Chapter 7: Call my dad

With his eyes locked on Jonah's face, Gibson couldn't help but notice the disdainful sneer that was etched onto Jonah's lips.

 As Jonah rolled his eyes with contempt, Gibson felt a pang of disappointment in the pit of his stomach. He knew all too well that Jonah held no respect for him, but he refused to let that deter him from helping his ex-wife Cynthia.

Feeling the weight of the situation, Gibson took a deep breath before speaking. "Look, I had no idea that you were going to be removed from the business partner list. But I'm more than willing to assist you in any way I can," he said earnestly.

 Jonah's response was immediate and cutting.

"Who do you think you are, Gibson?" he spat, crossing his arms over his chest as he did so.

Cynthia couldn't help but feel a surge of disappointment wash over her.

She had always harbored doubts about Gibson's commitment to her business ventures, suspecting that he was more interested in spending her money than putting in the hard work that was necessary for success.

And now, here he was, attempting to portray himself as a hero.

Gibson desperately wanted to clarify his intentions, but Jonah's next move prevented him from doing so.

“Cynthia, I’m willing to…”

“My father!”

Jonah yelled out without warning as he interrupted him and  reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

"I'll just call my father," he said dismissively, "he'll be able to solve everything."

Jonah boasted like he was going to be her knight in shining armor by coming to her rescue whereas, deep down, he knew it was just a waste of time.

As Gibson stood there, he observed Jonah fumbling for his phone and dialing a number.

For Cynthia, it was as if time slowed down and the world around her faded into a blur, leaving only the sound of Jonah's fingers tapping on the screen and the faint ringing tone of the phone.

Gibson knew deep down that this phone call was just a waste of time but he just kept calm as usual.

Meanwhile, Cynthia's eyes darted between Jonah and the phone, her gaze pleading with him to make the call a successful one.

She silently prayed that the person on the other end of the line would be able to help her in her time of need.

Meanwhile, Jonah made sure he was far away from their ears before making the call.

He just needed to give them the impression he was going to help but he knew it was not going to work out.

"Hello Dad, you are going to do something for me," he spoke into the phone.

“And what is that son?” His father asked.

"Talk to the Fernandez family and get Cynthia back on their business partners  list?" he replied, his voice cracking without emotion.

Cynthia exchanged a worried glance with him, knowing that this was a critical moment.

She held her breath, struggling to listen intently to every word Jonah spoke, hoping that his father would be able to assist them.

Despite the tension in the air, all that could be heard was the sound of Jonah's voice as he continued to talk with his father on the phone.

Cynthia strained her ears, desperate to hear any word that might offer her a glimmer of hope.

However, the conversation between Jonah and his father remained hushed and inaudible to the anxious duo.

As they stood there in silence, the weight of the situation bearing down on her, she could feel her nerves fraying and her hopes fading.

As Jonah spoke on the phone with his father, he paced back and forth.

He needed to make them see he tried as he knew that his request was a long shot at best.

"What are you talking about son?" his father asked incredulously. "I have no qualification to talk with Fernandez's family and why should I bail out your girlfriend's failing business?" The weight of his father's words made him crack a smile because he expected it.     

He had hoped that his father would be a little bit more cheerful, especially since he was not always demanding of his father.

"I can't help you with this. In fact, you sound really crazy. Do you know who the Fernandez family are? They are very influential, and I am not close to the level of influencing their choices," his father said before abruptly hanging up, leaving Jonah with the burden of masking such embarrassment.

He had boasted excessively before his phone conversation, and now he was feeling a little bit uneasy about it.

He didn’t really care about Cynthia and her business.

All he wanted was to be sleeping with her.

Cynthia, noticing his unease, approached him and asked if everything was okay, but Jonah, not wanting to lose face in front of his friends Gibson and Lina, decided to lie and said that everything was fine.

“I’ve called my dad and told him. There is a lot of hope,” he said smiling.

However, deep down, Jonah knew that he couldn't continue to rely on Cynthia. He had been witness to the slow decline of her business, which was on the brink of collapse, and he couldn't bear to watch her struggle anymore.

As he mulled over his next move, Cynthia's phone rang, and Jonah watched as her expression shifted from sadness to happiness.

"What? I became your business partner again?" Cynthia exclaimed, her voice ringing with excitement.

Jonah couldn't believe it. Cynthia's company had been given a second chance, and he felt a glimmer of hope that maybe things could work out between them after all.

"That's great news, Cynthia," he said with a warm smile, his heart feeling lighter. "I'm genuinely happy for you." He added as he wondered how that happened.