TO HOLD A ROSE

EPISODE X - HOME (Part 2)

George kept mute. He had not figured how to confront Abel on the subject. To him, it was incomprehensible why he would decide to take such a loss. They had planned this project for weeks, even months. How could he make such a turnaround without informing him beforehand? George remained quiet through the drive back to the hotel, until they came to a red traffic light.

Abel turned to him and noticed the crease between his brows. "Are you that hungry man?" he chuckled. "We could stop at one of these diners."

"Not hungry man," George grunted. His voice deep and strong.

"Oh, okay. Then what is wrong bro? You look pissed." He thought it had to do with his earlier decision. But he wanted to hear George say it.

"Should I be?"

"C'mon man. Don't be like that."

The traffic light turned green. George drove forward, his face fixed still. "I shouldn't be like that? I should be telling you that you know." Now he sounded angry. "You made a decision to leave it all in the hands of that fat man. Of all people, Mr Robins? All we had planned and worked towards and you throw it to him."

Abel kept quiet. He could not muster a response. George was right to be angry. No way would he understand the decision. But Abel saw it as his only option, the best one. He sat there and took more and more rants from George until they got to the hotel. Then, another decision popped in his mind as George parked the car in front of the hotel.

"I take it you won't be coming up." Abel got out. He bent over to peek through the car window. George said nothing to him. "Alright then. I'll give you a call brother." He raised his head and removed his hand from the car.

And as he watched George drive away, it became clear the actual reason why he had been that angry. Abel's decision meant George also lost his percentage off logistics. And it had stood to be his only gain on the project. He was a friend but first, a business partner. He must have felt betrayed.

Abel walked into the hotel and went straight to the attendant's desk. The woman there had the hotel staffs' uniform smile spread across her face.

"Welcome back sir."

"I want to see the manager please," Abel said.

The attendant told him to wait and after a brief conversation on the phone, she showed him the manager's office.

"How may I help you sir?" the manager asked. His facial expressions made shrewder with his blond haircut and black bow tie.

Abel asked about the policies around cutting a reservation short. He had made an initial two weeks payment and now he looked to check out after only four days.

The manager said that their refund policies allowed only sixty-percent of unused charges. But he would be willing to sanction a full refund, as Abel was a trusted and loyal customer.

"That's absolutely perfect. I'm grateful," Abel said. He looked more than delighted to hear that.

Before close of business, Abel had rescheduled his plane ticket for Wednesday. Bringing it back almost two weeks from the original date. The hotel had also made the refund earlier and he had forwarded everything to George's account. He felt he owed that to him.

The guilt left him only after then. Nothing would have hurt more than compromising his partnership for personal interest. More so his friendship. He apologised over a text to George and promised to explain better later.

Abel called Sam and said that he would be back in the next couple of days. Sam did not sound surprised.

He had said, "I saw this coming," after Abel told him. "Have a safe flight man."