A few weeks after that incident at the café, Joan and Santiago have been going out on little dates to get to know each other so that they will know how to act when they introduce themselves to their respective parents.
She wanted to tell her parents that she and Henry were no longer together, but she wanted to find the right time to do that.
Joan had a long day, and she was coming back from the hospital. She went to visit Isabel after work and after she stayed with Camila and her mum for almost an hour; she decided to head home so that she could rest up for the next day.
When she entered the living room, she smiled when she saw her dad sitting on the sofa, so she walked over to him and hugged him from behind.
Gary was a bit startled, but he was able to gain his composure and relaxed in her hold while holding her arm with a small smile on his lips.
“You’re back already,” he states, and she sighed, then released her hold on him and came to sit beside him. Gary could see how tired she looked, but it did not flatter the smile on her face.
“Yes, and I am so hungry. Where’s mum?” she looked around then back to her dad.
“She went to get her hair done. She left some minutes ago, so she should be back in a while” he looked at his hand and let out a sigh.
Joan nodded her head and stood to her feet while she stretched. She was super tired and so badly wanted to get to bed, but seeing how bothered her father looked made her sit down. She yawned and then looked at her dad, who looked nervous as he watched his fingers and looked around for a while.
“What’s the issue, Dad?” she yawned again, then adjusted on the sofa so that she was facing her dad.
Gary looked at her but his eyes were evading hers and that made Joan believe that whatever the issue was, it was serious.
Joan sighed, took her dad’s hand, and moved closer to him.
“You have those worry lines, you are looking at your fingers, you are looking around,” she tried to get him to look into her eyes but each time he did, he’d evade his gaze “You’re even evading my gaze, tell me what the issue is”
Gary managed to look into her eyes but she could see that he was on the verge of tears while he tried to speak.
“Joan honey, I… I am in a sort of dilemma right now and it’s hard to choose because of who is involved” he starts.
Joan was a little confused but she encouraged him to go ahead.
“Dear, I… remember when I told you that I was going to meet with my friend to see if he could be of help with gaining our company back from the Relisos?” she nods in remembrance.
Gary just let out a sigh and shook his head but he didn’t say anything further, so it worried her.
“He didn’t want to help?” she asked sadly.
“Oh no, darling, he wants to,” he said and she beamed in excitement.
“Well, that’s good… why so gloomy? What’s the problem?” she scooted even closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder while his arms wet around her.
“He… he has a request sweetie and it… it involves you” Joan raises her head to look at her dad with a little furrow on her brow.
“What is his request?” she asked “If he wants me to work in his company to pay back or anything, then I don’t think it is much of a big deal” she shrugged.
“That’s not the case dear, it’s something… different”
“Like?”
“A merger”
“Merger?” she frowned and he nods. “He wants some part of our company's share?”
“No, a merger like… something like a marriage merger”
“Marriage merger? Who does he want to--- oh, a marriage-merger?” she said when it dawned on her what he was saying.
She stayed quiet in thought for a moment while her dad looked at her hopefully.
“So, he wants his son married to me to be able to render his help?” she asked and he nodded.
“Yes, look, baby, I didn’t give him an answer. I was pretty upset when he offered it because it’s your future we’re talking about here and I don’t want anything to tamper with your happiness, you’re my daughter and that’s the least I can give to you”
Joan sighed and then looked at her dad.
“Dad, I understand… I am glad that you did not just take a rash action without consulting me first, thank you,” she hugged him and he hugged her back.
“If you don’t want to marry his son, I understand… I don’t wan-”
“Dad, relax. I have another idea though but first when do you plan to meet him to tell him your plan?” she asked.
“Well, maybe Sunday? After mass with your mum,” he told her and she nodded her head.
“Okay then, I will go with you”
“You are not in any pressure to go there with me” he talks over her.
“Dad, don’t worry. I know what I am doing, I will go with him, just let him know that I will be coming along with you. Trust me okay?”
Gary looked at her for a while then sighed with a shake of his head “I trust you, just don’t do what you don’t want to do,” she nodded with a smile and then stood to her feet.
“I’ll be down in some minute to make dinner before mum comes, I need to freshen up and call Camila,” she told her dad.
“Okay dear, thank you so much. I knew you’ll always figure something out, my very smart daughter” he grinned and she kissed his cheek then walked into her room to freshen up and call Camila to ask if she was home already.
When she couldn’t get to her, she texted her and made a reminder to call her after dinner to ask if she was okay before going out of her room to make dinner for her family.