Chris And Hazel - Volume 1 Chapter 50 49

‘Hazel we need to talk’ Chris said as he entered her room.

‘Ok…what is it?’ she asked her eyes focused on her laptop screen.

‘Can we start over?’ he asked as he walked over to her side.

‘What?’ she asked turning to look at him. Hazel didn’t expect Chris to ask such a question.

‘Can we start over? You know just like a normal couple without any more complications’ he explained sitting next to her.

‘We are a normal couple, Chris’ she told him as she closed her laptop.

‘No we aren’t! We both hold secrets from each other feeling the need to protect the other but it only leads to confusion’ he protested holding up a sullen look on his face.

‘Is this your way of getting me to tell you what happened in Grayson’s office?’ she asked suspicious about his sudden change in character.

‘I don’t wanna know’ he replied straightaway.

‘Are you sure?’ she asked holding back a smile. But it was clear Chris was serious.

‘There must be a reason you went there but the most important thing is you are back safe and that’s enough. I am sorry that I was rude to you’ he apologized looking at her.

‘That’s fine, hon! I know you were worried. Maybe we can start over’ she answered smiling at him.

‘Hi, I am Christopher Finch, heir of the Finch family. And you are?’ he asked introducing himself.

‘I am Hazel White! I am your girlfriend and I stay with you’ she answered breaking into laughter.

‘Haze..! I was building into something’ he argued like a ten-year old.

‘It doesn’t suit you’ she teased smiling at his childish behavior.

‘Fine..! Now talk to me. I am afraid that there is more to you than I know’ he requested as he took her to the balcony.

‘I could tell the same thing about you’ she replied as they stopped to stare down at the city scattered around.

‘Fair enough..! I’ll go first then’ he said accepting her criticism.

‘Really..? No more excuses?’ Hazel asked totally surprised by his behavior today.

‘Yeah, why not..? The only reason I wanted to keep you in the dark was because I didn’t want you involving into it but you are quite determined to get involved no matter if you know or not. So I better tell you’ he answered looking at her.

‘Okay..! I am listening’ she said leaning into his arms as Chris stared into a distance as the past swamped in.

‘No Adam, stop supporting him! He’s not a kid anymore. As days pass by, it’s like I am raising the prodigal’s son. And there’s nothing you can do about it. We are happy that you passed your CEH exam and there are plenty of opportunities filling in to hire you. It has always been your dream since childhood and I don’t want to meddle with that’ Vincent told firmly looking at Adam who was standing beside the couch Chris was sitting in.

‘But he just started college dad’ Adam said defending his brother who was sitting there uninterested in the conversation going on.

‘Oh please! I am not asking him to take up the business right away. I don’t want us to be doomed. I am just asking Mr. Lazybones to start training’ his dad explained sighing.

‘Mr. Finch, how come you let Adam go for his dream but I have to come and look after our business. What about my dream?’ Chris asked speaking up for the first time since the conversation started.

‘Good question, Mr. Finch! Answer is pretty simple. You don’t HAVE A DREAM!’ his dad answered in an annoyed tone.

‘I do’ Chris argued back.

‘Let me hear about it then’ Vincent said siting down ready to listen to him.

“Oh boy! I don’t like where this is going” Adam thought as he stood in between the tension that kept building between his brother and father.

‘Well…’ Chris stammered as he tried to come up with an answer.

‘You can’t even come up with a lie’ his dad said shaking his head in dismay, leaving the place.

‘See, I can’t lie. Isn’t that enough for you to know that I won’t become a good businessman’ Chris yelled loud enough for his father to hear.

‘Chris, stop!’ Adam said trying to calm down his brother.

‘Adam, how can I do something if I don’t love it?’ Chris asked getting frustrated.

‘But Chris, you are aware that one of us has to take up the company, right?’ Adam asked looking at his brother.

‘Yeah..! Maybe I just need some time to think about it!’ Chris said sighing heavily.

‘Don’t push yourself okay? I’m always here if you need anything’ Adam consoled placing his hands on Chris’ shoulders.

‘I know! Thanks for stepping in. You are the best!’ Chris said smiling at his brother before leaving the living room.

‘Ed, what am I supposed to do?’ Chris asked his best friend as they sat in Chris’ bedroom deeply in thought.

‘I say, go for it!’ Ed answered right away.

‘Not funny, dude! You know I am not interested in my Family business, never was. I want to build my own empire, not just take over something that my dad had paved for me’ Chris elucidated growing irritated.

‘Just tell him then’

‘Yeah, like he understand’ Chris said laughing at his friend’s idea.

‘He’s worried that I am becoming a spoiled rich brat and can’t stand up on my own. At least, Adam’s going to do something he loves’ Chris continued wearing a pained smile on his face.

‘That’s because you don’t something like that’ Ed teased.

‘Shut up! You sound like my dad now’ Chris commented throwing a pillow at his friend.

‘Dad, can we talk?’ Adam asked as he entered the study room.

‘Yeah..! What is it Adam? Is something wrong?’ Vincent asked removing his study glasses.

‘Is that okay if I take over our business?’ he asked sitting next to his dad.

‘Why? What’s wrong? You always wanted to become a hacker, right? Now that you are going for it why do you wanna quit?’ his dad perturbed over his sudden change in heart.

‘It’s just there are no good agencies that are accepting my resume’ he answered looking away.

‘But you were among the top students. Adam, tell me what’s really wrong?’ His dad asked sensing that something was wrong.

‘Do you not want me to?’ Adam asked quickly so that he doesn’t have to answer his dad.

‘No lad! You were my first choice but I didn’t want to come in between your dream because I know how much hard work you have put into it but why are you suddenly giving it away?’ his dad replied still demanding an answer.

‘It’s just that I was always interested in our business and there is just so much I can learn from you’ Adam answered still avoiding eye contact with his dad.

‘You are doing this for Chris, right?’ Vincent asked guessing right.

‘Of course not..! I am really…inte…interested’ he answered covering up the fact that he was exposed.

‘Are you sure? Hope you are making this decision in haste’ Vincent said hoping Adam wasn’t making a bad decision.

‘I did’ Adam answered nodded firmly.

‘Fine, that’s okay with me. Welcome Aboard’ his dad answered after thinking for a while.

‘Good night dad!’ he said getting up.

‘Adam?’

‘Yeah dad’

‘You are a good brother’ he said smiling at Adam.

‘Don’t tell Chris anything, he’ll feel bad’ Adam pleaded looking at his dad.

Vincent nodded slowly sighing heavily.

“Daddy, did you know if I become a hacker I could totally control everything from just my desk? I am gonna become a best in the world. And then I will work for our country and protect it from other hackers” the eleven-year old Adam yelled rushing over to his dad who was returning home.

“Of course you will! You will be the best” Vincent encouraged looking at his innocent son beaming with joy.

‘Dad..?’ Adam called out shaking Vincent off his thoughts.

‘Okay Adam, I won’t! Vincent promised as he watched Adam leave the room.

‘Hey Champ! Still worried?’ Adam asked entering Chris’ room.

‘Yeah..! I am trying to figure out what to do’ he answered as Adam sat beside him.

‘You know, it’s kinda funny. I always wanted to take over our business but dad on the other hand is forcing you to’ Adam said looking at Chris.

‘You are kidding, right?’ Chris asked in disbelief.

‘No, why will I? I am really interested’ Adam replied in turning serious.

‘But you always wanted to become a hacker, right? You even passed your exam’ Chris answered puzzled by Adam’s confession.

‘Why does everybody think the same? I was just interested in that and nothing more’ he explained looking away from Chris.

‘Adam, please stop playing’

‘No, idiot’ Adam said assuring his brother that he wasn’t fooling around.

‘Then please tell dad’ Chris begged elated over Adam’s confession.

‘No, I can’t! Not when he’s asking you to take over’ Adam said hesitating slightly.

‘No, you were always dad’s first choice. Since you wanted to become a hacker, he stopped bothering you’ Chris said convincing his brother.

‘So, should I ask him?’ Adam asked giving Chris an unsure look.

‘Yes, yes and Yes’ Chris yelled happily.

‘Okay then’ Adam replied happy to see Chris beaming with joy.

‘You are the best’ Chris said hugging Adam overjoyed.

‘Dear Adam,

                    We are pleased to confirm you have been selected to work for our company…’

Adam closed the mail, not wanting to read further. It had been a few days since he told Vincent that he was ready to take over their business and this was his tenth confirmation mail and his heart ached as he rejected all of them. He couldn’t go over the entire mail, the grief grew intense with each word he read and so he quickly drafts a mail politely declining the offer.

Adam opened his inbox to reply to that mail when he heard his father say;

‘That’s quite a company, why are you rejecting it?’ Vincent asked walking over to Adam, who was sitting in the study room.

‘I’ve made my decision dad’ he answered hiding away his sadness.

‘I know that’s why I have a gift for you’ Hid dad replied sitting next to him.

‘What?’

‘I bought you a new company’ his dad replied smiling at him.

‘So?’

‘I bought you a private Cyber security company and it has been licensed and certified’ Vincent replied smiling.

‘You did?’ Adam shouted in joy.

‘Yeah but you’ll have to take care of the remaining things because you know it’s your company’ Vincent replied trying to give Adam a serious look.

‘You won’t be disappointed’ he answered still smiling.

‘I know! You can look after your Cyber security company for now and then slowly start managing the other ones’ Vincent added trying to compensate for the sacrifice Adam was undertaking.

‘Thanks dad. Thank you so much’ he replied filled with gratefulness.

‘It’s nothing. You were willing to give up your dream for your brother so this is the least I could do’ Vincent said patting Adam’s shoulder.

Chris stumbled at the door as he heard the last sentence his father just spoke. He blacked out for a second. He had no idea. He ran back to his room filled with guilt.