Chapter 5: Secretary Andrew is Accepted?
"The groundbreaking was a rousing success, I see. " A woman's deadpan voice echoed throughout the empty house and through Sir Allen's bedroom.
This was all too sudden for a weekend morning. Andrew's blood pressure peaked from the shot of adrenaline. Should he escape from the window? No. Hide in the closet? Not an option. That would be weird. Or maybe this was the perfect time to launch their plans. Though they never discussed any specific steps on how they would get Sir Allen ousted as the inheritor, Andrew had some ideas inside his pretty head.
How would they react to a psycho, gold-digging, shallow, party-going boyfriend? He's pretty sure he's going to get slapped and get thrown by a glass of water. Maybe even offered some money to leave their precious son.
He dashed back to Sir Allen's room and changed his outfit with Sir Allen's largest button down and pair of boxer shorts that showed of his hairy legs. He looked himself in the mirror and analyzed if he seemed like he had a wild night of sex or what they would call Debauchery. He messed up his hair more.
He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Just think of that five million. If he could do these just until Sir Allen's birthday, he would be richer by five million. No more eight to five work, no more domineering executives, no more red tape, and fake pleasantries, and no more Sir Allen. Just Andrew and his money.
He braced himself and called his inner hoe to action. He stepped out of the room and padded into the living room.
He shouted, "Babe! What's taking so long? Oh, my goodness!"
Andrew was met with the saddest looking family circled around in the living room. Mr. and Mrs. Lopez sat together stiff as a board as they glared at Allen who glared back Andrew. While a sharply-dressed, bespectacled young man also glared at Allen, but unlike the parents, the man's had a sliver of malice. He was Luiz, the youngest son of the family.
Andrew rushed to their side and greeted them with a high-pitched voice. "Oh, good morning, auntie and uncle." He took both their hands, they flinched, and pressed the back of their hands to his forehead and said, "Mano po."
He grinned at them. Then he spotted a wide-eyed Luiz. He released the hands of Mr. and Ms. Lopez and wrapped his arms around Luiz, whose body stilled in response. Andrew caressed Luiz' back and felt the smooth material of his expensive coat. It's been so long since he's had a handsome man in his arms, so he wanted to savor the moment. Until Luiz and Sir Allen cleared their throats. They were brothers alright.
Andrew dislodged himself from Luiz and sat next to Allen. He hugged his arm for good measure. "Babe how come you didn't tell me today was parents meeting day."
"I did not know it was also today." Sir Allen said between gritted teeth as he glared at Andrew.
"Well, no time like the present, am I right? Nice to meet you everyone, I'm A—" He paused, and he was besieged by the Lopez family's expectant faces. "Alfonso, yeah. That is my real name. Alfonso."
"Like the alcohol?" Luiz asked with his unimpressed face and creased brows. "What's your relationship with my brother anyway?"
Everyone turned to Sir Allen. He raised his right hand and flapped it around as if he didn't know what to with it, and three sets of eyes followed its motion like three cats and a laser pointer. Until his hand snaked its way around Andrew's waist, and that's when Andrew received a thorough scanning from his family from head to toe. Their gazes briefly paused on his legs and waist, then continued upwards. He flashed them a pretty smile as he crossed his hairy legs to show off his thigh tattoo.
Sir Allen took a deep breath and steeled himself. Poor guy was probably nervous coming out. I should give him some time to prepare by making—
"I'm gay." Sir Allen announced abruptly to the whole room. "Always have been and always will be. And this is thing right here is my boyfriend of six years." This asshole tightened his arms around Andrew which brought their bodies closer like Sir Allen just didn't call him a thing. "So, if you cannot deal with it. Your loss." Then there was that signature silence that always followed when Sir Allen speaks in the office.
Mrs. Lopez put a hand on her chest, and the other on her husband's leg. They gazed at each other, silently communicating as everyone held their breaths. Mr. Lopez took a sip of his drink and said, "You say your relationship has been going on for six years and yet we have not seen a single photo of you two. It is quite hard to believe your statement, much more of your new preference. Even if it is true, why come out now?"
"Why would I show you photos when I haven't even come out yet? And it is not like we are the type of family to tell stories about ourselves."
Geez. The Lopez family seemed to have a knack for making the air of any room heavy and tense. Is this how they always interact with each other? Well, this is good for their plan anyway, but Andrew has to make it worse.
Andrew leaned forward and smiled at everyone. Even at the smirking Luiz. "Geez, everybody is so tense. Should I whip up some cocktails to lighten the mood? I work as a bartender, so rest assured I make the best drinks. Now that my honeydoll here has secured the position of CEO." Andrew didn't miss Luiz's clenched jaw. "We're now confident enough to show you our love."
Andrew moved to clean up their cups as he planned to go to the kitchen, but when he was about to reach for them, Mrs. Lopez grasped his hand and enveloped them in hers. Andrew flinched, just a little bit, as he expected water to be thrown to his face. Andrew clenched his face and braced for impact. Mrs. Lopez's bear trap of a grasp was relentless in its force.
But after a pause, there was nothing. He swallowed a lump in his throat. Andrew opened one eye to peak, and he was met with kind, smiling faces of both parents. They shuffled around the table and enveloped Andrew and Sir Allen in one tight hug.
"Congratulations!" They exclaimed. "We are so happy for the both of you." Andrew and Sir Allen stared in horror and disbelief at each other as the parents tightened their embraces. But they reigned their expressions as a slack-jawed Luiz could still see them.
Andrew watched as Mrs. Lopez cradle Sir Allen's face in her hands with glee. "Our son is a gay!" She exclaimed. "Finally! Your father and I have been waiting for so long!"
"You have?" asked a bewildered Sir Allen.
"Of course!" Exclaimed Mr. Lopez. "We even bet on it!" So, Sir Allen's parent might not be the disapproving and superficial parents that Andrew was led to believe by society and his predisposed ideas of rich parents. And it looked like Sir Allen had the same realization. How come Sir Allen didn't know? The lack of communication in the Lopez family was outstanding. Still, Andrew had to a job to do. Make his parents disappointed. And he had in spades the thing that parents disapproved of the most: Alcoholism.
Andrew's face lit up as if he finally found a legitimate reason to bring out alcohol. "Should I bring out the champagne and wine glass? I think we have some hard liquor in the back?"
Mrs. Lopez's face lit up even brighter than Andrews. "Yes, dear! Drinks sounds perfect. Oh, I just knew Dad and Allen had the same taste in lovers. I'd love a drink or five but sit down first. I would love to hear to know more about you."
Well, fuck. She was also an alcoholic.
"oh, I ca not believe this! I always you knew you were the rainbow sheep of the family," she said to Sir Allen. "All the occasions make a snide remark about my wardrobes and outfits, you just could not help yourself to be so critical of everything."
Andrew rolled his eyes. Yeah, Sir Allen was critical because he was gay, and not because he was a judgmental piece of shit.
"You also bagged a hot one," she said to Andrew.
At least the mother had good sense.
Mr. Lopez, meanwhile, ruffled Andrew's hair. "Welcome to the family, son." Then, both parents cozied up beside them, so Andrew and Sir Allen was sandwiched in between while Luiz hovered menacingly.
"So, how did you two got to be with each other's acquaintances?" Mrs. Lopez asked with twinkles in her eyes.
"Well, Sir Allen was looking for a prostitute to hang with." Andrew started off. "Good thing after my shift as a bartender as I've previously mentioned. Which I am. A bartender that is. Honey here picked me up on the street and offered me wads of cash for a night. Ouch, babe, your hand is grabbing my waist a little too tight. Anyway, I was like Sure why not. He looked delicious. But lest I knew he was really into some depraved things, y'know what I mean? We both couldn't walk for days! Good times. Then we both fell in love and here we are!"
He was met with silence.
Too far? The redness on Sir Allen's cheeks was a good indicator. But if making the wrong impression was the goal, Andrew did an excellent job. Andrew could already smell the stench of the five million. A company president should always be a gentleman like Mr. Lopez here.
"He's joking—" whispered Sir Allen as he stared blankly into my face. Probably wondering how good of a liar his secretary was or regretting ever hiring Andrew as his fake boyfriend. This is also Andrew's little way of exacting revenge to his terrible boss, and what better way to ruin him by destroying his reputation to his family.
"Well, sex work is still work," Mr. Lopez mumbled out. "How about your parents? Any siblings?"
Sorry Mr. Lopez, but Andrew can't give you any lifelines to hold onto right now. There is not one positive thing about Alfonso, the gold-digger bartender. "My parents?" said Andrew with a little inappropriate chuckle. "They're dead. Buried somewhere, I hope. Yup, grew up in an orphanage. Pretty lame I know compared to you Mr. and Mrs. Lopez. But that meant I could play all day all night."
Mrs. Lopez gasped, and her face softened into one of sympathy. "Poor little Alfonso! You grew up all alone in this rough world of ours without any parents! Do not worry. From now on, we," Mrs. Lopez gestured to her husband. "Will be your parents. You can call us mom and dad. And hopefully we'll get to hear grandma and grandpa soon." The husband and wife giggled at each other.
What the hell was wrong with this family. Sir Allen on the other hand stared in horror at Mrs. Lopez, clearly taken aback.
Luiz cleared his throat. He was ticked off. "We have to get going. Lunch with the Ceron's, remember?"
"That's right. Those despicable Ceron's and their twin sons," said Mr. Lopez. "We almost forgot due to the good news our Allen brought. Alfonso, my boy, why don't you join us for dinner sometime?"
Mrs. Lopez slapped her husband in the arm in delight as she also chimed in. "That's a great idea, hubby. Alfonso, join us for dinner at the Palace. We will not take no for an answer."
The family bid their goodbyes while a windswept Sir Allen and Andrew were left speechless as they waved goodbye from the front lawn.
Andrew could not comprehend that accepting parents could be such an obstacle to getting richer. Their plan was already going downhill right from the beginning.
"I was made to believe by the Asia novella's I watched on the Internet," said by a dazed Sir Allen. "That we would be thrown glasses of water. Mom would offer you money to leave or threaten me with the presidency position. How could the detached and cold parents I grew up with do such a one-eighty turn-around?"
Andrew sighed. "The eldest son of a rich family bringing in his alcoholic male lover with a poor background was supposed to be our recipe for success. So, darling. What do we do about dinner and those damn photos?"
Sir Allen hummed in consideration. He crossed his arms as he stared into the infinite space of time or something that only he sees when he goes into his brainstorming mode. Sir Allen did get pleasure from older people challenging him. Andrew did not get any pleasure from it though, because it meant late nights and lots of coffee.
"I need you to turn me into the most deprived, most indulgent wealthy son there is like the Andrew I saw in the club, whilst having the worst boyfriend in history ever. Let's layout our game plan and prepare for the meeting."
Andrew obviously ignored that comment. Another all-nighter. And not the good kind. "You meant family dinner."
"That's what I said. Starting today, we will not come back to the office. Tell them we're on a business trip or something. It is high time I start using my status as the owner's son. We'll make sure those photos will rock my parent's very core. Now teach me how to be a disappointment."
"By the way, where's my stuff?"
"In the guest room."
"Then why was I sleeping in your room?"
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