Versailles Series Book 9: The Lawyer [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 52

E N T E N G

Enchong and I agreed to meet our father in my office in the metro. We haven't heard from him since the pre-trial and it's only now that we are seeing him. He is using my office as his temporary office here before returning to Switzerland by Friday.

"How's your mother?" He asked as he sipped his coffee.

"She's okay," sabi ni Enchong habang nakasandal sa isa sa mga bintana at nakatanaw sa labas.

"Are you just letting this happen?" Tanong ko rito. I grew up with a father who always fought for what he wanted. "Are you not going to stop her from separating from you?"

"Just ask the damn question, Enteng." Enchong impatiently said.

"Don't you love Mom anymore?"

"Hindi na kayo mga bata para tanungin ako niyan. People grow old and love fades. It is what it is. If she doesn't want me anymore, then let her do her thing. I let her live here for years because that's what she wanted. It doesn't change anything if she wants to file an annulment from me."

Umigting ang mga panga ko. Maybe it was for the best for them to end it. "I think Mom deserves better to be honest." I see swirls of emotions in his eyes as it went to me. "You know why? Because she is the most loving and kind-hearted person I know. She made sure to compensate for your lack of affection towards Enchong and me. She's the one keeping this family together. Pero matagal naman na tayong hindi buo, 'di ba Dad? This company started consuming you. Consuming us. It left her all alone as we turned a blind eye. She was withering away and I didn't even notice it."

"This company fed you and dressed you, Enteng. Don't forget that." He stood up and stopped a few feet from me. "Do you think I don't know what the cost was? Para maitaguyod ko ang kumpanya na ito, kailangan kong magtrabaho halos buong araw kasi ayokong bumagsak ang pinaghirapan ko. I trained both of you so you don't have to undergo what I went through. So you won't lose what I lost...what I am losing right now. If you love the company as much as I do, you should know what I am talking about."

I scoffed and stepped closer to him. "Do you think I don't love this company like you and Enchong? Do you think I didn't work my ass off in this company while you focused on training Enchong? Sa tingin mo ba hindi ko hiniling na turuan mo rin ako? I proved my damn worth in this company even if no one believed I can do it." I took in a deep breath as I felt Enchong place a hand on my shoulder to calm me down. "It doesn't make me weak for being my mother's son, Dad. It doesn't make me useless if my speech got delayed when I was young. I can be happy and be as good as both of you if I work hard for it. I deserved my place in the company, Dad. I only wanted you to see that." I looked at Enchong. "As much as Enchong deserved the chairmanship, I hope you made me feel that I had a chance too. I did my best, I hope you saw that. I supported both of you with all that I can." I fished the folded paper inside my suit jacket and placed it in my twin's hand. "I am formally resigning as Chief Financial Officer of Continental Capital Group. Effective immediately."

"What the fuck, Enteng?" Sabi ni Enchong na siyang kumuha ng papel. He crumpled it after and shoved my shoulder. "What the fuck are you up to, huh? You're not leaving this company, Enteng. You were born to be here."

I glanced at my wristwatch. "The email should both be in your inboxes by now." I turned to Enchong who was looking livid at the moment. "Believe me when I say I am genuinely happy for you, twinnie. But during the gala, I realized that I didn't belong in this company. Maybe I have long realised it, I just didn't take any action to do something about it. I have been planning to put up my own company for quite some time now. I have been putting it off for years because I thought...I was hoping I could be seen, finally."

"What made you change your mind?"

I looked straight into my Dad's eyes. "Someone believed in me." And I hurt her in return. "She told me I can do it." I cleared my throat as I squeezed Enchong's shoulder who looked like he was still recovering from the shock. "I'll help with the transition. You can choose my successor. Apparently, I'm not good at choosing people." I let out a bitter laugh.

"I need you in my team, Enteng." Sabi ni Enchong. "You don't have to leave the company. What do you want me to do? I'll do it."

"Twinnie, you can do this. You're really good at what you do. Just don't do the off-the-grid thing again, will you? I don't want to think if I'll see you alive again or not. You already have a great team with you. I'm pretty sure they won't cross you. You are a prince of darkness, Enchong. Live up your title."

"Thanks for that but still...fuck you for blowing this in my face right now. How about a heads-up, asshole?"

I grinned at my twin knowing that he understood me despite his initial reaction. "Where's the fun in that?" I looked at my Dad who was just looking at me.

"Are you...sure?"

I nodded and pocketed my hands. "If not now, then when? I need to get my life together for real now, Dad. I have been living my life to impress you and prove my worth here in the company. Right now, I will put up the company I have always dreamed of and I know I'll enjoy working in. I want to start living for myself."

He nodded and reached out to squeeze my shoulder. "Your Mom told me to put up the company then. I had the vision and the right woman behind me. Don't be like me. Don't lose her while you are building yourself." He glanced at Enchong too. "That goes for you too, Enchong."

"Too late for that." I sighed deeply.

"Me too." Sabi ni Enchong.

"Hmm...I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Nagtinginan kaming tatlo bago tumawa ng marahan. "Maybe it's not too late for you guys."

"Maybe it's not too late for you too, Dad."

"I have been away from your Mom for so long, son. I get why she became tired of me. She lost the man she loved because he was blinded by success. She deserved better."

"You're technically retired now, old man. You have all the time to woo her again."

"I guess I do."