll try my best. Welcome home, Mr. CEO of NovaTech.”
Gray chuckled. She had always been more than just a mother—she was his confidante, his peace, his biggest cheerleader.
They stepped inside and sat down in the cozy living room. Gray looked around with a soft smile, noticing small changes in the house since he’d last visited. A new rug, a different wall clock, rearranged furniture.
“How’s Dad?” he asked.
“He just got back from his morning jog. He’s in the shower,” Mrs. Muller replied with pride.
Gray raised his brows. “Still jogging? He’s a strong man—he’s going to outlive us all.”
At that, his mother turned toward him with a knowing look, her expression shifting slightly.
“What is it, Mother?” he asked, sensing something was on her mind.
“Gray,” she began, “why haven’t you settled down yet? Why no wife? No family?”
The question lingered heavily in the air. Gray looked away for a moment, unsure of how to answer.
“I... I will, Mother. I’ve met someone. Actually...” he hesitated.
Before he could finish, the bathroom door opened and a familiar voice boomed, “Gray boy! You didn’t tell me you were coming!”
Mr. Muller entered the room with a towel draped around his shoulders. He looked surprised but delighted.
Gray turned to his mother and they exchanged a look. She smiled knowingly and gently explained to her husband, “Dear, Gray wants us to stop calling him ‘boy.’ He’s a man now, remember?”
Mr. Muller gave a sheepish smile. “Oh! Forgive your old man, Mr. Gray.” He playfully bowed, making Gray laugh.
“Good morning, Father,” Gray said respectfully, rising to greet him.
“Welcome home, son. Darling,” Mr. Muller said to his wife, “please bring out the food. Let’s eat together.”
“I was just about to do that when I heard the knocking,” she replied and headed to the kitchen.
Gray and his father moved to the dining room, where they sat down together. Mrs. Muller soon returned with a tray full of food, placing it carefully on the table before taking her seat beside her husband.
“You’d be sitting next to your wife if you had one,” Mr. Muller teased, pecking his wife on the cheek.
Gray smiled faintly. They weren’t wrong. He had everything—wealth, success, influence—but love? That was still missing.
As they began to eat, Gray set down his fork.
“I came for a reason,” he announced.
His parents looked up, curious.
“A reason? What, are you with the secret service now?” his mother jokes, making them all laugh.
“No, no,” Gray chuckled. “It’s good news.”
His father leaned in. “We’re listening.”
Gray took a breath. “I’ve decided it’s time. I want to settle down and start a family.”
His parents exchanged glowing smiles, their eyes gleaming with hope.
“That’s wonderful!” his mother exclaimed. “So, where is she? Why didn’t you bring her along?”
Gray scratched his neck awkwardly. “Well... there’s a bit of a complication. Actually, there are two women.”
His father raised a brow. “Two?”
“Yes. They both work for me... and I genuinely love them. I don’t know how to choose between them.”
Mr. Muller looked at his wife, and she gave him a gentle, almost cautionary glance. She knew he would have strong opinions.
“Gray,” his father said seriously, “Do you know that our family has a legacy? A tradition that dates back even before I was born?”
Gray looked up, puzzled.
“What legacy, Father?”
- Writer
