Capítulo 2: Adult Conversations

The table was set up and take-outs from fancy restaurants were served. Although the Creeds were rich, they still tasked themselves to do household chores instead of opting for maids.

The family took self-dependence inside their household quite seriously, especially when the women of the house were now sadly absent. Hiring outside help to babysit Alexander was already quite the exception.

To the Creeds, not knowing the basics of home life was considered a shame. An indulgent senior and a spoiled junior is to be shunned. It was strict but it worked... sometimes. Ultimately, this concept was to prevent family members from being lazy.

Alexander obediently kept his drawings, Mark readied the plates and utensils, and old Sullivan put the store-bought food into their corresponding bowls and serving plates.

Following the young boy's previous birthdays, Mark would ready his film camera and record the proceedings of his little son growing up annually.

It was expensive and a luxury at these times to own a personal recorder but a sentimental widower like Mark needed to share something when visiting his wife's grave.

"Happy birthday to you, Alex!" Getting the cue that the recorder was rolling, Sullivan gave his greetings and gift.

"You get a happy birthday from dad as well, Alexander!" Mark followed suit as he finished stabilizing the camera to an angle that would fit the three of them.

"Thank you! A happy birthday to me as well. Hehe!" Alexander chimed along. He was genuinely happy and relished in their presence. Why break the mood with inexplicable visions and just truly enjoy the celebration?

There was no song and no blowing of candles, only for there to be short greetings and gift-givings. Straightforward and uncomplicated, as expected of what happens when busy men plan parties.

The Creed seniors indulged with a few laughs here and there. After that, they just simply enjoyed their dinner. There was no need to always maintain that the celebrant be the life of the party and the trio just talked about whatever topic they found interesting.

Young Alex's progress with his drawings. Mark finishing a movie and grumbling about the unappeasable critics. Old Sullivan casually inserting about the country's economic situation and his business meetings with like-minded peers.

A weird dynamic of conversations that would not fit in a mainstream birthday celebration but it was a jovial experience for the Creed family.

Alexander couldn't care less about how other celebrants enjoyed their birthdays. All he knows is that this is the type of birthday party he enjoys.

Anyways, their conversations would always end on serious notes. Pre-vision Alexander could not care less about this adult stuff but enlightened Alexander would like to know more details.

Within expectations, the more serious notes slipped in with Mark casually asking after swallowing a spoonful from his plate. "So, Dad has the problem with branch stores been resolved?"

"Don't remind me! I always thought those cashier robberies were isolated on movies." Sullivan grumbled and took a sip of his wine. "Here I am making an honest living and thugs with guns casually take a bite from my earnings."

Alexander remembered that his grandfather owned small toy stores that are slowly being spread all over America and how depressed he was when his stores got successively mugged.

With one group being inspired by a movie and coincidentally choosing one of his grandfather's stores. The news reported the successful robbery and the herd effect did its job.

Other groups eventually followed suit and his grandfather was unfortunately robbed a total of fifteen times on fifteen different franchise locations.

"Thankfully, the police force offered bodyguard duty and I don't have to think of putting bodyguards in every store... for now." Sullivan mumbled with a mixture of relief and worry. "After all, the police only offered countermeasures after being embarrassed the same number of times as me. I have to consider paying for security guards now. What a hassle!"

"Dad, have you considered that it might be a conspiracy?" Mark had his eyes shine after hearing his father's recollection and had movie inspirations. "Rivalling business groups, coincidental and continuous robberies, your toy business enviably being spread to a wider network! It might be planned if you ask me."

"Perhaps." Sullivan had his brows furrowed hearing his son's claims while he slowly stirred the wineglass in his hands and digested the possibilities.

His son may have exaggerated films for brains but his conspiracy was also an angle he considered.

The old Creed started his business with the motto of being low-key but encompassing. He envied how malls and grocery stores were found in numerous states but he also knew how many of those stores rose and fell with the competition.

His idea was to establish small and inconspicuous toy stores that are barely registered as a fearsome franchises and slowly spread them around as vigilantly as possible.

Someone might have noticed his strategy and eyed his progress or it might just be a thug-like coincidence that it shows itself to be. Either way, it was a bad turn of events for his business.

He could have retired at this age and just stabilized everything from the background but he can't just take it lying down especially when he has plans to have his cute grandson take his mantle.

Old Sullivan glanced to the side and saw little Alexander intently listening to their conversations. The sight of the child's sensibility while silently listening to adult matters warmed his heart.

This also steeled his resolve even more and focused his attention on the other businesses, especially one that his son is brewing. "Anyway, enough about those parasitic thugs and conspiracy theories! How about you, Mark? I have already given you the necessary expenses. Is there any progress on that front?"

Mark doused his enthusiasm about his father's troubled business and replied. "The acquisition of that distribution company is already in the final stages. Maybe after completing the post-production of my latest film it would be all done and dusted."

"I see." Sullivan took a nod, sipped his wine, and had another inquiry. "Maybe you could use that work of yours to test their capabilities. They might not match those major Hollywood companies but I hope they are not too incompetent either."

"They are already a bargain in the film distribution part but..." Mark had a rather guilty and ashamed face by the middle of his sentence. "... I doubt that my little film project would be the right job for that."

"It better not be another crappy scrap that no one would even watch?!"

"I'm afraid it is! Sorry!" Mark had to focus on eating after his answer as he avoided the sullen look that his father was giving him. He was quite skilled in visually pleasing shots and effects but his storytelling is too niche and inadequate for viewers.

Little Alexander was amused by their banter but his eyes had a little twinkle of inspiration from the snippets that he collected.