Chapter 19: The Disownment
1386words
My eyes followed Scarlett as she led the product launch presentation. Her charisma and intelligence amazed me. Despite the bitterness and thirst for vengeance that consumed her, she remained the most captivating and beautiful woman I had ever seen. She caught me staring and graced me with an angelic smile. My heart skipped a beat with every word she spoke, every gesture she made.
'And that brings us to the end, ladies and gentlemen," she concluded.
'We have a deal, Miss Guzman," several attendees echoed.
'It's nice doing business with you," she replied, shaking hands with them as they departed.
'That was amazing, ma'am," I told her.
'Is that why you were staring like I had enchanted you?" She walked ahead, and I chuckled, trailing behind.
'You did enchant me."
'So, you are indirectly calling me an enchanter? I don't like that."
'I didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry."
'Apology not accepted. Just take me home," she ordered.
I didn't say anything else until we got into the car. As I drove, I couldn't help but glance at her through the rearview mirror. She muttered something to herself, seemingly lost in thought.
I cleared my throat to get her attention. 'Um, ma'am? I will be going home tomorrow. Is it..."
'It's not okay for me to sign your resignation letter," she interrupted. 'Look, if this is about the apology, I accept it. But you don't have to threaten me with quitting. It will be tough finding someone as crazy but responsible as you in a short time."
I pulled over and looked at her. 'Are you that scared of me quitting?"
'Do you really think I can't replace you? Everyone can be replaced, but it takes time to find the right person," she retorted.
'I know you can, but that's not..."
'No. I already told you it will be hard. You can only quit when I say so," she declared.
'As you wish, but I wasn't planning on quitting. I just wanted to tell you I'm going to see my mom. It's been a while."
'Oh!" She scratched her neck. 'You should have just said that earlier."
'You interrupted me."
'Whatever. You can go, but be back early," she agreed, avoiding my gaze.
'You don't have to feel shy about it. Anyone can interrupt," I said as I started driving again.
'You wish you were special enough to see me shy?" she retorted.
I smiled and focused on the road.
***
'Mom!" I called out as I entered the house. My mother hurried out of the kitchen, surprised to see me.
'Gabriel? Oh my God! It's you!" She embraced me tightly.
'I missed you so much, Mom."
'Not as much as I missed you, son," she said, pulling back from the hug. 'Why didn't you come home sooner? Was she holding you captive?"
'What are you talking about, Mom? Who would be holding me captive?" I asked as we sat on the couch.
'Don't pretend you don't know. I'm talking about that witch you work for."
'Don't start, Mom. You can't call her names," I defended Scarlett.
'I will call her whatever I want, Gabriel. She is the reason I haven't seen you."
'She is not the reason. Your constant insults and dislike for her are why I haven't been coming home. You always find a reason to criticize my boss."
'Just admit it. She is a witch," she muttered.
'Is that why you won't even offer me a drink? I'm hungry, Mom. What did you cook?" I stood up.
'She is starving you, isn't she? What kind of woman is she?"
'Oh dear God!" I groaned as we walked to the dining room. 'Can you just stop? You are acting like I live with her. I live alone, Mom. I didn't have breakfast because I was eager to come and see you. Besides, I missed your cooking. But now I'm regretting it. I feel like leaving already," I grumbled.
She grabbed my hand, pulling me along. 'You are not going anywhere."
'Then stop insulting my boss."
'Fine. As you wish," she agreed, heading to the kitchen. I took a seat at the dining table.
Later in the day, my friend Alexandra came to visit. I knew immediately my mom had invited her because as soon as she arrived, my mom excused herself.
'How have you been, Gabriel?" Alexandra asked, sitting beside me on the couch.
'As you can see, I have been great," I responded coldly, not even glancing at her.
'Good to hear. I have been trying to reach you, but it seems you blocked my number. Last time, when I tried to talk to you through your mom's phone, you hung up. Are we fighting?"
'You call too much, Alex. You don't care if it's work hours or the middle of the night. It's annoying, so I had to block you."
'Is that so? I was just trying to check up on you, nothing more," she said in that soft, baby-like tone that always annoyed me. She made me feel guilty about everything.
I finally looked at her. 'Anyway, what brings you here?"
'Your mom told me you were visiting, so I decided to come by. It's been a while since we last saw each other," she said.
'Maybe, what can I get you?" I tried to be polite with a forced smile.
'Can we take a walk? I miss that."
'No, I'm busy."
'Just for 30 minutes," she insisted.
'I said no."
'Fifteen minutes."
'I'm not stepping out for five minutes, Alex. Stop pushing it," I declared.
'You have changed so much, Gabriel. You used to enjoy our walks. If you won't go out, what can you offer me?"
'A drink? Food? Or a game? You might get bored," I suggested.
'Never mind," she said, standing up. 'I wanted to see my friend, but he seems to be missing. I would better go," she declared, making my stomach churn. Maybe I had been too harsh.
'Fine, I will play a video game with you, but I'm not going outside."
'I'm not interested. How can you offer me something I hate doing? Tell your mom I left," she said, heading out. Halfway through, she turned to face me. 'I know why you are acting cold toward me, but you should know it's not my fault your mother wants us to get married," she added before leaving.
I sighed and reclined on the couch.
'Alex, you forgot your..." My mom paused, looking around for Alexandra. 'Where is she?"
'She left."
'What do you mean she left? What did you do?"
'Why do you assume I did something?"
She sat beside me. 'You know Alex is your future wife, right? You need to apologize when you upset her. If she's sad, you should comfort her. Why do you keep making that poor girl's life miserable?"
'There you go again, Mom. Alex is just my friend. I have never thought of marrying her. Stop making it awkward."
'You are the one making it awkward. You started acting this way when you began working for that witch," she said angrily.
'Stop calling her names, Mom!" I snapped, standing up.
'You dare not yell at me!" She rose, equally angry. 'I'm still your mother, and you owe me respect. What do you see in that woman? She's older than you!"
'Age is just a number, Mom. I love Scarlett, and I don't care about her age. I will be leaving first thing tomorrow morning," I declared, sitting down.
'Not on my watch, Gabriel! You can't love an older woman. What has gotten into you? You left your company under your brother's management just to become that woman's secretary or bodyguard. What has she done to you? Have you lost your mind?" she scolded.
'Listen to me, son. You will stop working for that woman and start planning your wedding with Alexandra, or you will cease to be my son," she threatened.
I stared at her in disbelief. My mom had never said anything like this to me or my brother, no matter how angry she got.
'You would disown me?" I asked, shocked.
'If you go back to that woman, consider yourself an orphan," she declared before storming upstairs.
'Not against all odds," I muttered.
