บท 16: I refuse
Robbie's POV
I was lying on my bed swiping through the pictures sent to me by the assistant. I couldn't get them out of my head. I felt like barging into Tony's place and ask him about the guy but I also knew that I don't have any right. Despite being bonded to him, I tossed him away. On top of that, eight years have passed. He must have met a lot of interesting guys and perhaps become close to one or even fall in love with him. What hope did I have that he would keep loving me after what I did to him? The only reason they can't be together is his bond with me.
When I bonded with him during high school, it was more hormone fuelled than true emotions. I didn't know the gravity of that action then but I kind of ruined his life doing it. Had I not truly fallen for him, then he would have been forced to stay without any mate all his life. A friend-with-benefits relationship was the closest he could get, but not a soulmate.
This Alpha-Omega bonding concept definitely sucks. However, right now, some part of me was glad about it. Because of the bonding, I felt he belonged to me. No matter how close someone gets to him, he can't be theirs completely. In the end, it was hard to resist being selfish.
I put my hand over my face feeling disgusted by my own thoughts. As I was never able to move on, I kept hoping he would not be able to either. But life doesn't work like that.
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on my door. I removed my hand from the face and asked
"Who is it?"
"Robbie? You there?" a male voice called. It was my dad
"Dad? Come in" I said, quickly sitting down.
A man in his fifties entered the room. He was quite tall, had a salt and pepper look, sharp jawline, moderately built, and small shrewd eyes.
"Good evening!" he said smiling jovially
"Why do you act so casually? Didn't you come to ask about the update on the project?" I asked, feeling a sense of foreboding.
"Can't a dad simply meet his son?" he asked, pretending to be hurt
If he was not here for some business, I'll eat my hat. Dad was not one of those loving types. He was always busy and anytime we met, it would always be because he had something important to talk about. Dad must have noticed the doubt in my eyes and said in a surrendering voice,
"Okay, Okay! You win. Yes, I have something to ask you" he started rather politely. This was so unlike him that it was making me cringe. He would normally speak in a formal business-like tone, "I met Ms. Lucy from the HR department. I heard you asked her to refuse the resignation of an employee. Is that true?"
My stomach did a double-take. Who was this Lucy? I clearly told everyone in the HR team to keep their mouth shut. Why did she still go around blabbering? Then again, Dad was the Chairman. She would rather obey dad than me. Damnit, what do I say?
"It was the company's fault for not addressing his complaint. He was resigning because of the incompetence of the company. I couldn't tolerate that a talent was leaving because of dissatisfaction with our company not dealing with his grievance. So, I addressed his problem and he agreed to stay" I lied from the skin of my teeth trying my best to divert his attention away from Tony. I can't let Tony become the target of dad
Dad frowned deeply making me break out in cold sweat. Please don't notice anything weird!! I could see it in his eyes that he didn't buy my story but he did not probe further.
He sighed and continued, "So, it was like that. I thought you had some personal connection with the employee," he said smiling so widely that I started feeling uncomfortable, "You should know that our company only prioritize talents which is the base of our reputation. Any personal connection leading to the incompetence of our staff won't be tolerated," he said patting my back.
It seems to me that he had more meaning behind those words than he was revealing.
Damnit! I have to quicken my pace and get the hell out of my dad's shadow before it overwhelms me and reaches Tony.
"I heard you turned down Sarah again?" His smile vanished, as he asked seriously.
I looked at him eyebrows raised, "Did Sarah said that?" I asked.
"Yes. I asked her to meet you and help you out as this is your first project and a very heavy one at that. Since she has dealt with businesses like this before you, I thought you could both work together on it." Dad said, looking disappointed
"I don't want her help" I replied, infuriated, "I believe I am competent enough to do the project on my own. Furthermore, I refuse to take her as my life partner as I don't have any feelings for her other than a friend" I clarified in a crisp and clear tone
"Feelings?!! What do you want to feel? Do you think that one fine morning you will wake to find the girl of your dreams? It's time to abandon your fantasies, son," he scolded, lightly.
Standing up, I walked a short distance. Although it was awkward to talk to dad about this, I must take a stand.
"I don't want to dedicate my entire life to someone I don't even love," I said
"Love??!! LOVE!! You don't even speak with her properly, how do you know, that you won't come to love her? She has an excellent business mind, is very competent, beautiful, has a high social status, and is also an Alpha like you. Who can be a better partner for you other than her?" Dad almost yelled at me.
True, she was an all-around woman and any man would be lucky to marry her. But my heart has already been given. I have nothing to offer her. I turned to my dad and spoke with as much levity as I could possibly bring in my voice,
"Why do you even want me to marry her? You have told me yourself that her father is pretty much a criminal who the law is never able to shackle. Why do I have to be a part of such a family? Is it because of her father's political career? Or, because he was your childhood friend? Or is it because of that unspoken reason you cannot share?"
"ROBBIE" he bellowed but I was in no mood to let him have his way with me this time
"I have never gone against your word, dad" I spoke firmly, "I attended whatever school you wanted me to attend, I transferred when our business went south, I switched colleges according to your preference, even my career path was determined by you. I have let you decide everything in my life, but I'll choose my own life partner. It is I who is going to spend my entire life with that person, not you. So, this is one thing, I won't let you choose for me"
My dad stared at me dumbstruck. I am almost certain that he never expected me to talk back. He looked at me as if he was looking at a criminal. I didn't back down and stared back firmly. I was not going to change my mind about this decision. I could see him becoming angry. His ears and nose turned red, and his eyes bulged. He got up and stomped towards me. It wouldn't have surprised me if he had struck me then, but instead, he walked past me, got out of the door, and shut it with a loud 'BANG'.
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