SWNOVELS Chapter 10: See Daddy
From the CEO office of the Wright Diamond Corporation, Ethan Wright had been tapping his fingers against his desk, barely able to work, just thinking of the outcome.
Ethan checked his watch and concluded it might take another half an hour for the task to be accomplished. To his surprise, however, he received the call from which he had been waiting for, half an hour too early.
He narrowed his eyes, seeing the number on his mobile. He calmly leaned back in his seat while answering the call. He said, "Tell me."
"Mr. Wright, the kids passed the assessment. They are actually very bright - worthy of the scholarship you offered," said the woman on the other line. "I returned the check that she gave as payment, exactly as you have instructed."
Ethan nodded in approval and replied, "Good. Mrs. Kholi, thank you for doing your job. We will continue to support the academy in any way we can, but for now, the scholarship program is already closed. We have enough beneficiaries."
"Ummm... Mr. Wright? You mean, only Kenzie and Kyle Davis are the beneficiaries?" The principal from the North Bright Academy clarified. It was more than two hours ago that president Ethan Wright personally called to offer a scholarship to the children of their employees.
The CEO advised of a parent who would enroll her children in the academy. It made the principal ecstatic! More students mean more profit for the school. If there was a way to guarantee the tuition, then all the better!
"Yes! Two beneficiaries are more than enough - for now," answered Ethan. "Let's see... depending on the feedback of my employee - how well you treat them and maintain the facility at school; I may consider reopening the scholarship program."
"Oh, Mr. Wright! We will definitely live up to your standards! Besides, your mother, Amanda Wright, she is very hands-on in ensuring that we offer only the best services for our children's education," revealed Mrs. Kholi.
"That's good to know, Mrs. Kholi. I expect no less," responded Ethan.
After putting down the phone, he hissed at his own actions. He muttered, "What in the world am I doing?"
He had never gone through such lengths to help someone, much more a woman with two kids! His gut feeling just urged him to do so... or so he claimed.
Realizing that Samantha Davis may return to give back the check, he walked out of his office, and just as he did, he noticed his assistant was already on the phone.
"A scholarship? I - I did not know that we have that either! Haha! Well, I don't have a child, and perhaps I did not bother inquiring. I'm sorry, Miss Davis. This should have been an option I could have shared with you." Ethan heard John say on the phone while his assistant was swiveling his chair around.
Knowing who his assistant was speaking to prompted Ethan to hasten his steps. He made it in front of John's desk in no time.
"Anyway, Miss Davis, there is no hurry to return the check. My offer still stands - " He halted John's words, turning back his chair in his direction. He gestured to his assistant to keep silent about his arrival and hold the line.
Ethan opened a message box on his phone and typed, "Have her return the check." He showed it to John outright.
"But if you would like, you can come by the company later. It's up to you - "Right after glaring at John, the poor assistant corrected his proposal. "I mean... you should come over!"
It was as if his own assistant knew what was going through his mind that John seemed to have supplied the words himself. John said to Samantha, "Actually, Miss Davis... Since you are coming here... why don't you... tell him yourself."
"Oh, you don't worry about that, Miss Davis. Who knows? Mr. Wright may be expecting you - I mean, I'll let him know you are coming to see him. I'll pencil you in his schedule... say about two in the afternoon?" Responded John.
"It's fine, Miss Davis. He looks forward to seeing you -" With another glare from Ethan, John changed his words. "I mean... I look forward to seeing you."
After putting down the phone, Ethan saw the smirk on his assistant's face. He heard John say, "Did I do well, boss?"
"Miss Davis said she wants to personally thank you for taking her into the company," John explained.
Ethan simply crossed his arms against his chest and answered, "Make sure my schedule is clear at two in the afternoon."
"Yes, sir. You actually don't have an appointment at two," revealed John.
The CEO glanced around and was pleased the rest of the secretaries had already left for lunch. No one would find out about the help he had just extended to Samantha Davis.
Turning back to John, Ethan reminded, "No one is to know about the scholarship. You understand, John?"
"Yes, sir," acknowledged John.
Ethan took a deep breath. He saw the eye-sore once more and returned John's penholder to the side. He ordered, "Now, get me my lunch, and I'll wait for you in the office... Remember, I don't like soy sauce. Remind the cook to use anything but that."
***
Meanwhile, back at the North Bright Academy, Samantha brought the kids to the school's cafeteria. She had the twins settle at one table as she bought the food for all of them.
Like her, Kenzie liked fried food, while Kyle wanted a more saucy type of food. Pointing to a sauteed pork with a brownish sauce. It did not have a label, so she asked the lady in front of her, "Excuse me, does that have soy sauce because my kid hates the taste of soy?"
"No ma'am, that's sauce is made out of oyster sauce," the lady answered.
"Great! One of that and one fried chicken, please," said Samantha.
She knew her kids did not quite like food from cafeterias, even from restaurants, but since she had committed to seeing Mr. Garcia, they had no choice for that day. Her kids were so used to her cooking that they both had high standards for their meals.
Making her way back to the twins, she saw how Kyle frowned.
Kyle asked, "Why are we eating here?" He then studied the utensils on the tray and asked, "How clean are these?"
"I'm pretty sure they are clean, Kyle. The academy has high measures for cleanliness." Samantha pointed to the surroundings and said, "Look around you."
Her son had an issue with cleanliness, among other things. She nearly laughed when she saw Kyle practically rotate his head three hundred sixty degrees! She then heard him say, "It's passable."
"Anyway, guys, since you both got the scholarship, I want to return the check to your uncle John. That is why we are eating here. After this, we will go back to the Wright Diamond Corporation," Samantha revealed while taking out the rest of the food from the tray.
"So bear with this for now. Tomorrow, we'll be eating home-cooked meals made by Mommy, I promise," Samantha swore.
She did not notice how her kids were essentially looking at each other for seconds. Kyle and Kenzie formulated a plan in their heads as if they were in sync.
This time around, they weren't going to leave the building until they saw their daddy.
With a sweet smile, Kenzie answered, "Okay, Mommy!"
Kyle ate a piece of the sauteed pork and said, "It's satisfactory. It lacks salt and pepper, but it's satisfactory."