When the maids set the crystal goblets down, they made a soft clink sound that was hard to hear over the roaring fire. The dining room was hauntingly quiet as dangerous glares were fired from both sides of the table.
With Maria sitting beside him, Mr. Forbes fiddled with his napkin at the left side of the table, his eyes moving back and forth between the shiny silverware and his son's dark figure across from him.
Maxwell's face looked like a storm stuck between two granite hills. His dimmed eyes were narrowed and his jaw was clenched. Annabel sat next to him with her back straight as a board, a bright smile on her face to try and ease up the tension in the room.
A feast that was yet to be devoured was left on the table as a silent gift to the growing tension. Under the light of the chandelier, a roasted chicken that smelled like rosemary and wine shone like gold.
The full chicken looked crispy and scrumptious, showcasing the cooking skills of the ladies. A circle of roasted veggies, glistening with olive oil and herbs, formed around it. There were a few other specially made meals sitting on the table, which would leave anyone questioning while they were not hitting the spoons on their teeth already.
Mr. Forbes sitting directly opposite to Max, his worn-out face, which was normally warm, was a mask of polite indifference. With his eyes, which were as blue as a winter sky, he took a quick look at Maria, her eyes pleading for peace.
Mr. Forbes was the first to dig into the meal, and with the first bite, he looked up immediately, impressed. “This is nice.” He smiled.
Anna’s lips parted in a smile, Mr. Forbes understood appreciation, something that Maxwell did not pick up from the OG.
“Did you make this?” he asked and Maxwell growled. He couldn’t tell if his old man was trying to annoy him by being chatty with Anna.
“Oh, it was mostly Maria.” Anna replied with a small smile.
“Of course, I picked right with that one.” He chuckled.
Once again, Maxwell ignored him. He was starving and listening to this man would only cost him his appetite. He grabbed his cutleries and dived into the dinner, his head bowed but his eyes still moving to his father’s direction.
“So Anna, how did you meet Dave here? It seems like you have come a long way.” Mr. Forbes questioned.
“My name is Maxwell and it is none of your business how we know each other. Just have your dinner in peace and be on your way, Pete.” Maxwell snapped, unable to stay quiet anymore.
Anna slowly moved her hands to his thighs to calm him without looking in his direction. Maxwell made a low growl, wondering why she wouldn’t just let him take it out on this old man.
Mr. Forbes huffed. “Maxwell,” He muttered in sarcasm. “So I have heard, another stupid decision you have made in your life, by changing your name, you shame my ancestors.”
"Ha! Look who is talking about shame and family. Tell me Pete," he drawled, his voice laced with ice, "still jetting around the globe, building your precious empire while your family crumbles? How long before your other child elopes?" He mocked
Mr. Forbes's face hardened, the blue eyes turning stormy. "And whose fault is that, Maxwell? Whose fault is it that this family isn’t together?”
Maria rose, her eyes pleading. "Please, gentlemen, not tonight. Can we just have this dinner in peace?"
But the dam had broken. Maxwell pushed away his plate, the clatter echoing in the hushed room. "This is my house, not some annex of your corporate playground. You waltz in here after years of neglect and disownment, expecting a standing ovation?"
“Do not speak to me in that tone, Dave. I am still your father.”
“Oh not at all, Pete… As you can see for yourself, things are different now. I succeeded in life and I did it without you, I didn’t need you in life, I succeeded without your stupid family name.”
“That is where you get it wrong, Son. At the end of the day, I made you. You would never be where you are today if I didn’t make the harsh choice of throwing you out of that car, you were a useless teenager chasing after a useless dream. I made you, Dave or Blackwood, whatever you call yourself. Whenever you go to sleep on a comfy bed, remember that it is because I threw you out of that car, I am the only reason why you succeeded.” Mr. Forbes declared confidently.
Maxwell was in disbelief; this man wasn’t just taking glory for his hard work. “You lie Pete, everything you see here came to be because of my own determination…”
“And how did you get that determination?” Mr. Forbes cut through. “Do you think you would have achieved this playing Basketball or whatever bullshit you called it?” he said with spite laced all over his voice.
“Listen here Boy, if you think you can make me regret my actions by being successful, then you are still that dumb little boy I kicked out of the car, the one who only cared about getting girls and riding flashy cars. By sending you out into the wilderness, I created the man you are today, all credit belongs to me. So by being successful, you only make me proud, because that is all I ever wanted for you.” Old Forbes lectured.
There was silence in the room. Once again, Maxwell had lost the verbal war to his old man, he had no idea what to say as a clap back because in his own crooked way, his father was right. There was no beating this man, the best he could do was hate him.
**
The dinner eventually came to an end, not without a lot of drama but it was a nice effort at reconciling the father and son, although his hatred might have increased, but Maxwell now had more insight of what was going on in his father’s head and that would earn him a few nights of thoughts.
“Miss Ann, thank you for the lovely dinner and the time well spent, I loved nothing more than lecturing my boy once again.” Mr. Forbes said with a grin on his face.
Maxwell clenched his fist under the table and fought the desire to retort. He just wanted this man gone as soon as possible.
“You are welcome Sir,” Anna replied. She was yet to make up her mind on what she thought about this man, but maybe he really wasn’t the evil dad, he was more like the strict misunderstood dad.
Mr. Forbes stood up and cleaned his mouth with the napkin. “Are you ready to leave, Maria? Brad will help you put your things in the car if there is any.” He said.
Maria Forbes sighed. “Not yet.” She announced to his surprise. He immediately turned to her, a dark look on his face.
“But…” she continued almost immediately. “I will return home tomorrow as I have missed my other kids.” She said with a small smile.
“Fair enough, then.” Mr. Forbes muttered. “I will be on my way now, I do not have my bodyguard with me. Goodbye Anna, same to you Dave, we will be seeing more of each other soon.” He said with a smirk.
MB sat there with furrowed eyebrows, not responding. He knew his father sounded like he was up to something, what does the old man have up his sleeves now?
**
With Mr. Forbes gone, Mrs. Forbes stood up to walk him to the door. As much as she wanted Maxwell and Peter back together and was willing to do anything to make it happen, she also missed her husband.
It was now Annabel and Maxwell left in the dining room, she yawned and stood up. “Oh my God, I am so tired. I should be on my way now.” She said with a smile.
Maxwell frowned. “But you said…”
“Yes I said that,” she cut him short, knowing exactly what he wanted to say. “But you got in a fight with your father, didn’t you? So that offer no longer stands.” She smiled.
“Huh? But he started it.” Maxwell argued.
“I don’t care, I will be in the car.” Anna laughed and headed out.
Maxwell couldn’t believe it. First he had lost the argument to his father and then he had also lost Anna’s offer. How could he lose two things at the same night? Maybe he should have held back his anger for one night and then she would have spent the night on his bed; he had missed her so much.
TBC!