Discussion

"How was your day?" William started the conversation.

"It was fine. We don't have a lot of customers during the weekdays so we don't have much to do." Mia replied happily.

"Anything good happened today?" William continued to ask.

"Aside from Stephanie visiting, there's nothing else I could think of," Mia said while looking at the pedestrians.

"Oh, I see," William said. "Are you busy this Sunday? Do you want to go out with me?"

"Uhmm… The shop is open every day and our day offs are usually on a weekday. I'm sorry." Mia said in a quiet voice. She looked at William's profile trying to see his reaction.

"It's fine. I'll try considering your day off next time so we could make plans." William said while still having a smile on his face.

It did not take long for them to arrive at Mia's house. William walked Mia till their doorstep.

"Do you want to come in?" Mia said while fidgeting the keys in her hands. The door was always unlocked as long her mother was inside, but for some odd reason she brought out her keys from her bag to open the door.

"I can't. I have someplace I need to go to after this." William politely declines Mia's offer. He wanted to spend more time with Mia but he was not lying when he said he had some prior engagement he had to attend.

"Oh… Okay," said Mia disappointedly.

"I'll be going then. I'll message you later." William walked straight to his car and waved his hand as a goodbye before leaving Mia's house.

"Really now… You could have stayed for a bit and had some drinks." Mia was still holding the chocolates with one hand. This was the first time someone wooed her and gave her chocolates. She felt happy receiving them.

William went straight to their house. He was not lying when he told Mia that he can't stay for long. He was about to discuss with his father and sister what they could offer Melissa's family in exchange for their research. He told his father some of the details but he wanted a discussion between all of them as part owners of the business. This was something that will affect all of them, it was for the best that everyone has an input with the deal they are going to take.

Once he reached home, he headed straight for his father's study room. His sister and father were both waiting for him while they discuss.

"I'm sorry I'm a bit late." William apologized to the two.

"It's fine. We didn't wait long." His father said while his sister gave him a knowing smile. William gave her sister the eye to stop her from mocking him. The two stared at each other, each with a different expression.

"Stop it you two," the two only stopped when their father scolded them. "Honestly, you two are not growing fast enough." He was shaking his head while having a wry smile on his face. Some things never change, but he was glad that his children are in good terms with each other.

The two started to focus and look serious when they started to discuss.

"As I have told father, Melissa said that she will consider continuing the partnership with us in their research if we have something equivalent to compensate them," Max said with a frown on his face. It still bothered him that he did not know what Melissa was playing at.

"This is ridiculous. Father has provided funds for that research for the past 6 years, and with this simple fall out they are trying to keep all the information to themselves." Stephanie was furious with Ford's attitude. Business is business, they involved personal feelings to get in the way of business. Now they are trying to get more out of this because they know how much they needed the research.

Their father was keeping quiet as he listened to his two kids. He did not intervene to give his opinions, he just listened.

"I'm sorry sister. It was my fault." All William could do was apologize to his fuming sister.

Stephanie gave a sigh and sad, "Like I said William, business is business. You are not at fault, if the Ford's response is like this from knowing that his precious daughter was not picked then it was for the best that we knew earlier. I don't want them to use this to blackmail you later on… And we all know what I'm talking about." She looked intently at William's eyes while saying this.

The three sat there in silence while the two were thinking about what Stephanie said.

Original novel by Chuchuwachuwa.