ABANDONED DREAMS

CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3

Stephen

I was in love. I knew that’s what it was even if I had never been there before. Felo was made for me. The fact that she had saved herself for me drew me even closer to her. She no longer slept in her room. My room was now our room. I couldn’t hide my feelings for her. Soon the whole company knew how I felt for her. We kept us living together a secret from her parents. They would never understand it. We were not married and so shouldn’t live in that way. There was one man that I knew I could confide in. My surrogate father, Freddy. One morning, as we rode into the office together, we began to speak.

“How are things?” He asked of me.

“Things are well. I am blessed and content. Thanks to you.”

“Ahh, I think your contentment comes from elsewhere now. Am I wrong in saying that?”  he asked with a smile.

I knew he was speaking of my love with Felo.

“No, you are not wrong.” I confessed to him. I then turned to look out of the window.

“What is eating at you? You know you can talk to me about anything, Stephen.”  “It is just; we worry about how this may make her look. Her parents are yet to know of our love for one another. Or that we live together. I don’t know what to do.” I told him.

He began to cough a bit. Holding his hankerchief to his mouth.

“Are you alright. Have you caught a chill?” I asked him.

“Perfectly fine.” He said, sipping on some water that he kept in the back in his thermos.

“Now. From where I am standing. There is only one thing you can do. Make an honest woman out of her.” He explained.

“An honest woman?” Then it dawned on me what he meant. “You mean marry her.”

“It is exactly what I mean. You love her. She obviously loves you back. I don’t see why you wouldn’t.”

I thought about his words. He wasn’t wrong. I did love Felo and had thought to marry her. One day. I tried to think of any reason that I wouldn’t do it now and couldn’t find one. He was right. I would go find her a ring and ask her to be my wife. I smiled as I looked out the window. My thoughts were interrupted by his coughing once again.

“Are you sure you are alright?” I asked him. Placing my hand on his shoulder. We were being driven by another young man that he had taken under his wing. He reminded me of myself when I first started out. Eager and willing to work hard to move up in the company. I could see his eyes watching us from the backseat.

“Yes, yes. I am good. But, listen. There is something I would ask of you. And Felo, once you are married. I know you will be as I saw your face when I mentioned it.” He said with a smirk.

“Anything. You know that.” I assured him.

“I never chose a godfather for Junior. You know that Emmy and I love him even more

than we do ourselves. He will be groomed to take over my businesses.”

“No doubt. He is your son. That is expected of him.” I added.

“Right. Though, I can tell it may not be something he takes to so readily. He seems to be the type that favors creating. And he’s sensitive. In any case. He is our only child and in that case, everything goes to him when I die.”

“Why are we speaking of your dying?”

“Oh no. We are speaking of my legacy. But, you know that everyone dies.”

I only nodded my head as I sensed that there was something wrong. He continued on with his plans for his son.

“If I am not here anymore. I want you to be sure he does what I want of him. And I want you to help him to achieve all that you have.”

“…And more. I promise and I am honored that you would ask this of me. I know Felo will be willing to help as well. Yes, I will be a godfather, and friend, to Junior.” I promised him.

He patted me on my hand that was lying on my thigh and smiled.

“I knew I could count on you.”

he told me. And he could