"Father"
He walked into the study sitting down before his father even told him to. Another out of character thing he had done today. His father looked up from his document, sharp icy blue eyes piercing into his as of they could to see his soul. He probably couldn't, if he could he'd cringe to death. His father went back to the report on his desk ignoring him completely.
Jayden let his eyes roam around the study. The room was big one. Almost like a library with floor to celiling book shelves on three sides while the fourth was a floor to celilng window that would have shown a beautiful garden and the sea beyond if not for the fact that the sun had not risen yet. In front of the window sat two arm chairs facing each other with a three piece center table in between. Looking at the arm chairs in the dull pre dawn light made him remember a memory that came with the echo of a slap.
*slap
Little Jayden's cheek stung.
"How many times have I told you to stop your childish play and focus on your future?"
"Do you think you are too young to care about such things?"
He had seen other children in his school flying paper kites, tho private and prestigious, they still wanted the children to experience their childhood to the fullest. Silly him thought he would be able to make a kite and play with it since his parents weren't home and it was a windy day. But who would have thought his mom's flight would be canceled because of the bad weather. He was just eight.
"I'm traveling to the Country V branch by 6 sharp."
His father's voice rang out waking him up from his trip down memory lane. Straight forward and cold as always. Never wasting time on pleasantries or asking about his well-being. But he remembered his father was supposed to go to Country Z today. His father spoke again
"You would be going to Country Z to take care of the issue there."
Right.
"Why?"
His response to his father should have been 'okay sir' as usual which was also what his father was expecting. Even he surprised himself. All the suppression and hiding behind masks was finally getting to him, he guessed. The tension in the room rouse, it was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Just when his father was about to say something, that probably would have something to do with disowning, his mum walked in like an overpriced walking art collection. She wore a three piece jewelry that sparkled even in dull light with a light blue outfit of the best material to match. His mum liked being the most extravagant person in the room and she's definitely liked living up to that reputation.
"Jays." she called, he cringed internally. He hated that nickname if made him sound like and over ripe fruit.
"Mother." He didn't dare call her mom her face. She kissed his cheek while checking for lines, pimple or any sign that he missed a skincare routine. Which is actually the only reason why she'd kiss him.
As expected "There are lines on your forehead, aren't you sleeping well?"
Without giving him a chance to reply she continued
"You need as much sleep as possible to maintain a good appearance. Or did you miss a facial routine?"
She asked like it was something scandalous narrowing her eyes to a slit.
"No mother. None of that. I will take better care of my appearance."
And that was all it took to make her look away from him to her husband. His father looked up at them and said to Jayden
"Get yourself ready for the flight to country Z by 7am. Your mother and I have discussed your marriage to Lucy Lambert."
Lucy of Lambert. Jayden snorted barely audible but it was there.
His father didn't hear or pretended not to and continued
"When you come back from Country Z a date has already been fixed to for you to see her so you can know each other."
"And make plans for the wedding. Oh I'm going to shop for bridal clothes with Lucy today." His mother chirped in. Of course everyone was already aware except him.
But…
He would rather die.