Chapter eight

Charles' POV

Mr Adams just left me in charge of everything while he left the company happily with Dave.  

I haven't seen this side of Mr Adams before. He looked so happy. I just hope the relationship they have between them becomes something of benefit to this company and not it's downfall. 

Well, however it may end, I still have work to do. 

Hilton POV

"No mom! What happened to the University we have here!?" I said in anger. 

"We know what's good for you Hilton and that university isn't good enough for you." My mom replied. 

"Really? You want what's best for me? Or maybe you just want to push me as far away as you can from Dave?" I replied. 

"That's enough Hilton! Not a single word! You are going to study abroad and that's final." My dad yelled. 

"But... But..." I said. 

"Not a single word young man. I know you only want to attend the university here so you can have your chances to continue meeting Dave. Well, news flash for you, that's not every going to happen! Now go to your room!" Dad said. 

I walked up the stairs to my room angrily. I even had some tears running down my cheeks. 

I and Dave has been childhood friends since we were five. We are the same age, so we got along very well.  

I really don't know the kind of hatred my parents have for him that hasn't subsided in all these years. I could have given Dave my phone number so that when in future, he would give me a call, but he is just so busy these days with his new job. Dad has already left for his meeting by now. It's five minutes after six already and he has a meeting by six. 

Hilton's mother POV

I know it hurts him now but he will thank us later. What we are doing is for his own good but he doesn't know it yet.  

Dave isn't a bad person but their friendship is a distraction for my son. We don't hate him at all, even though Hilton thinks so. 

Hilton spends most of his time with Dave and can hardly create time for his books. I see him almost everytime at night, trying to stay awake and read but he always doses off to dreamland.  

I remember quite well when we went abroad for a year. Hilton was at the top of his class. He would always have an "A" in every subject but ever since we returned home and he continued his friendship with Dave, he dropped to just "C" and "D".

I don't know why he didn't notice this at all on his own. 

Dave POV

Mr Adams continued asking me questions about myself. He asked me what I want to be when I grow up, what kind of life I imagined my self being in in the next ten years of my life. He even asked some minor things like, my favorite colour, food, sports and so on. 

I never knew that he would ask me so much questions. It was so stressful but I answered all.  

When I told him I wanted to own a company like he did, he told me that I can't match up to him. I became shocked. I looked at him in surprise. I never expected such response. He then burst into laughter and told me he was just joking and that I should have seen the look on my face. 

I and Mr Adams have been in the restaurant for the past forty minutes now. 

I enjoyed his company in the restaurant but sometimes he would speak in a way I can't quite understand. We were done from the restaurant and it was time for Mr Adams to pay the bill. 

Mr Adams took out his wallet and searched through it then counted the amount and gave it to the waiter.  

"Let's go. I'll drop you home" He said. 

I nodded. 

We entered the car together and he started the car. 

"Tell me something about your family." He said. 

"Me?" I asked.  

What a dumb response. Of course it's me. No one else is in the car but us. 

"Yes, of course you." He replied. 

"What do your parents do for a living?" He asked. 

"My father died three years ago and my mother just stays home. She doesn't have a job. I'm the only one working to feed the both of us." I replied. 

"That's fascinating. I'm quite impressed. Most widows I see around here do all the work, even if their children are old enough to help." He said.  

"Thank you sir." I replied. 

"You know what Dave?" He asked. 

"No sir. What?" I replied. 

"I want to help you and your mother out. You dress so well so you should live in a good home too." He said. 

"What are you trying to say sir?" I asked with a confused look on my face. 

"I want you two to move from that place to one of the houses owned by my company." He said.  

"I really don't want to be a burden to you sir." I replied quite surprised. 

I never expected that he would make such an offer. 

"And I don't think I and my mother can afford to pay rent in a big house." I added. 

"Oh, no no no. It's free, think of it as a gift from me to you." He replied. 

"Thank you sir. You don't know how much this means to me and my mother." I said with tears in my eyes. 

"Don't worry about it Dave." He said. 

"I'll be coming to your place tomorrow to talk to your mother about it in person." He added. 

"Okay sir, thank you once again sir." I replied. 

"Don't mention." He replied. 

We finally reached my house and he stopped the car. I turned to look at him and he seemed to have gotten lost in his thoughts. 

"Any problem sir?" I asked. 

He didn't respond. I don't know how he could have just trailed off immediately after stopping his car. 

"Hello. Sir?" I said and he still didn't respond. 

I don't know if it was the right thing to do but I took the risk and clapped at his face. 

In front of his face not on it. 

He finally snapped out of it. 

"What did you do that for?" He asked. 

"I'm so sorry sir but I've been calling you for the past five minutes but you weren't responding." I replied. 

"Oh. I'm sorry about that. I was just thinking about... Something." He said. 

I suspected he wasn't telling the truth but I decided not to dig into it. 

"Okay sir. Good night." I said. 

"Good night and goodbye." He replied and drove off. 

I wonder what he must have been thinking about that seemed to be giving him a lot of trouble.