Blake waited, hands in pockets until the car drove away before walking slowly back into the house. It was Thursday night, and he was at his parents’ house for dinner.
His father gave him a disapproving look when he walked back into the house. “So quick?”
“I was expecting you and Kelly to have some deep conversation alone.”
“Dad, mom,” Blake had called out and sat down facing his parents, who sat together on the double seater couch. “I would appreciate it if you don’t interfere in who I go out with or eventually marry.” He looked into his parents’ faces, one after the other, with an expression that conveyed how serious he was. “I did it once and I don’t want to do it again.”
“But we thought it was the best for you,” his mom retorted. “No one knew it would end the way it did.”
“You asked me to marry Stacy,” he moved to the edge of the couch. “Because of the family business, not because you considered she was good for me.” He choked down a lump of frustration in his throat. “I will not allow you to interfere in my love affair anymore. When and if I’m ready to marry, I will do it on my. own terms.”
“Son,” his father tried to weigh in. “We always have your interest at heart.”
“It’s okay.” Blake gave a dry laugh and stood up. He didn’t want to continue arguing back and forth with his parents. “I’m leaving,” he announced.
“Oh, no, don’t do that,” Mrs. Carter said, dismayed. “Gabriel is bringing your coffee.”
His father sat upright on the couch. “Don’t forget we agreed to speak with Charles together after dinner.”
“Dad,” Blake said, already strolling to the door. “We can call him tomorrow afternoon. Goodnight sir.”
He walked out to the car and drove away.
Jayce was already asleep when he got home.
“Welcome, Mr. Carter,” the housekeeper greeted as he walked in.
“Hello Paula,” he answered her. “Is Jayce asleep already?”
“Yes, Mr. Carter, he went to bed one hour ago. And the nanny had retired for the day.”
“Okay,” he started climbing the stairs. “I will check on him. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight Mr. Carter.”
He checked on his son, just standing at the doorway for a few minutes before he proceeded to his room.
He kicked off his shoes, stripped down and dropped all of his clothing in the laundry basket. Blake walked into the walk- in closet and wore his pajamas. He slid under the sheets and his mind flashed back to the incident in his parents’ house.
His mother had called him very early in the morning to express her desire to have him come over for dinner, saying it had been long since he came to the house. He didn’t think much into it until his father reminded him towards the close of work not to forget dinner.
That was when he knew his parents were up to something. He had the urge to call his mom and cancel, saying he needed to go somewhere for business. But he thought against it and went, anyway.
His mom and an unfamiliar lady were at the expansive veranda talking and looking at a fashion magazine when he got there.
“Look who is here,” Lady Carter, had beamed as his son walked up the gravel walkway.
The younger lady looked away from the magazine too, taking in Blake as he walked to them. Her smile deepened when he got to where they were sitting.
“It’s nice to have you,” Lady Carter had said, standing up to kiss her son on both cheeks.
“That’s Kelly Morgan,” his mom smiled, turning to face the beautiful young lady. “She’s my friend, Mrs. Morgan’s second daughter. And she’s the one in charge of her father’s charity foundation. Isn’t that lovely?” Mrs. Carter laughed good-naturedly. She looked from Blake to Kelly.
“Hi,” Kelly greeted with a beautiful smile, standing up with her eyes drinking in the sight of Blake from head to toe.
The Morgans were the recent addition to the Carters’ ever increasing rich friends. So Blake knew little about them.
“Hello,” Blake extended a hand to her, which she took. “It’s nice to meet you. Your mom had told me so much about you.”
Blake nodded and just smiled. He made sure not to give the lady any green light during their time together and when his mom suggested he should see Kelly off after she announced she was leaving. He kept their conversation very neutral.
Although he knew he would eventually remarry, but he wasn’t ready for any long-term commitment. And again, he didn’t want his parents to be involved in his love life again for any reason whatsoever.
*******
Blake was going through the hard copy of the quarterly financial report when one phone on his desk rang on Thursday in the afternoon. He reached out and picked it up, placing the mouthpiece on his ear.
“Hello,” he said.
“Hey, Blake,” his father’s baritone voice boomed into the phone.
“Hey dad,” he relaxed back in his leather seat. “Everything okay?”
“Oh yes,” the older man replied. “Caleb called me last night,” he continued. “Caleb Anderson. He said he wants to discuss a business idea with me.”
Caleb Anderson had been one of their consultants before they merged with Stacy’s father’s company, and he had stopped bringing business since.
“Really?” Blake shifted forward in his seat. “That’s good.”
“Yeah, yeah,” said the senior Carter, he cleared his throat. “I would like you to join us. I want only you in the business for now.”
“Okay, dad,” Blake muttered into the phone. “When is it?”
“In an hour’s time, I will be expecting you in Forty-Five minutes. We are meeting in my office. I hope you can make it?”
“Sure dad,” Blake checked his wristwatch. “I’ll be there in forty-five minutes.”
Blake pressed a button on his intercom and asked Vanessa to come over.
The door opened, and she was in his office within a second.
“I need you to set up a video call meeting with the Dallas branch office senior manager, Wilson Coleman, for Monday next week,” he said to his executive assistant without taking his eyes off the financial report booklet.” I would like it to be around noon.”
“That’s alright, Mr. Carter,” Vanessa scribbled in her notepad. “Will that be all?”
“Yes,” he looked up briefly into her face. “For now. Thank you, Vanessa.”