the various chances

chapter twenty

Jeremy

"Jar Jar. Please", Julie says from the screen. I sigh; my gaze lingers to my parents sitting at the other end of the couch. "What do you say, mom? I don't want to trouble you two." Dad nods, "its fine for us. I mean we would have company with us." "Yes and I think if it were me instead of Julie I would have done the same", mom adds.

"Fine", I turn my face to the laptop screen and nod towards Julie. "I will send a lawyer to handle the paper work and social service until which I will need you to be at your best behaviour if you want to proceed with this."

Her eyes brighten and she smiles wide, "Thank you Jar Jar and I promise I won't get any of us in trouble. Now, Pass the screen to dad." I nod and turn the laptop in his direction, "Dad, keep this a secret will you?" "Aye aye captain", dad mocks the pirate salute. I groan and head to the kitchen of my parent's house while Julie updates dad about her life.

I knew the updates so it was no use to tag along the call. I had the discussion about this with Julie the previous night; this urgent family meeting was for our parents to know the little stunt she'd pull. Though no harm intended but she still needed someone to be at her back before she can proceed with that.

As much as I wanted the morning to speed up because today Lizzie resumes her work, fate had other plans for me because one- Julie had called this meeting and two- Lorenzo had some trouble too.

I walk back with the bag of chips in my hand to see the dad ending the call while mom laughing at something he might have said. She turns her head to me and raises an eyebrow, "Why eat chips, boy? It's almost lunch time." She stands up from her seat and snatches the bag from me, making me follow her in the kitchen.

"Mom, I am going to have it with Lorenzo", I say while following her in. She puts a bowl filled with something I couldn't quite see in the microwave while saying, "Your dad made some pasta and corn bread." I grin, "then I am definitely staying." I receive a smack on my head from back and turn around to dad hitting me with his shoulders; dear God old man still got strength.

"Go have your lunch with Lorenzo. I made it for your mom", he says uninterested. For the next he whistles loudly and shouts to "Benny, Jax" for their afternoon meal and the two of them come howling loudly and violently wagging their tails. I squat down and pat them on their heads and scratch their chins.

Back up, I watch mom slap his arm. "Nice way to disown, dad", I nod my head a few times pressing my lips in a thin line. "Stop being mean to my son, will you?" mom huffs and removes the bowl from the microwave. Dad laughs, "I was joking, ma cherie." Mom turns to me, "go get the plates, Jeremy."

The pasta chronicles ended and I was waving byes to my parents. Mom slips my favourite M&Ms in to the pocket of my suit jacket and kisses me on my cheek. "See you later, Mom" I say after pulling back from the hug. Dad pats me on the shoulder, "Careful, young man." "Bye, Dad!"

The ride to Lorenzo's office was much shorter than I had anticipated in my head. In his office I watch him sitting in his chair, looking down to some papers. "Lorenzo!" I say and watch him slide the papers with a sigh. I take my seat and tap the desk with my fingers, "What is the matter here?"

"Would you buy a fashion designing company if I ask you to?" he says. I observe his face carefully and realize that he wasn't joking. I clear my throat and ask, "What is the current status of the company?" "They have taken some money from me to keep the company afloat but I doubt that's going to be of any help to them."

I nod, "How much is it worth?" He slides the papers in my direction; I pick them up and read the report on the latest sales report which was poor. The company's worth was not more than 10 Million Dollars. He clicks his tongue, "not much of a hole in your pocket, is it?"