Hospitality Man Series II: His Magnificent Specimen (ENGLISH VERSION)

CHAPTER 28

A day has passed since my entire being expelled the weight of my fury. Today, I feel like I can breathe again, as if life is finally settling back into place. Sitting in my office, I immerse myself in the responsibilities befitting a sane CEO. Across from me, Zoren stands, stacking yet another pile of documents onto my desk. I sign them one by one without complaint—after all, it’s what my role demands.

The work is exhausting, but there’s no escaping it. Some documents require more scrutiny, their technicalities demanding my full attention. I take my time with those, ensuring I don’t approve something reckless. Mindlessly signing off on everything would be a disaster waiting to unfold.

Yet, despite my attempts to stay focused, an itch lingers in the back of my mind. My fingers long to tap on my monitor, to pull up the live feed and catch a glimpse of the one who holds my heart—Saphire. It feels like I’ve been stuck in this monotonous task for hours, yet Zoren’s pile of papers never seems to dwindle. If only I could sign everything in an instant, I’d have time to indulge in my quiet obsession. But no such luck. My authorization is needed, my signature the seal that gives these documents power.

At long last, I sign the final paper, setting the pen down with a sigh of relief. My fingers feel stiff, almost numb, as though I’ve been severed from them. I glance heavenward, silently cursing how the day is unfolding. This wasn’t how I planned it. But I have no time to wallow. I have a lunch date with my son, my beautiful, radiant boy—Markle. Mine.

Signing endless papers is tedious. Sometimes, in the rush of it all, my signature begins to morph, strokes twisting into something unrecognizable. On occasion, I even forget to sign a page entirely. It’s an inconvenience, especially when you have a long, elaborate signature. The longer the strokes, the longer the agony.

I call Zoren over and instruct him to summon my driver. It’s time to head to Markle’s school. I miss him terribly. Yesterday, I failed to keep my promise to see him. He must have been disappointed, maybe even hurt. The thought weighs heavily on me. I pray I haven’t shattered his trust. I’ll have to explain things to him, ease the sting of my absence. After all, yesterday’s events had everything to do with him.

The mere thought of what transpired makes my ears burn. The sudden arrival of Eurika and Ceena threw everything into chaos, robbing me of precious time with my son. And now, I worry—was he properly cared for in my absence? Did his nanny see to his needs? But Paul was keeping an eye on him. Surely, he hadn’t forgotten to make sure my son got his lunch, even in my absence. The uncertainty gnaws at me.

As I step outside, the car approaches swiftly, stopping right before me. Without waiting for Zoren, I yank the door open and slide inside. He looks startled—rightfully so. Normally, I let him open the door for me first, but today, I can’t afford the delay. I need to see Markle. My anticipation surges, making me restless, like a child eagerly awaiting a trip to the zoo.

The ride is silent, save for the steady hum of the engine. My gaze drifts to the scenery outside, my mind still adrift in thoughts of Markle—until the sudden chime of my phone jolts me. My reverie shatters. I glance at the screen, my brow furrowing. An unfamiliar number flashes across the display. Normally, I’d ignore it, but something tells me to answer.

“Hello. Good day. Is this Master Pervince Tristan Beaurlington?” The voice is female, vaguely familiar.

“Yes, speaking.” My tone remains neutral, betraying neither interest nor curiosity.

“Uhm…M-Master Pervince… This is Miss Perlas Almendras, the elementary department principal of Meopdiod Iallagant University. I would like to formally invite you this coming Friday to our school’s 75th Foundation Celebration. It would be a great honor to have you in attendance.” She stumbles over her words but regains her composure quickly.

Foundation Day? It’s a golden opportunity. A chance to finally introduce my son to the world. After what happened yesterday, my perspective has shifted. I used to be hesitant, afraid even, to let the world know about Markle. But not anymore. This is the moment. People have speculated for years—I may as well grant them the truth.

More than that, I need Saphire and Markle back with me. Eurika remains a constant threat to our reunion. The sooner I secure them under my protection, the sooner I can end things concerning her and Ceena once and for all.

Without overthinking, I find myself speaking. “Of course, I’ll be there. But leave another seat vacant beside me. I’m bringing my son.”

Silence hangs on the other end. I can almost hear the breath hitch in Ms. Perlas’ throat. Shock. Understandable. This will be the first time the world meets Markle. The anticipation must be overwhelming.

“T-That w-would be w-wonderful, Sir. W-We’d be h-honored. We will send the invitation to your office immediately, Sir,” she stammers again.

“That’s settled, then. I have to go. I’m in a hurry.”

“Of course, Sir! Thank you so much. We look forward to seeing you on Friday!”

Before she can say anything further, I end the call. I don’t have the patience for unnecessary flattery. I’ve outgrown that stage in life. I’m thirty. I don’t need empty praise.

Catching Zoren’s gaze through the rearview mirror, I sense his curiosity. Even if it isn’t his concern, I should inform him. With an event like this, precautions must be taken. Who knows what kind of lunatic might take this as an opportunity to strike? Security is a necessity.

“Zoren,” I call out. He immediately shifts his head, awaiting my command.

“This Friday, I’ll be attending the Foundation Celebration. I’ve accepted the verbal invitation. And I’m taking Markle with me. Arrange for the necessary security measures. I want the entire perimeter secured. I won’t take any risks.”

Predictably, Zoren’s expression darkens. He disapproves, and I knew he would. But I’ve made my decision. It’s final. He swallows hard, hesitation flickering in his eyes. He fears that once Saphire learns I’ve met our son, she’ll take him away from me again.

He parts his lips to speak, but I cut him off. “Just do as I say. Now isn’t the time for logic. I want the world to know about Markle. Saphire has no say in this—I’ll make sure of it. This is about my son, nothing else.”

Even though he doesn’t voice his protest, I can feel it in the air. And it stings—like a blade pressing against my ribs. But I won’t back down.

A tense pause stretches between us before Zoren finally exhales. “Yes, Sir.”

Relief floods through me. His approval—whether reluctant or not—is reassuring. A slow, wicked grin tugs at my lips.

As we continue the drive, I can’t suppress the excitement bubbling inside me. A smile lingers on my face, unwavering. I know things will fall into place. With Zoren by my side, I have nothing to fear. I was right to trust him. Just like his brother Jims, he understands me better than anyone else ever could.

Moments later, we arrive at Markle’s school. The courtyard is alive with children playing, some sharing lunch while others sit with their guardians, likely preparing for an exam. My eyes scan the grounds, searching for my son. I check the foyer, the main entrance, even the bench where we first sit together, but he’s nowhere in sight. A wave of unease settles in my chest. Where is Markle?

My security team mirrors my urgency, spreading out in search of him. Just as my frustration mounts, a boy, about Markle’s height, strides confidently in our direction. I step toward him, and as soon as he notices me, he comes to an abrupt halt. To put him at ease, I offer a small smile—I don’t want to scare him; I only need answers.

"Excuse me, young man, do you know Markle?" I ask, my voice steady but firm.

"Markle?" He pauses, rubbing his chin as if lost in thought. Then, his contemplation twists into a smirk. "Oh, yeah. He’s in the classroom. He didn’t bring any lunch today. Kinda sad, really. But we don’t call him Markle—we call him Loner. He freaks out whenever someone tries to touch him."

Heat surges through my body. My fists clench instinctively. I flick my gaze to Zoren, and I see the same expression on his face—shock and restrained fury. This little brat just insulted my son right in front of me.

I take a step forward, but Zoren’s firm grip pulls me back. I snap my head to him, and he returns my glare with a silent warning.

I exhale sharply, forcing my rage down. Instead, I turn back to the boy, my voice deceptively calm. "What’s your name?"

He puffs out his chest and tilts his chin up. "Walter Ty. My father is Herard Ty, CEO of ABN Network."

My brow arches. So, this is the arrogant son of a businessman who thinks he owns the world. He has no idea who he just picked a fight with. A slow smile spreads across my face as I crouch to his level.

"Listen, Walter." My voice drops into a low, dangerous whisper. "Your parents clearly failed to teach you basic decency. You think it’s okay to mock my son? If I wanted, I could have your family living on the streets."

His smirk falters.

I straighten without waiting for a response and storm toward the building. My fury intensifies when I recall Walter’s words—Markle didn’t have lunch. What the hell is his nanny doing? Is she neglecting him again? Enough is enough. After Friday, I’ll make sure that woman never comes near my son again. She’ll pay for every bit of suffering she’s caused him.

The school guards, who once eyed me with suspicion, now bow in recognition as I pass. I instruct Zoren to follow me inside while the rest of my security remains outside. With Zoren’s help, I locate Markle’s classroom in minutes.

When I push the door open, my breath catches.

Markle sits alone at the farthest desk, staring at nothing. For a moment, I think he’s simply lost in thought, but then I see him sniff. My chest tightens—he’s crying.

His small hands swipe at his cheeks, wiping away the silent tears that continue to fall. Zoren places a comforting hand on my shoulder, but I barely register it. My hands grip the doorframe as I lower my head, trying to compose myself. Seeing my son like this—it shatters me.

Taking a deep breath, I step forward and quietly sit beside him. He doesn’t even notice. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out a handkerchief and gently press it to his damp cheek.

Markle flinches and moves away, startled. But when he turns and sees me, his expression shifts. The shock fades, and for the first time, I see raw emotion in his eyes. Tears continue streaming down his delicate face, and I can’t take it anymore.

"I know I let you down, son," I say, my voice softer than before. "But let me explain."

He looks away, refusing to acknowledge me. My heart pounds. I may seem composed on the outside, but inside, I’m panicking. What if he doesn’t forgive me? What if I’ve lost his trust for good?

I sigh heavily. "Yesterday, something urgent came up—something I couldn’t avoid. I should have told you, but it happened so suddenly. I tried to finish everything as fast as I could because I wanted to see you. I missed you, Markle. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t make it in time."

Silence. My son still doesn’t say a word.

I attempt to lighten the mood. "You know, I really missed my son’s dazzling, charming smile." I tease, hoping for a reaction. Nothing.

Panic swells in my chest. I can’t lose him. I shift closer, wrapping an arm around his small shoulders. "How about we have lunch together? You haven’t eaten, right?"

He hesitates. "I… already ate."

My chest swells with relief—he spoke. Even if it’s just a few words, it’s a start. But before I can respond, his stomach grumbles. Loudly.

I bite back a smile. He’s clearly lying.

"Oh? If you’re not hungry, I guess I should just leave then…" I slowly rise from my seat. "Do you want me to go, son?"

Seconds pass, then minutes, but he remains silent. My heart sinks. Maybe he really does want me gone. With a heavy sigh, I take slow steps toward the door, hoping—praying—that he’ll stop me.

Just when I reach the doorway, his voice, small but clear, reaches my ears.

"Jollibee."

My entire body freezes before joy explodes in my chest. He wants to eat at Jollibee. He wants to have lunch with me.

Without hesitation, I turn on my heel, rush back to him, and scoop him into my arms. He lets out a surprised gasp as I lift him against my side. I grin at him, and after a moment of hesitation, his lips curl into a shy smile in return.

Seeing that smile—it heals something deep inside me.

I hug him close, pressing a kiss to his temple. "I was so worried, Markle. I thought I lost you."

He clings to me as I whisper, "I won’t ever do that again. I swear."

He nods, his small arms wrapping around my neck. Relief floods through me.

As we step outside, Zoren greets us with a knowing smirk. I roll my eyes at him, but deep down, I know he’s just as relieved as I am.

The guards outside are visibly stunned when they see me carrying Markle. I know exactly what they’re thinking, but I don’t care. I grin at their reactions as my security team gathers, ensuring our safe departure.

I open the car door for Markle, helping him in before sliding in beside him. As the engine hums to life, I tell the driver our destination.