I Want You Back

Angel Leffman

All I'm asking is for peace of mind to control myself and not forget who he is. "Good afternoon, Angel." Katy, their maid, greets me when she opens the gate. "How are you? Where's Mr. Leffman?" I greeted her in return.

"On the patio. Should I tell him you're here?"

"No, there is no need. I'll go there."

"Do you want something to drink?" she offered with a smile.

"A coffee is fine. Thank you." I politely replied to the older woman.

"Angel!" A small voice called, and I saw my little princess, who looked like a fairy.

I opened my arms, and she jumped into my arms. "My mannequin, you look so beautiful."

She giggled and kissed my cheek. "Thank you."

"It looks so beautiful on you." I complimented her while looking at her red and green dress.

She then pouted. "You haven't visited me."

"I know, princess, but I was a little busy with work," I explained softly and walked to the patio with her in my arms.

There, I saw Mary and Gerard, who looked surprised to see me.

"Wow, what a surprise!" Mary exclaimed and stood up. "You haven't visited us since you came," she said, kissing my cheek in greeting. "I'm glad you're here even when I don't like it sometimes," she whispered, so Bella wouldn't hear it. "It's good to see you as well, Mary. I came because I need to talk to my father-in-law."

"Come in, come in," she ushered me in, and I set Bella down back to her feet. "Do you know how to play chess?" she asked, and I resisted the urge to tell her that I was skilled at it.

Mary and Bella left, leaving me and Gerard alone in an awkward silence.

"Have a seat and let's play." He gestured to the chair in front of him, and I sat there.

"I came here to talk to you about an important matter."

"Well, we can talk while we play and drink some whiskey, don't you think? Or are you afraid you'll lose?" He taunted me with a smile.

"I hope you won't take it to heart when I beat you."

"In a game, the crucial part is if your opponent is worthy enough to win. Are you skilled?" he doubtfully asked.

"Let's see." I accepted his challenge and started the game. Katy came and gave us two glasses and a bottle of whiskey.

"I'm sorry, Angel Mary told me to give you this and not coffee." She regretfully told me, and I just shook my head.

"Thank you," Gerard and I said in sync, and the game continued.

"I'm glad you came so we can talk about some things-things that we should have talked about long ago."

I nodded in agreement. "I think so as well."

"Because you are the visitor, you start the game. Now, what do you want to know?"

"I found out that you know that I am the owner of Autos-Let," I started, and he's concentrated on the game. "Has Sofia told you?"

"Out of all the questions you have, have you thought of that one? That my daughter told me?" He asked in amusement.

"How did you know then?"

He looked at me with a blank look on his face. "No one knows in your family?"

"None of them knows," I replied, and he looked doubtful. "Alright. My pops know."

Gerard let out a smile. "And did he tell you how he knew?" He asked, and I denied. "We play poker together."

"Pops plays poker?" I asked in surprise.

My father-in-law chuckled. "Oh, he's the best, but don't tell him that because then he'll make the game boring. A client of yours asked us about you and the company for reference. Visit Job nib-.com to read the complete chapters for free. You were just starting then, and we thought it was for Andrew and Leffman, but a few days later, he showed up using your car, and we put pieces together."

"And do you think I'll believe you? Just like that?"

"Angel, I know you are capable, you have good ideas, and you are talented, but you still have a lot to learn. I have been in this business for more than half of my life. The workshop was my playground, and I knew a lot of people like your grandfather. When we want to know something, we'll just have to ask the right ones."

"Since when did you know?"

"I told you. A few months after you started your company, we had it investigated because it's important in this line of business, and I was not even shocked. I knew you had the talent to do so."

"If you knew for years that I was the owner, why didn't you tell me?"

"You went through all sorts of trouble just so you could hide it, and so I guessed you didn't want anyone to know."

"And I guess I failed because you still did," I gritted out in a controlled temper.

"That is because I know the right people and connections. I just need to find the right key, but I assure you that no one else knows."

"If that is the case, why are you worried about the company? I am taking care of both companies and if you're worried about plagiarism, I don't work that way."

"That's what I'm worried about, but I knew you wouldn't destroy yourself. However, you asked my daughter for divorce and left your position to her. I think it's just fair to think that you might do something against the company."

"I still own half of it, so I won't touch it."

"But it's against ethics to own two automotive companies that are competitors," he insisted, and I asked God for patience. "Aside from that, you weren't really a big fan of us."Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

A fan? After what he did? This old man, really.

"I think there is no need for me to tell you why I do not trust your family and-"

"You hate us," he corrected me. "Say it with confidence, boy. At this age, I learned how to read people. But I was wrong when I thought you loved my daughter. That's why I agreed to the marriage, but as you see, Sofia is the one paying for that mistake."

Of course, he'll play the devoted father after he plans the contract and forces me to marry because of Sofia's lies.

I clenched and unclenched my fists. "You and her are not the only ones who paid the price here."

"Your whole family achieved the status they have always wanted. You merged with one of the country's prestigious automotive companies, and your father was able to close deals as a privilege of being connected to my family. You became the president and even managed to be independent. Tell me what my daughter or I gained in this arrangement."

And now that he's said it, it's true. Sofia will not gain anything from this marriage; it was only her being a spoiled and privileged brat.

"Your daughter got what she wanted by being spoiled, and in this case, by me."

Gerard frowned at me. "My daughter may be stubborn, but she does not ask for things, especially something that is forced."

"That isn't the case when she told you to lie just so I would be forced to marry her," he said, stopping the game and looking at me. "You are the ones who forced me to accept this marriage."

Gerard took a deep breath and intertwined his hands. "Boy, I have no idea what you're talking about. Explain what you said."

I can't believe he's denying it in front of me!

"Did you have amnesia? Your daughter knows I had a girlfriend and I was in a predicament with my family. We almost went bankrupt, and you two took advantage of that to get what you wanted." By now, I'm sure my face reflects all the feelings I have inside me. Gerard still looked calm but confused. "Now, where did you get that information?"

"What? Are you surprised that I know? Did you forget how you approached my family when we were in the middle of a crisis? You created the contract with the intention of forcing me to marry Sofia with her lies."

He sighed, and he didn't respond right away before leaning forward. "Angel, I'll tell you two things. First, it was your grandfather I wanted to talk to to negotiate with your family, but he told me that I should talk to you or Will. I tried to contact you a few times, but your father was always the one who answered my calls, so I had no choice but to negotiate with him."

"Based on the lies that Sofia told you, other fathers would have investigated if they were true, but no, you took advantage of them! You just wanted to fulfill her caprice!"

"Sofia is my only child, and I will give her the whole world if she asks me to, but she always wanted to achieve things by herself. Sofia has nothing to do with the agreement."

I barked out a laugh and resisted the urge to flip the table. "Don't you dare lie to me."

"Angel, I did not get to where I am with lies but with my ability. I wanted to do business with your family for your own good because I thought you loved my daughter. You are the one who created the contract and not me. You thought I was the one who made it for you to marry my princess?" "You know you did. You cornered me and my family to get what your daughter wants."

"What? Angel, your family was not ever in a crisis. Your grandfather led your company with all his abilities and skills, even if your father has put you in a bad position a few times, but not to the point of bankruptcy."

"Look, sir..." I started, but he cut me off.

"Sofia has never asked me for anything related to you. Ah, yes, she asked me to not tell anyone that you are the owner of Autos-Let. Aside from that, there was nothing else."

"If she didn't, then explain to me the reason why we got married."

"You know the reason more than anyone else," I say, but I don't think we know the same. "The marriage was your family's idea." Wait, what? "I mentioned it to Sofia, but she refused because it was you who didn't want it."

"Lies. You're lying." In anger, I slammed the table a little, but only enough for the pieces to move.

"I don't need to. Let me ask you again, Angel, what did my family or my daughter gain from the marriage? Another thing, what were you talking about when you said that Sofia lied to me to force you to marry her?" He asked in confusion, and I almost applauded his acting. "You can't fool me. My dad told me how you took advantage of us and Sofia's lies."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Angel. The marriage was your family's idea. The contract was written by your father based on your needs, which I agreed to once my daughter has the same rights you have. That she'll have a say and voice in the company when in reality, it was hers in the first place. With respect to Sofia, I only accepted it once I told her that you agreed with the contract. So I don't have any idea what lies are you talking about."

"And you want me to believe that it was Dad's idea?"

"The only mistake I made in this agreement is that I thought you loved my daughter and you could make her happy. Not to mention that I thought you just felt inferior to her and you wanted to upgrade your status to be the right man for her."

His words and actions are convincing that I almost believed him. Almost.

"You thought I loved your daughter, and that is the reason you wanted to negotiate with us, and my father was the one who made the contract? You want me to believe you?"

"It was you and your pops I was looking for, but when I couldn't, I talked to your father. You can even ask your pops about this. My daughter doesn't need anyone because she can take care of herself. Angel, I am glad you made the decision to divorce her and give her the chance of continuing her life because it's obvious that you've moved on."

"I told you that Sofia is my wife, and she still is. I am not with anyone else."

"That's not what people are talking about, thanks to your family. And Sofia told me she signed the divorce."

"I will talk to my family about this, and no, there is no divorce."

"You love her, yet you hate her. You can't decide which to feel, and in this case, my daughter is the one who suffers."

"She's not the only one who suffers in this relationship."

"You know what? I think you need to talk to your parents about the contract. My daughter deserves to be happy, Angel, and I don't think you are the right man for her."

My anger doubled at his statement. "Am I not suited for her because I did not reach your standard, Mr. Andrew?"

"You are the man who every father wants for their daughter, and I once thought as well. The last five years proved to me that you aren't good for her. You don't deserve her."

He stood up from his seat and looked at me. "Sofia is too much for you, Angel, and she doesn't deserve to be tied to a marriage where there is no love and happiness. You and your family already got what you want from this marriage; in other words, the contract is now useless." He left me in the middle of the patio with a dead king, and my mind was flying everywhere; it almost drove me insane.

"What mess did I get myself into? Now it turned out that everyone lied to me, aside from the villain of this story."