Rebecca Pemberton
1568 Words
Rebecca Pemberton was seventy-five years of age. She and her late husband had been the founders of the Pemberton Synergy, and till date, she was one of the most respected women in the country.
She was always looking fit and didn't look like she'd be kicking the bucket soon. She was graced with four children and six grandchildren.
Rebecca was a very hard woman to please. Her own children rarely found favour in her sight. And despite the efforts her grandchildren put in, they could never seem to please her. Wilder had been the only lucky one.
At his tender age, she had a good experience with the boy that had made her fallen in love with him. He'd come into her life around the time she'd lost her husband and miraculously filled the vacuum in her heart. Of course, her other grandkids had tried to be there for her, but she could see their pretense. Wilder had been the only one that was genuinely there for her. She had fallen in love with him instantly and even had to force him to live with her while he attended college in Singapore. Now, there was nothing in the world she wouldn't do for him.
They all took their various seats at the table and began eating, each person picking what they wanted from the numerous dishes.
"Congratulations, Wilder on your position as CEO at the company." Jasmine referenced at some point with a smile.
Jasmine Pemberton. She was the only one who ought to feel odd at the table.
She was Rebecca's step-daughter - a very messy story. The late Mr. Pemberton during his time, had issues keeping his bulge in his pants. Until one day, Jasmine's mother got pregnant and insisted on keeping the baby. Jasmine's mother was way younger than him, but it didn't matter to her that she'd be having a child for a man old enough to be her father.
She did all she could to force her way into the family and reap off the benefits. But it all turned sour for her after Mr. Pemberton died seven years ago when Jasmine was twenty. After his death, Rebecca kicked Jasmine and her mother out of the family. But Jasmine was resilient and fought her way back in. Although, it was through the help of Wilder.
"Thank you, Jas." Wilder winked at her.
"Do you really have to be corrected on everything?" Arlo asked with a huff. "It's acting CEO. It's temporary."
"Okay.... But why are you sounding like the permanent position will be handed over to you?" Jasmine chuckled with an eye roll.
"Watch your mouth, Jasmine."
"Oh, I am. I'm damn sure I was minding my business right before you dived in."
"Watch how you speak to my son, you shameless wretch. You should be thankful we're letting you have a seat at this table," Arlo's mother—Lorais—seethed.
"Did you say this table?" Jasmine laughed. "I know it sounds weird, considering the age difference and all, but you shouldn't forget the fact that we step-sisters."
"Hey, that's enough Jas." Wilder chipped in. "Let it go."
Jasmine exhaled deeply and looked away. She didn't know how to back down from a fight. Only Wilder knew her combinations.
"You should've let her, pumpkin. The little girl is as mannerless as her mother." Rebecca grumped, throwing Jasmine a glare.
Now, that was one person Jasmine could never respond to. Seething, she dropped her gaze to the table.
"So, tell me," Rebecca resumed, all smiles like nothing had happened less than a minute ago. "How was your stay in South Korea?"
Wilder went on to tell her about his fun and un-fun experiences. He'd majorly been there for a business purpose, which had been successful. But of course, there had been obstacles.
Rebecca laughed when he narrated some embarrassing moments - like the few times when he'd gone out without his translator.
Done with his narration, Rebecca asked him how his first day was at the company. He narrated some little findings he made and assured her everything would be fine, since he was in control.
"Not to sound rude, grandma, but don't you think it'd have been better organizing a private dinner between yourself and Wilder if you only wanted to talk about him?" Krester asked, drawing everyone's attention to him. "For more than thirty minutes, it's been him, him, him. I almost forgot I'm actually here."
"Oh," Rebecca entwined her fingers on the table, looking at him. "Well, I arranged this dinner in his name, Krester, to welcome him home. Do you suggest we discuss sports while at it?"
"Of.... Of course, not. But have you tried asking any of us how it's been with us at the company?"
"If there's a problem, wouldn't you come to me? Do you seriously expect me to wipe your ass and beg you to tell me if you have things to talk about?" Rebecca rebutted.
"But you just asked Wilder right in ..."
"Well, you weren't the one who spent twenty-six months in a strange country, working his ass off for the expansion of the company!"
A deafening silence followed.
Rebecca always had a way of speaking that could leave anyone feeling intimidated. She didn't need to raise her voice 'cause her words always seemed lethal. And worst of it all, the grandchildren couldn't express themselves freely in an argument that concerned her.
Growing up, they'd always considered her to be that 'evil grandmother'. She was mostly hostile to them and everyone else. This was one of the things that made her very feared and respected - a woman with so much power that was impossible to please. Wilder had no idea how lucky he was to be her favorite—the cousins always thought.
"Grandma, I think what Krester is trying to say is, we all deserve to be acknowledged too." Kreeya pitched in, using her calmest tone. Kreeya was Krester's twin sister.
"Of course, we all love the fact that Wilder's back, but we also want to..."
"You really expect me to believe that?" Rebecca laughed. "You happy he's back? Well, which one of you congratulated him at the office during the board meeting? I don't need to be there to know none of you did."
"I did," Jasmine whispered to herself.
"You see? It's in your genes already - this deep rooted envy and bitterness." Rebecca added.
"Grandma..."
"It isn't what you think..."
"Wilder left as soon as the meeting was over. There wasn't any time to..."
"And neither of you knew the way to his office?" Rebecca countered those who tried defending themselves. They went shut at once. "You all should be ashamed of yourselves."
For almost a minute, there was silence.
"Welcome home, Wilder." Annalise said at last, breaking the silence. "I apologize for not congratulating you earlier on."
"Thanks," Wilder nodded at her. He'd almost forgotten someone like Annalise was there at the table.
Annalise was the most reserved grandchild of Rebecca Pemberton. Her mother was late. And even before she died, she'd always been the silent one in the family.
Slow with words, she'd never gotten into a word-fight with her cousins, unlike the others. Although, she appeared to be the peaceful one among them, they always suspected she was being a wolf in sheep clothing.
"Well, to be frank, I didn't congratulate him 'cause I was hurt, grandma." Krester grumbled. "I've also worked my ass off for the company. Why couldn't I be trusted with the temporary position of the CEO?"
Arlo joined in. "Hold on, if anyone should complain about that, it should be me. I was acting CEO, Krester. Or are you trying to say you can do the job better than I can?"
"Hey, no one's talking about you, alright? What impact did you really make during your time as CEO?"
"Are you for real? You really need me to list the achievements the company made during those times?"
"Don't flatter yourself. The company only survived on its name and glory. You were more like a ghost in that office."
"At least, I was chosen to be in that office. Where were you, huh? Heading the sales team?"
"Yeah. But aren't we on the same level now? You've been used and dumped."
"Don't you dare use that word on me!" Arlo thumped the table, making the drink in his glass to spill. "You're not better than me. Always remember that!"
"Do you have any idea how pathetic you both look?" Wilder finally uttered, his voice being the calmest at that moment. "I feel so irritated having to share this table with you two right now."
"Oh, son. You sure know how to ruin the fun. You should've let them entertain me," Rebecca said while casually driving some steak into her mouth.
"You're irritated?" Krester chuckled. "All because you grandma's boy, you think you have the right to feel irritated?"
"One more word from you, Krester and I promise I'll drive this fork into your face." Rebecca snapped, her eyes glaring daggers.
Krester wrinkled his nose, drew back his chair and stood up.
"Thank you for having me over. I think I'm filled up." He inclined his head at Rebecca before leaving the table.
"Such arrogance." Rebecca tsked, reaching for some wine.
In less than fifteen minutes, Kreeya, Arlo and Lorais were also gone.
- Writer
