Chapter 7 – Father Dearest and the Importance of Family

“Chris? How are you?” Ben, one of my colleagues/friends smiled at me as soon as he saw me walking towards my office.

I smiled back “I am doing good. What about you?”

“I’m fine.” He smirked. That man was too fun.“The other guys and I are organizing a bachelor party for Finn, remember? They guy from the IT department? Do you wanna come?”

“Sure. When is it?” I inwardly enjoyed the fact that he invited me. My sister wouldn’t bother me because of the lack of my social life.

“Next Saturday.”

“Cool. Where are we going?”

“Strip club.” He grinned goofily at me.

“Does your wife know that?”

He chuckled “Well…not really.”

“Make sure she doesn’t find out, otherwise she will kill you.” I smirked.

“Oh, don’t worry. It’s gonna stay a secret.” He half-whispered.

I shrugged.“Good.”

We stayed chatting for a few minutes before I made my way to my office.

I didn’t even have the time to sit in my chair that the phone started ringing.

I picked it up “Good afternoon, you are speaking to Christopher Fitzwilliam, Chief Executive. How may I help you?”

“I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for days, but you never answer my calls. Is this how you are responsible? Is this how you demonstrate that you are a good son?”

I suppressed a groan. That man. “Hello to you too, Father.” I simply answered.

“Don’t you dare ‘hello to you too, father’ me, young man.” He said coldly.

I sighed exasperated. Richard Fitzwilliam, aka, my father, had the power to make me lose my patience and my apparent stoic mask in merely 2 seconds. I couldn’t stand him. Although I loved him (he is my father after all and I have to thank his swimmers to have given me life), I was convinced that he despised me, hated me, loathed me even. He never approved of anything I did, and stupid pathetic me always tried to do his best and not being a disappointment by making him happy in every possible way. Obviously, it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. I would never be the son he wished for. I would never be someone he was going to be proud of. I was a disappointment. A failure. A stupid insufferable mistake he wished was never even born.

“I am sorry, father. Although I can explain my not being in contact with you in this past week.” I could feel a headache starting. I rubbed my temple repetitively trying to sooth the pain I was feeling. “My schedule was pretty full throughout the week, and today is the only day in which I didn’t have any meeting or appointment already scheduled. If you are concerned about the profit of the company I am more than happy to reassure you of the fact that sales are going really well, and I can prove it to you. As soon as I switch on my computer I’ll email you the data.” I inwardly crossed my fingers, hoping he would accept my explanation and let me be.

“Fine. Email the data to me. I want an apology.” His voice was icy as ever, as it was always when he thought I was good enough for him to waste his breath to talk to me.

“I apologize, father.” I said flatly.

“This sort of behavior is completely unacceptable, especially from you. Try not to forget that, even though I hate admitting so, you are the heir of my empire, the company your grandfather and I spent our lives working for, and therefore you must be grateful and respectful.”

“You are right, father.” His words hurt me more that I would ever let him know. “In fact, I am grateful and respectful.”

“You are a shame and a disgrace. I am ashamed to call you my son.” He sighed. “I expect something like this will not happen ever again, Christopher.”

“It will not, father.” I wanted to punch him, even kill me. I still didn’t understand why he hated me so much. He blamed me for things I never did, he insulted me, he never trusted me. I had always tried to be like him, I had  looked up to him, and for what? I had always did as he wished! I had worked hard to get accepted to Yale, because he wanted me to go there, just because Fitzwilliams had always gone to Yale. I had to resign from my previous job for Francesco Carter’s company in Italy just because father dearest wanted me to work for him. And for what? To live a miserable life and being a CEO who wasn’t appreciated, but more like hated, disliked and considered scum. I had been extremely happy when I was working for Francesco. That man was like a father to me. Hell he had been in those years a father to me more than that stranger who thought he had the right to label himself with the term. Father. Father? Can you consider yourself a father when you ignore your son, you hate him, and try to crush his self-esteem every time you talk to him? What kind of father is that? One that I don’t want to be.

“Good, son.” The last word said with a distinct bitter and sarcastic tone. “Try not to disappoint me further more.” And he hang up.

I slammed the receiver on my desk and silently screamed. That man was going to drive me crazy, someday. I put my head in my hands and I tried to calm down. I was tough. I was strong. I had promised myself, when I was a teenager, that I wouldn’t cry anymore when father insulted me. Right now I was having a hard time keeping that promise. But I would. I couldn’t cry anymore. I had cried too many tears for him, and he definitely didn’t deserve them, nor did he deserved my love, and my respect.

I sighed again. I had to see my therapist. He would be able to help me.

A few hours later I found myself being led in the Plaza’s penthouse.

As soon as Francesco saw me, a huge smile broke into his face.

“Hello, Christopher. How are you doing?” he asked after shaking my hand.

“Good, Mr—“ I interrupted myself when I saw the scowl on his face. “Francesco. What about you and your family?” we reached the living room and sat on an expensive beige couch.

“They are doing fine.” He answered beaming.

“I am happy to hear so.” I smiled in return. “So, will your wife and the rest of your family be here for dinner?”

“Oh, well, Misaki and Fujiko will be here. However, Robèr is back in London, while Yuuki doesn’t really like family dinners. Maybe because every time she comes her mother tries to set her up with someone.” He sighed “I am worried about my second child. Do you have any advice? I remember that you were actually good at helping other people.”

“Francesco, I can’t even relate to your problems. I don’t have a daughter, nor a son. I can’t think like a parent.” I raised my hands up in surrender.

“I know, but maybe you can be objective about the issue.” He almost pleaded me.

“Go on, then.”

“Well Yuuki is pretty antisocial when it comes to our family and all the events hosted by high society. I don’t know what to do with her. She avoids her mother, and sometimes she avoids me too. Yuuki and I were really close, and even though I know that she still loves her parents, I don’t understand why she doesn’t want to spend time with the family. I am concerned.”

“Talk to her. That is the best thing you can do right now. Reassure her. Make sure she understands you are here for her whenever she needs you. Eventually she will open up. Maybe she has a valid reason to be avoiding you, or high society in general. You just need to get to know that reason and be there for her.” I reasoned.

“Thank you, Christopher.” He smiled. He stood up and went to the mini bar “Do you want anything?”

“…a glass of scotch, if you please.”

“Scotch it is.” He said before taking two glasses and pouring the alcohol in them.

“Oh Christopher, do you plan to work with my husband ever again?” Misaki said while coming down the stairs.

“Hello Mrs. Carter.” I stood up and smiled sweetly at her.

“Please, call me Misaki, darling.” She came up to me and took my hands in her own. “How long has it been since I have seen you, Christopher?” she asked in a severe tone.

“I know, I know and I am sorry.” I said sincerely. “I will make it up to you, Misaki.”

“Good. That was what I wanted to hear.” Her signature smile was back on her face….and I swear I had seen it before….it was quite familiar. I had seen someone else smile like her…but who?

Francesco handed me the glass. “Thanks.” I said.

“Don’t worry, son.” He said in a gentle tone. “So…how are you? And this time don’t lie to me.”

Damn…that man knew me so well that he already knew something was wrong.

“It is just my father being his loathsome self.” I shrugged. “Nothing major, don’t worry.”

“Are you sure?” Francesco asked. Concern was written all over their face. “Because you know that you can work with me anytime. You can resign and come to Los Angeles, or even go back to Italy, if you want to.”

“I can’t. I am sorry. I have obligations towards my family, and although I would love to work for you again, that is not a possibility.”

“Well I tried.” Francesco said after shrugging.

“Come on, let’s go to the dining area. Fujiko will join us shortly.”

Dinner was absolutely perfect.

After Fujiko joined our party, it was even better. I didn’t remember she was so playful. She reminded me a lot of Allegra. The arguments of discussion at the dining table changed constantly, ranging from the latest political issue to the latest fashion show. That is how family should feel like. I was just sad that Francesco’s elder daughter didn’t  realize what she had.

Right now we were back in the living area conversing while listening to Schubert.

“Tell me, Chris…how’s life treating you?” Fujiko asked, a little concerned.

“Fujiko, don’t worry, I am fine. I swear!”

“Are you finally over that bitch?”

“I may be. I’m just not a hundred percent sure.” I answered sincerely.

“You will be fine. I tell you so.” She smiled, sure of what she was saying.

“Thanks. I really appreciate it.” I whispered in her ear.

“You are welcome.” She whispered back before starting giggling.

I chuckled “How’s university?”

“Can’t wait to get it over and done with. For now everything is good. I am really fond of my major and minor. Economics is my passion, and History as well.”

“Did you study something that concerned both?” I inquired.

“Yes. I have been taking Economic and Social History for a while now, and I enjoy it.”

“Do you already know what you want to do after University?”

“I’ll probably study for a master and work for my dad, but the plan is either to work for an NGO in Global Development or the IMF. I am glad that my parents are backing me.”

“Do you have any contact with the UN? My sister, Kirsten, is doing an internship there. If you need help…”

“Sure. I mean, my sister is working there, but I wanted to apply for the Internship and I have no idea how it is. I am pretty scared, actually.”

“Really, Yuuki works for the UN? I didn’t know that.”  I said surprised.

“Yes, she does. And she absolutely loves it.” She smiled.

“A friend of mine works at the UN headquarters, but she works mostly in the Human Rights department.”

“What’s her name? Maybe Yuuki knows her.”

“Her name is Allegra. Yuuki may know her. For what I’ve been told she is kind of popular in the workplace. You remind me  a lot of…what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Fujiko stared at me with her green eyes wide, mouth agape. A look of plain disbelief on her face. “You say her…her name is Allegra?” she inquired.

“Yes. Why?” I asked, confused.

“Ehm…nothing…believe me, it’s nothing.” She smiled uncomfortably.

I looked at my watch. “It is time for me to go. How long are you staying here Fujiko?”

“As soon as Thanksgiving pass by, I am back to campus.”

“Well maybe I’ll see you before that.” I shrugged.

“Cool.” She smirked.

I looked at her confused but I got interrupted because Francesco wanted to talk to me.

“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?”

“Nothing. I’ll probably spend it with my sister, why?”

“Do you wanna spend it with us? Your sister can come as well.”

“I can’t give you an answer. Father may ask us to spend it with him. We will see. Now I have to go. It is already over midnight and I have things to attend to.”

“Are you sure you can’t stay a little more?” Misaki asked, pleaded.

“Yes, I have to go, but I’ll call you.” I reassured them.

“Drive safe.” They smiled at me.

Misaki and Fujiko hugged me, while Francesco just gave me his hand to shake.

“Bye.” They said unanimously.

“Bye.” I smiled back and exited the penthouse.

That was the kind of family I always wanted. That was fun.

I heard my I-phone vibrate in my pants’ pocket. I took it out. The screen showed that I had received a text…from Allegra.

It said:

‘I hope you have fun with your friend, who is a he, and his family (or if you lied to me, than have fun with your date.) Your friend x’

I grinned. I knew I was over Caterina, now. I cared for Allegra, deeply. She was quickly becoming a major part of my life, and right now I was glad to call myself her friend.

But I wanted more. So much more….