Finally Met Grandpa (1)

Today is the day she's been waiting for; She will meet Grandpa Tanner. The last time she saw him was eleven years ago when Mel and her mother left Tanner Mansion.

Since last night Mel couldn't sleep well, she was so excited about today's meeting. Or maybe she was so nervous? She really doesn't recognize the feeling. A lot of thought comes to her mind. One stands above the other. She was afraid that grandpa would be angry with her.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, she turned her gaze to the door and then she shouts "Come in, please... Grandma?"

Grandma comes into her room. "Girl, today Grandma will go to city S." she sat on the sofa while calling her with a motherly-like gesture asking her to sit beside her. "You have to take care of yourself, don't eat too much-frozen food, and make sure to get enough rest."

"Yes, grandma." She finally sat beside her Grandma. "Is there a problem at the branch at city S, Grandma?" She asked calmly.

Grandma shakes her head lightly and smiles. "No. Not at all. Everything is fine. Tomorrow, I am going to a soft opening of our new branches. We open two new branches, yo know..." Grandma's smiles widen.

"Wow! Grandma... that's so amazing!" Mel suddenly raises her two thumbs up and childishly shows how proud she was of her Grandma.

Grandma smiled at her, then she said softly... "Mel, I promised you one day, this company will become my legacy to you."

Mel, still childishly adoring her Grandma, just nodded in joyful manners and smiled back, seemingly not taking seriously what her Grandma just said.

"By the way, are you going to meet Grandpa Tanner?"

Mel nods.

"Oh Girl, you did the right thing. I'm really proud of you."

"Thank you, Grandma. This is because you have taught me so well." She said sincerely and now in calm and mature manners. She added "Grandma, tonight I will stay at my apartment. This weekend I have a lot of events to prepare."

Grandma nods. She did not stay for long in Mel's room. After they talk about a few things in the news, she left.

Today, apart from meeting with Grandpa, she will also meet Andrew. Since the last time, they met they have only been in touch by phone. It's because Andrew had to leave the country.

Mel was busy taking a long-distance phone call with Andrew. He calls her every day to the point that she felt like they are in a relationship.

She often wanted to ask him if he liked her, but she didn't dare to ask. She could only enjoy being cared for by him. Thinking of him caring for her, and listening to her stories makes her feel warm spreading around her chest… Good Lord, how she really enjoys it.

Lately, she has also been preoccupied with her company and monitoring the finishing progress of her room on the third floor.

The projects that would take around ten days to complete turned out could be completed faster. It took only seven days for the room to be ready. But Mel hasn't moved her stuff in yet. The room still smells of paint, and she hates the smell of paint.

Mel left the Green Forest earlier; she didn't want Grandpa to wait for her.

Today, they will meet at W commercial building. Grandpa chooses this restaurant as a rendezvous point because of its proximity to her apartment. She immediately went to Wolfgang Steak House. After she told the waitress the VIP room number, she escorted her to the VIP room.

She didn't knock right away when she arrived right before the VIP room door, but she calmed herself down first. After a while, she feels calmer. She then knocked on the door softly.

"Come in." Someone said from inside the room. When she hears Grandpa's voice, her body stiffened, and she feels tense. Nevertheless, she's still managed to open the door. When she opens the door, her eyes looked straight at her grandpa, their eyes met.

"G-grandpa..." She immediately bowed her head towards grandpa.

Grandpa stood up from his chair, walk towards her then grabbed her shoulder...

"I'm sorry, Grandpa..." Mel's voice trembled.

Grandpa hugs her while patting her back softly. He said in his deep low voice, "My Lovely Mel... Grandpa misses you so much, and please don't apologize. You did nothing wrong. We are the older ones who are at fault. You are young. Making mistakes is part of your life." He said it with a warm tone and smile.

It's been more than ten years since the last time she saw her Grandpa. He looks much older now. The wrinkles on his face are apparent and many. His hair is all but white. He looks so thin too. Instantly, something heavy pressed her chest, making her breathe a bit harder. She was sad, and couldn't hold back her tears, and crying.

When she left Tanner Mansion, she never returned and did not have time to say goodbye to Grandpa. That's why she feels so guilty about him. At that time, she was too young to understand her parents' problems. She just followed her mother obediently.

Grandpa let go of his hug. He stepped back to see Mel's face more clearly.

"My Lovely Mel... you've grown up now, really beautiful." Grandpa patted the top of her hair and said: "Come, please sit down!"

Mel immediately sat down.

"My lovely Mel, order whatever you want to eat." Grandpa gave her a menu. After they ordered, they start to chat again. Mel feels calmer now.

"Grandpa, please tell me about you. How's your health?"

"You can see, I'm as healthy as a bull, hahaha...."Grandpa laughs. "I can still do my usual activities and still the head of Tanner Group." He continued with a smile.

Mel nods in delight. Even though he looks old, but his aura is still young, and he is energetic.

"Grandpa... sorry for all this time I never visited you."

Grandpa shook his head. "Please don't. I should have had to apologize to you, Mel. At that time, I should have done more with your father's foolish affairs. Hence you and your mother had to suffer tremendously."

"No, Grandpa, it's not your fault either. But your son's fault." She hated her father so much. Because he divorced her mother for another woman. If only they hadn't divorced. Maybe by now, her mother was still alive. Because of this, she would never forgive him.

Grandpa nods, then he took a sip of his tea.

"Tell me, where's your mother? Did she come home with you?"

Instantly Mel's body froze. Her face turned sad, she started crying again.

Seeing her granddaughter crying, Grandpa panicked. "My lovely Mel... what's wrong? Why are you crying again...?"

She didn't answer.

He stood up and approached her. He gently stroked her shoulder. "Tell me, why are you crying like this? Did something happen to your mother?"

Mel nods.

Right now, she couldn't hold back her sadness at all. She felt the thick wall that held her heart collapse. She was sad, but this sadness is unlike what she felt when she met Aunt Bella. Now, it hurts like an open wound sprinkled with salt.

"M-my mother is dead..." She said in a stuttering voice.