Leaving the corporation
"What do you wanna tell us?" Parker looked at his son, as he asked.
"I'm leaving the corporation." Henry said simply.
"What?! Are you out of your fucking mind!" Parked sprang up as he asked.
"I'm not. I'm sane." Henry remained calm. He wasn't even flustered at all...
"Calm down sweetheart. Henry, tell us the reason behind your decision." Matilda pulled her husband down on the sofa.
"I'm going to become a gardener for the Stones." Henry cleared his throat.
"A gardener? What are you saying, son?" Matilda tried to make sense of what he was saying, but she couldn't.
"Exactly what you heard, mum. I'm leaving the Corporation." Henry announced.
His parents were silent for a while, as they looked at him.
"Who is going to take over the Corporation?" After a while, his father questioned.
"I don't know. Maybe Dennis can. He's been away for long, what do you think?" Henry smirked.
Parker fidgeted uncomfortably on the sofa he was sitting on.
Dennis was his second child after Henry. However, he had been abroad for so long, that the family members had seemed to have forgotten about him.
I'm fact, they rarely spoke of him, at home.
"Are you sure you are making the right decision?" Parker asked solemnly.
"I've never been this certain." Henry nodded.
"Alright then... Dennis will be back soon. I will make sure of that." His father smiled at him, which he thought was odd.
Why was his dad not flaring up? In fact, he seemed... happy instead?
"You are okay with it?" Henry asked cautiously. He had prepared a list of arguments to persuade his father. But it seemed he didn't need it at all...
"Of course! You need to be closer with your in-laws... How can I refuse?" His father laughed heartily.
However, Henry knew that the reason why he agreed was because the matter concerned the Stones... Did he have a choice?
"Alright then... I'll have to take my leave then." Henry stood up, and made to leave.
"Not so quick, son... When was the last time you had dinner here?" Matilda asked with a smile, as she got up from the sofa.
"No mum, don't bother. I'm not hungry." Henry shook his head as he declined.
"I'm I a bad cook?" Matilda frowned.
"No, no mum... When did I ever say that. You are a good cook, it has been long I ate your food-" Henry paused. He realized that he had fallen into her trap.
As he raised his head, she was smiling.
'Shit.'
"So, sit yours ass over there, as I make something for us to eat." With that she made her way to the kitchen.
"Yes mum." He grumbled, and made his way back to the sofa that he had been sitting on.
"So, how are your in-laws? And yeah, my daughter in-law too?" His father asked as he shook his feet.
"They are fine, father." Henry sighed. He needed to get back home, and bury himself in the embrace of his wife.
"Is anything the matter?" His father's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Pardon?" Henry looked at him in confusion.
"You seem restless, and yeah, irritated too." His father said with a chuckle.
"Well, there is nothing wrong with me." Henry lied.
"Your expression says otherwise. But, let's leave the matter that way." His father said dismissively.
"Of course, that is the only thing left to do." Henry shrugged.
....................
An hour later, the family was seated round the dining table, as they enjoyed their meal. Henry indulged himself in the delicious taste that assaulted his taste buds.
"Mmm... Mum, your culinary skills is still as good as ever." Henry nodded.
"Of course. It has to be... Else your dad will have digestive problem. Imagine if I fed him rubbish each day." Matilda took a bite of her pepperoni.
"Mum... Do you have to say all that?" Henry asked laughing.
"Of course, I have to." Matilda shrugged.
"You don't have to.... I only complimented you." Henry chuckled.
The atmosphere at the table was blissful as they continued eating.
"That reminds me, does Quinn have good culinary skills?" Matilda asked without raising her head from the plate of food she was eating.
"With all due respect, it's none of your business, mother." Henry's tone became serious.
"Hey, what's with the reaction? Your mum only asked a question." Parker pacified his son.
"Her question is too personal." Henry retorted.
"Personal? How is my question a personal one?" Matilda was baffled.
"Forget about it mum..." Henry continued eating.
"Well, if she doesn't, she is always free to receive cooking lessons from her mother-in-law for free. That's me of course." His mother giggled.
'Bang!'
Henry dropped his fork on the table, and got up,
"I've lost my appetite. Good night mum, dad."
"Hey, don't be so petty. What's with the childish attitude?" Parker was baffled.
What was wrong with his son?
"I'm not being petty. I'm full, and I don't want to eat no more." Henry said firmly.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry if I was being nosy. I only wanted to...see forget about it. Just sit down and eat." Matilda tried pacifying her son.
"Mum, I'm honestly full. If there's nothing else, good night." Henry directly left his parents villa without a second glance at his parents.
After he left, his parents looked at each other, completely puzzled.
What was wrong with their son?
"He's been protective of his wife." Matilda laughed lightly.
"But isn't it too... extreme?" Parker wondered.
"What can I say? They are newlyweds... Allow him to enjoy in the bliss of being married." Matilda drank some water, and cleared her throat.
"Alright then..." Her husband shrugged.
They continued eating in silence, for a while. Then Matilda broke the silence,
"How on earth, are we going to persuade Dennis?" She asked looking at her husband.
Her husband didn't respond. He furrowed his brows as he tapped his fingers on the table contemplatively.
"Leave that to me. He has to come home." Parker sighed.
"But we sent him away ourselves." His wife pointed out.
"That was because he was being rebellious back then." Parker argued back.
