Chapter 6. The register
1097 Words
“So Iris? Am I right?" His father began talking to her with his fork stabbing the chicken on his plate. “Hmm" she grumbled with her eyes glued to her plate.
The old man insisted as he asked “Collins, told me that you are Gabriel's wife is that true?”. She had no choice but to face him looking nervous but she composed herself and sat straight.
“Yes sir, I am" she took a sip of the wine in the fancy glass.
“It's strange to hear that my son, Gabriel would love to settle down with a lady then my darling you must be one in a million” his mother chipped in a broad smile.
She shyly beamed as they all ate in silence before his father broke the silence. “So Iris are you aware of the business your husband does? it's rare to see a young beautiful lady like you accept ……" before he could finish his sentence Gabriel immediately interrupts him throwing him a furious glare.
Iris immediately wonders what the family is hiding and from how his father spoke, she knew it already Gabriel is not been completely honest with her from the start.
“Dad? Stop it" he replies sternly as his mother holds her husband's wrist indicating that he has to stop speaking.
Shortly, dinner was over and Iris is standing on the balcony with her hands wrapped around her stomach admiring the beautiful garden downstairs while the old gardener is keeping the beauty of the garden in check.
Gabriel was discussing with his father. ..
Suddenly, a slender figure is approaching her. She smiles as soon as she sees the woman. She was quite young to be the mother of two grown men and Iris envied her “forever 16 yrs old appearance”.
" my dear, what are you doing here? It's cold outside " she held her shoulders.
" erm, ma I got bored and decided to come here, it's a nice view through " Iris gave a light smile
" my husband allowed me to have a garden after he got to know about my obsession with flowers while he was courting me"her eyes widened in surprise as she turns to his mother.
" yes, my dear "the surprised expression on Iris's face was really funny on her face that made her chuckle.
"it's pretty, " Iris says. The discussion was getting too awkward for her, was it because the woman was an adult or her mother-in-law? The woman left her for the kitchen shortly to make sure everything was in order.
Back in the study room seated Mr Walter as he watched both his sons walk in majestically. He was proud of them both but was more impressed with Gabriel. They were both successful in their business setups and family business too. For years, the Drug Trafficking Syndicate was passed on for four generations and Gabriel made it the 5th generation and he couldn't be more proud of him.
"Dad? Gabriel called bringing him out of the trance he trapped himself in.
" yes, you two should sit down" he stood up walking to one of the shelves in the room, if there's anything Gabriel loved about his father it was the dedication he put into reading books.
He threw a rusty dusty old blue ledger on the table. Gabriel and Collins turned to his wondering what the book contains.
" This is the ledger that contains all the contacts of our clients far and near with their numbers on it. This ledger is the key to bringing us down and the police force has been on the hunt for this book after a betrayer tried to take this to the security. Take it" he gives it to Gabriel.
" Why are you giving me this? He tossed the ledger back.
" To help you, Gabriel. I've allowed you to do your will all these while including having your own business and doing as you please and now the right age has come for you to focus on our family business. Your mother has cuddled you so much that you're beginning to grow soft but that's not what this business needs. " he says turning to him.
"Collins is there, he can handle everything besides Iris doesn't know about our family business" he stands up in frustration.
' if anyone outside the Walter family knows about this. You know very well the repercussions? He drew his thumb across his neck signifying death.
" not Iris " he turned to him.
" she must not know! If you love her then don't let her know. I've hidden this secret from your mother for twenty till recently I got to tell her." He brings out his cigarette and he lits it up.
" But dad? Collins held his shoulders signifying that he leaves their father alone. Gabriel looked at him with his fist tightened ready for a fight but instead, he walked out of the study room to look for Iris so they could head home. Reaching downstairs he found by the balcony looking at something he couldn't fathom.
"let's go." He said walking passed her with his hands in his pockets she turned in his direction confusingly wondering what they had discussed to have pissed him off this bad.
She rushed to the living to grab her purse lying on the couch when his father walked down giving her a smirk, she bid a goodbye and left for the garage where he was fuming with anger. Little did she know that she was the reason for his midnight anger.
The drive back home was a long boring one, he kept sighing at intervals and drove fast then calms down and then sighs again. She was tempted to ask what was the problem but she was not ready for him to bruise his anger on her or transfer the aggression.
She kept quiet and saw he was driving too fast overtaking all the cars and trucks on the road she clung to her seatbelt praying for God to protect her.
The car came to a halt minutes later she had been closing her eyes ever since the bright light hit her eyes immediately it opened . she was home already, a heaving sigh of relief, losing the seatbelt he walked out of the car headed straight for his room. Everyone wonders what happened to the super couple who were all lovey-dovey hours back and are returning with anger fuming in them.
- Writer
