chapter four

Three years ago.

A family restaurant in Astoria, Queens.

They had one pasta dish on their menu.

It was vague, and Oliver had spent half an hour making calls before he finally got the name of the restaurant.

Three roses

Only they had closed down. Oliver banged his head softly on his desk.

Mr Ford would probably ask for details, details he wouldn't even use, He'd grunt and go back to work.

He picked up his phone and made more calls.

Apparently, it was owned by a Thomas Hayes, it was taken over by his daughter, Clara, until they had to shut down because of financial issues.

Oliver went over the details in his head before stepping into Alexander's office.

He had already placed Mr Ford's usual lunch order

Alexander sat upright on his seat, his arms rested gently on his thighs and his eyes were closed

He opened them immediately he heard Oliver push the down open.

"Sir, about the lunch order"

Alexander pursed his lips, and motioned him to continue.

"Three roses closed down early this year due to financial difficulties"

Oliver searched his brain for the other things he had tried to memorize, something about a daughter.

The details slipped away before he could grab them.

Alexander remembered how terribly cramped the restaurant had been, he had almost turned around. but he was hungry and he knew he had to put something in his mouth before he stepped into the Office.

It smelled like warm bread and roasted garlic and spices.

It was filled with mismatched chairs, the paints were peeling off and the wood creaked when he stepped on it.

Above it all, it felt alive, maybe that's why his memory of the place didn't seem to fade.

The most vivid memory was that of the restaurant owner's daughter, how she moved around the restaurant, carrying plates from place to another, she would laugh loudly at a table and then hug someone at another table, all with a wide grin on her face and a glimmer in her eyes.

Alexander looked up at Oliver staring Intensely at him.

"Where are they now?" He asked.

"Sir?"

"Nevermind" his eyes darted towards the door and Oliver understood the message.

He stepped back quickly and closed the door behind him.

He picked up his phone to make some calls and noticed multiple missed calls from his parents.

He let out a tired sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

They were becoming unbearable, even more unbearable were the constant dates they kept setting up.

His father had told him he was meeting with an important Client at a restaurant and he has arrived to find it was date.

He had walked out barely 5 minutes in.

One time he walked in on a woman in his kitchen, she smiled at him and said his parents had let her in and she would be his new cook.

He asked her to leave and changed his locks.

He knew his parent would persist.

They had found a reason to push a partner down his throat.

He ignored the calls and scrolled through his contacts for the person he was looking for.

He did not understand why he was so curious about this restaurant but he really wanted to know why.

He stared at his lawyer's number for a few seconds before placing his phone back in his pockets.

Oliver walked in with his lunch.

The usual.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alexander got home a little past eight.

The Tokyo call had run a little long and by the time he stepped out of his car, his tie was already loosened and his usual headache was back.

He wanted nothing but a cold bath and the silence of his apartment.

He noticed lights filtering through the space between the doors and the ground.

He paused at the Door.

Oliver always called first if there was anything urgent and the housekeeper never stayed past five.

He pushed the doors open and walked in on his father sitting in the armchair by the window.

"You've been ignoring your mother's calls" Richard spoke softly. He turned to face his son.

Alexander let out a sigh, he closed the door behind him and placed his briefcase gently by the door.

He loosened his tie all the way and lowered himself onto the couch.

His father's eyes followed him

"I've been busy."

Alexander leaned back into the couch and took a deep breath.

So much for silence.

His father stood from the armchair and walked to him.

"Too busy to return one call?" Richard placed his arms on his waist.

"I was in that chair before you were born, you can return one call."

Alexander said nothing, just watched as his Father began to pace the room. He had always been a little dramatic.

"She's worried sick, the least you can do is-"

"I'm fine" Alexander Interrupted,

"You're not fine!" Richard hissed.

Alexander flinched, he had only heard his father raise his voice once.

"You're missing your appointments, you refuse to visit and you turn down every opportunity to find a partner" Richard was panting now, the veins on his forehead popped out, he stormed into the kitchen and came back a few seconds later with a glass of water.

Alexander lowered his gaze to his fingers, he knew sooner or later his parents would find out that he hadn't been to his appointment in months.

Richard chugged down the water and placed the glass on the table.

He narrowed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

He could feel his blood pressure rising.

"It's like you have no plans of staying..." Richard's voice cracked.

He took a deep breath and sat next to his son.

Alexander's eyes remained lowered. Fixed on his fingers.

"I'm moving Daniel Whitmore onto the board,"

Richard said "Next quarter."

Alexander went still.

He hadn't expected his father to take such extreme measures.

He needed to reduce the pressure and quick before they took away everything he had worked hard to build.