Author's Note:
Part 2 of the Jackson Empire! Yay! Special thanks to:
IFoundAPickle
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danedreamlove
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Ilovestories
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Kevin Stutler
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Disclaimer: I don't own anything! Except for some few things!
Chapter 4-The Jackson Empire Part 2
The lamp inside his study was half lit when Dave Harrold entered the room. He leafed through the papers on the table then pushed them aside.
"Not an unusual day for us Dave." He said as he looked up at the man who entered the room.
"Yes, Jim. The Blofis are making a good turn of their money as they increased their share on our hotels. Do you think they will aim to run it in the near future?"
"No, I don't think so. The Blofis cannot outrun the Jackson. You know that Dave."
"Yes, I know. He was a good friend way back in your school days. But do you think you can trust the guy?"
"George's intention is to strengthen their bank as they plan to merge it with the Jackson Group. But we retain the majority ownership as their share is only a few percentage compared to ours."
"This brings me to think why Paul Blofis is a frequent visitor of Sally these days. Did you notice?" Dave hinted. Jim looked at his assistant, friend, cousin rolled into one. Since that day when his Aunt Agatha came bringing Dave into their doorstep, he had treated Dave like the brother he never had. His sister Virginia had always been jealous of the affection he poured to a cousin he now only knew. Dave had always this intuition that never fails and he loved Sally like his own daughter.
"Yes. But this is good for both families as the Jackson will have a financial backer whenever we plan for expansion."
"But you were not yet updated with the latest news regarding your daughter," replied Dave as he sat down with Martini in his hand.
"Updated with what?" asked Jim curious with what his cousin had to say.
"Well," he smiled "Sally had been following this handsome football hero of the Black Stallion."
"You're kidding Dave! Tell me this is not true." This time Jim was not smiling. He was serious. His business partner George Blofis will blow his head off once he learned about this. This is bad news for both the Blofis and the Jackson.
Dave got up and took the newspaper and scanned the Sports section. There at the inset was a picture of the Black Stallion as they played with Red Dragon and another one below as Poseidon was surrounded by fans as he signed autographs and on the background was Sally with the owner of the candy store standing at the entrance of the backroom stage.
Jim tightened his lips as he stared at the picture. He released a deep breath as he controlled his temper. What would his business associates say once they saw his daughter in the picture waiting like a dog at a football player? He almost crumpled the newspaper he was holding.
Poseidon couldn't remember a time when he had spent all day thinking about a girl, but from the moment Sally had said "Yes" to this dinner tonight he had thought of nothing else. As soon as he met her yesterday at the game, he was determined to see her again.
"Shall I pick you up at your home?"
"No. Let's meet at a restaurant."
"Where would you like to go?"
Sally did not reply.
"How about at Allen's along Bel-Air Street?" Poseidon replied.
"Yes, that would be fine." was all Sally said
"Around eight suit you?"
"Around eight."
Poseidon gave an unusual amount of thought as to what he should wear that evening. He decided against a suit, finally selecting a navy-blue blazer and a pair of gray flannel slacks. He always loved blue, the color of the sea. He also spent a little longer looking at himself in the mirror. Too Ivy League he feared, but there wasn't much he could do about that at short notice.
He left the house just before seven. It was a crisp, clear evening and he arrived at Allen's a few minutes after seven thirty and ordered himself a Budweiser. Every few moments, he checked his watch as the minute hand climbed up to eight o'clock, and then every few seconds once it had passed the agreed hour. Thirty minutes had passed but there was still no sign of Sally. He was having this fear she might not show up or something could have happened to her. He blamed himself for not getting her address. Finally, she stood there on the doorway looking radiant in a simple blue dress. Her eyes searched the room. At last, she saw Poseidon walking towards her.
"I am sorry to be late—," she begun. She wanted to explain how hard it was for her to sneak again outside the house watching her father and Uncle Dave discussing at his study on the second floor.
"It's not important. What's important is that you came."
"You thought I wouldn't?"
"I wasn't sure." Poseidon said smiling. He stood there staring at her. "Shall we sit down?" he suggested, taking her arm and leading her to his table.
"And what do you do when you're not playing football?" asked Sally.
"I'm at Ateneo Business School."
She nodded as Poseidon pulled a chair for her.
Sally studied the menu on the table as the waiter waited for their order.
"Salisbury Steak?" she inquired
"A hamburger by any other name," said Poseidon.
She laughed and he noticed how beautiful she was. He was surprised that as the evening progressed it became obvious that she had seen more movies, read more novels, and even attended more concerts than he had. It was the first time in his life he regretted his single-minded dedication to football and did not have allotted time for other things.
"Do you live around here?" he asked.
"Yes," she said as she sipped the third coffee Poseidon had allowed the waiter to pour "With my parents." It seemed that this evening is about to end.
"Which part of town?"
"East Fifty Seventh Street." Sally replied.
"Then, let's walk," he said taking her hand.
They zigzagged back across town on their stroll toward Fifty Seventh Street. To prolong their time together, Poseidon stopped to gaze at the store windows which he would normally have passed on the trot. Sally's knowledge of fashion and shop management was daunting. Poseidon felt sorry that she had not been able to finish her education but had left school to work at the candy store.
It took them nearly an hour to cover the sixteen blocks from the restaurant. When they reached Fifty-Seventh Street, Sally stopped outside a small, old apartment.
"This is where my parents live." She lied. He held on to her hand.
"I hope you will see me again?" asked Poseidon.
"I'd like that." said Sally though not sounding enthusiastic.
"Tomorrow?" asked Poseidon diffidently.
"Tomorrow?" queried Sally.
"Not if you don't want to," he added.
"I'd love to," she said in a whisper "but I'm having dinner with my father."
"Good night Sally," he finally said "See you later." And he walked away.
Sally waited for him to make a turn before she turned around and walked the other way towards another street.
The following morning, before she left for work, her father called for her at his study.
"What is this I heard Sally that you're seeing this football kicker?"
"Yes. And he's got a name Dad. Poseidon."
"Whatever."
Sally did not reply. She could sense that everything was not well for her father.
"And how about Paul Blofis?" Jim asked.
"What about Paul Dad?" she interrupted. "I never went out for a date with Paul. And I never intend to."
This irritated Jim and made him blurt out "You will never see that football friend of yours Sally or else I will kick you out of this house." And his voice was threatening.
Sally was unusually quiet the whole day thinking of what her father said that morning. He couldn't mean it, she told herself. This is the first time she made her father upset. But what could she do? She loved Poseidon and not Paul Blofis.
She took out a piece of paper and scribbled his name. "Poseidon."
When she left that afternoon, Poseidon dropped at Levington Avenue to see her. But when he reached the candy store, she had left. He searched for Sally's face among the figures hurrying along. He would have given up if he hadn't recognized her straight brown hair among the crowd. The very thing that attracted him the first day he fell in love with her. She was on the other side of the street. Her apartment was in the opposite direction; somewhat guiltily, he decided to follow her. When she reached National Bookstore at Forty-eight Street, he stopped and watched her go into a bookshop. If she wanted something to read, surely she could have picked it up at the mall? He was puzzled. He peered through the window as Sally talked to a sales clerk, who left for a few moments and then returned with two books. He could even make out their titles: The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith and The One Minute Manager by Spencer Johnson. Sally signed for them—which surprised Poseidon—and left as he ducked along the corner.
"Who is she?" said Poseidon as he watched her back and entered Bendel's. The doorman saluted respectfully, leaving a distinct impression of recognition. Once again, Poseidon peered through the window to see saleswomen fluttering around Sally with more than casual respect. An older lady appeared with a package, which Sally had obviously been expecting. She opened it to reveal a full length evening dress in black that only rich women wear during cocktail parties. Sally smiled and nodded as the saleslady placed the gown in a white and brown box. Then mouthing the words "Thank you," Sally turned towards the door without even signing for her purchase. Poseidon barely managed to avoid colliding with her as she hurriedly went out of the store and hailed a cab.
He grabbed a taxi that an old lady originally thought was hers and told the driver to follow Sally's cab. "Just like in the movies." said the driver. Poseidon didn't reply. When the cab passed the small apartment house outside of which Poseidon and Sally parted last night, he began to feel uneasy. The taxi in front continued for another hundred yards and came to a halt inside an exclusive subdivision for the rich. She entered a grand mansion complete with a uniformed doorman, who was quick to open the door for her. With astonishment and anger, Poseidon jumped out of his cab and started to make his way near the gate.
"That will be a hundred pesos, fella," said a voice behind him.
"Oh, sorry," said Poseidon. He thrust his hand into his pocket and took out a note.
"Thanks buddy." the driver said. He tried to linger at the splendid house in front of him and after displaying a puzzled look, he turned and walked away.
"This is a surprise" Sally said as George and Paul Blofis entered his father's study.
"Yes, I intended not to announce to you for there might be another disappearance young lady," her father said. Paul positioned himself beside her. "Do you know anything about this?" she whispered to Paul.
"Not a hint," he replied. She made a face not sure whether to believe him or not.
"I am glad that finally we could already settle this." It was George who spoke first. "As you very well know Sally, your father and I had been very good friends' way back in high school days. And this friendship will be strengthened and be very well bonded now that the Jackson Hotel and the Blofis International Bank will merge and venture into a partnership. Everything will also be too perfect if you and Paul will be betrothed to each other in marriage in the near future."
Sally almost choked at the last words. Betrothed to each other in marriage in the near future? She glanced sideways at the man beside her. Yes, he was handsome and she was sure any girl would love to be his wife. He was kind, compassionate, wise, business-minded ... But the problem is … She doesn't love Paul. She loves Poseidon.
Jim Jackson was watching his daughter from the corner of his eyes. He made a "beware- look" as if telling her to "please behave."
There was an exchange of conversation mostly in business and finally Jim suggested a toast.
"For Paul and Sally,"
"For Paul and Sally,"
For the first time in her life Sally experienced how it felt to be slaughtered.
She was sent to a boarding school the following school year. She tried to communicate to Poseidon but his phone was always out. Up to her last day at the candy store, she was not able to talk to him.
With heavy heart, she admitted he might not call her anymore. She wondered why he suddenly changed. She always thought of that date at Allen's and the stroll along Fifty Seventh Street. Every time the phone rang, she always wished it was him. Every time she watched football game in her school she could see him. One day, she saw his picture in a magazine. She studied every detail of him, and how he smiles, and how he looked at her and without her knowledge, tears began to fall. How she missed him! She did not know when she and Paul were getting married. She was not even able to tell him she loved him. In one of her class, while the teacher was discussing economics, she drew out his name on her note "Poseidon."
During semester break from school, she went home. She was very excited. She visited Maize and her candy store. And she strolled along Fifty Seventh Street. And while sipping coffee at Starbucks, she saw him.
He has grown leaner and more handsome. He was wearing a tanned jacket and faded jeans and as he strode near her table, she suddenly stood up. He was taken aback when he saw her. They just stared at each other face to face.
"I err.. how are you?" It was Sally who spoke first.
He gave her a matter-of–fact expression and after few seconds, he said "Great!" When he did not say anything more, she sat down again, disappointed.
She was relieved when she saw him sit at her table. "I tried to call you but…." Her voice faded away.
"I don't want to hear anymore lies Sally," he finally said. His voice was cold.
She was surprised and took her seconds before she realized what he meant. She shook her head.
"Why do you need to lie Sally? Whoever you are, whatever you are, I don't give a damn. But to lie to me and deceive me face to face, that's another thing. And to think I was all falling for you…"
She bowed her head before she said " Poseidon, I'm so sorry.. I didn't mean to…I was forbidden to see you again. You see, I will soon be getting married."
It was his turn to be surprised. "What? To whom?"
"To Paul Blofis, my childhood friend. It was an arranged marriage and…"
"My goodness Sally no!" his mood suddenly changed. "I won't let it happen. You cannot marry that Paul Blofis."
"It was already set though no date yet."
"We shall get married," he said
"Are you serious?"
"Never in my life had I been serious, girl."
He stood up and dragged her outside.
After three days they were married in a simple ceremony with Maize and Benny Joe Thomas standing as witness. Nobody else knew of the marriage except their two best friends. It happened so quickly. Now Sally was caught in a dilemma between her disobedience to her father and her love for Poseidon. She just crossed her fingers hoping her father will understand her in the end.
She went back to boarding school after a week promising to see each other when each can find time. They met secretly in a coffee shop or in a restaurant. In between business school, Poseidon phoned telling her his team were to travel in Asia for a competition.
And one day, the shock of her life came.
On television news, the anchor was reporting:
"Football hero and sports icon Poseidon is dead. While the Black Stallions were in Singapore for their 4th season competition, football hero Poseidon was reported missing by his team mates. The football hero was surfing over the weekend when a giant wave came and swallowed him up. A by-stander who witnessed the incident immediately reported to the authorities and a wild search was done. After a week, the searching was stopped and Poseidon was declared dead. Fans and the whole nation are grieving over the loss of-"
Sally turned off the television set staring at it in disbelief. No, it couldn't be true! Poseidon couldn't be dead! They were just married three months ago. She went down to her knees on the floor trembling. She sobbed and sobbed for how long she did not know. .Was there a possibility he was just missing and not dead? A surge of hope was there inside her, hoping he was still alive. Maize phoned her asking if she can come over to comfort her. She told her she was alright. Her Uncle Dave came over in the evening. Her food stayed cold, her bed unslept. In the days to come she lost so much weight because she refused to eat. She was rushed to the hospital when she collapsed one day while walking along the corridors of the school.
Jim Jackson was very restless as he sat beside his daughter at the hospital. He felt guilty treating her so strictly and meddling in her affairs. When the doctor came, he was all smiles.
"Mr. Jackson congratulations! You will now be a grandfather. Your daughter is two months pregnant."
Jim's jaw dropped as he sat bolted in his chair. How did it happen? And who was the father of the child?