Meeting Mr. Mogul(45)

Beside me, my father smiled at my enthusiasm as he gestured for William  to get out of the car. I didn't notice that the two men in front had  already gotten out as they opened the door for us. I didn't think twice  and followed William after he got out while my father exited on the  other side of the car.

In that moment, I had forgotten what happened in the past few hours-how I  treated William so begrudgingly and how he constantly kept invading my  privacy. Why can't he just give up? And why can't I get away from him?





Twenty-Nine





After William ushered us to our seats in the field box as he had  promised, he left us for a moment as he went to greet the friend who  gave him the ticket. I turned my gaze on William as he walked towards  his friend. He looked almost identical to him, wearing an expensive  suit. He was a foot shorter than William with dark brown hair styled  neatly. I watched their mouths move as they talked in hushed tones.

"So, what did you do to the man to have him do all of this?" my father quietly asked a few minutes after William left us.

"What? I didn't do anything …  I think … " I replied as I stared at him in  disbelief. But then, I looked away when I remembered the kiss William  and I shared yesterday morning. I could feel my cheeks suddenly heat up  from the memory.

"Did you apologize for yesterday?" he asked sternly, ignoring my blush.

"Why does it have to be me who has to apologize? He was the one who  crossed the line," I replied in defense, annoyed that my own father was  siding with him.

In reply, my father looked at me blankly. He kept that expression until I  gave in and sighed in defeat. "Okay. Fine," I concluded with  resignation.

I stood up from my comfortable seat and stomped my foot with much  emphasis that I didn't like what I was about to do. My father watched me  in amusement and chuckled at my reaction. I was about to take a step  towards the door when I staggered back as I bumped into someone. I was  about to apologize but halted my words at the man's familiar voice.   





 

"I'm sorry. You shouldn't walk out like that, you know," William stated smugly.

"Well, I was about to make sure if these seats are for real and not you  pranking me into believing that you actually got these seats," I  countered in a dead tone. My plan on apologizing had evaporated. Who  would want to apologize to a person that has this kind of  high-and-mighty attitude?

I faintly heard my father's cough in disapproval as I saw his head shake  in disbelief in my peripheral vision. I didn't waver and continued to  stare William down.

"If you are trying to say thank you, you could have done it with a  little less bitter face." William grinned cheekily after a few seconds  while he kept his eyes on me. I can't believe he brushed off my mood.

I sneered at him as I turned away, ending that conversation. I slowly  sat down on my seat beside my father while William took the empty seat  on my left. When we've finally settled down, I realized that we had the  same seating arrangement when we were in the car and I didn't like it.  Would it be weird to ask my dad to change seats with me?

With a sneaky glance towards my father on my right, I gave him a silent  signal to change seats with me. But my father's mind was somewhere else.  His eyes were fixed on the huge baseball field in front of us. For a  second, I swear the fire in his eyes was palpable. Now, I'm doomed to be  seated in this chair until the end of the game.

During the short breaks when the teams would switch from pitching to  batting, I casually talked with my father so that I wouldn't have to  converse much with William. And when we did talk, it was on an  unpleasant note. William asked me which team I would be cheering for and  the answer I had given him made his face turn sour. We both bickered  from time to time about the team each of us was supporting because  somehow in his mind, he thought that his team was going to win. From a  realistic standing point, the team I was cheering for was winning  without breaking much sweat-exaggeration intended.

The game was about to end and much to my dismay, my team was on the  verge of losing. We were screaming at the top of our lungs as we cheered  and shouted for the last pitch. William and I were on the edge of our  seats as we watched the ball getting hit on the ninth inning. I was so  absorbed by the game that mentally I was praying for them to get a home  run.

"Yeah!" I yelled in exultation as the ball flew high up towards the far  end of the field as the batter ran through the bases. "We won! We won!  Home run!" I screamed as I jumped out of my seat and fist pumped the air  above me.

Beside me, I heard the sweet laugh of my father as he eyed me with  amusement. On my left, William looked defeated yet the smile on his lips  showed that he wasn't too disappointed.

As we slowly made our way back to the car, I was still hyped up from the  game as I talked about the game with my father. I had forgotten about  everything that had happened. This was supposed to be about my father  but why do I feel like he did this for me?

After talking to my dad, I glanced towards William. When I found the  space beside me empty, I was slightly disoriented. I stopped dead in my  tracks as I turned around, scanning the crowded hallway for William.

"Who are you looking for?" his deep voice suddenly whispered behind me.

I jumped in surprise as I turned around at the sound of his voice.  William sniggered at my reaction and continued to look at me in  amusement.

"I was looking for your losing face," I replied in playful annoyance, my good mood hadn't died down.

"You like looking at me?" he asked with a smirk, his voice teasing.

My eyebrows scrunched up together at his question, as my face slowly  heat up. "No! I was looking for you to thank you for today. But, now, I  think I'll change my mind."

"I was only joking, Andy. Why do you always take things to heart?"

"I know that was a joke," I muttered shyly as I felt the stupidity of  what I just said. I don't know why I feel so bothered with this man.

"Come on. They're probably looking for us now," William changed the  subject with a defeated sigh as he turned towards the direction of the  car.

I didn't give him a reply and followed closely behind him. I didn't  notice that they left without us. When we reached the car, my father was  already inside while Mark started the car. As I entered the car,  sitting in the middle again, my father looked at me with a question in  his eyes. I knew he was asking me if I apologized and thanked William  for today. I turned away from his gaze, giving him my reply. I heard his  faint sigh again. I think he will be sighing a lot if we were going to  have this topic about William and me.   





 

The drive to my father's hospital was silent and agonizingly long. I was  left again to my thoughts as both men beside me looked out the window.  And here I thought I was having a blast a few minutes ago. I knew it was  my fault that both men aren't talking to me. So I had to gather my  confidence and talk to either of them. My first choice is quite obvious  already.

"How are you, Dad?" I asked, my voice ringing in the silent, confined space.

My father turned towards me with his eyebrow raised. He knew for sure  what I was trying to do. "Today's good," he replied softly. "Oh! I  almost forgot … " he started, pausing as he leaned forward to look over at  William. "Thank you for today, son. I had a great time watching a  baseball game live. Plus, the bunker seat was just a cherry on top."

"No problem, Mr. Peterson. I'm glad that you enjoyed it," William replied and returned his enthusiasm with a smile.

I peered at my father and William as they made the exchange. I quickly  looked away when my eyes lingered longer as William smiled. On my left,  my father lightly nudged me, which made me glance back at him. He stared  at me for a second and looked at William and back at me again. I  squinted my eyes at him and looked away. I didn't dare myself to look  back at either side of me.

"My daughter says her thanks, too," my father suddenly said, making me whip my head animatedly at his direction.

"Uhm … " William softly replied beside me, hardening my gaze on my dad.

When my father finally looked at me, I mouthed to him "What are you  doing?" To which he replied by giving me a side-eye. My lips thinned  into a grim line as I continued to stare him. The end of his lips  suddenly twitched as he saw my expression.

"Don't be stubborn, peanut," he whispered to me before he went back to looking out the window.

I stayed silent after that and didn't bother striking up a conversation  with either of them. My father thanking William on my behalf made me  feel like I was indebted to him and it irked me to no end. Talking to  anyone at this point is no longer an option.

The car pulled up in front of the hospital and I've never felt more  relieved. I started to breathe normally as we got out of the car. I  didn't notice William getting out with us until my father talked to him.