Nicholas' relief was short-lived. His parents came in before he could wake up in the morning and get himself ready for the day ahead.
"We need to talk."
He heard his father's voice as he passed him before settling close to his mother who appeared to be impatient now as she sat down on the sofa and waited for him to come down and meet them.
"We have been waiting for you," Jennifer said as soon as he arrived.
"Your mother is right, Nicholas," Patrick supported his wife's statement. "We have been waiting for you to come down so we can have a proper family discussion. Something we haven't been able to do in a long while now."
"What do you want to talk about, pa? What do you want to talk about, ma?" Nicholas asked both of them as he stared at them with his right hand on his jaw.
"We want to talk about your recent change in attitude," Jennifer said. "Since yesterday, I have been trying my best to hold myself so I won't get mad at you. What is really wrong with you, Nicholas? Why are you acting as if you don't know your responsibilities as an obedient child?"
"I know my responsibilities," Nicholas said, reminding them that he was not as spoilt as she claimed. "I have just reached a stage in my life where I feel some changes needs to be made in my life if I ever want to see myself at the top. Like I duly said, I am tired of doing everything you guys tell me to do. I am tired of taking all the crap that people say outside and pretend as if everything is alright in my head when everything isn't alright. I want to be a man, pa. I want to take control of my life. I want to share equal responsibilities in the family. I want to be a provider for myself. I don't know how I am going to force the words into both of you ears since you have a hard time understanding what I am dealing with every day of my life. I am tired of the easy life. I want a hard life. I want a taste of what it means to struggle for your own name because I have a strong feeling it is going to do me and my career a lot of good. Why don't you guys let me?"
"You have everything you need here, son," Patrick tried to be reasonable as he counted the number of times his calm attitude has made him to stand out in public.
"Your father is right, Nicholas," Jennifer backed her husband's statement quickly. "You have everything you need in your life here with us. You don't have to struggle hard in your life to make a name for yourself. The name your father has made for this family is sufficient to carry you to wherever you want to go in life. All you have to do is to accept it and depend on it. You don't have to do much rather than doing what you have always been doing since you were born. I want you to know that whoever is giving you this confidence doesn't have your welfare in mind. We are both your parents and we know what is best for you. We have stood by your side all the time since you were young and even now you are growing into a fine handsome man. I don't want you to make a stupid irrational decision because you feel deep inside your heart that you are matured enough to rule the world and you have a point to prove. It takes more than power to rule the world, son. It takes maturity, strength and courage. Attributes you are yet to possess considering how far you are when it comes to understanding how life works in this city."
Nicholas frowned as soon as his mother was done talking. "This is the reason why I want independence," he informed them. "I am sick and tired of both of you telling me about our family's name when our family's name was built on pa's sweat and not my sweat. If I actually want to wake up peacefully in the next five years, I need to take this major decision in my life with or without both of you blessings. I know a time will come when both of you will understand my point. By then, I would be a great achiever like pa with lots of people praising me for my accomplishments without crediting it to pa's influence."
"Shut up your mouth," Jennifer said, feeling irritated that she was able to listen to her son utter nonsense about independence. "You are our son and whatever we own belongs to you. You are our only son and if we are no more in this world, you will be the one to carry on the family's name. I don't know who is feeding you with all this bullshit about making it in life when you have already made it in life. Your father and I called you here to see if there was a way we can talk sense into your head. But, it is clear now that your mind has been polluted with false doctrine and it is going to take a lot of efforts for you to listen to us since you have decided to remain stubborn in seeking wisdom for yourself."
Patrick brought his hands forward and clasped it together. He was surprised his first and only child had the audacity to spill nonsense in front of him without respecting his iconic presence. He stood up and made a phone call.
"Hello!" His voice was harsh on the line.
"I can hear you, sir," A woman who he had gotten in contact with the previous night responded to him quickly. "What can I do for you, sir?" She asked.
Patrick waited for the anger within him to calm down before he spoke again. "Bring her for me," he paused. "I am at my grand house. You know what to do."
"Alright, sir."
The call dropped.