The Royalties

As expected, the news about Dei's resignation spreads like fire in her office. "Ms. Dei, Mr.Rivera's secretary called. She said her boss would like to see you in his office now." Dei's secretary said. 

The invitation did not surprise her. In fact, she is expecting it. 

Dwayne was on the phone when Dei came in to his office. She waited a few minutes before he ended up his phone conversation. "Good morning, sir." She greeted. 

"Good morning, have a sit." He greeted back.

"Thank you, sir." She replied. 

"What is the meaning of this?" Dwayne asked and shows Dei her resignation letter.

"I am tendering my resignation effective immediately, Sir." Dei confirmed.

"You are aware I still have the option not to accept your resignation, right?" Dwayne straightly uttered.

"I know that sir, but I don't see any reason of turning it down." Dei firmly replied.

"I review the profile of the employees next in line and found no one capable of assuming your job. Therefore, it is impossible to allow you to leave immediately." Dwayne said. 

"I'm sorry to disagree, Sir. We have a bunch of talented and skilled Project Managers next in line. I have known them for a long time, and I could say they are really good. You will not have a hard time choosing my successor. Also, I provided the list of PMs who I recommend. I hope you'll give them a chance." Dei said.

"Nicomaine, if this is about what happened last time, I want to apologize. I realized, I was out of line. Please tell Richard, I also apologized. And please, spare our work with our personal issues." Dwayne said. "I am hoping you will reconsider since you were just being promoted." He added.

"I'm sorry, Sir but like what was written in the letter, my resignation is irrevocable." Dei firmly said.

"It is just the two of us here in this room, loosen up Nicomaine, you may talk to me casually." Dwayne said. "And it seems nothing can change your mind about your resignation. Perhaps it is fine if we talk like friends." He added.

"I believe there is nothing to talk about?" She asked.

"I beg to disagree. I want to talk about Charmaine." Dwayne said.

"We already told you our stand about Charmaine. I thought Richard, and I already made it clear to you." Dei replied.

"What for, Dwayne?" Dei asked. "After everything you did, after letting me suffer with guilt, I believe you don't deserve to meet my daughter." She firmly declared.

"I was too young then. And I got sacred so I don't know what to do." Dwayne said.

"From the last time I checked, I am younger than you. You are of the same age with Richard. Therefore, I was also too young when you made me pregnant. If only you talked to me, you would know I would not demand for anything like what Richard did to you. All I need then was someone who understands." Dei explained.

"Again, I'm sorry Nicomaine. I was too hurt when I learned about your marriage with Richard three weeks after I left. I felt betrayed, that was the reason why I did not communicate with you anymore." He said.

"Nobody betrayed you, Dwayne. When Richard told you about my situation, he gave you the chance you need. If you think Richard was selfish then you got it wrong. We could have get married immediately after you left. But, he did not do that, instead he waited. Between the three of us, it was Richard who was selfless, and you are the most selfish. Imagine it took you seventeen years to finally get your balls and talk to me. Too selfish also that you make me feel so guilty because I thought you never got a chance to know you have a daughter in me." Dei said pouring out her feelings to Dwayne.

"We were trying to build a happy family Dwayne, but those guilt feelings, haunt me so hard that I could not give Richard the love and treatment he truly deserves." She added.

"I'm begging Nicomaine, please let me meet Charmaine and let me make it up to her." Dwayne said.

"Richard already told you his condition. We will let you meet her provided you will not introduce yourself as her father." Dei recalled."You have to understand Dwayne. This is not about Richard, but about Charmaine. If anyone should tell her the truth that is I and not someone she does not know."

"It seems I have no choice but to accept the condition." Dwayne said in surrender.

"If that's the case, I will talk to Richard about this." Dei said.

"Thank you Nicomaine. I appreciate this a lot." Dwayne said.

*********************

On that evening Dei told Richard about her conversation with Dwayne. She informed him about Dwayne accepting his condition.

"If you ask me, I will say Dwayne and Charmaine's meeting is no longer necessary, but if you think it is best for all of us, then we will let him meet Charmaine. But let us be clear, he must not introduce himself as her father." Richard said.

"I made it clear to him." Dei said.

"Honestly, I don't trust him. Both of us should go with Charmaine, in case he goes insane and tell her about being my daughter's biological father. That way, we could at least lessen the damage it will give." Richard said.

"I don't think it will happen, your highness." Dei contradicted Richard.

"I really hope so, my queen." Richard said and blew a huge sigh "Why can't he just stay in New Zealand and let us all live in peace." He added in frustration.

"We can't do anything anymore. The important thing is we will start anew. We could throw all the excess baggage before the wedding. This is our second chance your highness, let us make it work this time." Dei said.

"Oh well, I guess you are right, my queen." Richard said. "Alright, let's get this over and done. When do you think is the best time for them to meet?" He asked.

"Wait, I'll send a viber message to Dwayne, I will tell him that I already got your nod." Dei said then grab her phone to send the viber message to Dwayne

After a few minutes, Dwayne replied. "Thank you so much Nicomaine. How about we have dinner on Friday night? My treat and brings the whole family. Let me meet Charmaine's sister as well."

"Friday is fine, Dwayne just let me know the place and we will be there. Again, Dwayne, please, Charmaine does not need to know the truth." Dei replied to Dwayne's viber message.

"Yes I understand. Thanks again." say Dwayne message.

"I hope after this meeting we can all live in peace." Dei said with a deep sigh.

"This will be the last, their meeting will end this issue and we can all move on." Richard said.

"What do you think? Do we need to reveal Charmaine the truth now?" Dei asked.

"She has to know. It would be better if we tell her the truth... but maybe not now, we will look for the proper timing for that." Richard said.

"How would we know the right time? When Charmaine is old enough or when you are no longer scared?" Dei asked beaming.

"Both!" Richard quickly replied. "Honestly, my queen, I cannot imagine Charmaine calling someone as her Dad aside from me. Now, I completely understand why you reacted that way about Athena calling Elise as Mama Elise. It will definitely break my heart. Imagine we are only talking about it and yet my heart is already broken. What more if I hear it straight from her." Richard poured out his heart. And Dei could not do anything but give him a hug.

"You and your jealous heart, don't you trust Charmaine's love for you?" Dei asked.

"It is not that... it is just..." Richard hesitantly said. Dei cross her arms and lifted her eyebrow showing Richard her disbelief on what he was trying to say.

"Alright, I admit it now. I am jealous, can you blame?" Richard said.

"I am not saying anything. But please, my king, don't think it that way. You know how much Charmaine loves you. Hold on to that." Dei explained, "Besides, you are her first love right?"

Richard beams widely as he hears what Dei just uttered.