William was already fast asleep after a long and tiring day when his phone suddenly started ringing in the middle of the night. He tried reaching for it, which he remembered he had placed on the bedside table. With his eyes closed, he grabbed the phone.
His forehead wrinkled after seeing an unregistered number calling him that late. He got skeptical about who owned the number instantly, knowing he wasn't the type who handed it out to random people without getting their phone numbers as well, especially the number they were calling only for personal use.He answered the call, thinking it was from someone he knew, only to discover it was from a police officer, informing him that his son was in jail after getting involved in a drug raid at a party. Besides this, Lennon and his friend got sued for parking illegally and destroying private property.William was left speechless. His son had disappointed him again, but he tried setting that aside, and the thought that Lennon had asked the officer to call him for help made him feel quite happy deep inside.He sat on the bed to answer the sheriff. "I will send my lawyer to settle everything right away. Thank you for calling, officer." The sheriff ended that call and dialed his lawyer's number to fix the problem immediately.Sighing, William suddenly remembered the day Lennon told him he never felt his father cared about him. Still, it was a lie because he had been giving him everything he needed and wanted. Providing the best life possible was something that not everyone had, but Lennon couldn't see his father's efforts.William couldn't sleep anymore after that. He waited, although he wasn't expecting Lennon to come home that night.He knew very well his wife, wherever she was, wouldn't feel happy once she discovered what was happening to the two. He was already losing hope. He didn't know how to make his son fix his life anymore because it seemed his words weren't enough.William didn't know for how long he had stayed sitting on the side of his big and cold bed while profoundly thinking about what to do to his son when he suddenly heard a loud car engine, and it stopped. He was sure it came from outside his window. He stood up and went to the nearest window to see whose car it was.He saw a familiar vehicle. It wasn't the new car his son had been using, but the door on the shotgun seat opened. William was a little surprised to see his son go out. After Lennon closed the door, the car left. It was William's cue to rush downstairs to open the door for his son. He knew the maids were already asleep, and they had closed the doors.From the outside, Lennon's every step was too heavy. He asked his father's lawyer to take him to the nearest hotel, but he drove him off to his father's ranch. He fell asleep, and when he opened his eyes, they were already inside the property. Left with no choice, he stepped out of the car and walked straight to the front door to knock when it suddenly opened before him doing so.He was taken aback when he realized who had opened it for him."Son," his father uttered, looking worried, but Lennon didn't care. He started walking, and his father called him again when he was already inside."Can I have your minute?" his worried father asked, and Lennon stopped."Here we go again," his son thought while rolling his eyes.He was already exhausted, and it was evident in his face how much. He lost his phone during the raid, and his car got impounded. Thankfully, his father's lawyer offered him a ride, though he took him to the wrong place.Everything that happened the whole day already consumed most of his energy. All he wanted was rest and no more stress.Lennon turned around to face his father. With the look on his face, William tried guessing what was inside his son's mind."I'm not here to scold you, Lennon. I want to offer you something. Just a starter for you to change your life in case you change your mind this time after you get out of jail," William calmly said.Lennon gave him a confused look. His dad knew what kind of life he wanted. He had already told him many times, and he didn't want to change a thing.His blood started boiling; he already knew where that conversation would take them, but Lennon didn't burst into anger immediately because his father was calm. He tried to make himself relaxed as well. After all, his dad was the one who helped him get out of jail. Even though he lost his phone, he still remembered his personal number."Who wouldn't if it was the phone number that kept ringing his phone the most every day?" he thought, but none of his calls were returned.Lennon got curious about the offer his father wanted to talk about. His curiosity distracted him from the fact that he was already irritated with his father. He asked him what it was, and he was stunned by the answer he had got."If studying is not in your interests... Putting you in the field might help, I think. Why don't you work in our company? After your training, I will give you a prominent position and put you on the best team. You could lead a team of your own if you want. What do you think about that?"His father had always told him to finish his studies so he could help manage their massive company, but this time, it was a total upgrade."Prominent position, my a**?" the rebel son asked, grinning. He wanted to laugh at his offer. Lennon wasn't impressed at all."Give that to someone more deserving, old man. I'm not interested," he replied and was about to turn his back when William suddenly raised his voice."Don't dare turn your back on me again, Lennon! I don't know what to do with you anymore! You have been disrespecting me like I'm not your father!" William could no longer control his anger. His son was a real pain.Lennon faced him. His eyes didn't show enough emotion when their eyes met, making it hard for William to guess if he was angry, sad, or what."When did I ask you to do something for me?" Lennon asked, which dumbfounded his father.He wasn't expecting this from him. He asked himself when as well, and he just did it. He helped him get out of jail. William wanted to remind his son of this, but he suddenly changed his mind, and this is what he said instead in his calm voice, "No matter if you wouldn't, I would still send help if you needed it. That's what fathers do. You are my son, after all."Lennon couldn't help but laugh. He couldn't believe those words had come from his father's mouth. "Is that what you think fathers do?" Don't try mimicking what other fathers do. No matter how hard you try, you will never be like them." These words were like daggers, disrespectful, but William saw the pain in his son's eyes that he tried covering up with a smile after a quick chuckle.He was left speechless for a while and got enveloped by thoughts.Blaming his son wasn't right. He knew in himself what he lacked. For so long, he wanted to provide the best for the people.He wanted to create the greatest airplane engine and the safest ride possible for everyone. His company achieved this goal and was already successful, but all those things were useless because he lost one great gift his wife left for him—his son.When his wife died, this was how he distracted himself. He could admit it, but he was blaming himself for her death. He let her attend an event on his behalf.His wife had often done that to help ease his schedule. They had been a team. They moved as one in everything, but he didn't know it was the last he would ever see her.He had been missing her. William didn't love again after losing his wife. To honor his beloved and hold on to his promise that he would only love her until the end. Thinking about her made him feel down."I'm sorry I made you feel alone because of my dreams. I'm just concerned about what will happen to you once I'm gone," William said, but Lennon hadn't calmed down yet."I don't think you're concerned about my well-being. You only cared about one thing, and that's your company." His voice became louder. The way he pointed his finger at his father was something William couldn't ignore."Why shouldn't I? Nobody could handle our business but you. I will leave it to you someday. If you don't care about all the efforts I made for the company, at least have some for your mom's efforts—""Don't use her in this!" Lennon shouted, interrupting his father's dialogue, but it wasn't enough to stop him."You're already old enough to understand this." William firmly said."You're right! I'm old enough to understand things, and I'm old now to decide for myself. So stop mingling with my life anymore," Lennon stated.William already felt defeated. If only his wife was still alive, he knew they wouldn't be at that point in their lives. He wanted to change his son's mind and help him take the right path, but how?He just followed him walking hurriedly up the stairs. He couldn't even remember the last time they had a pleasant conversation with him."Come, think of it. My offer won't expire, Lennon, and the offer will remain even if I'm already gone." He didn't want to give up."I'd rather marry a maid and live in a slum than work for your freaking company!" Lennon left this statement out of anger for his father, and these words lit a bulb above his head after he remembered Anita, the servant who Linda asked him a few days ago to help.William spent the remaining weekdays thinking about a better plan, knowing his son would never agree to that setup. Still, before thinking about ways to convince him, he went back to reading what was in Anita's record. While reading, he couldn't keep his eyes off every detail written on the printed paper. It only had two pages, but the academic and leadership awards listed impressed a billionaire like William. Who wouldn't if the owner was a valedictorian from primary and secondary school and, to add to that, a summa cum laude when she graduated college? She was an intelligent girl, but William couldn't believe someone who could get so much spotlight from her achievements would only become a servant in a different country. He realized how overqualified his servant was. William wasn't even like her when studying and never had such recognition. Reading everything made him curious about what kind of life Anita had back in her country. He hired a relevant person to do a background chec
"In Memories of Samantha L. Martin," Anita whispered to herself as she read the carved name and words on the stone at the top entrance of the white mausoleum. With how it appeared, she knew it wasn't something ordinary. She had never seen a rock as white as those. It seemed like a cave at first glance, but it wasn't at all. Anita didn't know what their late boss' wife's name was. She hadn't heard from Linda yet, but looking at how the place was created in memory of someone who had passed away, she could imagine how much love they had for her. They created a paradise inside a ranch. The place felt peaceful right on the spot where they were. The air was fresh, and the sound of the river flowing below the pavilion was relaxing. "Anita—" Her silent sentiment was interrupted when Linda suddenly called her name. She turned her head right away and looked at her apologetically. It was a shame that she was spacing out and almost forgot what they came for in that place after she got captiva
Third-Person's POV “Find Lennon,” William ordered his assistant, Timur, after reaching his office. The middle-aged man bowed his head and rushed outside to follow the order, calling people he knew to find the rebel son of his boss. They tracked the location where Lennon used his Centurion card last, and it was in a luxurious hotel outside Colorado. After getting the information, he went back to William's office to tell him what he had, and William asked Timur to call the bank and freeze Lennon's card. Meanwhile, at the hotel... Lennon and his friends were about to check out after a night full of fun. On the moment where they were about to pay, Lennon stepped forward, waving his black card, to hand it over to the lady at the front desk. "Let me!" he announced, and the lady who recognized the group blushed when she carefully took the card from the young man. Beep! "S-sir?" the lady called out to his attention. Beep! "Yes?" Lennon asked. "T-there's something wrong with your card
Third-person's POV"Can you hand me the salt, Anita?" Linda requested, but it seemed Anita was not in herself while wiping the table where they prepared all the ingredients for the dishes they were cooking that late afternoon.It had been a few minutes since she returned to the kitchen and went back to what she had left, and since then, Anita has been acting strangely."Anita?" Linda called and gave the young Filipina a gentle tap on her shoulder."Y-yes, M-miss Peters?" Anita was startled. "I-I'm sorry, are you saying something?""No," Linda lied, and she asked, "Are you okay?""Y-yes...I-I think so." As expected, she would lie."Come
Anita's POV"Anita, I can't come with you. William asked me to handle something today, but if you need some help, don't hesitate to call, okay?" I waited for Ms. Peters for a couple of minutes in the garden near the cooking area where we work. When she arrived, she was still wearing her uniform, giving me a clue that she wouldn't come with me.She seemed gloomy when we spoke, but knowing what kind of duties she had inside and outside the villa, I understood that she couldn't leave just like that to go to the mall, but it was okay.I smiled at her to show it was fine, even though I was a bit disappointed because I didn't know what clothes I should get for tomorrow."It's alright, Ms. Peters," I replied, and after saying goodbye, I started walking and waited for the Grad car I booked outside the gate.I was given an off day. Ms. Peters and I woke up early to prepare Sir William's breakfast so we could leave early as well.From what I heard, Ms. Peters and Sir William will be there as
For us, overseas Filipino workers, nothing could be more exciting than going home. Being away from our family is never easy, but it’s better that way than to cry in hopelessness when something goes wrong and you don’t have enough savings to go on. I worked for almost three years as a kitchen assistant at Martin’s mansion in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. It was all a stroke of luck when I got picked by the agency to be a servant and later chosen to be the assistant of our boss’ personal chef. My experience as a kitchen helper at the school canteen where I studied college was something they saw in my resume for me to be assigned to the kitchen. Well, that was something I never thought would push me into that position. I was only twenty-one when I accepted the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from an agency that went to our province, Tanay, Rizal. I spent two of my birthdays away from my family. And four months was not a long period compared to the months I had already spent in the
“W-we rushed Papa to the hospital. He couldn’t properly breathe. He lost consciousness on our way here, and until now, he’s still asleep.” My brother’s voice trembled as he spoke, and I could hear cries from the background that I knew were my mother. My tears were on the verge of falling as I listened to his every word. I could sense hopelessness in my mother’s cry, so I told my younger brother to let me talk to her for a while. I tried—I tried my best to comfort her. My voice was shaky as I told her that she didn't have anything to worry about because Tatay would be fine, even though I knew there were so many things to think about. She listened without responding. I heard the doctor had just arrived. My brother ended the call after telling me he would update me right after the doctor gave them the other test results. I wanted to request to keep the call going so I could hear whatever the doctor was saying, but my tears were about to fall, and my chest felt like bursting. I bit
NARRATOR Colorful laser lights were scattered all over the place in sync with the loud music playing in a private underground country club in Cherry Hills. Everyone on the dance floor was dancing and singing to the DJ's party music like it was going to be their last time to party. People's sweat, perfume, and hair gel scents were in the air, along with the odors of liquor and smoke from everyone puffing on cigarettes. People partying didn't care if they bumped into a stranger or got hit by another person dancing next to them. All they cared about was having fun and forgetting about life and what was outside for a while. Among the people present were these five adult men, who were sitting in their favorite corner. There was an oblong table at their center full of empty and unopened cans of different liquors and glasses from drinks they ordered. Like everyone else, one of these men had problems dealing with them that made him so annoyed that night. His problem? His father. I