Chapter 52 - Dinner with my dad.

Dinner with my dad. Mike was back from his trip and his father had invited him and his wife, Vicky, for a dinner at the company's lodge that Saturday night. Josh stayed with a babysitter while both couples went to the Smiths lodge to see Mr.Smith, Mike's father. Mr Smith was a friendly and wealthy Businessman in his early sixties. He is quite comical and has a good sense of humor which makes people feel comfortable around him. Vicky was dressed in a black fitted gown on heels while Mike was dressed in a suit. He needed to dress corporate and look more decent in front of his father. He and Vicky sat on a chair at the front of a round table and greeted Mr. Smith who was seated at their front with a bodyguard by his side. "Oh! Welcome Vicky. You are looking so radiant as ever". Mr Smith complimented her. "Thanks Dad!" She appreciated it nicely with a warm smile. She calls him dad because he was like her own biological father. Two waiters brought a tray of food, snacks and wine. A maid came and emptied the wine in their glasses as they discussed. Mike sipped his wine as he answered his father's questions. "What about my grandson?. It's been a long time since I saw him". Mr Smith said to the two couples as he gulped down his wine in his wine glass. "He's fine". "He missed you so much and has been looking forward to spending a time with you" Vicky said to her father-in-law. "Oh! My poor grandson!Grandpa's been busy. I will definitely make sure I find a time to be with him". Mr. Smith whispered some things to his bodyguard and he left them for some minutes. "I'm sure my grandson is always lonely because he doesn't have a playmate". Mr.smith said as he sipped his wine. "You guys should get my grandson a sibling". Mr.smith said and both couples only smiled. "So how was your trip to Australia last week?" Vicku asked as she poured herself a drink. "It was fine. Australia is a nice place to visit I would say. My stay over there was amazing, it wasn't bad". "Too bad you use just a week there". Vicky said as she sipped her wine. "We didn't even use up to two days let alone a week". Mr.smith said and ended with a giggle. "Two days?" Vicky asked, confused because Mike returned home after a week. "Yes, two days". "Didn't Mike tell you? We returned to the United States immediately after our trip to Australia". Mr. Smith said to Vicky while Mike remained speechless. Vicky had the 'Really?' look on her face as she glared at Mike. "I..I told you dad that I was going to see a friend in Canada when we arrived at the airport". Mike said to remind his dad who totally forgot "Oh! Yeah! You said that. That's true, but was Vicky not aware?" Mr Smith said as he stared at Mike. Mike knew he was guilty this time around. He had wanted to tell her untill his dad called to see them both for a dinner night. Vicky turned to look at Mike expecting him to say a word. "You told me you wanted to see an hospitalized friend in Canada. Didn't you tell Vicky about it?". Mr. Smith asked him again. 'A friend hospitalized In Canada?, But who?' Vicky said in her thoughts. "Urrrm". "Yes dad I did see a friend and I…I erm planned on telling Vicky about it". Mike said, scratching his head. "Really?, Isn't that silly of you?" Mr Smith remarked. "We were done with our stay in Australia. Fine I know we wanted to stay there for a week but you know, we had some business to attend to in the United States and not quite long until we arrived in the United States. You told me you were going to Canada to see a good friend of yours. You went there Mike without informing your wife, how silly of you?" "Did he inform you about it Vicky?" Mr. Smith turned to ask Vicky. "No dad, Mike never said anything about going to Canada or seeing a friend. I thought he would spend a week in Australia with you". "Mike, do you have anything to say?" Mr. Smith turned to his son as he gave him a glare. "I..It was urgent. My friend was dying and I had no choice. She called and told me she was poisoned, I mean I had no choice but to be there for her". Mike tried to explain. "I know you were concerned about your friend but Vicky is your wife, Mike, she has every right to know about your whereabouts". Mike was at fault. He could have told Vicky he needed to be in Canada but no, he never called or said anything. He had just returned back from Canada yesterday and Vicky had thought he was still in Australia with his father all this while. Vicky knew the so-called friend Mike talked about was no other than Raquel. Oh! How she hated the fact that Raquel and Mike knew each other "I am sor…." Before Mike could apologize, he was cut short by Vicky's interruption. "He does that everytime dad and it's..it's tiring. He goes out of the house whenever he wants and most times, returns home late and drunk". "Is that true Micheal smith?" Mr Smith called with his full name. Whenever his dad calls him by his full name, it's either he was proud of him for an accomplishment or he was angry with him. But this time around, I think he should be angry with him. Mike remained speechless, he couldn't answer his dad's question. "If what Vicky said was true, then it tells me only one thing". Mr Smith said as he looked into Mike's brown eyes. "You are irresponsible and Incapable". "You are the heir to the Smiths ventures. People look up to you Mike and if you carry on with this then I'm afraid of handing down my companies and properties in your hands". Mr. Smith said again as he gave Mike a glare. The discussion continued and Vicky told Mr Smith about Raquel and Mike's relationship. She told him how Mike really cared about her and how he saved her the first time he went to Canada for a business trip and how close they were. Vicky explained to his father and even said some things she wasn't supposed to say which made Mike upset. After their discussion, Mr.smith, Mike's father, talked to him privately. He advises his son whenever he does or acts wrongly. After the dinner with Mr Smith, both couples embraced and left him with a smile, but as soon as they got In their car, silence ensued and Vicky was still mad about what Mike did. Mike was also angry because she said something she was not supposed to say about him and Raquel to his father. That was untrue. Raquel was poisoned by her jealous aunt and he was the first person she called when she noticed she was poisoned. He couldn't ignore her but had to be there for her once again. All this he did for R-A-Q-U-E-L was because he felt sympathy for her and didn't want History to repeat itself. Now what do I mean by not wanting history to repeat itself. Mike's teenage friend, a girl named Ursula died by committing suicide. She was the only child of her wealthy parents. Her mom died and she lived with her stepmom. Her dad was always absent from home and going on business trips to different countries. Her stepmother never showed her much love and care like her mother. She was always indoors and never made a decision by herself, she never dated, never mingled with friends and was always depressed that she tried running away from home when she was twelve. Whenever she was at school, she never had a friend and was always mocked by her classmates. They never bullied her because she was a child of a rich man and her dad was a part of the sponsors of the rich famous private school they attended. Mike got to know her better. She liked Mike but never told him what she was going through Until Mike came to school one day and heard that she was dead and had committed suicide. He was shocked and later found out the reason she committed suicide. Mike didn't want the same thing to happen to Raquel. She reminded him of Ursula and he didn't want her committing the same act. It was good that he cared about her as a friend but it was bad of him not informing his wife. He would only make her feel suspicious. "You told my dad I was having an affair with Raquel, how could you say that Vicky?". Mike said angrily as he drove with a full speed which Vicky didn't like. "You are on a full speed Mike". She shouted at him to remind him but he ignored. "Tell me now Vicky" He snapped back at her. "I said you are on full speed Mike, you know I hate it". Vicky said with a gape as she looked at the side mirror with fear as he drove so fast on the express. Mike was driving so fast and it was frightening. She texted Adams because he had told her he was on his way from work to see Mike. She texted him and told him to drive at a particular street and Adams did. He texted her back and told her he was there. "I am asking you a question Vicky". "You are going nutz Mike. Will you stop the car now?". Vicky snapped at him and he steered and swerved the car to the right on a full speed and Vicky tilted immediately and fell on his shoulders. She looked at him and saw that he was angry. 'How dare he get angry?Didn't he know he was wrong for not informing me beforehand?'. Vicky thought. She adjusted herself on her seat and talked to him. "Why won't I suspect you two are dating?" You see her without my consent. Any man who does that has the tendency to cheat on his wife, Mike, if I did the same to you by seeing Adams secretly, how would you feel?" Mike had a rough U-turn and Vicky screamed. "Stop this Mike!!, You are going insane". Just then, they arrived at the street Adams was on and Vicky could see him park his car from the windscreen. "Stop the car Mike!!" Vicky shouted but he didn't listen. "I said stop the car, I want to alight here, you can have fun with your crazy driving alone". She snapped at Mike and he halted the car. Vicky alighted from Mike's car and slammed the door of the car. Mike watched her as she entered another car. It was Adam's car. Adams knew they just had a brawl again. "Please take me home to my son. I am sick of Mike's nasty behaviors". She said to Adams. "Wait a moment, I have to speak to Mike". Adams said and alighted from his car. He approached Mike in his car and was about to say a word when Mike drove angrily away from him. "Ooops!!" Adams said as he watched Mike's car become indistinct. He went back to meet Vicky in his car. "What happened between you two?" Adams said as he used his seatbelt. "Mike went to see Raquel again In Canada without my consent. I mean, fine, he went on a trip to Australia with his dad and I know you are quite aware". "Yes". Adams agreed with a nod. "We had dinner with his dad today and from there, I got to know they only used a day In Australia. So what happened with the remaining days in the week?, Mr Smith and Mike both came back from Australia and from there Mike took a flight to Canada just to see Raquel without informing me. Isn't that insane?". Vicky explained angrily to Adams. "Calm down Vicky, it's alright. I know that's the one issue with Mike. Just calm down okay. I will definitely speak to him". Adams said to reassure Vicky as he turned on the ignition and accelerated the car gently. Now isn't this one way to drive as a normal gentleman. "Ttttch!" "And do you think he'd really wanna speak to you?" Vicky scoffed at Mike's statement. "He will". "I will try my best". Adams said as he looked into her blue eyes. "So why is he angry anyways?. Aren't you the one that should be angry?". Adams asked her as he raised one of his brow. "He was angry because I said he and Raquel were dating". "I said it in front of his dad". "Oh! Shit!" Adams exclaimed as he widened his eyes. Vicky had the 'so what?' expression on her face. "What?" She finally asked. "So after you told his dad right at his front, what did his dad say?". "He talked to him and called to see him privately". "Wow!" Adams exclaimed again. Vicky looked at him with the 'so what?' expression on her face again. "Why are you exclaiming?, Is something wrong?". "I know Mr Smith quite well, he must have discussed Mike's punishment with him". Adams said as he steered his car. "What punishment?". Vicky asked. "Don't know, but I know he wouldn't be happy with his son". Adams said and continued, "Mike had this, you know,teenage friend when he was growing up. Her name was Ursula. She suffered the same thing Raquel suffered and was always depressed. She needed just someone, just someone to talk to her, to be there for her but there was no one. Mike became her friend but she never said anything to him or told him what she was going through till she committed suicide and Mike found out later". Adams said and Vicky went speechless. "Maybe he didn't want the same thing to happen to Raquel, but he was just, you know, wrong for not informing you". They stopped at the front of a semi-detached house and Vicky alighted and went into the house while Adams waited outside for her in his car. Not quite long, she came out with a sleepy Josh. They tried a new babysitter and indeed she was good with her work. Josh slept peacefully. It had been a long time since he slept at a babysitter's house. Vicky entered the car and held a sleepy Josh in the crook of her arm. "He's asleep" Adams said as he turned to look at him and put on the ignition of the car. Not quite long, they arrived at the Smith's apartment building and Vicky alighted with Josh in her arms. "Be strong Vicky, I know Mike is still the good fella he was back then, and I know he can't cheat on you with Raquel". Adams said and Vicky only nodded. "I will speak to him okay, just don't worry". "Good night Vicky, stay safe". "Good night Adams". Vicky said lastly with a wave and Adams watched as she walked into her apartment while he sped off immediately as soon as she became indistinct. Mike was an angle away from them. He had parked his car at the front of a building opposite their apartment building and had watched the two friends talk to each other before parting ways. He ducked and buried his head on the steering wheel for some minutes and later accelerated to a hotel to probably spend the night there. Vicky laid Josh on his comfy bed In his room and tucked him In his fluffy blue blanket. She kissed him good night, switched off the light In his room and left the room. She saw the wall clock and it was late in the night. Mike had not returned home yet. She knew he was still angry and had decided not to come home but rather spend the night in God-knows-where. Just then, her phone rang. It was Adams calling. She picked it. "Hello!" "Hello,! Vicky, is Mike home?". Adams asked. "No, he isn't and now I am worried". "I tracked his location and it says he is at home". "Really?" Vicky asked. "Yes, I also tried calling him but he isn't picking". "Wow!!". "Maybe his phone's at home". Adams suggested and Vicky scanned the room in search of it. She later found it on the nightstand beside the bed. Maybe he forgot to take it before they left to see Mr Smith at the company's lodge. "His phone is right here,I think he forgot it". "Oh! Okay". "Maybe I'll see him tomorrow then". Adams suggested. "Yes, don't bother yourself, just get some rest, okay". Vicky said to Adams. "Okay, good night, don't think too much Vicky". "Sure, I won't" She said and hung up the phone. She sat on the bed in their room and took a look at Mike's phone. She swiped upwards on his phone screen and her picture appeared on it. Mike still loved her, she knew it but why was he always acting annoying?, She thought as she scrolled through his phone. If truly he was cheating on her, he would probably have locked his phone with a pin or a password a long time ago to prevent her from reading his text messages or being unable to have access to his phone. 'Maybe he wasn't creating on her after all, maybe she was just overreacting'. She thought again as she went through his chat with ladies. She stopped when she saw a text from Raquel. She was thanking him for coming to see her in Canada. It says. "Thanks Mike, you are a lifesaver. If you hadn't arrived here, then I'd be gone. I'm sure If you had known about Ursula's plight beforehand, you would have saved her. I'm so grateful once again. Please greet your beautiful wife, Vicky and your cute son, Josh. Bless them with the attention they deserve. I hope to find a husband like you". Vicky was touched by the message. She read all their previous chat and saw that it was normal and there was nothing unusual. Indeed, she was overreacting. There was nothing going on between Mike and Raquel. And now, Mr Smith thinks that they were dating as she had said without proof. "Oh! No" she said to herself and regretted what she said about them both. She noticed Raquel asks of her often from Mike in their chat. Raquel still loved her to ask about her but all she could do to poor Raquel was wishing her dead and saying she was nutz. "Oh! No, Vicky, what is wrong with you?" She asked herself as she read their text messages. Maybe Mike was right, she only cared about her self and was self-centered. Mike was also faulty for not informing her beforehand. She switched off the phone and kept it back where she had seen it. "I'm sorry Mike," She said to the thin air. She knew Mike would be punished by his father for what she said about him and Raquel. Mike's father loves her and believes her so much that he didn't doubt it when she said Mike was having an affair with Raquel Woods whom he met on his trip to Canada. After she did some thinking, she went to the kitchen to drink a chilled soda and emptied the can. She locked the doors, switched off the lights and went to her room to sleep.