Chapter - 20

Monday,

The most awaited day for Alex finally came. He got up earlier than usual, prepared breakfast, and by nine o'clock, the whole family was ready to leave for work together.

After breakfast, when Alex and George were waiting for Martha to come, George dragged Alex to the sides.

"Son, listen to me and listen very carefully". George said.

Alex had never seen George talk to him with such seriousness. He nodded and forwarded his ear towards him, listening to him attentively.

"Work hard". George said.

"Yes, Dad," Alex nodded in affirmation. He was going to do that even if he did not say that.

"But don't just focus on work". George continued, "I don't want you bringing work to this house. The moment you do it, I will throw you out of this house, no questions asked." George warned Alex.

"Uhh..." Alex was left speechless. He looked at George with the strangest expression he could come up with.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" George asked with his brows raised. He didn't say anything wrong, so why was Alex looking at him like that?

"Aren't parents supposed to advice their children to work harder than others?" Alex asked.

"It's for those who don't have any other alternative. In your case, even if they decide to fire you, so be it. You can just come to my company, no need to worry about that. I am already being lenient enough to allow you to work somewhere else". George said. For him, what mattered more right now was that Alex should focus on was to find himself a girlfriend.

Alex was left speechless. Well, if you put yourself in George's shoes, Alex could relate to why his father would say so. Even the neighbours would flaunt their children and their love life in front of them. If their younger son was here, he would be bringing a new girl every weekend to make her meet them, but Alex was different. Alex was all goody-goody and acted shy in front of the opposite sex. The girls liked him the instant he talked to them because of his nature, but he was unable to hold a long conversation with them. All in all, his father's worries were genuine, and on the mark, and for that, Alex has decided to do whatever he can and find himself a nice girl.

"Then, what am I suppose to focus on?" Alex asked for further guidance from his father.

"Theation is a paradise for men, you must keep that in mind," George said, to which Alex nodded. He heard this a lot the day he went there for the interview. "And you are among the few chosen ones, bestowed upon the privilege to work there..." George parleyed upon Alex his teachings.

"You can say that," Alex agreed.

"Tell me, son, what do you do when you come across a garden full of beautiful flowers?" George asked.

"We admire it," Alex said.

"That's what kids do. Pros, pluck a flower, and legends like your father, sweep the garden clean," George said further.

"Well... I will think about it" Alex could only agree.

"What is there to think? Just go there with a bang, and make sure no one looks down on you. Am I clear? Don't drag the name of Rutherford's in the mud with you. When I was young, the number of girlfriends I had before I married your mother was in hu... hu...hu..., I mean hundred of girls followed me. But I just followed your mother like a lost puppy, right honey?" George said as he bragged about his glorious past. But as he turned around, he saw Martha staring at the father-son duo with meaningful eyes. George could only swallow what he wanted to say and tried to flatter Martha.

Martha didn't say anything. She continued to stare at George with batting her eyelashes. George had his heart in his mouth with the silent treatment Martha was giving him.

"I guess we are going to have a long, meaningful discussion tonight," Martha said, and without giving the father-son duo another look, walked out of the house, leaving the two behind.

George sighed. Now he could only resign to his fate and hope that Martha forgets all about this by night.

He looked at Alex with pity in his eyes, "Alex, this is the second time I got into trouble for you. Don't you have a shred of pity for your father?" George asked, "Youngsters these days are already becoming dads at your age. And you? Ahh... I am disappointed in you" George said this and walked out, shaking his head.

Alex was left stunned, standing in the living room alone. 'Was he really such a big disappointment?' He couldn't help but think.

"Where are you stuck? Coming or not?" George called out for Alex.

"Coming!"

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