Chapter 6

Dion saw the things written about him on tabloids. His name was tarnished yet again. He had to remind himself that some people really wanted to destroy him, even mere maids. But Daphne’s case was not that at all. It was only ‘one thing led to another and another to disaster’ type of situation. He did not want face Daphne again; he only wanted the next day to come so that he would leave for his country already.

The next day came faster than expected. It was the early hours of the morning. Dion was all packed and ready to leave that darned place. Liam and Thandi would follow him as usual. All of their bags were already tossed into the boot. Bowman was rather shocked when he saw the news. It was nothing new to see his son on the news but this time, it had gotten widespread. The people were even boycotting Dion from ever being the next CEO of his father’s company—the International Transport Service Unit (ITSU). That company employed a lot of people and these people were worried for their jobs if Dion was to become the next CEO.

Even Bowman, could not think of a good PR for the situation at hand. “When did this happen? Dion, how did this happen?”

Dion had nothing to say to his father. Dion was too frustrated to even talk.

“Dion, do you not know that this will make it harder for you to take over the company? Did you even think about that?” Bowman’s finger kept sliding on the tablet to see more of the articles going viral on the internet. Dion did want to bring up Daphne’s name but a big part of him hindered him as he thought his father would side with the young woman over him. Hence, it was pointless, he thought.

There entered Daphne, all sad and shy again. She did seem genuine holding that posture. “It was me; I did that. Sir Bowman, I called the news last night and this is how it has turned out. I am really sorry, sir.” She continued this time, her eyes locked with Dion’s, “I will leave this place instead. It doesn’t have to be you. I have caused you so much trouble. You must be thinking that I’m insane. I’m sorry for hurting your image like that—” Dion was only now beginning to admit to himself that this woman was indeed strong and fearless. He stood there without much to say.

“Daphne!” Bowman was shocked. “You did this to my son?! You have just ruined my son’s career; don’t you know that? Couldn’t you come to me; couldn’t anyone tell me what was going this whole time?!”

“I have already packed every ‘rag’ I own. I wanted you to see me leave, hence, you may rest assured,” she started walking out.

“Wait,” Dion had forced the word out of himself. Daphne paused and turned to the man who could not bring his eyes to her. “Your sick mother depends on you,” he recited the words she once told him, “you depend on you. I mean, you depend on the job. Don’t leave the job for me. I am for greater things; this job is of no use to me.”

It was shocking, Dion let things slide—he sook no revenge. Liam managed to find Daphne alone, “Daphne. Daphne, you did good. You have made me very proud. No one’s salary is getting cut and Chef Clark is safe.”

However, Daphne was still worried about the news that continued to write on, more and more people were stepping forward to share their ordeal working with Dion. “Don’t stress about that.” Liam wanted to assure her, Liam did not want her to worry, “You’re not the first girl to get his name on the newspapers. He’s made a lot of headlines than you think.”

“Ow, Liam,” she embraced him. “That makes me feel a lot better. Thank you, Liam.” Daphne added, “Take care of him, Liam… for me.”

Liam was a bit disappointed, he hoped that she would worry about him and not Dion, so much. He began remembering the other conversation where he was about to ask her out.  He never could get the rest of the words out that night. He had dismissed that conversation. Maybe, if he had professed his love for her, she would have started to consider him. “I won’t leave his side.” He agreed to stay with Dion and take care of him for Daphne’s sake. “I mean, his behind.” It was kind of funny when he put it like that. It was a joke that Daphne easily understood—Dion always kept Liam behind as his butler. Hence, Liam was never at Dion’s side, he was at his behind. They giggled upon it.

……………………………………………………………………………...

Dion had a flash back of the events that went down in his father’s study, the previous day. This was when Daphne wanted to talk with Bowman but had to turn around because Dion was in there. The conversation he had with his father was about the CEO position of ITSU…

……………memory……………

Bowman had repeated himself again as always, “I am not giving you the company until you teach yourself how to communicate with people.”

“Big deal! If you just do not want to give me the company, just say it and stop lying about loving and communication. I don’t want to hear it!”

“Well then, kiss the opportunity goodbye. I won’t let you ruin the company I’ve worked hard on all my life. I put it where it is today because of a kind heart, not only hard work. What good is a ruthless man in a business, anyway?” Bowman started fiddling with the papers on his desk. “Every alliance will abandon ship and swim if you carry on like that. Tell you what, you just take the Metallic wholesalers in Durban and show me what you can do. I’ll be the judge if you’re ready for the big ITSU.”

Dion took a while to glare at the man who did not bother looking back. He hated that Bowman did not see his eyes; he banged the table so loud that it shook Bowman a bit. Bowman watched his son thrust away the chair and tramp out of the room. Bowman got back to his work.

…………memory……….

Naturally, Dion fussed at the decision at first, but he learned to accept it. Seeing the boycott online made it easier for him to settle for the new position at Metallic Wholesalers.

Dion was standing outside with his father, by the car. They were saying their goodbyes but Dion was feeling a little awkward. He was focusing his mind on other things than his father.

“Liam?!” Dion cried. “Geez, where is this Liam? He makes my life so hard!”

The father laughed it off, “Oh, Dion. So, you got your passport ready?”

“Yeah, sure, old man. Ow Liam, where is he? We should get going already! I’m going to leave him behind, I swear.”

“Son,” the father, calmly, was laughing. “Son, hey… Take it easy, okay? Are you missing me already? Is big bad boy Dion Hill missing daddy already? You don’t have to take it out on Liam.”

“Ow, come on. Get a grip! And did you really have to say that out loud?”

Like always, the father would laugh at his stubborn son. He pulled him by his elbow and tucked him right under his arm. He quickly embraced his son and let go. But Dion felt that that hug was not enough, he pulled his dad back and covered in him again.

//--I don’t really know but I… Somehow, I feel like I will not see him in a very long time and that just makes me sad. I cannot bear the pain. The void is building already. The flight is taking its toll on me. Looking down through this window makes me realise that I am really leaving him behind. Seeing these roof tops fading out of sight like that feels like watching my dad fade out of sight. It is rough with my soul.

Yeah, I get it, I came here a week ago and now I’m kind of going back to my life in Jo’burg. I get that we always meet to part again but I assure you this feeling is strange to me. It is so huge, and it is sore. I remember the last time I had it, it was when I heard of how my mother died.

Not that my father was dying or anything. And most certainly, I am not dying either! There’s a new life ahead of me. My dad is sending me to Durban to act CEO at Metallic Wholesaler—this is to test my skills. Soon, he will let me run The International Transport Service Unit (ITSU). Soon and very soon.

For years, my dad has been taunting me, telling me about love and respect, and especially love. I do love! I love the man! Surely, he cannot expect me to love the rest of the world. There are vultures out there and if anything, Chinua Achebe has taught me the dirty side of vultures. How they come on to you when you are already down. How they suck and choke on your guts. Yeah, I know, it’s disgusting! I feel sorry for those that fall victim to those bashed-in heads victimisers. I really do. Okay, I really don’t. I will have to care to feel sorry for them.

The only person I care about in this world is Bowman Hill. But I always come first, of course. So, those are the two people that matter in the course of living as far as I am concerned.

Anyway, I am glad that dad is able to let me be CEO. Of course, this Durban wholesaler business is just a test and maybe an experience to catching the bigger fish. No, make it shark. This shark that I’m talking about is ITSU. It is the only thing I have worked all my life for. It is what I have always been about. It is what has always defined me. ‘The boy who will someday be the owner of ITSU’. That is big! This is the beginning of something here. I feel that soon I will own ITSU.

Imagine me, love. That is a higher level of oxymoron, patching me and the word love in one sentence like that. People can be so creative with words. They make me want to bow down often, especially when they whine about love ‘conquers all’. Who believes any of that? They make it sound so great, like it is the only purpose of living, and as if without it, life is meaningless. And going as far as believing that love is joy? Heck, I have seen people cry because of love! Love is unconditional? Old men leave their wives every now and then for a younger woman. Love is selflessness? Tell me about love in the presence of ‘I’. Everything is ‘I’ these days.

How can love exist in a world where the word, ‘myself’ exists? I think it is foolishness to believe the lies surrounding ‘love’. People are dreaming. It is like they live in a different planet on earth. Every day is a day for them to dream on. I even hear some say they wait for the love of their lives. Is that not waste of time? Why sit around and mope and day-dream about a world that does not exist? --//