𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞

Chapter Thirty-Eight

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Matthew was seated with a few Buscorp team members analyzing its performance. It had a few engagements and a few users but not much. He figured it would take more than a while for people to know and embrace it, which was understandable.

"It would take a few months or so for this to start making money." one of them said, looking demotivated as he stared at the graph in front of him.

Matthew let out a good-natured laugh, "or more than a year, perhaps three." They tilted their heads to him, almost horrified. They reminded him how much creative people didn't know much about finances. He was lucky to be all-rounded; he knew finances almost as much as creativity.

Suddenly, while in mid-sentence, a knock came. "What?" Matthew called in a vexed voice. He didn't want the interruption. This was the first official meeting with Buscorp creative team since the launch.

Isaac entered, hesitating at the door when he saw Matthew's scrawl. "Isaac," he called, leaning back on his chair. Isaac moved further into the office, but before he could say anything, Bruno pushed himself in front, "is this a bad time?" he asked. Matthew just stared, too stunned to speak as he watched all three of them pour into his office, but then he burst out in a disbelief laugh when father Josè stood by the door, looking at matthew with fondness.

"You've got to stop and smell the roses once in a while, Caro." the priest announced with his arms opened wide as if he expected him to run into them.

"There are no roses anywhere near me," Matthew retorted. "We'll pick up where we left off later," he told his employees, who had also been caught up in the surprise of the reunion and the mystery of the men who had pushed themselves into their bosses' office without prior notice.

When they left, Matthew pulled father, Josè, in a bear hug. It felt good, he thought, holding the man in his arms for a few seconds. None of the others ever hugged him, perhaps because of who they were, or maybe it was because Matthew was the youngest and had needed more reinsurance when they were growing up and had grown up to a man who had no qualm about hugging the older man, that didn't mean the others loved him less; they just weren't into a physical show of affection.

"How are you together?" Matthew asked after greeting each of them.

"Ele is pregnant," Bruno proudly said, slapping Matthew's back, a grin on his face looking as if he was the first man ever to impregnate a woman.

"Congratulations, man." although none of them heard the smidgen of envy that was more wistful than actual envy, Matthew managed to sound happy for him. They were all fathers, while he was still in a talking stage that should have moved towards a serious relationship with the only woman he wanted to carry his children —the only mother to his children his heart seemed to accept.

"Are you on your way home?" Matthew shot a look at father Josè, and he nodded.

"After you have lunch with me." Matthew smiled; "let's find out what the cafeteria has to offer."

He led the way as they all left the office. "Your employees are going to fall over themselves to please father Josè; the man is famous around here." the priest chuckled, walking beside matt with his hands on his back. He seemed to enjoy himself; he couldn't understand why it had taken him this long to visit Matthew's office.

"He talks to Isaac too damn often. Sometimes he feels as if he is more his assistant than mine."

"He probably asks him to spy on you too," Rom mentioned, his lips stretched in a humorous smile.

"Spy?" Matthew's uncertain voice drew a throaty laugh from Raph.

"Yes. Whether you're eating well or just drinking too much whiskey."