CATCHING FEELINGS.

Michael J.D.

It was 3:09am that I pulled up into my driveway exhausted. What a night. All I wanted to do was change into something comfortable and fall asleep. I practically walked up my condo with my eyes half closed. I'm sure I look like some zombie with my drowsy countenance.

Thankfully, I successfully made it through the doors and got in. I walked up the flight of stairs to my room. I didn't really care about the lights at that moment. I could somehow manage my way up to my room all in the dark so it seemed needless to put in energy in doing it.

Taking off my shoes and socks, I place my shoes in my dressing room and tossed my socks into the laundry basket near the door.

I stepped out into my room in a loose pair of grey sweat pants and a loose white T-shirt. I moved over to the bathroom to do my evening routine before going to bed. Except that this time it was already morning. Most people had find it unnecessary to do so since you had still do it once you wake up but it's more like a matter of habit. Almost like an automated reflex.

I mite sound like a freak about cleanliness but I just love things well organized and clean. Not an absolute freak who is scared of microbes, handshakes and contact... It's safe to say I'm totally out of that zone.

I splashed water on my face, looking up to my reflexion in the large mirror of the bathroom. I did a couple of breathing exercises with my eyes closed. Enjoying the silence. I opened my eyes once again. Looking into my blue grey eyes, I ran my hands through my hair thinking of nothing in particular.

I frowned slightly. Noticing a strand of grey hair in the myriad of dark brown locks. I guess I've been stressing a lot lately. And I'm growing older... maybe mom was right about getting settled.

At that very thought, an image of her flickered in my mind for a few seconds.

What was that?....

Sighing I rubbed my face moving out of the bathroom to my bed. I think I really need rest. Or maybe a vacation could do the trick? Going away from all the work... but I've still got a lot to do.

Groaning, I rubbed my temple as I sat on my bed. I'll think about it once I've had enough rest. I'm the boss of me after all. I can get to work whenever I want without owing anyone an explanation.

8:30am

My ringtone has been going on for over ten minutes now. It was so annoying. I had purposefully turned off my alarm clock to have enough rest. Visibly I had forgotten about doing same with my phone as well.

I stuff my head into my soft pillow groaning at the nuisance.

Giving up on the ignoring game, I lazily stretched out my hand and grabbed my phone. I picked up the call and put it on speaker not really checking on the caller ID due to my drowsiness.

"Hello?...." sounding more like a question.

"Where are you young man? I've been calling your phone for over fifteen minutes now." I heard my father yell through the receiver. I sighed turning over in the bed.

"I've been asleep. I'm tired. I need rest you know? like every normal human being? Not a robot?" I replied

"Don't act smart with me kid." He warned in a no nonsense tone, clearly pissed at my sarcastic response." Get your ass over here right now you've got an entire empire on your hands now you can't afford to just sleep away."

"Exactly I own it ... so I am the boss of me and get to decide on when I can step off for a rest or fire on for 23 hours non stop. Quit bossing me around, I'm not a kid anymore. I'm a fully grown ass man who is on his way to his 30s for crying out loud." I retaliated.

"Time out." He said back. "I need you here in 30 minutes." He replied in finality. "We've got a great project with different foreign investors and they need you here right now." he said.

I sat up in bed giving it a thought.

"2 hours." I said.

"What? Do you think this is some kind of joke?" He asked incredulously.

" I take time to get dress so minimum two hours" i replied

"What are you? a fucking woman to dress that long?." he asked with annoyance laced in his tone.

".....not to mention the hell of a traffic." I replied simply. "I'll meet you there." I said

"You better not mess this up kid." He said before dropping the call.

I dived back on the bed angrily. Fuckn' investors.!!! Could they not take some other day?

11:00am

"Good morning sir." One of the employee greeted me as I entered my private lift. Less she is one of our interns taking a closer look.

Thank God for this idea. I don't think I would have been able to hold up a grimace free face if I had to come all the way up with the bad mood in which I am right now.

"Yeah morning." I more like grumbled out my response.

It was not really towards her but I'm grumpy when I don't have enough rest at night.

The ping sound and opening of the doors alerted me of the fact that I was at the last floor where my office was. Stepping out and moving towards my office I noticed no one was around. I guess they are all in the boardroom or gone... Nah. They can't be gone. With the way dad spoke, they're definitely in the boardroom.

I opened the door to my office revealing an annoyed older version of myself. I arched a brow at his presence. He copied my gesture showing he was unimpressed.

"Dad." I said in greeting, bypassing him and moving towards my black mahogany desk littered with files, pens, office pins and folders all stacked in order.

"It's been two hours and a half. Explanation. You have ten seconds." He said.

"Well good morning to you too Father. And thanks to you my sleep was cut short." I replied working on the things on my desk.

"I asked you a question..." he said

" traffic. And technically those where not questions." I said but he didn't answer. Narrowing his eyes at me. "So let's go I guess our investors have waited long enough, right dad." I said standing up from my chair and making my way towards the door.

"You don't even know what the project is about." He retorted.

"That's precisely why we're going to meet them." I replied.

I didn't look back knowing he had be in tow behind me plus I could feel his hard glare bore holes into my head. He'll get over it soon enough.

Stepping into the boardroom all heads turned towards me.

"Hey everybody. Sorry for the delay. Got caught in the middle of a horrendous traffic. I apologize." I said moving to my seat at the head of the table, my father taking his usual seat at my left while my consultant sat at my right.

"So we heard Mr Donovan." a man with a Russian accent spoke up first making me narrow my eyes at him which made him smirk. "Thanks to your father. Who successfully delayed us till your arrival." Seems like he's trying to gauge my reaction.

"Gratefully he did." I replied with a smile. "What's family for after all? Right Mr..."

"Vigovick." he said with an arched brow.

My dad stood up immediately presenting the investors me.

"Sorry ...my mistake." He said apologetically before sparing me a glare and smiling back to them.

I'm his fucking son. He should be on my fuckn' side.

"Here is Mr Rudolf Vigovick." He said gesturing towards Russian man i just spoke to. "Monsieur François Du Pont." he gestured towards the other. "Mr Pablo Enríquez." He gestured to the other. "Mr Harold Reed, Mr Latif Al-Hammad, Gregorio Bianchi and Mr Sora Takayama." he gestured to the last others.

Yeah and his farther had to be there to top it all...

"Great honour meeting great men like you from across the globe." I said with a smile looking at each and everyone of them.

"Okay so what brings you all to me from your respective homes." I asked cutting straight to the chase.

"We already spoke with your father about the project of constructing different institutes at our very own home countries and home towns. Since you're amongst the top five best in the entire country we thought it wise going through this with a strong ally and we all together consorted on you." Mr Reed explained.

"We've seen various pictures of the different projects you've undertaken within few years of your taking over and I had say, it's pretty impressive. And I think I'm making the right choice in trusting you." said Mr Takayama.

"Of course." I replied affirmatively.

"However..." the Russian stopped their appraisals.

I don't know why but I think this guy does not really appreciate me.

"I think it had be better if it was in the hands of a stable man." He said

"A stable man?" I asked puzzled.

"Yes. You see, in our respective countries, we believe the most poise men are men with commitments." he replied.

"Well I'm a very committed man in everything I do and I assu...."

"No son. you don't seem to understand." my father retorted causing my brows to furrow slightly. "What they mean is mutual commitment as in a dating commitment, engagement, or ...marriage." he said softly. And I arched my brow at that.

What?!! Since when did marriage become a prerequisite for a business contract? These guys have gone completely nuts if they think they will force me into an engagement what so ever. I just pray it's not with one of their relatives.

"_..oh." I said looking at them unfazed." I don't get where this had end.." I said still not getting their point about the whole issue.

"Mr Donovan do you have any fiancé or that sort?" Russian asked.

"No but I still don't get the point behind your request." I insisted. There has got to be a way out of this.

"Then I don't really think we can trust you on this. Moreover, for this project you might need the help of a woman." he insisted.

This is utter bullshit!!!

"Gentlemen I assure you I've got a very efficient team with female members that could serve a lot to us in that regards." I assured,

"But there is not the problem Mr Donovan." he said.

Then where the hell is the problem?. Clearly all I get is they're tryna set me up. This is gonna be more difficult than I thought.

"I understand if it's difficult for you and most especially as you're so youthful, but you know a successful man always attract the attention of many....."

"What is he trying to insinuate by that." I whispered to my father with a frown. I really didn't appreciate his implications.

"Sir, I can completely guarantee you all he is a respectable man of strict morals rest assured." My father replied

"Give us a minute please." I said standing up from my seat and indicating to father for him to follow me. When we were out of earshot, I finally spoke.

"This?! Really??" I said incredulously

"Their request, not mine." He replied.

I laughed humorlessly saying as I wiped my face in my palm. "Their fuck'n request yeah.!" I was loosing it. "Why didn't you tell me this were their conditions. How do you expect me to find a fuck'n fiancé or girlfriend right now?" I replied pissed off.

My dad always reprimand me for my language but I know he let this one slide because he knows I'm really angry.

"Maybe it's time for you to settle down and get serious you know." He said causing me to laugh humorlessly. "This might just be a sign you're re...."

"No....no way I'm not fucking buying that shit and you know it. I'm tired of you and mum constantly tyrna set me up or play matchmaker for me. I'm not ready yet. Quit bothering me about that topic. It fucking ticks me off." Sighing, I finally said. "I'm out of this."

"What? no! No you can't." He said.

"Yes I can. I can walk out of a contract if the terms don't suit me or is a disadvantage to me. That's called business. That's what you always tell me." I said in a 'duh' tone.

"Are you out of you're mind? This could be a great break through for us this is big. We can't just dismiss it because of your fear or phobia for relationships." He,said

"I'm not scared. I just..."

"Prove it then. Look you can't run from this forever and besides you could use the help of any of your female friends. It need not be anything serious." He said tapping my shoulder.

I don't know why but, at the mention of that she was the first person that came to my mind..

"Talking about that, what about the girl you brought for the party? You could..."

"No dad." I countered immediately.

"Ok, ok." He said lifting his hands up in surrender. "But you're not allowed to move out of this." He said in a no nonsense tone

Sighing I finally gave in. This contract is gonna give me hypertension, a stroke or a heart attack.