Chapter 2
Brandon's POV:
Sylvester, my assistant of four-month… not that any of my assistants stayed for long, the longest I have had an assistant for was six months, and she quit. Anyway, Sylvester had mistakenly leaked our new project to a rival company. How that happened, I still don't know. Instead, he kept apologizing for his insolence and giving excuses.
I hated the apology. They were toxic to my hearing. And worst, I hated mistakes. I don't forgive mistakes. As soon as I found out about the mishap that had occurred, I brought our drive to the office to a halt. My bodyguard, Derick, sat in front with my driver, tom. Sylvester sat next to me.
"Get out," I roared at him, causing Sylvester to jump out of the car. "Grab your suitcases too," I order as he stepped down.
To say that I was furious, was an understatement. I was very much restraining myself from punching him into a pulp. When the incident occurred, I hired the best investigators to get to the bottom of the case. I see no reason why a rival company would have the same prototype as my company, launching exactly the same project that I had spent unmeasurable resources working on.
To beat me to the game, they launched it a few months before my scheduled event. As soon as the email from Derrick, the head of the investigation team popped into my phone, giving a detailed analysis of what had transpired, I didn't need any other soothsayer to tell me that it was my assistant. He was the one who had direct access to the black box containing the failed project.
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't find out?"
He looked at me innocently. An act they away put up when they want to cover up their actions.
"You leaked my project to Santamana and covered up your tracks. Well, you did a horrible job trying to hide your greediness from me."
"I am s-sorry, sir." He shuttered. He started ranting all the excuses in the universe of how it was an honest mistake. Blah. Blah. Blah. Which I wasn't interested in hearing.
"Save that strength because you will need it while walking home. You are fired. All your privileges and incentives from the company will be received effective immediately. The house, car, your health insurance, kid's scholarship and wife's job, taken back. I never want to see your disappointing and failure enhanced face again!"
While I was venting my anger, Sylvester kept stepping backwards and backwards until he stumbled on a piece of wood and tripped. That was none of my business. Even if he had broken his spine, I would have still left him there and continued my journey to the office. Unfortunately for him, he landed on his butt. That was when one ordinary and insignificant girl came to play the heroic role.
She opened her mouth and poured out whatever rubbish that pleased her spirit. I laughed deep down because she was just a stupid little girl. If she had carried out her research, as soon as she saw my shadow, she should have been running in the opposite direction. Yet, she went on and on until I couldn't take it anymore. A little girl who didn't deserve my recognition. I couldn't waste my words on her. The best thing was to use her as an example, showing others what would happen to them if they ever dared to walk on the same ground I walked on.
***********
Back at the office, my parents Mr. and Mrs. Justin Marshall came to pay me a visit. It was their monthly ritual to pick out a day, once in a month, to drop by my office. I must say that they were the only people who mattered to me in life. No other person. No man or woman. But for these two, I was ready to go the extra mile to keep them happy.
They rescued me when I was lost with no hope, adopted and sheltered me.
My parents for once did not make me feel adopted. In fact, the word 'adoption' was never used in our household. To them, I was their only child, and, nothing could change that fact. I would say that, to an extent, I was lucky.
"How's your migraine, darling?" My mum asked. Dropping the lots of fruits and chocolate which had no place to exist on top of my table, she made her way to me. Embracing me tightly while I kissed her cheeks.
"Mum, I am fine."
"How are you, son?"
"Fine, Dad," I said, shaking his hand.
Both of them sat on the white couch in my office, with my clinging to me. I got used to her show of affection towards me when I realised I couldn't make that go away.
What was I expecting? They had no one else to give attention to since I was their only child.
"Son, do you want to learn to visit my grave only?"
"Mum, that is a horrible thing to say." Squeezing her arm gently, "You will live a long and healthy life. My fortune-teller tells me so."
"Even if I was meant to, with you denying me certain things, it is shortening my life." Tapping her chin with her free hand, "let us say, for example, a daughter-in-law. A grandchild and paying your father and I regular visits."
"Oh, mum. Not again. Not this topic. I think we have had this conversation before, and I told you that I have no plans of getting a blood-sucking liability called a woman to mess up my life. No offence, mum. I love you so much, but, I can't take that drastic step for you."
"Son," my father readjusted in his seat to face me squarely, "we just want someone apart from us who is available to take care of your needs. Especially, when we are no more. Your mum and I want to make sure that you have kids running around your house to keep it busy and a wife to take care of you and them. Not having or building a family, will this house feel so lonely and your life empty."
Kids. My worst nightmare. It wasn't even an option for me to have any, as I lacked the patience to deal with them or anyone else.
"Your father is right. Take both of us as an example. We never had it in mind that we would eventually get married. We were just two young people having fun until love swept in," she winked at my mum.
"Mum, I am not sure that I am supposed to see how you seduce your husband," I said, earning a giggle from my mum.
"You can do it if you set your mind to do it." My dad concluded.
Both of them spent one full hour lecturing me about family and what have you. When I exhausted my limit of listening to one topic I had no interest in, I told them I had a meeting. A fake meeting. With so much excitement, kisses and hugs making one last round, the left.
Was what both of them said true?
Did I need someone to tend to my needs? It would only take a matter of time for me to find out.