Chapter 3

Oberon Hunter might be his father’s son alright, but he had made it sure that he was nothing like his father in any segment of his life. Never ever would he do all the mistakes that had been committed towards him and leave everything to the wind? What kind of man was it who would leave his own child to fend for himself all his life and not even bother to say a few good words? 

When he was back in Australia, he had returned home and he had claimed the name Hunter. It was his by birthright and he had changed his surname by a deed-poll. That was the only thing he had taken from his father, just like he had promised. But whatever that package might contain from Bolivia, he was already dreading the effect that it might have on his life. He could not deal with this now under any circumstances.

He was in his office and he had brought these things along with him. As if they held a magnetic power on him, he could not deny the fact that he was both pulled towards and repulsed by it.

Oberon’s desk telephone rang up in a shrill noise and he strode forward to pick it up.

“Sir, Mrs. Brant is on the first line, waiting to speak to you,” informed his PA.

His mother. 

He could help but smile at the dark irony that fate had played on him since the morning. This was the second unwelcome parental intrusion from early in the morning. Strange day indeed.

Oberon said in a gruff voice,” Put her through.” The sound of a click and then he just said,” Mother?”

There was no hint of emotion in his voice at all which would express his interest in speaking to her. But that would never keep her away from launching into conversation just the way that she wanted.

“Obby darling…something very extraordinary has happened today early in the morning. We must speak,” she said.

“We are speaking Mother,” said Oberon in a dry voice.

“Oh!! Pish-posh!!! Not like this at all…you know exactly what I mean…we need to meet up face to face and discuss this. You have to cancel all your appointments and whatsoever you have this morning and fit me in your schedule. I am on my way to your office. I have just received a package from Bolivia,” she said in an excited chatter.

Disappointment and anger both flared up in his stomach at the same time but he kept a tight leash on his emotions. Oberon replied,” So have I.”

“Oh!! Did you now?” it was the question of unmasked surprise and disappointment. Then she immediately regained her composure and spoke in a motherly tone,” Well I was going to break it to you gently and since he was your father but I guess you know now, and I won’t have to address the elephant in the room any longer.”

She sighed out in a long voice,” Such a waste in a man, you know!!! Cedric was far too young to die…he was so virile and handsome and he had such an indomitable spirit….”

A strange pain shafted through Oberon’s heart immediately.

His brain strangely recoiled from the knowledge that Sir Cedric Killian Hunter was dead.

Gone.

And never to be known as a son who knew his father as it was supposed to be.

There would not be any more chances as well.

He stared hard at the package and envelope on his desk, one last contact!!

“He has gifted me the most magnificent diamond necklace you see…”

The pleasure in his mother’s voice as she went on to describe every single detail of the necklace and the diamonds set in them was almost orgasmic. And it sickened Oberon to his very core. A man was dead, the father of her only son was dead and the only thing that his mother could focus on was the diamond necklace. Virginia Credence was a woman who adored beautiful things. And she had certainly taught Oberon the definition and the price and importance of sexy glamour. The reason behind his success, but his mother did have no sense of propriety at all.

She was on her fifth marriage at the moment, and if her eye caught someone better, handsome challenging and mega-rich and powerful guy came along then she would definitely go along with the sixth one he had no doubt at all. But Oberon was not very inclined to listen to her speak any longer when she suddenly said,” What did he gift you Oberon?”

“Apart from the looks that I have been cursed to carry, I would say nothing at all,” said Oberon in a mock accusation whose intensity shocked himself. 

“Now now Oberon, you do not need to be so crass at all. It is true though but you don’t have to act like that for a man who is no more. He wrote to me that the necklace that he sent me was a token of gratitude from his end which is for the fact that I bore him such an impressive son. Obviously he has been keeping tabs on you and if he was pleased with you then who knows he must have gifted you with something priceless,” said Virginia as she gushed at the thought of her son getting something rich.

“I have not opened the package yet Mother,” said Oberon, in a strained voice trying hard to keep the anger out of his voice.

“Well why not? Why not till now? What kind of childishness is this? It is a gift from your father, and open it now. I shall be reaching your office in ten minutes and I want to see what he has sent you as well,” said Virginia as she softly sighed in pleasure from might be some unknown memory.

“See you then Mother,” said Oberon as he put back the receiver in the cradle.

But he did not want to open it at all. And there lay the problem.