"Why am I not surprised over here?" My dad's words to Rowan were laced with anger. "I don't know why I am kind of getting used to this situation." He added, shooing his hands into his respective pockets. "What the hell are you doing here?" He spat out each word, and Rowan groaned at that. "Why the hell do you dislike me so much?" Rowan gritted his teeth at my dad. "Well, let's think about it: you are and will always be our rival, and that's enough, I guess." "You have stepped down; get over it." "I may have stepped down, boy, but that doesn't mean enmity between our company has diminished." My dad growled. "Well, you better get used to me, as I am your son's boyfriend." Ouch, he didn't do that. My dad's eyes bulged at that, and his glare turned harsher toward both of us. "Over my dead body." My dad shouted, exaggeratedly, and I sighed. "Well, I pray for peace wherever you are." Wow, I couldn't believe my ears, and my dad's nostrils flared at that. Rowan suddenly turned toward me and spoke. "You are picking me for the date night, right?" "What date, night?" My dad spoke, already recovered from Rowan's words. "Yes," I answered timidly with a bit of enthusiasm. "You better." We stood in silence, and my dad's eyes were darting from Rowan to me, not knowing whom to direct his anger at anymore. "You are paying for it." That wasn't a question but a statement; still, I answered. "Yes." "And I am ordering my damn food." He shouted, and we all three were taken aback at that. "What was that?" Thomas whispered in my ear. "Shreya has left her mark," I replied to him. "Yes, Rowan, you are ordering your own food," I emphasised each word. He nodded in return and faced my dad; he smiled cunningly at him. I huffed at that. "Well, we should hurry this dating thing and get engaged soon." He smirked at my dad, and my dad was hardly holding back. "Meet you in the evening, bye for now, darling." He sang-sang each word, and while chuckling, he left the mansion. I couldn't sigh as my dad was sending daggers at me; dodging became too hard.
"What was that, Dante?" He roared. "Not now, Dad." I started walking. "What, not now? Are you both for real? What the hell is going on between you two?" I abruptly stopped my steps. "Dad." "What?" He spat at me. "Please focus on your own affairs." I spat at the same level and started climbing the stairs. "You don't have any manners. If you were not my only son by now, I would have kicked you out of everything." He was shouting, matching my steps. I stopped my steps and spoke. "Well, if you'd like to continue your leadership, I'd love to step down," I spoke in agitation. "You want me to take all the stress in the world at this age." He exaggerated, like seriously. "You are only in your 50s, for God's sake, Dad." "Well, I am too old to handle the stress level, plus I am retired." "Thank you for the reminder, and let me handle the shit. Don't poke your nose too much." I drawled each word. "Can't you stay away from that boy, Dante?" "Dad, for one, he is not a boy anymore, and two, none of your business." I slammed the door harder so that he would get the damn message. "You may run the shit, but I hold the complete financial control. Don't show your anger on the damn thing; I am not spending money on repair." I laughed at that. He is a really crazy guy. "Well, I hate you, Thomas, for not posting anything to me." He barked the words, and I heard every word loud and clear. Once again, a chuckle left me.
I leaned on the bed, my mind drifting to today's event. Rowan was bold, too bold to use me, and I don't mind a bit. Things are going to get messed up, and there will be lots of attention on us, especially on me. There is so much that I need to dig out. Rowan has managed to gather so many enemies, and he is not aware of so many. He is still chained, regulated by rules while playing as CEO, but things didn't stop when it comes to his enemies. There are many. Waiting for his downfall, and they are everywhere. I don't know how he managed to float so long; it's somewhat commendable. Not being aware is kind of a bliss, and it worked for him. There is so much on my plate.
Once again, I was surrounded, and I wanted to groan for not treating me like an adult. Always questioning, confirming the same thing twice and cross-questioning to find out in case I have messed up somewhere. It has become routine for me; I don't know at what age it turned routine, and I became ok with this shit. "I handled things." I declared a little bit proudly and felt giddy overall. "How exactly did you handle it, Rowan?" Davis retorted, and I was annoyed. "Like, how it should have been handled," I replied to him with bulging frustration. "Rowan." Both my dad and Davis shouted my name in unison. "Just trust me on this." I tried to do my best to back them off from the situation. "Trust you, give us a break, will you. Rowan, how did you handle the situation? My dad is getting on my nerves too much. "Did Morris threaten you, Rowan? Are they going to sue you?" I almost chuckled at the hilarious accusation. "They are not short of money, Dad," I rebuked, not finding humour at all. "Rowan, for god's sake. Someone may sue a person if their prestige is damaged; to you, know, their damn reputation matters." Oh, I thought it always revolved around the money, lots of it. "Ok," I murmured the word so as not to get embarrassed more. "So." This time, Audria probed while watching me with those eyes, like she knew something was up with me. Well, what can I say? "Rowan, please don't keep us in the dark. Did Morris threaten you?" I immediately busted out laughing at that. "Mom, that's the last thing I experienced there. In fact, it was vice versa." Once again, pride was pouring from what I had managed today. "Ok, now I am damn curious," Davis spoke, giving his full attention to me, and I coughed at that. I need to just tell them; anyway, about us dating, it will be headlines anytime soon. So, hiding only creates unnecessary outrage from them.
"Well, we are dating." "What?" My dad shouted, and my mom was taken aback. Davis just rolled his eyes, and Audria smirked. "Rowan." My dad shouted, and I smirked. I told my dad to leave me the hell alone. I informed my dad not to proceed with this shit after the brief meeting with the uptight freak; he didn't budge from his decision. I notified him of everything about her, but he just ignored it like it was nothing. Well, this is the result you get. I am fucking gay, thanks to him.
My dad turned me gay, yup, that's right.
"Well, Dad, don't shout. We have agreed to date till I come out of this damn mess you have created for me." "What's that supposed to mean?" "I mean Meredith's dad, Shreya." "Are you out of your bloody mind? One thing is giving a damn statement about being bloody gay, and now you are continuing with that shit." He roared. "Yes, I am gay and dating a guy. Thanks to you for turning me gay." I shouted at him. Audria and Davis both chuckled at that. "Are you even hearing yourself, you idiot?" "Loud and clear, Dad. Stay out of my dating thing. Now, I am dating Morris till I come out of this mess, ok." He was annoyed, and I sighed at that.
The hall went silent; everyone digested or tried to act like it except my dad. "Simply backing off from the whole thing was a good idea, don't you think?" My dad slowly spoke. "Let me think of it. Yes, it was. Guess who didn't listen or support me?" I fired back at him. "Rowan, are you getting what you are doing? You are poking too much?" "I don't care anymore. I am done taking her bullshit; yours and your father's are too." I spat each word at him. "I am not liking this whole thing a bit." "I am dating him, not you, so chill." "Shut up when this bullshit comes to an end." "When things are handled." "I don't know what that means. So, after this, are you turning straight once again?" My dad smirked. Audria started laughing, including my mom and Davis. I glared at him. "Rowan, seriously, please let us know what about after things sort out." "Well, things turn normal; as per Dad, I am turning straight," I declared. "What about Morris?" "What about him?" Davis was annoyed. "Sometimes, I don't know what to do with you. Is he ok if things turn normal?" "Yes, he would back off." "Are you sure?" "I am pretty much unlike others; I glared at my dad, who was shoving something into my throat," I shouted, sending daggers at him, and he rolled his eyes. He dared to do that. "Well, someone kept giving me every reason to shoo something into their damn throat." He retorted at the same speed. I hate him, serious hate this time.
The atmosphere turned silent but not awkward anymore. I don't know how they became so ok with everything so easily and so soon. I don't even know about me; how the hell was everything ok with me too. I huffed at the way things were going crazily around me.
"I am moving out of the mansion." I threw another bomb at them, and this time, I got a real shock from everyone. Like seriously, just moving out got their 100% attention. "What?" I glared at each one of them, including my mom, who had treated me like a damn baby till now. "I am 25. I need a damn freedom and privacy; it's hard over here. Audria stays in her own damn flat, and it's high time I move out," I declared once again. My mom was fishing for her mouth; my dad was trying his best and managed to hold back from sprouting any nonsense. My sisters were always ok, even before they argued against my parents, but they didn't agree. Now, I am not taking no as an answer.
"Ok, till when?" My dad questioned me, and I was taken back at that. Seriously, did he just ask me that? Like, seriously, this guy is crazy. My sisters and mom muffled a laugh, and Davis chuckled. "Well, forever, Dad. I am moving out as an adult forever, but I will visit you guys whenever I can." Everyone started protesting at that. I am not finding any problem, but they are finding one in every decision I make. Like, man, give me a damn break. "You should visit once every fifteen days." My elder sister spoke. She doesn't even stay here. "No, no weekly once." My parents protested against my sister. "No," I replied to them. "At least, fortnight," my second and third sisters shouted. They are getting every damn freedom, and I am not. I am not getting why. The discussion grew, trying to get one conclusion among them, leaving me out of the box. Seriously, damn them. "Everyone shut up," I shouted at them. "I am visiting whenever it's possible, and I am damn mean about it. Don't try to change anything about this, and there are so many means of communication. So, end of this discussion." I informed them, and as I spoke, the anger bubbled up within me.
Geez, they always tried to tire me; when it comes to me, it was always biased. It's too suffocating. Lastborn doesn't mean they take things for granted and decide however they want. I stayed till I turned 25 under their wings; that's enough. If you ask me, it's too much, and I am doing too much. I need my freedom, party, fucking sessions, whatnot. I have to-do lists. When the hell am I going to fulfil them? It's now or never.
Freedom, Rowan, you deserve this. After 25 years of your life, you are going to enjoy your freedom. I sighed in contentment. "By the way," I said, getting their attention. "I am going on a dinner date with Dante tonight." I was feeling excited all of a sudden on a fake date, as stupid as it sounds. "He is going to pick me up," I added, feeling proud of myself. My dad's and Devis's faces fell, and I shrugged at that. My mom was fishing for her mouth, not knowing what to say at the moment, and my sisters smiled at that. Well, at least some people are getting along with the idea, fake or not.