66 Father And Son (1/2)

”Haha, I wouldn't have known,” Gradis laughed.

”Huh?” Julian asked looking up at Gradis questionably.

”That it was only one week. You guys look basically inseparable to me... Like a real father and son,” Gradis smiled.

Julian gave a sad smile. ”Yea…” he agreed, ”now I remember why he never wore that PJ.”

”What happened?”

”I think he was traumatized by his time in the orphanage but it only kicked in after he came with us,” Julian explained, ”I'm glad we got him out before it got worse.”

”How exactly did you get him?” Gradis asked, her curiosity growing.

”Ah…” Julian muttered, his eyes darkening, ”My father… he was looking for a way to earn an alliance with another major company and also add to his long list of glorified titles attached to his name.”

”The company involved childcare?”

”Yup, an organization made to look after families that need money to take care of their kids and for kids that need a family or for kids that need to be looked after while they transition into adulthood,” Julian explained, locking eyes with Gradis, ”otherwise known as: FOF.”

”Oh! For Our Futures, right?” Gradis asked, the name sparking her memory.

”Hmm, correct,” Julian nodded proudly, happy she knew the organization.

”But… why did he need their alliance? Last time I checked your company didn't dabble in childcare,” Gradis asked, cocking her head slightly.

”He wanted total confirmation from the public to build a new city and FOF was not on board with it. When a few articles came out about FOF denying collaboration with our company because the construction area for the city was home to many lacking kids, my dad decided to use their expertise to earn their trust and looked for orphanages in corporation with FOF to adopt a kid,

”He especially chose an orphanage that was at the bottom of the ladder, to show he would accept people from all walks of life as his own.”

”Hmm… I have to admit that a very nicely calculated plan,” Gradis nodded, inspired by his father's approach, ”he gets FOF's help and the respect from any other company that looks up to FOF or is in collaboration with FOF. It's a complete profit on his side and also strengthens his power in society.”

Julian stared at Gradis blankly before turning back to Matheio.

”It is, isn't it..?” Julian sighed. The fact that Gradis was able to guess the reason behind his father's works and complement them was a bit disconcerting but he pushed away his thoughts. She was right after all. ”But if that wasn't enough, he gave me a certain criteria to fulfill when I was sent to look for the kid to adopt with him. He was going to be communicating with the orphanage owners and getting his hand in their trust so the task of picking out the kid was passed to me.”

”Hmm, he was so meticulous with the issue since it was all going to help his company in the future. He asked me to find someone who was young, calm, energetic, separate from his peers and the workers and most willing to obey orders and stay in their place,” Julian continued, his eyes dimming the longer he talked about it, ”and I hate to say it every time, but Matheio was the one that fulfilled all of those requirements.”