Chapter 50 With Help From My Young Friend
That seemed to have improved Alfred’s mood considerably. “Have you eaten yet? Would you like Macey to help make you some supper?
“I had something before I came in, so I’m not really hungry right now.”
“Let me get you something to drink then.” Following that, Alfred stood up and went inside the kitchen. He retrieved a cup of milkshake from the fridge and went on to place it down in front of Curtis. “Kept it well-chilled, so it is still drinkable.”
“A milkshake?” Curtis was nonplussed. “I’m not going anywhere near that. Too much sugar.”
“It’s just one cup once in a while. What harm could that possibly do?” Alfred shot him a look. “Being this health conscious when you’re barely thirty makes you even more obsessive than an old man like me!”
That got Curtis subtly twitching his lips.
Acknowledging that there was no getting out of this, he slid a straw into the milkshake. Two sips from the beverage were enough to have his brows creased up in a tight furrow.
This is sickeningly sweet, but still tolerable.
“How do you find it?” Alfred asked.
“It’s all right.” Curtis chuckled as he inspected that cup of beverage. “Surely, you did not wait up for me just to make me drink this milkshake?”
“I did, actually. A young friend recommended that I try this when I went out today,” said Alfred before he let out a sigh. “I guess I must really be getting old, being received with such disdain when making my rounds at the store.”
Curtis’ expression turned dark when he heard that. “Which store was that? I’ll have Gabriel fire every single of them who were on the roster today.”
“Bah, forget it. Their jobs are hard enough as it is. Maybe it was because I showed up dressing a little too casually.” Waving his hand, Alfred then nudged the package on the coffee table toward Curtis. “Your birthday is almost here, so I went out and got you this. Go on and have a look at it.”
Curtis unwrapped the gift box to find two designer neckties in very tasteful colorways.
“Hmm. Pretty nice.”
“Yeah, I thought so too.” It was rare that the usually fussy Curtis would also take such a liking toward the ties. Alfred puffed up his chest, seemingly very pleased with himself. “My young friend had a hand in helping me to pick out these ones as well.”
“This young friend you keep going on and on about. Was it someone you have just met today?” Curtis asked in amusement. “Looks like this little fellow has left quite an impression on you. If possible, I’d like to meet ’em for myself.”
Curtis had hardly ever seen Alfred return home in such a fine mood after a day out in town.
“I’m afraid that that won’t be possible anymore,” Alfred lamented. With her beauty and wonderful personality, I bet she’s already attached. How could there be any chance for anyone else to woo her?
The thought of marriage prompted Alfred to look inquisitively toward Curtis. “Say, Curtis, you have been spending quite a bit of time working abroad. Was there any girl out there who had caught your fancy?”
“Not as yet.”
Alfred exhaled and began to lecture him. “Don’t be so picky and find yourself someone who you like. I’m not that old-fashioned, so you don’t have to bother too much about what your uncles think. I’ve raised you myself, Curtis. You grew up without any siblings, so I really don’t want you to still carry on living a lonely life after I’m gone. I truly hope to see you have a family of your own.”
Coming to that point, Alfred tried to make it more light-hearted. “Just look at your uncles. Their kids are all married, with some having as many as three children of their own already. Then consider your own position. Without a wife and children, how much could you realistically expect to receive for your share of the inheritance? As things stand, most of it will likely go to them as and when I kick the bucket.”
“You’re going to live to a ripe old age,” a solemn Curtis insisted. “I’m going to make sure of that, no matter the cost.”
Though deeply touched, Alfred replied, “It’s only natural to experience sickness and death in old age. Such is the full circle of life, so I’ve made my peace with it. It is only you who I cannot stop worrying about.”
He regarded the handsome and strapping Curtis with mixed emotions.
The Faymon family simply owes this boy too much.
“Be patient.” Curtis paused before he spoke up. “I’d be heading overseas on a work trip in a couple of days. Let me look into it when I return. I’d swear that I’d bring someone back to see you.”
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