章節 68: Rendezvous
"You seem to be more attached to your mother than your dad," I told Robbie as I slowly opened the window to his car.
"Yeah!" Robbie answered, shifting the gear.
Twen was sitting in the backseat leaning on the seat playing some games on Robbie's cell. Earlier yesterday, we told him that we would be meeting his grandmother today. I was a little worried that he would deny the meeting since he didn't show any emotion on getting the news. He remained quiet for a little while and only asked if it is his grandmother who wishes to meet him. Robbie patted his head and said that she is dying to meet him. To which he simply shrugged and said, "Okay." I am not sure if he is happy with the meeting or not, but hopefully, Robbie's mother can make him happy.
I looked at the road as we entered the bypass. It is full of cars, after all, it is a Saturday. Most jobs have half-day work, during the evening, roads are very congested. I turned my eyes away from the road and asked Robbie hesitatingly,
"Do you hate your dad?"
Robbie didn't answer immediately. He was concentrating on the road. As we reached the traffic signal, he slowed down the speed seeing the red traffic light and stopped behind a Volvo. He looked at me with a complex expression,
"I don't hate him, but I am not particularly close to him like I am with mum. Dad has always seen everything from the business point of view. To him, family, bonds, and relationships are only valuable if they help in the progress of business or family honor. Everything that impeded his business or sullied the family honor, he would remove it. He holds this business started by our ancestors in high regard. Though I don't blame him for wanting to expand and grow his business, I feel he needs to give importance to the relations around him, otherwise, he might end up alone."
The traffic lights turned green, and Robbie slammed on the accelerator. We are supposed to meet in a cafe called 'Paris Delite' which according to Robbie is near his mother's jewelry showroom 'Coruscant'. I am a little tensed, so I decided to keep making small talks to ease my tension.
"Why don't you and your dad sit and have a conversation? You can make him see your point of view!" I asked, still feeling a little squeezy.
"I want to, but if it is not about business, dad simply isn't interested to talk. The last time he spoke anything remotely different was when I confronted him about meeting Twen. He was the one behind the scenes of the entire fiasco with Sarah and Joshua. You can pretty much guess from this that how obsessed he is when it comes to the business and family honor." Robbie took a sharp turn throwing me towards the window. The mobile in Twen's hand slipped and fell close to the gear near my seat. Once the road straightened, I spread out my hand, picked up the phone, checked if it was working, and handed it back to Twen. He continued with his game while I looked at Robbie again with a little concern,
"Lack of communication often leads to misunderstandings. I feel like you and your dad need to talk."
Robbie chuckled but didn't comment on it anymore. I understood he didn't want to continue with the topic, so I changed it and asked him about the merger,
"I knew that Hotel Plaza has been the biggest rival in the growth of Exquisite but never thought they would agree to merge with their biggest rivals! Is Hotel Plaza going to run independently, or will it come under the Exquisite brand?"
Robbie didn't move his eyes from the road as he answered,
"We are not acquiring Hotel Plaza, we are just merging the business, so they won't be coming under our brand. Moreover, they have a high brand value, so it is better if they run under their own brand name. The merger would basically deal with profit sharing, asset distribution, business operation, and management. This meeting will also serve as the introduction of both the planning boards with each other so that they can function together. This is why this merger is so important. Normally, such dealings are handled by dad. Though I am the CEO, I only have two years in the business. This merger is the first biggest deal handled by me, and so Roger, my dad's assistant, had been helping me with this matter."
I didn't get half of what he said. My business knowledge is pretty limited, but I want to learn more since I am planning to start my own. I guess I have to ask Robbie's help in this matter. Starting a business is by no means easy! I smiled at him as I said,
"Your dad must trust you a lot to hand you such an important deal."
Robbie's expression became complex again. He remained silent till we reached the 'Paris Delite' cafe. He parked the car outside the cafe in the parking area. He looked at Twen, who was busy playing on his cell phone. After some thought, he leaned on his seat and spoke in a neutral tone,
"I have been trained since the age of thirteen as the heir to Exquisite hotel, so, rather than saying dad trusts me with the deal, you could say he is testing me with it," as he opened his car window.
I did not say anything. After a few minutes of silence, Robbie looked back at Twen and asked him politely,
"Twen, are you done with the game? Can I have my cell phone?"
"Just one minute, I have almost killed the last boss," Twen said, furiously pressing on the phone, but the very next moment, he loudly screamed, "NOOOO...I lost!"
Robbie and I both quickly hid our laughter. Twen sullenly handed the phone to Robbie, who quickly searched through his contacts and pressed on one. I heard the ring on his cell phone followed by a female voice answering.
"Mum? Oh, Alice! Where is mum?" Robbie spoke.
I looked back at Twen, who looked very irritated on losing the game and was muttering something along the lines 'Next time for sure'. I wondered what is so interesting about mobile games. Isn't it just some fighting game and all? I wonder what kids enjoy in cell phone games nowadays. In my school days, there were no smartphones. We were more into outdoor games, though I was terrible at it. However, it was healthier at the very least. I was good at one game, an indoor game, chess.
I looked back at Robbie, who was speaking fast with someone. I didn't listen to what he was saying, as Robbie's previous words from our conversation were still echoing in my head. I understood that he shares a complex relationship with his dad. They are not on good terms, and Robbie's dad wants him to carry on the legacy. Robbie's love for me is hindering his plans. Maybe that's why his dad hates me. And, out of all the people, Robbie had to fall for a male Omega. I guess that infuriated his dad even more. I wonder if his mother is fine with it!
"Mum will be here in fifteen minutes. Let's go and wait inside," Robbie said as he kept his phone and looked at me.
Then, he looked back at Twen and said gently, "Twen, grandma will be here in a few minutes. Let's go and wait in the cafe, okay?"
Twen nodded and jumped down the car. Robbie was smiling from ear to ear, getting down from the car. Robbie forwarded his hand to Twen, who looked at his hand for a second before holding it. Robbie's eyes suddenly looked ecstatic. Smiling at me widely, he gestured to come along.
The cafe was spacious and very beautifully decorated. It was not one of those super-luxurious cafes which makes you feel uncomfortable because of its expensive ambience. Rather, it has a homely feel to it. Even the furnishing was very homely. The interior design was simple and very easy on the eyes. The light was not very bright nor too low, just the right amount making a very pleasing atmosphere. I really like the feel of this cafe, so I looked around, trying to take some ideas for my own future restaurant. As soon as we took our seat in a cozy but simple, semi-circle couch that could fit four, Robbie said chuckling,
"I thought you would like this place. You have always been fond of a homely, cozy environment."
I smiled happily, "I like the simple designs and homely feel of this place. It is very comforting."
"I know. They make one of the best cold coffees, Heaven Cream Cuppa. You must try it. It is the best in the entire city," Robbie said enthusiastically,
"If you say so," I laughed.
After a little while, we both ordered Heaven Cream Cuppa and some pastries and snacks while waiting for Mrs. Walker. Robbie wanted Twen to have a taste, but I strictly prohibited it. He is only seven. No caffeine for him, now. Twen pouted and gloomily took a mouthful of his chocolate truffle cake. After around twenty minutes, I saw Robbie checking his phone. I was also starting to wonder what was taking Mrs. Walker so long when I heard the 'Clop Clop' of high heels behind me. I turned at the same time when Robbie looked up from his phone and said in a relieved voice,
"Mum."
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