The Long-Awaited Heir

Chapter 05 The Not-So-Faithful Girlfriend

Abner leafs through Matthew’s academic record very carefully. He nods with a calm but observant look. Matthew just wonders what the old man must be thinking.

“Your grades are very good and your class attendance is above average.” Abner finally speaks.

Matthew allows himself to smile. At least someone is saying something nice, “Thank you, Mr. Sterling.”

Abner continues to flip through and read, “No internships in the field yet?”

“Like I told you, I’m working at the square kiosk here,” Matthew responds with a touch of pride.

“But you’re wondering if you’ll be able to buy your mother’s medicine. In other words, that means you’re not earning enough income.” Abner has a worried expression.

Matthew starts to find something strange. This is not the talk about someone who will be expelled from an educational institution...

“Mr. Sterling, I know you care and I appreciate that. But can we formalize my expulsion once and for all? I think I’ve learned my lesson.”

Abner, however, raises his head and suddenly asks, “Do you drink, young man?”

“Drink? Water, lemonade, soda...?” Matthew was obviously confused!

“OK, I thought you were drunk so early in the day.” Abner narrows his eyes, “Do you still not understand that this conversation isn’t about your expulsion?”

Matthew certainly noticed. The point is that he wants to know what’s going on!

“Why was I called?”

“I was casually passing by when I heard Rector Meirelles comment on David Rocha’s complaint.” Abner closes the binder, “And I have decided to take matters into my own hands.”

“Mr. Sterling, thank you for your consideration—”

“Therefore, I have decided, after listening to you, that you under no circumstances deserve to be expelled from my university.” Abner crosses his fingers and determines, “I didn’t have this place of education built for things like this to happen. This is a place for learning and academic formation, not a place where certain people want to act as leaders of a tribe, sect, or pack.”

“Pack is in fashion among girls.” Matthew allows himself this joke.

“Do you have any more questions, Mr. Silva?” Abner softened his face. Did he like the joke?

“Yes. What will happen to me? If I don’t get expelled, David Rocha will make a huge scandal.”

“I think you can deal with David Rocha without having to bother Mr. Meirelles again, can you?” Abner continues to have a soft expression on his face... as if he is familiarizing himself with the marginalized student.

“Yes, I can!” Matthew starts to get excited when he realizes the reality: he won’t be expelled!

“Well, Mr. Silva. With your excellent performance at my university, I can’t just let you go, especially when all you wanted to do was defend your co-worker. I suggest she opens her mouth at the next police station whenever that happens. We shouldn’t fear David Rocha, especially because we know his background.”

Matthew holds back a laugh to not be so obvious. Abner was alluding to the fact that David is a bastard, fathered by Josias Rocha out of wedlock due to a slip-up in the 90s. Yet David has the gall to act like the prince of Sterling University.

“So, Mr. Silva, go back to your classroom and keep up the excellent performance! May all your goals come true.”

“Thank you very much, Mr. Sterling, thank you very much!” Matthew stands up and shakes the old man’s hand. Afterward, he hurriedly leaves, afraid that Abner will change his mind.

After Matthew left, the supposed inspector appeared, looking back curiously.

“He left here in a hurry, Mr. Sterling.”

“Thank you very much, Evan.” Abner leans back in his chair.

“So, sir?” Evan raises his eyebrows.

“We need to be sure.” Abner responds calmly, “But I can bet 90% that we have found my heir... my grandson.”

“Did he say anything that made you surer?” Evan moves closer to the desk.

“The mother is a widow and is sick.” Abner points to the binder, “And her name, according to the records, is Sheila Silva.”

“So, sir...” Evan gushes, “We...”

“We need to calm down, Evan.” Abner doesn’t allow himself to get ahead of himself so as not to suffer disappointment later on, “If anyone in the family requires any proof, we don’t have it yet. For now, we’ll keep an eye on him.”

“And what did you think of him?” Evan smiles slightly, “He was pretty scared, thinking you were going to kick him out.”

“Poor cornered boy.” Abner slowly shakes his head, “He probably spent his entire childhood and adolescence in deprivation, living in a horrible neighborhood, witnessing the worst situations. That’s why, when someone extends a helping hand, he backs away suspiciously.”

“I hope it’s him, Mr. Sterling!” Evan declares, “If so, his life will change for the better!”

******

“What’s it like? You thought you were going to be expelled, but the opposite happened?” Walter was flabbergasted.

Now he was with Matthew outside the kiosk. Around them, students walked down the university stairs, chatting among themselves about their day of studies.

“Exactly.” Matthew was overjoyed, “I had the greatest luck of my life, Walt. I met and exchanged words with the powerful Mr. Sterling, the owner of it all! David thought I would be humiliated, but I was exalted!”

“That’s biblical.” Walter scratches his chin, “But then, what saved you? A complaint from David Rocha would be fatal.”

“Mr. Sterling is a powerful person and knows the dirty secrets of high society.” Matthew blinks, “He knows very well about the history of the Rocha family and how David got his last name without deserving it.”

“Whoa, Matt!” Walter exclaims excitedly, “We need to celebrate!”

“Yes, and I already know how!” Matthew stands up, “I’m going to don my apron because this place is getting full of students wanting something to eat.”

“You annoying!” Walter pretends to push Matthew’s arm, “Since you want to celebrate by working, make me a cheeseburger.”

“Your order comes first.” Matthew jokes and enters the kiosk.

Clayton watches him happily, “Matt, from your joy, I assume nothing happened regarding yesterday’s mess, right?”

Matthew turns on the grills, “Yes, Mr. Saldanha. It’s incredible, I thought I would be expelled today, but in fact, I managed to be praised by the owner of the university! I met Mr. Sterling in person!”

“Whoa, son, don’t be snobby now, huh?” Clayton jokes.

“Never, Mr. Saldanha.” Matthew looks up at the ceiling, thanking God, “If I have had this blessing, it’s by being humble and respectful.”

******

On the other hand, David is heading like a Spanish bull to the rectory.

Upon entering the room, he comes across the secretary, “Where is Mr. Meirelles? I want to talk to him NOW!”

“Mr. Meirelles is in a meeting—”

“Are you going to call him NOW or wait for me to tell my father so he can fire you, you incompetent?” David barks.

The secretary makes a displeased face and gets up to call the dean.

Moments later, Rector Meirelles appears. He is a man in his fifties, with glasses, well dressed in a suit. Meirelles appears to be a frail elderly man, but he didn’t get the position of rector of the most prestigious university in the region because he was frail.

“Mr. Rocha, did you interrupt a meeting to talk to me?”

“Why the emphasis on ‘disrupting a meeting’?” David rolls his eyes, “Mr. Meirelles, what do I have to do for you to understand that I also have power thanks to my father’s surname? One message via Zap, one phone call, and my father orders the closure of this entire ridiculous building! Do you have money saved in your bank account?”

Meirelles remains impassive, “Are you here to talk about my bank account?”

“I want to talk—” David interrupts himself, “Why are we standing? I want to go into your office and sit down! Have this secretary pour two cups of decaf coffee—”

“Mr. Rocha, I definitely don’t have the time you have for this type of conversation.” Meirelles threatens to go back inside.

“OK, so let’s get straight to the point: what’s this gossip I’m hearing all over campus that Matthew Silva didn’t get kicked out of here?”

Meirelles lets an almost imperceptible smile from the left corner of his mouth, “Oh, is that it? Mr. Rocha, according to university rules, Mr. Silva has not committed any offense worthy of expulsion. I must respectfully remind you that we are at Sterling University and not Rocha University.”

“WHAT DID YOU SAY, YOU OLD IDIOT?”

Unable to withstand so much abuse, Meirelles simply turns his back on the deluded man and locks himself in his office, closing the door.

The secretary is unable to stifle a laugh and David leaves feeling more humiliated than when he entered.

Inside Meirelles’ office, he adopts a worried posture when he sees Abner getting up from his chair.

“Mr. Sterling, are you sure we are doing the right thing? David Rocha could very well call his father and tell him a completely exaggerated and false version.”

“Let him tell.” Abner speaks with authority, “The Sterling family is no small feat. We may not be on the same level of power as the Rocha family, but we do have some credibility. And honestly, Meirelles? Knowing Josias Rocha, it will be better for his son if he DOESN’T telephone.”

Meirelles smiles, calmer. Everything will be fine.

******

In the hallways, David meets Cindy. She is crestfallen, with a shoulder bag, walking out of the university.

Suddenly, Cindy has a change of mind and decides to leave through another access. Then, she bumps into David.

“Hi, my friend!” David grins, “What happened? Why that sad face?”

“How can you ask me something like that after informing me that Matt was cheating on me with the waitress at the kiosk?” Cindy asks in uncontained anger, still looking at the floor.

“Yes, I know. That was a cruel blow I dealt you. I’m sorry, Cindy, I should have been kinder and gentler.” David tries to hug her, but Cindy backs away.

“I need to go. I need to have lunch and go to work.”

“How’s the investigative reporting going?” David asks, “Hey, you won’t be one of those journalists whose car explodes when you start the engine, will you?”

Cindy rolls her eyes. Everyone thinks she will be murdered by the corrupt politician she is investigating!

“Don’t worry about me, I’m just the intern. The author of the article is Ricardo Montegrande. And if you’ll excuse me...”

But David doesn’t excuse her, “You’re going in the wrong direction. The kiosk is this way.”

Without waiting for her consent, David ‘leads’ her down the path Cindy wants to avoid.

This way they access the square through the main entrance. The kiosk was busier. Patricia was at her post, serving the university students with a smile that didn’t exist yesterday. Walter had already been served and was eating his cheeseburger with pleasure.

“Shall we make an order, Cindy?” David keeps pushing her where she doesn’t want to go.

Cindy has a feeling that David has something on his mind and she is being used as a pawn, “I don’t want to eat here, David!”

“But it’s your boyfriend’s kiosk!” David says ironically, “You need to respect where he works. After all, rumors circulate on campus...”

Cindy becomes more tense and rigid, her eyes widening, “What kind of rumors?”

David looks at her and smiles devilishly, “They say out there, and in Zap groups, that you’re not the faithful and enthusiastic girlfriend that many believe... Or what Matthew believes. Tell me, Cindy: when was the last time you hugged or kissed Matthew Silva?”

Cindy looks pale and horrified. So that’s what this is about?