Running On Empty

Chapter 29: Just the Beginning

"So, what if she still likes him?" A deep voice broke the silence. It belonged to the red head once more. He steps in front of all of us, making my father take a step back. The atmosphere was menacing.

"What if she still likes him? There is no law saying who you should and should not love. I can understand why she loves your son. Your son has the ability to pull people in. You spent years locking him up away from the rest of the world, without raising him as a real son. Your son could learn how to walk on crutches instead of always relying on wheelchairs and most importantly, he learned what it was like to feel from his own experiences. What if the girl I love likes another guy? I still love her. The thing is Headmaster, bringing down someone else only shows how weak you are. People who love are courageous. They must face being rejected or accepted. The challenge of love is learning how to fall in love. My mistress may love your son, but I promise you that I will never stop loving her. She will always have someone who treasures her. What a shallow man you are."

"Who are you then?" My father's eyes clearly saw this guy as a threat.

"I am her butler and I was hired by her father to protect and serve her. I will not let someone as rotten as you hurt her. My name is Rako. If you wish to lash out on her, do it to me instead...that is if you still think you can win against me."

Who was this guy and how did he know about me?

"Headmaster, please allow this request from me." I couldn't have this stranger have all the glory, not when the girl I loved still had her arms around me.

"What is it, boy? Spit it out."

"Let me spend the next two days with her. I don't want to see you or have your people spy on me. If you do that, I will complete the rest of my work here without any complaints. I will let you use me any way you want without any rebuttal. I just want forty-eight hours with the one person that I hold special in my heart."

"You will do anything I ask of for the rest of the time here, then?"
"Do we have a deal?" I stretched out my hand. "I know how much you love this after all, Headmaster. What's the matter? You have never hesitated before." My father's hand shook a little, almost like he was struggling for the first time.

"Um...of course not. I will make the deal then." He grasped my hand for a brief moment, allowing me to take in the sudden rush of warmth. During all these years, I had never actually felt how my father felt. He was actually pretty warm despite being cold-hearted.

"For the next forty-eight hours, I will hold your end of the deal to the highest degree." His eyes then locked down on Silya, who was still in my arms, "I hope you know that my son will find someone else to marry. You do not suit him. In the meantime, I expect you to understand that what has happened today will not be permitted in the future."

Then, he shifts his attention onto Madeline and Garrett, walking to them. Garrett stood tall and firm, not letting my father intimidate him one bit. Madeline kept looking at the ground. I saw her hands start to shake. "You two will soon be fired after the boy and her have their time together. You have disobeyed my orders for the last time." He takes one step closer, this time, looking straight into Garrett's eyes, "I don't have any care in the world where you two will end up after this. I want you two gone and out of my sight. How dare you spoil the heir of the Hennery household to this degree! Look at how much of a fool he has turned out to be...and it's all thanks to you buffoons."

"I rather be called a fool than have missed the chance to see the Young Master become the strong and independent man that I always knew he would be. Let me just say that you should be thankful for the fact that Miss Emmerson has given Jaylin experiences he has never had before. I have nothing but respect and gratitude for his friends and the people who have come to treasure him. There is nothing wrong with falling in love. I have fallen in love with the family we have become. It's fine if you want to fire me, but do not hurt the people I care about just because you are jealous. I utterly despise people of your nature, Luke."