Chapter 4
1145 Words
DESMOND
"Isn't it beautiful? Having breakfast with you after so long," my mother's silky voice broke the awkward silence but I remained mute, choosing to focus on my breakfast. My Father, on the other hand, buried himself in his newspaper.
"We missed you so much Desmond. You've grown so much…"
"Mother, will you skip this family reunion facade and tell me why I'm here?" I cut her off abruptly, giving her a cold stare. Her smile gradually faded into a sad countenance but I cared less.
"I see you haven't changed a bit, Desmond. You're still arrogant and rude," my father said in his deep baritone but I rewarded him with the same look. And as usual, he didn't flinch in the slightest. His hazel irises still retained that coldness I once remembered.
"Who else did I inherit it from, if not you."
"How bold. So now you can talk back to your father." He scoffed.
"The chick you once nurtured has now grown wings," I retorted.
“Will you both stop going at each other!" Mother cut in.
"If this facade dinner is about some reunion nonsense then I have no interest," I answered, planning to take my leave.
"Don't test my patience boy," Father warned, a slight growl hinting in his tone.
"Then don't waste my time any further, old man." I took a sip of my tea.
"It's about your wife. Emmy," my mother answered.
"We're divorced now," I blurted out.
"Haven't you heard the things she's been saying about you lately?" He said while he flipped a page over.
"Why don't you tell me?" I retorted with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
He glared at me immediately. "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't made such a stupid and reckless decision!"
"Oh… and since when did you care about me?"
His grip around his newspaper tightened. "You're an Hunter. Everything you do concerns me as long as you bear the family's name."
I sighed before taking another sip. "Well this wouldn't have happened in the first place if you didn't force me to marry her."
He slammed his papers on the table. "Everything I did…" he growled.
"Was for me, isn't that what you're going to say?" I shot him a quizzical look.
"But you and I know that's a lie. Everything you did was for you alone. You selfishly forced your ideas on me and it almost ruined me. Every minute, every second I spend with Emmy is like a death sentence. I couldn't stand her anymore and I did what I had to do."
"And you're proud of yourself? Look at the shame you're bringing to our family's name."
"At least I'm not like my brothers who choose to act like your lap dogs." I scoffed.
"Desmond!" Mother yelled. "I won't tolerate you speaking about your siblings that way."
"Or what? Isn't that the truth?" I smirked while father exhaled noisily. That was what I wanted. To make his blood boil, to hurt his stupid ego. If I could have my way, I would love to make him suffer!
"You're a disgrace to this Family. A spoiled, reckless, arrogant fool!" He raised his voice in anger.
"Every decision I've made is for the progress of this family."
"You better calm your balls old man, you don't want to end up with high blood pressure," I shot back.
He scoffed. "You think because you're grown now, you own a business, is that what gives you the right to act as you please?"
"How I live my life has no business with you," I answered in the iciest tone my chords could orchestrate.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do." I arose.
"Desmond…" Mother called but I didn't spare her a glance.
"If you know what's good for you, you better fix your relationship with Emmy."
My palms clenched into a fist and my teeth gnashed against each other. "And if I don't?" I queried harshly.
"Don't forget I'm a shareholder in your group of Hotels and I own fifty percent," he stated and my anger spiked on a dangerous level.
"Are you threatening me?" I growled, giving him a predatory look but he wore a devilish smile instead.
"Did I?"
"I'll take my leave now." I exhaled before storming out of the mansion and I briskly sauntered into my vehicle.
"To the office," I ordered and my chauffeur simply nodded before driving away. No matter how I tried, I couldn't quench my anger. That was one thing I hated about him the most. He was skilled at manipulating his children. At the same time, I didn't want to yield to his absurd request anymore. Nothing would ever force me to have that annoying woman in my life again. Yet if I didn't think of something quickly, my father could wreck me.
"Damn it!" I banged my seat.
"Is everything alright Mr. Hunter?" My Chauffeur asked but I chose to remain mute throughout the rest of the journey. Immediately we arrived, I alighted briskly. Storming into my Hotel and as usual, the ladies began their fantasies.
"Look, Mr. Desmond is here. Isn't he charming?"
"I wish he was mine…"
But I kept threading to the elevator without a glance.
"Good Morning, Mr. Hunter," the receptionist greeted me but I shrugged her off. I was in no mood to entertain talks. Once I reached my office, I crashed into my swivel chair. Rubbing my eyes in frustration, his words kept replaying in my head no matter how hard I tried.
"Curse you, old man," I whispered before my door quietly opened, making way for Jason, the manager of this branch.
"Good Morning, Mr. Hunter," he chirped.
"Morning." I replied without a glance.
"Is everything alright?" He asked. "You look…"
"Forget about me, why are you here?" I finally glanced at him and there he was, holding a tablet before my desk.
"Oh…regarding the interview by ten, sir. I just wanted to inform you that you'll be starting in the next thirty minutes."
"s**t," I whispered. I had totally forgotten I had an Interview to handle today. I glanced briefly at my watch reading thirty minutes past nine. I wasn't even in the mood for the interview anymore, at the same time I didn't want to postpone nor give someone else to handle it.
"How many applicants are present?"
"Uhm, so far so good. Eighty Seven," Jason answered.
"That's too much." I sighed.
"Should I give you a quick review of their qualifications again, sir?"
"I don't need to know the best of the best are here," I answered whilst thinking of a way to reduce the numbers.
"How many arrived before nine?"
"Ten, Sir."
"Good." I adjusted my red tie even though it didn't need to be adjusted.
"In that case, I'm only going to interview those ten."
- Writer
