Request to parents

“Father, Mother, thank you for taking the time today to meet with me.” Adam asked, sitting with his legs spread as he sat at the edge of the leather chair in his fathers office that was older than him. The room was made of dark wood with traces of gold filigree that would reflect just a little bit of the light in the room. Two of the falls were covered from floor to ceiling in bookshelves completely full of books Adam had never been allowed to remove from the office and the back wall was covered in a cabinet matching the rest of the decor. In it was his father liquor or one of the places he kept his finest cache, along with important documents. Just before it was a solid wooden desk carved from the remains of the sunken treasure ship The Black Swan. Adam sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk, opposite him was his mother sipping on a glass of wine. While his father stood in front of his desk leaning back against it as he listened.

“Yes, yes. Just tell us what this is about Adam. Have you spent away your trust fund and need more money?” Leaning back in her chair Iris bounced her foot impatiently while she eyed her son up and down. If someone didn’t know better they would say the way she was looking a him that she was judging her boy, but the truth was she had judged him long ago.

“Have you run into trouble and need me to make a few phone calls to smooth things out at your office? I have been considering increasing my portfolio with more of their shares and if I took a position on Mega Corps board I could assist in whatever scandal you have caught yourself up in. Adam watched as his father drummed his fingers on his desk and got a far away look on his face. The man was already considering the course of action before Adam had told them why he wanted to speak with them and they both automatically considered the worst.

“None of that at all actually. Mother, I have grown my money, not lost it. Father all my superiors are more than happy with me at the office and in fact come next quarter I am up for a promotion.” He had been telling his parents he had been up for this promotion for two years now, it was still true. The promise of the carrot just kept being pulled back no matter how well he performed and he was sick of it.

“Then I just do not understand why we are here Adam.” To Adam it looked like his mother was ready to now get up and go on with her day, regretting she wasted her time.

“For good news Mother, for good things. It has been no secret your feelings towards the girlfriends I have brought home.” Adam continued despite his mothers scoff and eye roll. “Now that you had a chance to spend time with Jodie, I wanted you both to know I love her and intend to ask her to be my wife.”

“She is a lovely young woman Adam, but have you truly thought this through? From what your Mother was saying she doesn’t have two pennies to rub together.”

“I said she comes from a family that collects trash. Adam, you brought trash into this home.” Iris put down her wine glass and stared daggers at her youngest son.

His fist still hurt from when he punched his brother earlier and as he sat there tightening his hands into fists again he could feel the pain. He welcomed it, it was a distraction from the attack his mother just used to provoke him. Once he got riled up and raised his voice she would say he was being unreasonable and how she wouldn’t be around someone who was frantic. “She is not her parents, she is a wonderful woman with a heart of gold. I would like to use grandmothers ring when I ask her to join this family.”

“You want to use my mothers ring to marry some slut that will sleep with any passing man that gives her the chance? Oh she is friendly enough, but if you can’t see how she eyes everyman up like they are a present to unwrap there is no help for you. Heaven knows we were already aware of that.”

She had always acted fondly of Brandon, praising him and why she didn’t hold her tongue or her wraith from him, the praise never seemed to make it to himself. Adam remembered one holiday when she had too much to drink she had said how she always wanted a daughter and how he had ruined that for her with being such a difficult birth. If he hadn’t sabotaged her on the way out she could have had her little girl, instead she was stuck with him. It was a biter memory, yet a part of him always wanted that praise she reserved for Brandon. He worked hard for it, and now he had held out hope she would accept Jodie. She could be the bridge between them, the girl she wanted in the family. Instead of the sweet taste victory he only tasted ashes, home was just like at work. He pushed himself, went beyond what anyone asked of him, he triumphed where many would fail and no one really paid him any mind. Except Jordan, his Jodie lifted him up. She put him over herself and while she seemed to gleefully push his buttons he loved that woman and could imagine a future with her.

This weekend he was going to propose to her, then get her into a better place to live. He wasn’t ready to share his entire personal space with her, but he knew she was the woman he would want to do that with. It didn’t matter if she or her family had no money, he would pay for it all, his parents need only give him the ring. “I do want to use my grandmother's ring, she made it clear she wanted Brandon and I to have it when we proposed and it would go to the one who was lucky enough to find that person first. I found that woman and I am a better person for it. Mother please give me the ring.”

“This is rather sudden son, maybe take some more time to consider this. We can hire a private investigator to look into her past, see what she is hiding. We wouldn’t want to invite someone into the family that was only scheming to get her hands on our good names and money.” Iris gave her husband an icy glare for even entertaining the idea.

“Harrold, do you think for a second that girl could make a plan to get out of a paper bag? No, she isn’t making some grand plan.” Her voice was filled with anger, but before she went to far her husband continued to speak.

“One does not need to be intelligent to try and get their hands on money. Adam, for now the answer is no. How about we revisit the topic say… in six months, that should give you time to truly consider what is best for yourself and this family.”

Adam tugged on his ear nervously and took a deep breath, he needed to make sure he was hearing this correctly. “Are you saying No I cannot have the ring? Or are you trying to tell me no I cannot ask Jordan Applegate to be my wife?”

“You are many things Adam, but slow is not one of them. No you cannot marry her, your father is just trying to be polite about it and give you time to come to your senses.”

Adam got to his feet, doing is best to keep his anger in check. “We have money, but it has been a long time since this family had heart. I hoped you would see Jodie as a blessing, see how happy she made me and how she held the keys to our future. If you are unwilling to father grandmothers wishes, then I will proceed on my own. The only one that gets to decide if Jodie joins this family is her. I will be asking for her hand regardless of your willingness to follow the last will and testament. I love you both and hoped you could at least pretend to be happy for me, but your unwillingness to provide my inheritance leave me **** but to purchase a ring and then take you both to court for breach.”

From the corner of his eyes he saw his mother stand up, she was saying something, but he was done listening. Exiting the room he closed it much harder than he meant to and made his way to the front door. He had something to buy and his lawyer to contact. If they didn’t respect him enough to give him the ring then he would make them pay out the nose in court.