Chapter 50

Saturday morning arrived, and I dressed up in a beige knee-length gown before heading to the cemetery. Today marked the anniversary of my parents passing, and like the other years, I made sure to visit them especially on this day. My car screeched into a halt, and I reached for the two bouquet of flowers I bought at the back seat before heading out of the car.

I went in, carefully maneuvering my way through various gravestone to my parents own. Finally I got there. The two were just beside each other just like they were always together when they were still alive. I slowly knelt down, and dropped the flowers on their gravestones. My gaze landed on their pictures, and I smiled.

"Hey dad, mum. You are doing well up there, right?" I asked, "well, I'm doing great too. I took over the company and I'm doing my best to handle it well, though I still make mistakes..." I trailed off, waving my left fingers at them. "I'm no longer married too. Are you disappointed?"

I asked, but obviously, there was no reply. "You don't need to worry about me though. I'm fully okay, and you know what? I will do my utmost best to live a good life, and make you both proud of me. I love you, mum and dad." I wrapped up.

I stayed there for few more minutes, lost in thought of them before deciding to leave, but as I stood up, I bumped into Uncle Jake, Xander's father.

"Uncle." I spoke up, my voice laced in surprise.

"You're here."

"Yes, you too... why?" I asked and he chuckled slightly "What do you think?" He walked past me to my parents gravestone, and dropped flowers on their gravestones.

I stood aside as I watched him talk to them, but I was still surprised. I had no idea he comes here too, and the fact that he remembered... of course he should. Among our extended families, my dad and Uncle Jake were really close - like best friends. But he was getting old, so I didn't really expect him to care about things like this.

After the was done, he suggested we go somewhere else so he brought me to a restaurant. We went in our separate cars though.

"Thank you." I said to the waitress as she dropped two cup of coffees like we ordered on the table. She did a little bow before walking away and I finally faced Uncle Jake who was staring at me.

"Go on." I motioned at his cup of coffee. He picked it up and took a sip from. I did the same.

"So, how have you been?" He asked, dropping the cup to look on me.

I let out a small smile. "I've been good, and you. You have no health issues, right?"

He shook his head, accompanied by a wave of his hand. "Not really, just old people stuff."

"Ohh, that's good then." I said, and he nodded. I drank from my coffee, and when I looked up, he was staring at me intently, which made my brows furrow. "Err... do you have anything to say to me?"

His shoulders tensed and brows furrowed more. What does he have to say to make him this way?

"Hmm – about Xander... the company, I'm sorry." He said in a stutter.

I chuckled. "What's there to be sorry for?" But I didn't think he would take it seriously.

"A lot. I mean, Xander ruined your company, and about my wife. I apologize on her behalf, bringing Xavier back to the company is not something I support even though I'm his father."

I took a sip from my coffee before returning my gaze back to him. "There is really nothing to be sorry for. In this business world, everything is give and take, and Aunt simply used that strategy."

"Still – "

I cut him off. "I really don't hold a grudge, and at the same time, I don't fancy talking about things like this. We are just seeing each other after a while, shouldn't we catch up instead of getting all tense?" I tilted my head in a playful manner, and he smiled. "You really are mature now."

"Of course!" I winked, doing a little wave of my hair, which got him chuckling.

We went on to talk about what he has been up to this days. I felt jealous at some point. He was really enjoying his life unlike me, who is stressed with work everyday. He even went on to invite me to one of his outing sessions, and I playfully agreed, even though I won't have the time to.

The time we spent together was fun but we had to go our separate ways now. We bade each other goodbye before parting.

As I drove back to the house, I got a call from Mr Gregory and I picked without wasting time.

"Afternoon, Young Miss."

"Afternoon?"

"Yes, didn't you check the time?" He asked.

I quickly checked the time, realizing it was already past one. Time flew so fast.

"So, are you ready for your flight tomorrow." Since the conference was starting on monday, I decided to go tomorrow. I needed to check in at the hotel and also needed to prepare ahead, so Monday was the best.

"Yes," I replied his question.

"Okay then, have a safe trip. I will make sure to call when I have the time."

"You don't need to. I'm not a kid."

"Of course, you are."

"What! I – " Click!

Wow. He hung up on me. Hmph!

___________


The screeching of car tires made me look up from the tablet I was using. My eyes moved to the tall hotel in front of me, and I smiled. We are here.

I paid the cab driver before stepping out, my smile widened as I stared at the building. I was currently in Italy after being in an eleven hour flight from USA.

"Ah," I exhaled, "I hope this conference yields good result." I thought as I walked into the hotel.