Innocent Jeopardy

Chapter 7, Part 2- Him... here?

Chapter 7, Part 2- Him… here?

Emma’s POV

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“Why are you here, Nate?” I repeated, my tone cold.

He took a step closer to me. His face suddenly looked serious and I could sense the tension between us. His expression was brooding, as if he was thinking of a way to start saying whatever he wanted to in the best possible way.

I waited, tapping my foot. He came closer and opened his mouth, about to say something but stopped short and looked away. Everything was so silent right now that the sound of the living room clock ticking away felt like someone was repeatedly banging a hammer on the floor.

It felt like an eternity before Nate finally spoke. “Emma, I had told you to come to the park because I wanted to tell you something that would make you hate me a little less. I wanted to offer you re-assurance that I was nothing like –”

“I don’t hate you,” I said softly, interrupting him.

He smiled and went on. “I am nothing like my dad. In fact, he isn’t even my real dad.”

What? I was too shocked to even speak. I was rooted to the spot and I could feel myself swaying on my feet slightly as his words hit me. I stammered, found my voice and spoke. “Wh-what?”

He nodded, clearly aware of the impact that his words had on me. “You see, Emma, I was adopted. My real mother had abandoned me and left me on the doorstep of an orphanage. After that, Antony found me and brought me up, giving me everything my parents didn’t. But soon I found out his real side. His wife left him because of his nature and as I was growing up, I wanted to run away too. But I couldn’t, I would have no money, or house… or someone to rely on.

There was something in his gaze that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Sadness? …Hatred for his father?

I didn’t know what to say. I was still too shocked to think of anything, leave alone say anything.

He continued. “I completed my studies last year. I was studying to become a business man. I knew that once I finished my studies and got my degree, I could leave and start my life afresh. But I was wrong… wherever I went in search of a job, they needed someone experienced. That was when I decided to join my father’s restaurant business and take up the job of a manager. That way, I would be able to get my work experience, which is a minimum of two years. I have just completed one year yet, and then I’ll be outta here. ”

He paused, waiting for my reaction. I didn’t have anything to say soI just stood there with a blank expression in my face. It felt like I had suddenly forgotten how to speak.

Realizing that I was still too shocked, he went on. “At first my father hadn’t wanted me to join, but I managed to convince him. I still don’t know why he didn’t want me to join.” He paused and spoke again, a hint of hatred in his voice. “After all, all fathers want their sons to take up the business, once they retire, right?”

I had finally found my tongue. I swallowed, cleared my thought nervously and spoke, in an unnaturally calm tone, which even surprised me. “I’m so sorry to hear that Nate. I had no clue.”

Nate raised his hand in a gentle gesture. “Wait, there’s more. Once I joined my father’s business, I realized after a few weeks that he was hiding something from me.  I don’t know what it is, maybe he didn’t find it important enough to tell me...his only son, but I let it go. Since then, I’ve been in this hell hole, hoping that the two years rush by and I can tell goodbye to this city.”