The Reyes II.

Chapter 7 

Luciano David Reyes sat on one of the sofas in his grandfather's office. This morning, he woke up with a headache due to last night's event. The welcome party finished late. Not only that, his grandmother introduced him to the whole town and it exhausted him.

The old woman is proud of him, there is no doubt.

Just like his father, he had achieved a lot in life. Luciano became a CEO at the age of 20, and he built his own company, adding it to his family's empire.

"Hello, big brother," a teen girl walked into the room. She was still in her pink pajamas. It was very clear that the message of the meeting just got to her. She came downstairs with her face unwashed.

"Good morning, Rosa," Luciano-David smiled as his sister slumped onto the sofa beside him. "How was your night?"

"Are you asking?" Rosa rolled her eyes. She looked exactly like their father. Tall and slim with two striking gray eyes. "We spent the night partying and just this morning, my phone rang, and Aunt Carolina called to ask if the meeting had started."

"Oh, I'm sorry about that, dear," he put a hand around her shoulders, drawing her into his arms. He kissed her forehead. "I don't think it will take long. You can go to bed after."

"I hope so," Rosa muttered under her brother's arms. She loved it when he put on that fatherly character on set. It killed her. She knew for sure that her big brother was the best in the world, and he would die for her without giving it a thought.

"Good morning, cousins," a young man in his early twenties walked into the room with an older woman. He was Paul Reyes, Rosa and Luciano-David's cousin. The woman was his mother.

The Reyes family was a big family. The oldest living members were Grandpa and Ma Reyes, who had four sons; Julio, Simon, Miguel and Alonzo. They were married to the love of their lives.

The women of the family were still alive except for Alonzo's wife, who died during the child's birth. It was one of the most painful moments for Reyes.

After her death, he did not take another wife. Alonzo pushed his love for his sweet daughter. He cares less about himself or his love life.

Julio, Luciano-David's father, got married to the best woman ever. She was the love of his life and the woman who made his life more meaningful. She gave him two lovely children, Luciano and Rosa.

Simon and Carolina were Paul's parents. He had two other daughters who were yet to return to Santa Marta.

"Good morning aunt… Paul," Luciano let go of his sister. He hugged his cousin and showed him where to sit.

"Who called for this meeting?" Mrs Simon asked. She left the house in a hurry when she got the message. Their home was five minutes' drive away.

"I have no idea, aunt. We have to wait," Luciano-David shook his head. His mother told him to come downstairs. She did not say a word about the meeting.

They waited for some minutes and the once empty room became crowded with other members of the family.

They continued whispering until Luciano's grandma walked into the room.

Everyone became silent. They respected their grandparents so much. The Reyes family believed that respect and love kept the family going for centuries.

"I called for this meeting," the elderly woman with long white hair tied to a bun spoke. She wore glasses that settled at the tip of her nose. Her tone was serious as she continued "I know this is inconvenient, but I wanted to warn the family, most especially the children, of a potential disaster."

"What could it be?" Mr. Julio asked his mother. She was good at meetings like that. Sometimes, she would call the whole family just to punish one who had gone astray. Her methods were extreme, but they worked for the time.

"The Jimenez family," Grandma Reyes gave a disdainful look. The name brought nothing but sorrow and frustration. It reminded her of the past…a past she would never forget nor forgive!

**

Luciano stared at his grandmother for a while. He was wondering who Jimenez were and what did they do to earn her hatred.

His grandma was a sweet soul, if things go sour, She might unleash the hidden dragon in her.

"Is there something you are not telling us?" he asked with eyes darted. Luciano was expecting an explanation as to why the family saw Jimenez as trouble.

"My cousin is right, granny. You are hiding something away from us," Paul added. He was not built like Luciano, yet his physique turned heads upside down. His beautiful thin lips moved slowly each time he talked.

There was a suffocating silence that filled the room. The elders became comfortable as they looked at each other with the hope that one of them would be able to help.

Luciano wondered how long this would go on. It was obvious that the family they were forbidden from having contact with. There was a danger "are we dealing with mafias?"

"No sweet," his mother answered. Her facial expression changed as well. "We had a problem with Jimenez' family. I don't want you to get caught in it."

"Avoid them no matter," grandmother added. She stood up from the seat and turned to the direction her grandchildren were. "I made a mistake yesterday. I should have invited them to the party yesterday so that y'all would know them."

Luciano was confused. He knew whatever happened between Jimenez and his family years ago was terrible and unforgettable. He was expecting an explanation or a story.

"I am trying to understand, but you should tell us what happened," he pleaded.

"There is no need for that if you stay away from them" Sir Julio said. He noticed his wife was beginning to tear. She must have recalled the tragic incident.

Grandmother's gaze shifted to Julio's wife. Poor woman, she was already tearing "Take your wife away,"

"I am fine," Mrs. Julio answered, placing a hand on her head. She didn't want the children to think that she knew what happened years ago.

"If you say. The meeting is over," the old woman sat back. She looked at Luciano. He had many questions running through his mind. Sooner or later, he would like to have answers. "Luciano, please take your baby cousin to the market. She will start school in two days."

"I will, granny," he replied. His little cousin, Teresa, was still sleeping upstairs. She was the youngest member of the family.

Her mother, Alonzo's wife, died after giving birth to her. Luciano's mother took care of her as if she was her daughter.

"I will come along," Mrs Julio smiled. She was feeling tired, but her strength came when grandmother mentioned her little baby. "Can we go to the market this morning?"

"Sure, I will go and freshen up then," Luciano excused himself. He knew the meeting was over when grandmother placed responsibility on him. The elders were hiding something away from them.

He would find out whatever it is.

**