CHAPTER 8 - BUSINESS MEETING AT A REMEMBRANCE
1312 Words
The car pulled up in front of the McCain family mansion, the huge black gate pulling open to grant them entry. The pathway towards the mansion was lined with beautiful sakura trees that sort of gave a calm feel to the environment, Mr. Fredrick McCain had acquired it in one of his many trips. He esteemed himself a proud botanist and as such acquired various plants which he kept preserved in his green house that was located to the left of his magnificent mansion.
The car finally came to a stop and Corrine stepped out observing her surrounding, nothing had changed. She inhaled the sweet smell that filled the place, it brought back so many memories. Ones she had shared with her late husband.
They had never fully been accepted by anyone in the family except Mr. Fredrick of course, after all her late husband – James McCain – had been an illegitimate son born out of Mr. Fredrick’s incidental affair.
She looked behind her, Mikael still sat in the car… just like her, she was sure he didn’t want to be here.
“Mikael” she called, pulling his attention to her. “Let’s head inside” she added walking ahead of him. Mika took in a deep breath, he really wasn’t ready for today, stepping out the car, he proceeded after his mother.
“Corrine” the shrill voice of Rebecca – her late husband’s sister – called out to her. She looked frail and although a few years younger than Corrine, she looked much older. Her hair had been packed up neatly and she had on a sleeveless black gown. As her habit was, she had a cigarette between her fingers. She’d been in and out of marriages acquiring her husbands’ wealth to sustain herself.
She had a wide grin on face that only made Corrine wonder on her mood. They never did get along after all. Was she drunk?
“Oh it been so long” Becca stated pulling her into a hug. “And that must be Mikael” her eyes moved the handsome young man behind Corrine as she pulled out of the hug.
“My twins aren’t here today; Lora has her hand tied in the hospital. Being a neurosurgeon is a real had job, did I tell you she got married”
“Yes, I was at the wedding” Corrine forced on a smile, Rebecca was one who sort for any opportunity to brag.
“She actually had her first son last year, it’s hard being a successful woman and looking after a child … You should know that well, I help her from time to time…” Corrine rolled her eyes walking into the main room and Rebecca followed behind.
“… Loren on the other hand is cooped up with his research outside the country, it’s…”
“That’s lovely” Corrine spoke cutting her off, she couldn’t stand listening to her constant blabs. Becca didn’t seem offended by it. Placing a cigarette in her mouth, she had on a sincere look on her face.
“How have you been doing?” the question came as a shock.
“Fine” she replied taking her eyes to look for Mikael who had sometime disappeared from her sight.
Mikael walked towards the green house, he didn’t really have a clear memory of his time here as he rarely visited but the green house was one place that remained vivid in his memory.
“Mika dear, is that you” an old man called from within the green house bringing a smile to Mikael’s face. He took moved pass the men that stood at the entrance of the green house, his eyes resting on his grandfather.
Mr. Fredrick McCain was already seventy-eight but he was still smart looking, his grey white hair had been neatly brushed with a pathing on the right side, he had on a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the first two buttons undone, his blue eyes rested on his grandson and he stretched out his arms for a hug which Mikael gladly heeded to.
“Look how big you are; you are almost as handsome as me” he chuckled lightly as they broke the hug. “You didn’t even bother to visit” Mr. Fred pouted causing Mikael to burst out laughing, he was genuinely himself in front of his grandfather. It was almost like he had different personalities for everyone he interacted with.
“Should I get you a mirror, you have no idea what you look like right now” Mikael teased.
“What do you mean? I am handsome with any expression” Mr. Fred spoke sleeking back his hair with his hand. “You should see how ladies look at me when I enter into a room”
“Really?”
“Your grandmother would be guarding me like a hawk at occasions” he laughed, he felt so happy to see his grandson after so many years. Corrine had kept him away, holding her husband’s remembrance alone few years after pulling the construction company together. Commemorating the twentieth year however, he had thought it best that they did so as a family and was sincerely grateful that she had agreed.
“We should head inside” he said picking up his watch from the table that stood next to him, checking the time. “The ceremony would begin shortly.”
…
Mrs. Margaret McCain stared sternly at Corrine who had her heads held high, the old lady had never been able to accept James as her son and as such had no regard for his wife. She had recently turned eighty, two years older than her husband but just like her husband she still moved and acted smartly. She still had her eyes on Corrine as she moved to take her seat on the sofa.
“I am genuinely surprised at the fact that you are standing right in my house. I thought you were now too rich and successful that you didn’t need the family anymore” they had just wrapped up the ceremony and were waiting for lunch to be served. Corrine had half the heart to leave but stayed out of her respect for her late husband and his father.
“Oh Margaret, don’t hide the fact that you were overjoyed with the fact that I stayed away” Mrs. Margaret McCain had scolded Corrine against calling her mother so she had resorted to calling her by her first name instead which spited the lady.
Mrs. Margaret frowned
“Corrine you are always so high spirited” Liana McCain – Mr. Leonardo’s wife spoke, pulling their attention to her. She had a bright smile on her face, her favorite son Damien flanking her side. He bowed respectfully greeting his grandmother and Aunt.
The last thing Mrs. Margaret wanted was to be caught between those two, she didn’t like Liana either, she saw her as a cunning woman that could not be trusted. Corrine and Liana knew very well how to gang up against her. She quickly pulled to feet, moving towards the direction of the kitchen under the guise of checking how the lunch was coming along.
“Oh she’s gone” Liana laughed.
“It’s been a while Liana”
“Indeed it has, we should head to the dinning” she replied leading the way towards the dinning.
Lunch was ready in a matter of minutes and the entire family sat there quietly waiting for Mr. Fredrick to arrive.
He arrived shortly after, taking his seat at the head of the table.
“Before we begin, I have something to discuss… it’s about the family business”
Mikael noticed his mother’s grip tighten over a cutlery.
‘There was a catch after all’ she frowned.
- Writer
