CHAPTER SIXTEEN
MEETING MISS VIVIAN
At home that day, Michelle was alone in her room. She was reminiscing on what happened in school earlier. She couldn't believe it. Even when Kelvin and Sylvester saw them, they mouthed, "What's going on?" at her. She could only shrug.
She took up her phone and went through all the chats she had with Michael so far. It wasn't so much but he always made sure he replied to her text. She let out a soft scream, twirling her body in the process.
"Oh! God! Help me. I don't even know what I'm feeling for Michael. Am I infatuated or is this genuine? Ohhh!" She screamed again, shaking her head. She stayed like that until she slowly drifted off to sleep.
However, a message popped into her phone but then, she had already slept off.
* * * *
Michael was alone in his room that afternoon. His dad's assistant just told him that he had no other schedules for the day. He should just stay at home and have a good rest. But he was bored. Sometimes, after school, he would go to the company or visit the subsidiary branches around. Today, he felt like going to his father's office and he didn't know why Mr. George was telling him not to. He tried to reach his friends but he wasn't able to. Michelle didn't even reply. And he didn't want to call Odelia. She would keep him company but she was too noisy.
After a while, he stood up and entered his walk-in closet to change into a long-sleeved tee and trousers. On coming out, he pressed the intercom and waited to hear a voice.
"Miss Hena. I'll be back. I want to go see Dad at the company" he said into the intercom.
"Okay. Be careful, Michael" Miss Hena's small voice was heard.
"See you later," he said and walked out with his phone.
* * * *
He got to the company. A huge and tall skyscraper. With tempered glass everywhere. The name of the company was boldly written on the last upper floor, WATTSHOUSE GROUP OF COMPANIES.
While his driver drove into the company's space, Michael stared up at the last floor of the huge building. That's where his father's office is.
"I'll use the Executive private elevator. I don't want anyone to know I'm here" Michael told his driver.
"Yes," The driver replied and drove into a private garage meant for only the executives and also serves as a secret passageway. Not everyone in the company knows about it.
Michael took out an access card which gave him a pass into the private elevator that took him to his father's office. When he got to his father's office, he knocked. He has never done that. He usually entered without knocking but something stopped him today. He quietly pushed the door and paused. His hand was still on the door handle. He even noticed that the curtains were down unlike the usual transparency.
He stopped because he heard someone moaning from inside. He wondered why his dad would be moaning like that. He opened the door further and looked inside the large office space. His father was kissing some other woman. They were sitting on the armchair at the center of the office, which was apart from the major CEO's chair above the stairs. The woman was sitting on his father's lap so he could not see her face.
"Michael!"
He heard his name and turned around to see Mr. George who looked serious and business-like as usual. The man had been with his dad before he was born. Mr. George is also his dad's best friend and personal assistant at the company. His father told him the story. When Alfred Watts was founding WattsHouse, one day he was frustrated and about to give up. He went to drink at a bar. Mr. George was also there, drinking. His girlfriend just ended their four-year relationship. He was so pained because she had also run away with everything he owned leaving him empty and penniless. He tried to look for her but there was no trace of her. The bar owner gave the two of them the same seat and they got drunk while sharing their life's misfortunes. That was how Alfred Watts told him about his company that was about to crash. Mr. George was a very intelligent strategist. He helped Alfred Watts get back his company and that's how he remained loyal until this day. He remained single since then and has no children. He only had stray cats and dogs occupying his million-dollar home. He stayed with the company and with Mr. Alfred, helping out with almost everything. He even rejected most of the promotions Alfred Watts ever offered. Alfred had no choice but to let him be. He would always tell Alfred that he had no one to will his riches and properties to unless it was to the stray dogs and cats in his home. And he can't give money to his relatives; he just said he's content with what he has, and that's okay for him and his stray pets.
He knows about the woman inside. He was even the one who pressed the buttons for the curtains to go down. It was the first time this was happening. He had told Michael not to come to the office when he saw Director Vivian enter the company, uninvited. The last time she came like this, she seduced Alfred Watts. This time she's smooching him. And now, Michael's here.
When Michael turned to him, he tried to read the expression on the boy's face but it was hard to. He has known Michael since he was a baby but Michael was a boy that knew how to have so many emotions going on with him at the same time and still could hide it all at once. He was like Alfred but he could read Alfred Watts so well most times. Alfred rarely hid anything from him.
Michael smiled at him. "George!" Michael called him.
"I told you to rest at home. You didn't get my text" Mr. George asked, walking closer to him.
"The house was so boring," Michael said and blinked. "Who's the woman with Dad? Do I know her?"
"I think you know her. She's Miss Vivian," he explained, holding his hands together. Meanwhile, he was texting Alfred Watts, praying he heard his phone 'ding.'
"Miss Vivian?!" Michael was trying to remember. He knows the name.
"She's the new director in one of our subsidiaries. The marketing sector. You met her once" he said and sent the text.
"Oh!" Michael remembers. He met her at a business luncheon. That was the first time they introduced her and she gave her speech. She drew everyone's attention that day with her superb speech that outlined her goals, agenda, and dedication to serve as the director. Including her beauty. He just didn't expect his dad to also be captivated. His dad has met women more beautiful than her so what's special about her, he questioned himself. When they shook hands, he didn't know why he hated the aura she exuded. It was like something was unsettling about her, but he shoved it away, thinking it was him being oversensitive. But the feeling lingered until the luncheon was over and he forgot about it all until today.
"Does this happen frequently?" Michael asked.
"No! This is the first." The man gave him a smile he only gave to him, his father, and Miss Hena. Every other person in the world believes that Mr. George never smiles.
"Do I knock?"
The man blinked twice. "No need for that. You can go in now" Mr. George said and pointed at the door.
Michael gave a small smile. He knows. He bows slightly and turns to hold the door handle. He sighed and pushed the door open.
"Mine!" His father called standing up when he saw Michael. Michael didn't want the whole thing to feel awkward. His dad's voice was already husky. And Mr. Alfred was trying to adjust his tie.
"Dad!" Michael said and walked over to where his dad was standing. His dad hugged him. Michael sniffed the woman's perfume on him. She was sitting innocently on another sofa while she watched them with a smile plastered on her face.
When he disengaged his father, he turned to greet her, bowing slightly, "Hello, Ma'am". He didn't smile.
Miss Vivian flashed him a personal smile, "Hello, Michael"
"Remember her? She's Director Vivian of the marketing department at Watts Stores," his father told him.
"Yes, I know" Michael took a seat on the other sofa.
"What is she doing here?" Michael asked bluntly but his dad quickly answered.
"She came around to discuss a report I asked her to bring," Mr. Alfred said.
"Oh!" Michael didn't want to push it further. He looked at her lips and wondered to himself, "This woman puts on heavy makeup". He darts his eyes to his dad who was telling her about him, "Did my dad lick up all that substance? Aw! That's awful!" He sighed, still wondering the amount his father must have licked up judging from her current appearance and the first day he had met her at the luncheon.
****
At home that evening, it was raining heavily outside. He had arrived at home with his dad. Michael was slightly pissed off but was trying very hard not to show it. In between, he felt a pang of jealousy when his father had suggested they drive Director Vivian to her house first and she had agreed to that even before he could object. He was very sure the woman came in with her car but pretended she didn't. He felt all his father's attention was now on the woman and not him.
During dinner, Miss Hena already set the table and called them from their rooms. While they said to eat, Michael looked at his wristwatch as he remembered he was supposed to attend the party with Maxwell and others. He didn't want his dad to know but he told Miss Hena about it. Even though he pleaded with her before she agreed. There was still time and the rain was still falling outside.
"Dad" he called out softly.
"Yes," his father answered, looking up at him.
"About her..." He paused.
"Who?" His father was a little confused.
"Director Vivian"
Mr. Alfred looks briefly at Miss Hena, who also pauses eating.
"Are you two in a relationship?" Michael was looking straight at him.
Mr. Alfred smiles, "No, we don't".
"You both were kissing earlier," Michael said without mincing words.
Miss Hena gave a half smile to Mr. Alfred's new expression. He knew he had to say the truth at this point.
"Michael" he began to explain. "This is the first time it's happened. Yeah! I've met with her a few times since after the Luncheon. I also think I'm beginning to like her. Are you against it? You don't like her? I'll stop if you don't"
"No, Dad!" Michael shook his head. "I don't like her yet but I would try to...for your sake"
Miss Hena smiles.
"That would be nice, Michael" his father also smiles.
"But then, promise me that you won't engage her until after my surgery and full recovery," he said and gave a very small smile.
"I'll do exactly as you've said, my baby" his father teased him while bowing slightly. This made Michael furrow his brows while Miss Hena chuckled softly.
"Dad!! Would you stop, please!"
"Mhm! Mhm!" His father hummed and resumed eating.
Michael looked at his watch again and looked up as his eyes met that of Miss Hena who sighed.
"What?" Mr. Alfred asked looking at her.
"Nothing" she shook her head. "I'm just very tired"
"You need to take some time and have a good rest. Should I book a two-week vacation for you?" He asked again.
"Oh! No!" She said waving her hand. "That won't be necessary"
"What about tea to help relax your nerves? I'll make one for you after dinner" he suggested immediately.
She didn't oppose that. She just looked at Michael who was making sure to avoid eye contact with her.