No Strings Attached

The electronic door hummed from the porch, followed by the sound of thick footsteps of loafers, thudding against the marble floor. It was Reynaldo. Mr. Davies had invited him over for dinner, but he had arrived earlier than expected.

"Rey, is that you?" His mum's voice echoed warmly from the top floor.

"Hey, Mum!" Reynaldo responded, tilting his head to see his mum's figure descending the stairs.

"Come on in, son." She smiled, heading towards the large brown dining table. He joined her, following suit. They were seated when the cook began serving dinner, neatly arranged for a table of four. Sabrina soon joined them, coming

down the stairs.

"Good evening, family." She said.

"Good evening, Sabrina. How are you doing today?" Her mum asked.

"I'm good, Mom. Hmm... dinner looks so yummy!" Sabrina exclaimed, breathing in the savory aroma.

"How have you been, bro?" She asked, looking at Reynaldo, whose eyes were fixed on the meal in front of him. Although Rey and Sabrina were siblings, two years apart, they rarely spoke. They spent most of their time apart, from high school

to college days, attending different schools.

"I'm good, Sis," Rey responded, digging into his appetizer.

They all ate silently and slowly, with just the sound of their cutlery clinking, breaking the silence until they were full.

Sabrina was the first to leave the dining table. She received a call about a package she had ordered yesterday.

"Okay, I'll be on my way! Yes... yes." She said this into the phone, pushing her seat back and signaling to her parents with one finger.

"I'll be right back!" She whispered before leaving.

Mrs. Davies was the next to leave.

"I have to go take a warm bath." She said, smiling. The comfort of her Jacuzzi was the one thing she looked forward to at the end of each day. She left, calling the cook to clear the dishes.

Soon enough, Rey realized he was left alone with his Dad at the table. His father was staring at him intensely, and he knew there had to be more to it. Rey dropped the phone into the pocket of his blue jeans and waited.

He knew there was something behind the dinner invitation, it was unusual.

"Reynaldo, son." He called.

"Yes, Mr. Davies," Rey responded.

"How have you been, son?"

"I have been well, Mr. Da..."

"I'd prefer Dad if you don't mind." Mr. Davies interrupted.

"Okay, Dad." Rey answered, with a hint of sarcasm.

Mr. Davies sighed and continued, "You know, I invited you over for a reason, of which I'm very much certain you do not care to know, but I will say it anyway. I'm turning sixty soon. I'm growing old and so are you. Time waits for

no one, son. I'm growing too old to manage business projects, and I need to rest. I have built this fortune for you. You and I both understand that."

"I need to hand over the company to able hands - hands that would be able to handle the value I have placed in time and hard work. I know you have been doing pretty well, son, but there's more to life than just making money. You need a partner through the ups and downs of life, you know." Mr. Davies paused, watching Reynaldo's stern expression.

"Reynaldo, you're my first son. You are my successor and heir. And to be honest, I can see

you did a good job working yourself into a better man. I'd commend you for that. But I want just one thing from you before my sixtieth birthday in a few months."

Rey knew where this was heading, and he absolutely hated it when his father brought

up the topic of marriage. It made him distant from his father. It angered him

and boiled his patience away.

"I want you to get married," Mr. Davies said. "You can only take over the company and its assets if you find yourself an eligible bride before then." He finished, letting his words delve into the tension filling the room.

"What?" Rey's voice thundered.

His nostrils flared as he fumed; his eyes darkened, holding his father's gaze, unblinkingly. He clenched his jaws and gnashed his teeth.

"Is this some kind of blackmail? And why do you think you can decide that for my life? What makes you think, Mr Davies, that you can dictate the terms on which I should live?"

"And right now, I think you should mind the manner of your speech, Reynaldo Davies!" Mr Davies's voice grew annoyed and his eyes grew cold.

"Oh please drop that childish longing from the past! I know you loved Vanessa but that doesn't mean you'd remain a bachelor. I need a generation that can carry on my legacy." He continued.

"Did you just call it childish?" Rey asked, his eyes narrowing.

"What else is it called when you can't simply move on from a relationship that ended seven years ago?" Mr. Davies's words cut deeply. They were like acid, burning down Rey's throat.

Mrs. Davies, who had been listening from afar, was teary-eyed but refused to intervene.

"Father, There is no need to bug me like this. Besides, I'm not even thirty-five yet. Your threats won't change my feelings about women. Except for mum, all they care about is money and that is exactly what Vanessa did. So, you won't determine or teach me how to live my life, Mr. Davies!" Rey retorted.

"If that is what you want, then, so be it." He paused searchingly.

"But be ready to watch your sister become the next successor."

Rey felt a chill run down his spine at the ultimatum. He looked away fighting the urge to lash out further.

"This isn't fair." He muttered under his breath.

"Life isn't fair, Rey," Mr. Davies replied his voice a little softer now. "But it is the reality we all must face."

Rey's breath labored with the urge to hit something. In a swift movement, he bumped

his fist into the mirror beside the dining table; Its pieces splattering, sinking into the skin of his tight fist.

"Rey!" Mr. Davies shook in horror and just

then, the doorbell rang interrupting them. Who could it have been?