Ciara dropped the phone with a small smile on her face. She had been angry at him, but that phone call was enough to lift her mood. She stripped to her undies and walked into the ensuite. She had a date to prepare for!
Jack walked through the quiet corridor of the hospital, the heel of his shoe clicking violently with the floor with every step he took. He was still in his office wears as he had come from work. His hands were tucked into his pocket, the sleeves of his shirt rolled to the elbow. He had a tired sexy look. He stopped in front of vip room 09, the room his father was occupying and watched him through the transparent part of the door. His father was seated on a chair, dressed in the hospital wear. He was reading through a magazine which the television in the room was left on.
Jack pushed the door open and stepped in, drawing his father’s attention to himself. “Good evening sir.” he greeted the old man, walking up to him.
“My son! You’re here” his father replied, patting his back softly. “I guess the doctor delivered my message.”
“Yes sir. I’m sorry for not coming earlier.” Jack replied, going to sit on the other chair in the room. The VIP room Mr Antonio occupied was well spacious with three comfortable chairs, a big round table and a book shelf, giving off an hotel suite vibe.
“You’re still here, and that’s what matters.” his father replied, dropping the magazine on the table. They sat in silence for few minutes, none of them saying anything. They were both thinking about the same thing. The reason for their meeting.
“How are you doing, jack.” His father asked softly, trying to set the tone for their conversation.
“I’m very fine sir.” he replied, sitting upright on the chair he sat on.
“Hope the pressure from work isn’t too much on you?” his father asked again.
“No. I’m fine.” he replied politely. He noticed the change in his father’s tone and it sparked a curiosity on him.
“Firstly, I want to apologize to you. I know I was the best of fathers, and I’m sorry for that. Unfortunately, there is no time to change that.” his father’s tone beared genuine remorse, causing him to look at him longer than he wanted to. Looking at his father’s reckled face almost brought tears to his eyes. It was obvious that the old man was going through some health shits. The words hanged in his throat as he watched his father in silence.
“I know I have health complications and I’m going to die soon, I just hope you forgive me before I pass away.” his father added as a tear slided down his cheeks. He was left totally speechless by his father’s words.
“I forgive you, father. I never held a grudge against you till this moment.” he replied, looking very sorry. His father smiled wearily at him, and he returned the smile. “I love you father.”
“I love you too, my son.” they remained in a comfortable silence, many unsaid words in their hearts as they stared at each other. “I’m proud of you.” his father added after few minutes of silence had elapsed.
“Thank you dad”
Jack spent the next two hours in the hospital with his father. They had surprisingly bonded quite well in the few hours they spent together, better than they did in the last few years.
“How’s the company going?” his father had inquired during one of their discussion about business. Even on the sick bed, his father still cared about his business.
“Everything is going on smoothly now. I discovered some corrupt loopholes in the system, but I’ve flushed them out.” he replied, referring to the corrupt executives. He was yet to inform his father about it, and he wasn’t planning on.
“I should have made you CEO earlier.”
“I wouldn’t have accepted” he joked and his father laughed. He had turned down many opportunities to run his father’s business untill now when he got hospitalized.
“How is Alexa doing?” he asked, his face suddenly turning very serious. His father remained silent as his expression turned sullen. “Don’t you think it is time to bring her home?” he pushed and his father sighed.
“I have been thinking about that, but I don’t want to upset your mother. You know she still hasn’t accepted her.” his father argued sadly.
“Mother will have no choice now.”
Alexa was his twenty year old half sister. During one of his father’s numerous travels years ago, he had cheated on his wife with a country woman, and the result of that one night of infidelity was Alexa. He was drunk that night when he went to bed with her, and by the next morning when he was sober, the deed had already been done.
The woman had showed up some weeks later in his office, claiming to be pregnant for him. The shock he had felt that moment was massive. He had not only cheated on his wife, but he had another child outside his marriage. After confirming that the child was truly his’, he had rented an apartment for the lady and took care of her bills.
When the child turned five, her mother took her to him and offered that she wasn’t going to be taking care of her again. She had her life to live and she wasn’t going to do so by taking care of a child. He paid her off and she left, leaving the little Alexa with him.
For many days, he had contemplated taking the little Alexa home and introducing her as his daughter, but he feared what his wife’s action would be. In the eyes if his wife, he was a faithful husband and he knew the news of having another child elsewhere would surely destabilize her, or even the marriage.
One evening, he drove home with the little Alexa. He had decided that he was going to inform his wife about her. His wife welcomed him at the door, kissing his cheeks as she collected his briefcase from him. Alexa stood quietly beside him, dressed in a blue floral gown. Her hair was tied in a bun and she had a stick of candy between her lips. She looked cute with her chubby cheeks and light blue eyes. His wife went in with his briefcase and they moved to the sitting room.
“Welcome papa” little Jack welcomed his dad, running down the stairs to go meet his dad.
“How are you, my boy?” his father replied, picking him from the ground and holding him mid air. He giggled at the action before responding. “Go and say hello to Alexa.” his father urged after dropping him back on his feet.
He walked up to Alexa with a beautiful boyish grin on his face “Hello Alexa, I’m jack” he introduced himself, stretching his little hand for a handshake.
“I’m Alexa, but you can call me Alex.” Four year old Alexa replied, shaking his hand. His father smiled looking at him converse. Now, he just had his wife to deal with.