Chapter 2

                 'It's a deal then,' said Willian Calway on his mobile phone. 

                 'Great, see you next week,' said his friend on the other end.

                 With that, the call ended; pressing a button to lock his phone, Willian breathed out a sigh, 'Finally... .' He placed it down next to a tea set on the small round table and poured himself a cup of tea. Holding the cup to his nose, smelling the aroma, appreciating it with his eyes closed, he thought, It's never an easy thing to be able to just sit down here and and enjoy a good cup of tea, never.

                 Smiling, he sipped it, then put the tea cup down onto a Chinese tea tray as the owner of the tea shop came to him,greeting him with a pat on his back. 

               'Hey Willian, how's the tea for today?' the owner asked with a smile on his face, sitting down. 

               'As good as always,' commented Willian, looking around - people were taking their time, drinking tea, enjoying every sip of it, quiet and calm. 'Sometimes I wonder If I can ever live a simple life like them?' he admired, but knowing full-well that there wasn't a possibility after all the things he had done, good and bad.  

             'Oh please, you're the founder of Chrome Enterprise, and you're one of the most influential businessmen here, and people here admire you. The life you enjoy is way far better than most of the people here, and yet here you are, admiring them?' the owner asked, surprised that such successful business man had such a thought. 

             A smile tugged at the corner of Willian's mouth.He took another sip, and said, 'Never judge a book by its cover.' 

            With one eyebrow raising higher than the other and his nose wrinkling, as his forehead scrunched up, the owner commented, 'It seems there are lots of things in your mind, my friend.' 

            Someone was making her way to Willian from behind. And the owner noticed it. His eyes shifted focus from Willian to the lady approaching.    

           Putting her index  finger to her lips upward, she signaled the shop owner not to react. Slowly, she covered Willian's eyes with both of her hands. 'Guess, who's this?' she surprised. 

          'Haha, no one would cover my eyes and dare to ask such thing, unless... that person is my silly girl,' said Willian, recognising his daughter's voice, patting her hand, not impressed by the trick, but glad that he was still able to experience it at the age of fifty.

         'Well, I guess, you and Stef need some father-and-daughter moment,' said the owner,  aware of the need. 

         'Haha, thanks for accompanying my father, Uncle Dwayne,' said Stef, 'pass me the bill.' 

         'Enjoy your time,' said the shop owner, rising to his feet, leaving Stef and Willian behind to enjoy their time.  

         'Father, it's been so long since the last we spent time together,' she said, taking her seat opposite of Willian's side, expecting to have more family time. 

        'Well, you had a degree to finish, and since you're done with it now, we definitely can spend more time together. Lunch, dinner or breakfast - your call,' Willian assured. 

         'Actually, I have something better than that,' she said.

        'Really? What do you have in mind?' asked Willian, his brows arching; his ears pricking up, ready for a proposal by his daughter.    

         'I can apply a job in your company and be a great helper as a daughter. You've worked long enough, father. And it's my duty now to help lighten the burden. Please let me help you, father,' Stef said, looking at her father, awaiting, hoping for an approval of her decision.

        'Stef, I'm very happy that you have such a thought, but -' the cellphone on the round table rang, cutting Willian's words off half way. At one look at it  -  an unknown number flashed on the phone screen.    

         'Give me a moment, Stef,' he requested, slightly annoyed by the phone call.

         'No Worries.' 

         Taking up the phone from the table, with a press on a green button that marked the sign of accepting calls, he answered, 'Willian is speaking.' 

       'Boss, they rejected what we have offered and demanded your response in person,' said someone on the other end. 

        'I'll be back in a short while,' Willian said in a calm tone, 'gather them in my office and we will have our meeting,  and remember treat our guest well while I'm my way back.'

        'Understood,sir,' said his worker on the other end. 

        Sliding the phone into his pouch, he turned his attention back to Stef, forcing a smile,' Just relax and enjoy yourself first, do whatever you want to do, give yourself some short break before start thinking about your work and other things. Look, I'm sorry, Stef, I have to leave now. Talk more when you come back home for dinner tonight.' 

          He rose from his chair. 'Love you,' he said, planting a kiss on his daughter's cheek. 

          'Love you too,' Stef said. Her eyebrows slanted, with her lips frowning and her face drooping downward at the sight of her father leaving. You've grown so much older now than the last time I saw you, but don't worry, I'll take care of you no matter what, she thought. 

                                                        . . .    

          The door swung open; John walked into the tea shop. His eyes flitted, searching the crowd , as his mind wondered, Where is he ?  

          His eyes strayed from the crowd to the watch on his wrist. The long hand on his watch struck eleven sharp - five more minutes to one in the afternoon. He mumbled, 'It hasn't passed lunch time yet.'   

         He looked up from the watch; his eyes roamed the scene, darting from face to face, Where are you, Willian Calway?

          There a fifty-year-old business man rose to his feet.

           And caught John's attention.

           His mouth curved upwards; the deep furrow between his brows flattened with the success of finding Willian Calway. 'There you are,' he thought, believing that he was doing something right to persuade Willian Calway for the future of his company.

           Not thinking twice, he made his way to Willian; and with a smile on his face, he greeted, 'Hi Sir.' 

           'I'm sorry,  do I know you?' Willian asked, his brow wrinkling, feeling strange. 

            'I'm Paul's friend, Sir,' John said.   

            'Paul?'asked Willian, puzzled.  

           'Yes, Sir.  Paul Willy,' responded John, hoping that Willian would be able to remember his former assistant.

            'Ah right, Paul Willy,' said Willian, faking a smile.The muscles in his face slightly tightened at the flashback of Paul writing him a resignation letter for some irrelevant self-righteousness.  'How's he doing?' he asked, wishing to know more from John, but feeling it was better to seek the answer himself.

            'He's doing fine, Sir. Paul has told me lots of things about you, and believes that you appreciate young talents, so I thought it would be a good idea to  promote some interesting idea to you in person since you're here, and we believe that you are the only one  in the city who could make this work ,' said John, expecting Willian's attention, waiting to impress him. 

              'Mr?' asked Willian.

             'It's John Layfield. you can call me John, sir,' he said, picturing the growing chance of Willian supporting his project and company, with the fifty-year-old man showing an interest in his name.     

             'Very Well. Okay, John, I tell you what. Meet me at the office tomorrow at two p.m. with Paul, and we will talk,' promised Willian, wanting to see how time had changed Paul. 

            John's face creased into a smile; with great hope showering him, he extended his hand. 'Thank you, sir!' he said, proud of his attempt.

             How many years already since the last you worked for me, Paul? thought Willian as he shook John's hand.  'You're most welcome, and see you tomorrow,' responded Willian. 

             Without another word, but with a trace of a smile at John, and a gentle pat on his shoulder for assurance, Willian left... 

              His smile faded; slowly, his eyes hardened, as he made his way out of the tea shop, thinking, Let's see if you're still holding the same stupid principle of yours, Paul.