Hollywood Zenith

The meeting was over within an hour which was unexpected giving him a lot of free time. He hadn’t eaten anything all morning but he knew the best place in the city to grab a meal.

He took a taxi again toward to restaurant expecting to meet some of his ’acquaintances’.

He saw the familiar sign of ’Little Red Clock’ where he asked to be dropped off. It was before noon so there shouldn’t be any customers which was perfect as he naturally attracted a lot of attention wherever he went without his disguise.

He had a warm smile on his face as he looked at the entrance. It’s been a few months since he met his other parents.

He could almost imagine, his mother Carol manning the tables while his father, Aaron would be in the kitchen supervising the cooking process.

They didn’t have much staff at first but after years of operating the restaurant and them being consistent with their quality, they had a lot of loyal customer who would regularly visit to support the business.

He looked at the closed sign at the front but didn’t care. As he entered, a little bell went off signalling his arrival.

He saw a fresh face at the reception desk, probably a college student trying to earn some extra cash doing part time.

She stood up and was about to politely tell him to leave but when she saw his face, she froze which was a normal occurance in his day to day life.

" Excuse me?" His voice broke the spell.

" I am sorry sir but we are not open yet." She said in a apologetic tone but still never missed to sneak glances at him.

" It’s fine. Are you new here? I am just visiting the owner of this place-" As he was trying to explain to her, from the corner of his eye, saw Carol coming out.

She too was confused by someone coming to the eatery so early but when he saw Samuel she simply sprinted toward him without a care in the world.

He smiled bitterly knowing how emotional she would get every time he wouldn’t come to visit her for prolonged periods of time.

As a mother, she wanted to know everything what her child was up to but at the same time, it was impossible with Samuel as there was so much work resting on his shoulder.

" Stop, running. You will hurt yourself." He held her down as she buried her head in his chest.

" Why are you only coming now to see me? I heard that you were back two days ago." She wiped the tears and smacked his chest in anger.

" Mother, I have other things to take care off. You know how many people keeps coming asking to meet me whenever they know I m back in town? Haven’t it always been that way?" He chuckled helping her.

She might be scariest when she was angry but she had a soft side to her. It honestly a miracle that she pulled herself together especially after Elise’s death.

" Don’t lie to be young man! You might have grown taller than me but I can tell whenever you are making excuses."

" Alright, alright, I apologise. Can you stop squeezing me?"

" Who is it?" Next came Aaron with a cloth in his hand wiping down his hand probably because he was busy preparing for the lunch.

" Father." Enjoy exclusive chapters from NovelBin.Côm

" Sami." He was much more relaxed and simply tapped his shoulder in acknowledgement.

Although, Aaron wouldn’t say it Samuel could feel he was just as happy to see me. As the three were talking, the receptionist didn’t know if she should interject or just leave.

She knew the owners had a daughter but no one told her about them also having a son and a hot one at that!

Unfortunately for her, Samuel simply smiled her way before going inside with his parents. She promised herself to ask the older staff members about him. A girl always likes to gossip but no matter what she does, it was impossible for both of them to get together. It seemed like she wasn’t on the fate’s list!

" Have you eaten?" Aaron asked.

" No."

" Okay, stay and talk with your mother. I will go and fix uo something for you." He left after giving him a smile.

It wasn’t everyday Samuel would visit them. When he was little, he would regularly come here with Adele and Iblis but as they grew older, they had much more on their plate to relax.

" So? What’s bothering you?" Carol asked.

" Hmm? I don’t understand."

" Don’t try to play coy with me young man. I can see that something is definitely bothering you."

" Is it that obvious?"

" Yes. For me at least."

" It’s nothing serious. Something that’s going on behind the scenes but soon it will be over. Even if I tell you, you wouldn’t understand." He said with a huge grin of his face which was akin to mocking her.

" Don’t think I am stupid. I might have taken a business course but I have been running this restaurant for decades now. Is someone embezzling money? Or one of your competitor bribed someone to so some classic espionage. I heard those things are pretty common in large corporations." She started listing off many things that she had heard about white collar crimes.

" Mother, reality is different from what you see and hear in those tabloids. They are making things up to sell things. I told you it’s not that serious, why else would I be here and not in the office if it was that important?"

" So you are telling me your work is more important than us?" Samuel didn’t know how she cme about it but his own words were being twisted to dig his grave!

" When did I ever say that? Ofcourse, both you and father is among the most important people in my life. No business is worth staying away from you." He tried to salvage it but he couldn’t come up with a valid counter argument.

Fortunately for him, his father came out holding a tray of dishes which saved him from further embarrassment. It was sorted dishes local to the country, beans, black pudding and other breakfast items.

As far as he knew they don’t really sell breakfast so he mist have made it especially for him.

" Why are you guys fighting again?"

" We are not fighting."

" Oh alright, keep your voice down. Everyone in the kitchen could hear you bickering like children."

Carol pouted which was still cute even at a age where she shouldn’t be doing such a thing.

" You sit with us too. You remember what we wanted to ask him right?" Suddenly Carol called out the retreating Aaron who looked at her with a momentary confusion but there was also a sudden enlightenment as if he remembered the topic.

Samuel who was in the dark didn’t even had time to take a bite before both his parents surrounded him like they were going to deliver some serious news to him.

But seeing they weren’t saying anything, he decided to give them sometime while he enjoyed the hearty meal.

As soon as he took the first bite, Carol asked, " What going on with your relationship with Adele and Iblis?" The food almost flew out of his mouth but he controlled it patting his chest to drown the stuck toast in his throat. He would have never expected to have the ’talk’ after two years of him turning an adult.