CHAPTER FOUR - She's my slave

         DRAKE

The next day I went to work as usual and ordered my driver and one bodyguard to go get Carina to the mansion. I called her to inform her to get ready and not make me lose my patience. No one messes with me and actually goes scot-free. 

I was working on some files in my office when someone barged in. I know who always does this. 

Joe Reuben. 

My crazy best friend. He sat on the chair in front of me and stared without saying anything. I always get suspicious when he looks at me like that. 

      "Tell me everything I need to know right now. What did you do to that pretty girl? Did you kill her? Is she being held captive and punished? Are you sure you're not yet out of your fucking mind?." 

I sighed and palmed my face. 

      "You asked me more than one question at once Joe. Can you just calm down and let me explain." 

He scoffed and folded his hands. 

       "Well start talking Drake." 

   I rolled my eyes. 

      "First I didn't do anything to her. Second she's not being held captive or punished. Not yet but she's going to become my slave."

   He frowned. 

     "Slave? Who does that? What do you mean slave like you bought her or something? Why don't you just report her to the police and let her pay for her crimes rather than stress yourself. Or are you somehow interested in her?."

  I nodded.

        "Yes I am. You know I can't let a thing like that just slide so forget about getting me off her back. It's not gonna work at all." 

     "I really hope you don't regret this whole revenge slavery thing. I'm out of here." He stood up. 

I know he's not leaving. He's just going to flirt with some of my female employees and come back. Sometimes I think he's worse than I am in that aspect. 

      "Going to play around again. You really are annoying sometimes." I said facing my computer. 

      "A man has got to live bro. I'll be back later." With that he walked out. 

I heaved a sigh of relief. At least he's no longer on my neck for now. He's the only true and best friend I have and the only one who can talk to me the way he does. Aside from my mother. 

Thinking about what he said. What if he's right and I'm just using an excuse to get her on my side? But I don't like her the way he's thinking. I do like her because she seems useful and fierce. Besides I only want to teach her a lesson that stealing from me is totally a bad idea. I'm really going to finish early so I can see my mom. She must feel lonely sometimes since her two sons aren't living with her. 

My little brother Jeremy who's twenty-four lives in Australia as a doctor and he's doing well there. Mom misses him a lot, he comes home once in a while and she also goes to see him. 

Since I'm closer to her, she makes sure she watches over me like I'm a baby. I really don't blame her for loving us too much. 

My useless father used to be a drunkard. He chased Mom out of his life after bringing in another woman and asked her to take us with her. Its a good thing Mom's not from a poor family else I really don't know what I'm going to say my life would be right now. 

  After closing from work, I went to my Mom's mansion. Is there a special occasion that Mom's preparing a feast? I mean the maids are moving up and down with trays of food. 

      "Darling you're here. I've been waiting for you so long. Why did you take so long?." Mom hugged me. 

I rolled my eyes. Mom's acting like its been years since she last saw me. Its only been a few days. Maybe I'll have to move abroad too. The only problem is that Mom may be broken if I do that to her. 

       "Stop Mom. You're treating me like a child." I frowned. 

    She scoffed. 

      "I don't care if you're grown now but you'll always be my baby. I used to carry you in my arms you know."

     "Mom... You're unbelievable. I'm here Mom. You said you needed to see me urgently. Is there a problem?." I asked sitting on the couch in the large living room. 

  She sat beside me with a serious face. Okay I'm not getting a good feeling about this. I know what happens when my Mom has that face. I hope she's not about to preach to me again today. 

       "Son, I really don't want to preach to you or disturb you but you know its necessary I say this. I'm a mother and I only want the best for my sons. You're not getting any younger at all Drake. Please try to get into a serious relationship like your brother Jeremy."

  I stood up from the couch. Why does she always do this? Why does she always have to bring my brother up every time she talks about my life? Am I gonna have to start living with comparing myself to my brother every time now?

Sometimes I wonder if my Mom is African that she's always emphasizing on me getting married like I'm that old. I don't even know if I'll ever get married because I don't plan to. I always see marriage as a cage I may not get out of. I can't even commit myself to someone not to talk of getting married. That's so not my style. 

       "Mom please. Not today." I said and went to the bar to pour myself a drink.

      "Please don't get me wrong darling. I'm not comparing you to your brother neither am I pressuring you to get married. All I'm saying is please get into a serious relationship and stop playing around. You don't have to get married right away. It could be three years or more but the main point is for you to live a good and fruitful life. I'm only fighting for your happiness." She explains. 

  I sighed and drank the scotch. 

      "Mom. You know I can't commit myself to anyone. It's so hard and besides there's no girl that catches my attention. After what I did to that innocent girl in high school, I can't forgive myself enough to be with another girl. I don't deserve to be happy knowing I did that to someone's daughter." 

Even if I wanted to be happy the pains of the past just won't let me be. Every night the image of the girl I hurt keeps replaying in my head even though I don't know what she looks like. I was heartbroken, I got drunk and made the worst mistake of my life. I've been heartless since then. I don't to imagine what that poor girl would have gone through during and after that time. 

      "You can't keep beating yourself up over past issues. You never meant to do it. Its not your fault Jessica did that to you. Please sweetie just give it a try at least. If it doesn't work on your side then I'll stop bothering you. Any girl you choose is okay by me." 

  I sighed. 

     "Fine Mom. I'll try. Happy?."

She nodded with a wide beautiful smile. I shook my head and poured myself another drink. 

     "Let's go have dinner son. I made a lot of your favorite food all by myself. I know you'll like it." She smiled. 

      "Great Mom. You know your cooking is the only acceptable cooking to me. I'm just trying to manage every other food." I replied rubbing my tummy. 

She laughed and led me to the dining room. I sat opposite her and the maids served our food. The aroma of my Mom's food already filled my stomach and I couldn't resist devouring the food like a hungry lion. Mom just watched me with a smile on her face. I didn't miss the love in her eyes also. If only she knows how much I love her and how she means the world to me. 

       "I have something else to talk to you about which is the main reason why I called you." She said after a while of silence.

She had a serious look again but it also shows she's worried about something. 

       "What's wrong mother? You look worried about something. What's bothering you?." I asked. 

       "Drake. I saw someone at the mall two days ago. Someone I've been avoiding for years and..."

     "Who did you see?." I cut her off. 

     "Your father Oscar." She blurted out. 

I dropped my fork with a straight cold look. I feel my whole body getting angry and upset. I hate hearing about that man called my father. To me he's dead a long time ago. 

       "Where did you see him Mom? What does he want?." I asked coldly. 

      "He apologized and said he wants us back. He said he's been searching for us for years. He couldn't find me since I changed my surname and he didn't have enough resources. He said he was blind and stupid to have sent us away in the first place. He's sorry." She replied.

I shook my head. 

      "Tell me you didn't believe that lie Mom."

I sighed and palmed my face. I can't believe Mom went through pain all these years only to start pitying my heartless father. I already lost my appetite. 

     "I have to go now Mom. We'll see tomorrow. Good night." I kissed her and left ignoring her calls. 

I don't want to stay there for long and vent my anger on her so I have to leave.