Tristan - A Talk With My Boss

There are few things in this life that can tie a man down and break him to pieces one of them and the deadliest of all is the love of his life. I would never in my wildest dreams imagine I could have found a love like that, until I met her.

"Hello Dad, you asked to see me?"

"Yes, sit down and close the door," said Christopher Arnaud.

Christopher Arnaud was a man advanced in years having lived half of his life assuming we reach a hundred years old. He was fifty-six and longed to see his son settled down with children. He had been diagnosed with coronary heart disease and he had kept that information from his children. Well this meant he could die at any time if he were not careful with his health especially his blood pressure. He had spent the last few months drawing up his will for all his assets and wealth to be equally distributed to his two children Tristan Arnaud his son, and Marissa Arnaud his daughter.

"What is this about Dad?" I ask my father now that he is seated in his chair behind his brown mahogany desk. We're in father's private office at Arnaud Headquarters in Paris, France.

"Son, you're aware that my good friend has made an offer and I would like to oblige him. You remember Bruce Visser?"

"Yes, I do. What does the offer have to do with me?"

"I'm coming to that, before I get into the details. You need to know I can go at any time. I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease and I'm worried for you and your sister as there's no telling how much time I have with the both of you."

"I see, when did you learn about this?" I ask my father calmly but on the inside I'm trying not to show how worried I am. My father is the only parent I have left, my mother is around but let's say she was absent for most of my life growing up. My sister lives with my mother and that was the arrangement my parents agreed to after they filed for divorce when I was eight years old.

"Six month ago," said my father looking at me with that steady yet serious gaze of his.

"Dad you should have told me sooner, what do you want me to do?"

"You've dated but none of those relationships have become serious enough to lead to marriage. I'm tired of waiting for you to settle down. So I've stepped in and chosen a suitable candidate to be your future life partner."

"How did this suddenly become about me and my life, I thought we were just discussing what little time you might have with us?"

"Yes, son let me get to that I'm hoping to see some grandkids before death decides to come for me, and it would be nice for you to settle down before I go. This is my last wish for you, I'm also searching for a partner for Marissa but she has more time, she's only twenty-two but you will soon be twenty-nine."

"What if I don't like her, the girl you've chosen for me?"

"I'm quite sure, you will like this one. If you do not however, you may choose a bride for yourself."

"The deadline?"

"The deadline is before the end of this year."

"That's less than a month away, that kind of a rush."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," replies Dad with a small smile on his face.

"Alright, I accept your terms. You shall have a daughter-in-law before the 1st of next month."

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes your mother is coming for a visit, with your sister."

"When?"

"They arrive tomorrow, do keep them company you were hardly around the last time they visited here."

"I was busy."

"Son, make time everyone is busy these days."

"For your sake I will, Dad."

"Any other surprises I should be vary of?"

"Your sister might be bringing along her new boyfriend this time."

"Great, she really picked a good time. Do you approve of him?"

"I've not met the chap to be honest, but I'm sticking to my guns, let's hope he's worthy of her. She told me not to frighten him away. Keep an eye on him for me."

"Will do."

"You're dismissed."

"I have an appointment at this new foot massage center, my feet need a good rub, you can pick me up from the place at five, I'll text you the address."

"Okay Dad."

"Good luck, son." He says to me before turning his chair to look out the window.

I leave the office, in a state of bewilderment that's mixed with annoyance that my mother is coming for a visit at a time like this and the cherry on the top is my sister's boyfriend.

Tristan had worked for his father for most of his life minus the short time he did as a part-time barista at a coffee shop close to his home as a high school kid. Those were the days life was simple go to school, go for soccer practice, come home rest, do homework and then on weekends spend time making coffees behind the machines at Lourve's Coffe Shop, all that on repeat. His father was right none of the girls he had dated and remotely sparked his interest for something more and that had not bothered him then but now it did since he was tasked with having a kid before his father passed away.

Life was sure full of surprises and some of them not all too pleasant as he thought of everything his father had told him. Damn, he forgot to ask his father for the name of the girl he had chosen, wait his father had mentioned Bruce Visser. He was going to have to look him up on social media if he had any, cyberstalking was not his thing but he was curious about this girl that had obviously gotten his father's approval.